School and Community Fundraising Print Kit Australia

Running a school fete, community raffle, charity gala or club fundraiser takes months of planning. Print is not the hardest part of that, but it is one of the easiest things to get wrong. Mismatched signage, blurry flyers run off on the office printer, or a last-minute scramble for a cheque presentation prop all chip away at the professional impression your group is working hard to earn.

This guide pulls together everything a P&C committee, school event coordinator, sports club or charity organisation needs to plan and print a cohesive fundraising campaign in Australia, from the first promotional flyer to the big cheque handover moment.

The Giant Novelty Cheque: Make the Moment Count

Every fundraiser builds towards a moment of recognition, whether that is presenting the proceeds to a charity partner, handing a prize cheque to a raffle winner, or celebrating a milestone with sponsors. A custom novelty cheque transforms that moment into a photograph worth sharing and a memory the recipient will not forget.

The format matters more than people expect. A giant cheque printed on foam board or rigid substrate sits flat for a clean handover photo. It holds up under camera flashes and does not buckle in a light breeze. If your event is outdoors, ask about corflute-backed options for extra durability.

What to include on your novelty cheque

• Your organisation or school name and logo
• The recipient charity or winner name
• The donation or prize amount (printed if confirmed in advance, or left editable for a dry-erase finish)
• A simple design that reads clearly from three metres away

Reusable versus single-use

If your group runs an annual event, a dry-erase laminate finish lets you change the amount and recipient each year without reprinting the full cheque. For one-off presentations or press moments where you want photographic permanence, a standard print with the confirmed figure is the sharper choice.

For more on sizes and templates, see our guide to giant novelty cheque printing.

Teardrop Banners: Signal Where the Action Is

A teardrop banner does several jobs at once at a fundraising event. It marks your entry points so attendees know where to go. It signals stall locations and raffle tables. It gives the event a polished, branded feel from the car park. And because teardrop banners are lightweight and portable, the same set of banners can travel to the next event without fuss.

Teardrop banners are available in small, medium and large sizes. For a fete or community fair, medium flags work well for interior zones like raffle tables and food stalls, while large banners at entry and exit points catch arriving attendees from a distance.

How to use teardrop banners at fundraising events

Because the banners are printed full-colour, you can match your school or club colours and include your logo for a consistent branded look across the event site.

For a full breakdown of teardrop flag sizes and which base to choose, see teardrop banner flag sizes.

Flyers: Get People Through the Gate First

Before anyone shows up, they need to know the event exists. Flyers are still the most effective tool for local community promotion, because they reach people in their letterboxes, school bags, community boards, local shops and sports club rooms without requiring them to follow a social media account or open an email.

Flyers for fundraising events typically work best at A5 or DL size. A5 gives you enough room for a clear headline, key details and a compelling image without overwhelming the reader. DL fits neatly into a letterbox or school bag pocket and is ideal for a high-volume distribution run.

What belongs on a fundraising flyer

A strong event flyer answers six questions quickly:

1. What is the event (fete, gala dinner, trivia night, walk-a-thon)?
2. Who is it for and who is organising it?
3. When is it, including start time?
4. Where is the venue or meeting point?
5. Why should people come (what cause does the money support)?
6. How do people get tickets, register or find out more?

If your fundraiser has ticketed entry or a raffle component, include a QR code that links directly to the ticket page or raffle registration. Printed QR codes cost nothing extra but dramatically reduce the friction between seeing the flyer and taking action.

Paper choices for flyers

For a detailed comparison of flyer formats and quantities, see flyer printing Australia.

Posters: High-Visibility Promotion in the Weeks Before

Where a flyer is designed to be taken away, a poster is designed to stay put and build awareness over the weeks before your event. Placing A2 or A3 posters in local shop windows, on school noticeboards, at the local library, at sports clubs and at the community centre multiplies your reach without multiplying your cost.

For a school or community fundraiser, A2 (420 x 594mm) is the most practical size. It reads from across a room, fits most existing poster frames, and is easy to transport and distribute in a tube or flat stack.

Poster design tips for fundraising events

• Lead with the event name in large, high-contrast type. If people can not read the headline from two metres, redesign.
• Put the date in the second-largest type on the page. Everything else supports those two elements.
• Use your organisation’s brand colours and logo for immediate recognition.
• Leave a white space zone at the bottom for last-minute information (raffle prize details, special guests).

Corflute Signs: Directional and Sponsor Signage That Lasts

Any outdoor fundraising event with multiple activity zones needs directional signage that holds up for the entire day. Corflute signs are the practical choice: lightweight, weather-resistant, printed full-colour, and easy to mount on stakes, fences or existing structures.

