Fundraiser Rentals That Actually Raise Money
Dunk tanks for the principal. Carnival games for the per-play tickets. Bounce houses for the wristband zone. The high-margin rental mix Knoxville schools and booster clubs use to clear $3K–$15K in a single Saturday.
The Top-Earning Fundraiser Lineup
Seven rentals chosen for the math: revenue per square foot, per ticket, per wristband.
Dunk Tanks
From $249
The #1 fundraising money-maker in East Tennessee. Put the principal, pastor, coach, or boss in the seat and watch the line stretch across the parking lot.
Carnival Games
From $79 each
Ring toss, tic-tac-toe, high striker, skee-ball, plinko. Per-play tickets at $1 each = passive revenue all day. Pick 4–6 games for a real carnival feel.
Concessions
From $79
Popcorn at 50¢ cost, $3 sale price = 6x markup. Cotton candy and snow cones the same. The math works at every fundraiser.
Bounce House Wristbands
From $149
Wristband-zone access at $5–$10/kid. Set a 4-hour window, watch the parents thank you for the babysitter while they buy raffle tickets.
Obstacle Courses
From $399
Timed obstacle course runs are a great ticketed activity — and they pull in older kids and teens who’d otherwise skip the event. $5 entry, top-3 win prizes.
Mechanical Bull
From $1,099 / 3 hr
“$5 to ride the bull, longest ride wins a gift card.” Photo-op revenue + ticket revenue + sponsor revenue. Includes 2 trained operators.
Combo Bouncers
From $289
Bounce-and-slide combos are the best dollar-for-dollar crowd magnet for smaller fundraisers and school fairs. Add to wristband zone.
How Fundraiser Bookings Work
Built around your goal — not our calendar.
Tell Us the Goal
$2K? $10K? $25K? Each goal needs a different lineup. We’ll suggest the highest-margin mix for your audience size.
We Quote & COI
Certificate of Insurance Included for the school, church, or facility. Quote in writing within 24 hours.
Volunteers Get a Plan
We send a setup-day diagram + booth roles + ticket booth idea. Your volunteers don’t have to invent anything.
You Run the Booths
We deliver early, brief your volunteers, hand off, and pickup that night. You count the money.
The Knoxville Fundraiser Playbook
Knoxville schools, churches, and booster clubs have raised serious money with us — from elementary PTO carnivals at Farragut, Hardin Valley, and Powell to church mission-trip fundraisers in Maryville and Oak Ridge to high school athletic boosters across Knox County. The lineup that works isn’t random.
The 70% rule: dunk tank + concessions + bounce wristbands together drive about 70% of revenue at every fundraiser we’ve tracked. Carnival games and obstacle courses fill in the experience and bring people back to spend more.
What we provide: free Certificate of Insurance for your school or church (every venue requires one), a setup diagram for your volunteers, a booth-roles cheat sheet for ticket-driven fundraisers, and on-time delivery so doors open with everything ready.
What you provide: the cause, the volunteers, and the principal/pastor/coach willing to sit in the dunk tank. We’ve watched a 6-school district fundraiser clear $26K in one Saturday this way.
Fundraiser FAQs
From PTOs, booster clubs, and church groups across Knox County.
How much can a school carnival realistically raise?
Knoxville schools we’ve served typically clear $3K–$15K from a single Saturday carnival. Largest we’ve seen: $26K from a 6-school district fundraiser. Concessions + dunk tank + bounce wristbands together drive about 70% of revenue.
Do you provide volunteer booth instructions?
Yes — we send a layout diagram, booth assignments, and a quick “how to run a carnival game” sheet. First-time fundraiser organizers find it saves hours of planning.
Can we use this as a school PTO or booster club fundraiser?
Yes — that’s our most common fundraiser customer. PTOs, booster clubs, church mission trips, sports teams, scout troops. We issue COI to the school plus booking confirmation in the org’s name.
Do you provide a Certificate of Insurance for the school or church?
Yes, free of charge. We carry $3M in liability and issue COI to any venue, school, or church. Send us the requirements and we’ll handle it within 24 hours.
How far in advance should we book?
Spring and fall fundraiser weekends fill up by mid-summer. Book 8–12 weeks ahead if your event is in April–May or September–October. $50 non-refundable deposit holds your date.
What’s the highest-revenue booth?
The dunk tank — especially when the principal, pastor, coach, or local mayor sits in it. Concessions are the highest-margin (popcorn at 50¢ cost, $3 sale = 6x markup). Combined, dunk tank + concessions + bounce wristbands drive about 70% of fundraiser revenue.
What if it rains?
Light rain doesn’t stop the fun. For severe weather (lightning, high winds), we reschedule at no extra charge. Have an indoor backup or rain date in mind when you book.
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