12 Fundraiser Prizes No One Ever Claimed

From dusty trophies to oddball trinkets, these fundraiser prizes were left untouched and forgotten.

Chris Graciano
October 29, 2025
4 min read

12 Fundraiser Prizes No One Ever Claimed — Giorgio Trovato on Unsplash

School and community fundraisers often dangled prizes to motivate kids. However, not every reward was worth chasing. Some were strange, others impractical, and a few were just plain boring. Here are 12 fundraiser prizes that nobody really wanted to claim.

1. 1. Plastic Trophy with a Generic Plaque

At first glance, it gleamed like gold and made every kid feel like a champion, until they noticed the plaque was completely blank — no name, no event, no recognition. Within days, the metallic paint began to flake, and the trophy lost its luster both literally and figuratively.

2. 2. Giant Pencil That Couldn’t Be Used

It looked like the ultimate prize for any student: a comically oversized pencil that screamed “winner!” The problem? It couldn’t actually write. The pencil was too big to hold, couldn’t fit in a sharpener, and served no purpose other than collecting dust.

3. 3. Scratch-and-Sniff Stickers

These were the crown jewels of childhood prizes, at least for about ten minutes. Each sheet smelled faintly of fake strawberries, bubblegum, or root beer, but the scent faded faster than the excitement. After the initial sniffing frenzy, the stickers lost their appeal, becoming just another sheet of colorful paper.

4. 4. Keychain Flashlight That Barely Worked

A flashlight small enough to fit in your pocket sounds great, until you realize it barely produces any light at all. The dim beam flickered, the batteries drained in hours, and the cheap plastic casing cracked if dropped once. Most kids clipped it to their backpack proudly for a day, then forgot about it when it stopped working.

5. 5. Inflatable Hammer or Guitar

Every fundraiser seemed to have one of these ridiculous, oversized air toys. The inflatable hammer or guitar looked fun until someone actually tried to play or swing it. Within minutes, it was punctured, deflated, and reduced to a sad sheet of plastic.

6. 6. Plastic Medal on a Ribbon

Every student dreamed of winning a medal, until they got one made of hollow plastic. It clinked awkwardly, felt feather-light, and sometimes snapped in half before the day was over. The ribbon frayed and unraveled, leaving a cheap strand that didn’t exactly scream “achievement.”

7. 7. Tiny Rubik’s Cube Knockoff

This miniature puzzle was supposed to challenge young minds, but instead, it tested their patience. The plastic pieces were stiff, the colors peeled, and it jammed after just one twist. Instead of sparking genius, it caused frustration and a few broken cubes.

8. 8. Coupon for Free Homework Pass

Now, this sounded like a dream come true: freedom from homework! However, the fine print turned that dream into a joke. It could only be used for minor assignments, not big projects or tests, and sometimes teachers simply “forgot” to honor it.

9. 9. Pencil Toppers That Didn’t Fit

Cute rubber animals, goofy faces, or colorful monsters; all meant to liven up a boring pencil. The only problem? None of them actually fit. They wobbled, slipped off, or split down the middle the first time you tried to write. Instead of making school supplies fun, they made them frustrating.

10. 10. Glow-in-the-Dark Bracelet

In the cafeteria lights, it looked magical; a faintly glowing loop that promised late-night fun. However, when the lights went out, reality set in. The glow barely lasted an hour, and the thin plastic snapped if bent too far. Once broken, the dim liquid inside wasn’t nearly as exciting as it seemed on TV.

11. 11. Plastic Sunglasses in Neon Colors

They were bright, flashy, and totally impractical. The neon-colored sunglasses looked fun on spirit day, but the lenses barely blocked sunlight and scratched at the first touch. The plastic arms snapped after a few wears, and the fit was always awkward.

12. 12. Tiny Plastic Trophy Shaped Like a Star

If the big trophy was disappointing, this mini version took things to another level. Small, hollow, and feather-light, it didn’t feel like much of a reward. The star on top often bent or broke, and the base wobbled like it might fall over from a single breeze.