Common uses for corflute at a fundraising event:

• Directional arrows pointing to entry, parking, toilets and key stalls
• Zone markers (“Silent Auction”, “Kids Activities”, “BBQ”, “Raffle”)
• Sponsor recognition boards displayed at the event fence or entry
• “No entry” and “Staff only” functional signage

Corflute sign sizing for events

Corflute signs can be mounted on wire stakes for grassed areas, cable-tied to fences or set in a weighted A-frame base for hard surfaces. Because they are printed on both sides on request, you can get a directional sign that reads correctly from either direction on a footpath.

Putting the Kit Together: Branding Consistency Across Every Item

The biggest visual mistake at community fundraising events is a patchwork of mismatched materials. Flyers in one colour scheme, banners in another, signs that look like they came from three different organisations. The fundraising print kit works best when every item shares the same core elements.

Before you place any print orders, prepare a simple one-page brand reference that includes:

• Your logo in high-resolution vector format (SVG or PDF)
• Your two primary brand or school colours in CMYK values
• The font or fonts you want to use across all materials
• The event name in its approved form (spelling, year, any tagline)

Share this reference with whoever is designing each item. Even if different people create the flyer and the banner artwork, starting from the same brief produces a cohesive result.

File setup for print-ready artwork

All artwork supplied to Paperlust Print Shop should be:

• Resolution: 300 dpi at the final print size
• Colour mode: CMYK (not RGB, which is for screens)
• Bleed: 3mm on all edges beyond the final trim size
• Safe zone: keep text and logos at least 5mm inside the trim line

If you are unfamiliar with these settings, the Paperlust team can advise at the point of order and will flag any issues before your job goes to print.

Budget-Tiered Starter Kit

Not every fundraiser has the same budget. Here is a practical tier guide to help you decide where to invest.

For each tier, order enough flyers for your anticipated distribution plus 20% for replacements. Order your teardrop banners and corflute signs as a set, using the same artwork and colour palette.

Frequently Asked Questions

How far in advance should we order our fundraising print materials?

For a standard print run with no rush requirement, allow four to six weeks before your event. This gives time for artwork review, a round or two of proofing if needed, production and delivery. If your event is in four weeks or less, contact Paperlust Print Shop directly to confirm whether express production is available for your specific products.

Can we order a novelty cheque if we do not know the final amount yet?

Yes. Two approaches work here: order a novelty cheque with a blank amount field and hand-write or use a marker on the day, or ask about a dry-erase laminate finish that lets you write and wipe cleanly. If you do know the amount in advance, a fully printed figure always looks sharper in photographs.

How many flyers do we need for a school fete?

A useful starting rule: one flyer per household you want to reach, plus 20% for waste and replacements. For a school event, distribute through school bags (one per family), community noticeboards, local shops and local sporting clubs. A mid-sized suburb school with 400 students might distribute 600-800 flyers to cover households plus community placements.

What size teardrop banner works best for a school fete?

Medium teardrop banners (around 2.6-3.3m tall) are the most versatile for a community fete. They are tall enough to be visible from across a field but easy enough for two people to carry and set up without a ladder. Use large banners for entry gates where maximum visibility from the car park matters.

Can we print a sponsor’s logo on the corflute signs?

Yes. Corflute signs are printed full-colour and can include sponsor logos alongside your event branding. A common approach is a row of A1 sponsor boards along the event fence, each including the sponsor’s logo, the event name, and a “proud supporter” line. Confirm with each sponsor that you have the correct logo file and any brand guidelines they want respected before you finalise artwork.

Do the teardrop banners come with a ground spike?

Teardrop banners ordered from Paperlust Print Shop come with a base option suitable for the surface you select. Ground spikes work for grass; flat cross-bases suit hard surfaces. Check the product page for current base options or contact the team if your event has specific setup requirements.

What is the difference between a poster and a flyer for fundraising promotion?

A poster is designed for a fixed display location and is viewed by people passing the spot repeatedly over days or weeks. A flyer is designed to be taken away, carried home, put in a letterbox or handed to someone directly. Posters build awareness at high-traffic spots; flyers create a personal call to action. The most effective fundraising campaigns use both.

Can the novelty cheque artwork be turned around quickly?

Production timelines vary by product. For best results, have your artwork ready at least two weeks before the event. If you have a hard deadline, note it when placing your order and the team will advise on what is achievable. See the novelty cheques product page for current turnaround information.

Ready to Print Your Fundraising Kit?

A well-printed fundraising event looks professional, builds trust with donors, and gives your group a better chance of hitting its target. Start with the materials that will have the most impact for your specific event, order them as a cohesive set, and brief your printer early.

Browse the full range at Paperlust Print Shop:

• Novelty cheques
• Teardrop banners
• Flyers
• Posters
• Corflute signs