All schools report that parents, students and staff fundraise, but the amounts range from $0 to $200,000 per school. In 2017:

• The top 5% of fundraising secondary schools raise as much as the bottom 83% combined.
• For every $1 raised by the bottom 10% of elementary schools, the top 10% raised $49 – a significant increase from 2008, when the ratio was $1 to $25.
• 48% of elementary schools reported that they raised money for learning resources.
• Ontario fundraising guidelines allow a wide range of fundraising activities.

While fee guidelines restrict charges for core components of education, there are fewer limits on fees for enrichment activities that may have a positive impact on whole child development. In 2017, 63% of elementary schools and 89% of secondary schools charged fees for extracurricular activities. Recent research found that extracurricular activities are associated with better academic and psychological outcomes, including less substance abuse and delinquency among participants in extracurricular activities.