Penny War Rules and Point Values for a School Fundraiser
October 19, 2026 · 6 min read
By The I Survived Room Parent Team
A penny war is a friendly coin battle between classes. Every class gets a jar. Pennies dropped in your own class jar add points. Silver coins and bills dropped in another class's jar take points away. At the end of the week, the class with the highest score wins a small prize, and every coin, no matter which jar it landed in, goes to the same cause. It's loud, it's silly, it costs almost nothing to run, and kids talk about it for weeks.
Key Takeaways
Pennies are plus points, everything else is minus points. Drop pennies in your own jar and silver coins or bills in a rival's jar.
Use one simple point chart and post it everywhere. Our points: penny +1, nickel −5, dime −10, quarter −25, $1 bill −100.
Run it for one week. Five school days is long enough to build excitement and short enough to keep it fun.
Count every day and post the scoreboard. The daily update is what drives the giving.
All the money goes to one cause. Points decide the winner. Dollars decide the total.
Grab the free kit. Our Penny War Fundraiser Flyer includes the rules, the point chart and a daily tally sheet, and you can make your copy in Canva.
How does a penny war work?
Each class (or grade) gets a clear jar labeled with its name. Students bring in coins and bills and drop them in jars throughout the week. The twist is that only pennies help your own class. Every other coin and every bill counts against the class whose jar it lands in.
So a student might put 30 pennies in their own jar for +30 points, then drop a quarter in a rival class's jar to knock them down 25. Classes plot. Grandparents get involved. Someone's uncle shows up with a roll of quarters and a grudge.
Pennies help your class. Silver coins and bills "help" everyone else.
What are the penny war point values?
Here's the point chart we use on our free flyer. It's the most common setup, and it's easy for kids to remember.
Penny: +1 point in your own class jar
Nickel: −5 points in another class's jar
Dime: −10 points in another class's jar
Quarter: −25 points in another class's jar
$1 bill: −100 points in another class's jar
The math is simple: each coin is worth its value in cents. Pennies count up, and everything else counts down. A $5 bill is −500 points if you choose to count bills by value.
Do nickels count as plus points in your own jar?
Not in our version. Silver coins and bills only count when they land in another class's jar. If a student drops a nickel in their own jar by mistake, most schools simply count it toward the fundraiser total without any points. Put that rule on the flyer so there are no arguments at the counting table.
What about other point systems?
Some schools let any coin count as plus points in your own jar and minus points in someone else's. Others give a bonus for pennies. Any system works if it's simple, posted and the same for everyone. Pick one and stick with it all week.
How do you set up a penny war step by step?
2 to 3 weeks before
Get the principal's okay and pick the week.
Choose the cause: library books, a playground upgrade, a class trip fund or a family in need.
Decide whether classes, grades or homerooms compete.
Pick the prize for the winning class (see ideas below).
Recruit 2 to 4 adult counters for each day.
1 week before
Fill in the flyer with dates, the point chart and the prize, and send it home and in the class chat.
Label one clear jar per class. Large plastic jars or clear containers with lids work well.
Set up a spot for the jars: a hallway table near the office, or each classroom.
During the week
Open the jars each morning (or at lunch) and close them at a set time.
Count each jar every day after school with two adults.
Record pennies (plus points) and silver coins and bills (minus points) for each class.
Post the daily scoreboard in the hallway, the morning announcements and the class chat.
Final day
Do the final count with two adults.
Announce the winner the next morning.
Bag and deposit the money with your treasurer.
How do you count penny war jars fast?
Counting is the one part that can eat your afternoon. Make it easier:
Sort first. Dump each jar on a tray and sort into pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters and bills.
Use coin counting trays or wrappers. A coin counting tray (or a few rolls of coin wrappers) speeds things up a lot.
Weigh pennies. If you have a kitchen scale, weighing pennies is fast. Test a counted pile first so you know the weight per 100.
Ask the bank. Some banks or credit unions will count coins for schools at no charge. Ask your treasurer.
Use the tally sheet. Our free kit has a daily tally sheet for 16 classes over 5 days, so you can write in pennies, minus points and the daily score in one place.
Two adults should count and sign off on every total. It protects your volunteers and keeps the totals honest.
What are good penny war prizes?
Keep prizes free or low-cost so the money goes to the cause.
Pajama day for the winning class
Extra recess
A class picture with the principal in a silly hat
The class trophy (a spray-painted jar on the principal's desk)
A movie afternoon with store-bought, sealed popcorn
First in line at lunch for a week
The principal reads a story to the class
A teacher-approved "no homework" night
The pennies come from the couch. The dollar bills come from someone who really wants pajama day.
How do you keep a penny war fair and friendly?
A penny war is supposed to be fun for everyone, including the kids who can't bring in money.
Make giving optional. Say clearly on the flyer that every child is part of the team, whether or not they bring coins.
Avoid shaming. Post class scores, not names of who gave what.
Set a fair stopping time. Close jars at the same time every day so no one sneaks in a last-minute bill.
Keep it supervised. Jars should be in a place adults can see.
Watch the trash talk. Friendly rivalry is great. Mean comments are a no.
Give every class a shout-out. Highlight "most improved" or "best team spirit" too.
How much does a penny war raise?
It varies by school size and how fired up families get. Because the minus points come from silver coins and bills, the most competitive classes often raise a lot, even if they don't win. The total grows each day as classes try to catch up, so the daily scoreboard is your best fundraising tool.
What can room parents do to help?
Share the flyer and the daily score in your class chat. Keep it short and fun. Our group chat etiquette guide has tips.
Volunteer for one counting shift, or find a parent who will. Our volunteers needed flyer helps.
Help your class make a team sign for the jar.
Remind families that giving is optional and every child counts.
Our free Penny War Fundraiser Flyer has a fillable flyer with the full point chart and a daily tally sheet. Want to change the colors or add your school logo? Open the product page and click Make your copy in Canva. For more ideas, see our PTO fundraiser ideas guide.
FAQ
How long should a penny war last?
One school week is ideal. It's long enough for the competition to build and short enough that counting doesn't take over your life.
Should classes or grades compete?
Either works. Grade-level teams are easier to count. Class-by-class is more personal and more fun for the kids.
Can parents send in money for their child's class?
Sure. Many schools let families donate online or send in an envelope. Decide ahead of time how that counts toward points.
What if a class ends up with a negative score?
It happens, and it's part of the fun. Post it with a good attitude and remind everyone that all the money goes to the same cause.
Is a penny war the same as a raffle?
No. There are no tickets and no drawing, and the prize goes to a whole class. Still, check your school's fundraising rules before you start.
More Fundraiser Guides
Silent Auction Guide for Schools + 60 Basket Ideas Families Bid On
Read-a-Thon Planning Guide: Pledges, Logs, Prizes and Timeline
Questions? Email us at contactus@isurvivedroomparent.com.
Survived this one? Wear it proudly.
Shop the tees
