Sowing and Growing

Eco-Friendly Fundraising Ideas for Schools & Charities in NZ

Candy Rose 15/10/25
Eco-Friendly Fundraising Ideas for Schools & Charities in NZ

Move over chocolate bars and raffle tickets - there’s a new hero in townand it’s sprouting quietly from the soil.

Across New Zealand, more schools, early childhood centres, and community organisations are turning to gardening-based fundraisers. It’s a fresh, meaningful way to raise money that also sows knowledge, community spirit, and a healthy respect for the land.

At Kings Seeds, we believe fundraising should do more than fill a bucket, it should grow something lasting. Whether you’re a school wanting to teach tamariki where their food comes from, a kindy dreaming of a new sandpit, or a charity building a community garden, our Seeds of Support programme is designed to help you sow, nurture, and nourish your projects - while raising vital funds along the way.

Fundraising is so much more meaningful when it starts with education and connection. Schools, ECEs, and community groups are the perfect places to begin sowing the seeds - literally!

Teaching children and communities how food grows connects us to nature, builds resilience, and brings science to life in the most hands-on way. From watching tiny pumpkin seeds swell and sprout to seeing sunflowers stretch taller than the students who planted them, it’s magical, and it sticks.

For Schools & ECE Centres

Every school and early childhood centre in New Zealand is eligible for our Seeds of Support discount - 20% off retail pricing for all home garden seed products. This gives schools affordable access to quality seeds so you can grow classroom gardens, run fundraisers, or supply local families with seedlings to get started at home.

How it works:

  • One verified account per school or centre

  • Discount applies to all seed products (excludes accessories)

  • Email us at info@kingsseeds.co.nz to register

For Charities & Community Gardens

Community gardens are beautiful hubs of resilience and connection. Through the same Seeds of Support programme, registered charities and community gardens can also receive a 20% discount, supporting volunteers and projects across Aotearoa.

Whether you’re starting a new garden bed at a marae, teaching composting at a community hub, or growing kai for local families, sowing the right seeds sets everything else in motion.

Growing Funds, Not Just Plants

This is where the magic happens. With a little nurturing, your seeds become more than seedlings - they become a thriving fundraiser that gives back season after season.

Our Seeds of Support Seed Fundraiser makes it easy to raise funds the eco-friendly way. Instead of selling sugary snacks or single-use trinkets, you sell packets of high-quality vegetable, herb, and flower seeds that families genuinely want. Gardening is one of New Zealand’s most popular hobbies, and it’s only growing.

Why Choose a Seed Fundraiser?

  • Better profitability per unit than most traditional fundraisers

  • Simple to run - we provide the forms and resources

  • Promotes healthy living and food resilience

  • Supports a beloved NZ brand trusted by gardeners nationwide

  • It’s eco-friendly, low-waste, and community-building

Whether you’re a school raising money for a class trip, an ECE wanting new play equipment, or a charity funding garden tools, seed fundraisers tick all the boxes, and bonus, grow a few cucumbers along the way.

Getting started is easy:

  1. Register your school, centre, or organisation for Seeds of Support

  2. Choose your fundraising seed packs

  3. Promote and sell within your community - we provide the info sheets to make it smooth

This kind of fundraiser doesn’t just fill the coffers. It fills windowsills with seedlings, gardens with colour, and kids’ lunchboxes with homegrown veggies.

Fundraising Beyond the Packet

Once your seeds have sprouted, the opportunities for creative, community-building fundraisers are endless.

With access to wholesale pricing for bulk seed, schools, centres, and charities can go beyond packet sales and turn gardens into fundraising engines.

Here are some ideas to inspire you:

Projects and Fundraising Ideas for Schools & ECE

  • Seedling sales at galas and roadside stalls – grow vegetable or flower seedlings and let families take a piece of the school garden home.

  • Cut flower bouquets – perfect for Mother’s Day, Festive Season, or classroom gifts.

  • Pumpkin or sunflower competitions – “Heaviest Pumpkin” or “Tallest Sunflower” contests are a hit with kids and adults alike.

  • Edible school gardens – sell produce or host a school “farmers’ market” with seasonal harvests.

  • Potted herb gifts – children can decorate pots, grow herbs, and gift them to parents, staff, or sell them as fundraisers.

Projects and Fundraising Ideas for Charities & Communities

  • Seedling sales at markets – grow popular seedlings (tomatoes, lettuce, herbs) and sell them to fund tools or infrastructure.

  • Flower sales – brighten your neighbourhood and support your cause.

  • Harvest sales – sell or gift seasonal produce to support your community.

  • Competitions and events – community pumpkin weigh-offs, “best bloom” prizes, or sunflower trails - bring the community together.

  • Workshops and garden tours – use your garden as a space for learning, gathering, and inspiring.

Fundraising doesn’t have to be transactional; it can be transformative. When communities grow together, the nourishment extends far beyond the garden beds.

FAQs: Your Top Fundraising Questions Answered

How do you raise money in a fun way?

Get your hands dirty! Seed fundraisers, school garden projects, and friendly competitions bring people together in a way no chocolate box ever could.

How do you start a fundraiser?

Start small. Choose a fundraiser type (like a seed packet sale), register with Seeds of Support, and set a clear goal. Use newsletters, social media, and school networks to spread the word.

What is the best fundraiser for schools in NZ?

Seed fundraisers consistently perform well. They’re easy, eco-friendly, and fit perfectly with New Zealand’s love of gardening.

How can we make our fundraiser educational?

Link it to the curriculum! Germination experiments, maths lessons through seedling sales, watching swan plants attract Monarch Butterflies, wildflower seed paper cards, creative writing inspired by the garden - there’s no end to the possibilities.


Join the Movement: Let’s Grow Something Good Together

Fundraising doesn’t have to be wasteful or disconnected. By choosing seeds, you’re choosing a sustainable, educational, and genuinely impactful way to raise funds. You’re teaching the next generation how to sow, nurture, and nourish, not just their gardens, but their communities too.

At Kings Seeds, we’re proud to support schools, early childhood centres, charities, and community gardens across Aotearoa. Together, we can grow greener fundraisers and stronger communities.

👉 Ready to start your fundraiser?

Email info@kingsseeds.co.nz or visit our Schools & ECECharities & Community or Fundraiser pages to get growing.

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