Easy fundraising ideas
Raising money for your organization can be a drain on your limited resources—especially when fundraising is just one item on your very long to-do list! The simple fundraiser ideas on this list are designed to be quick and easy to pull together, so you can spread the word and raise cash fast.
From favorites like board game nights and baked goods sales to donation pages and photo contests, the easiest fundraising ideas will get you closer to your goal without taking up too much of your time or energy.
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Cornhole tournament
Gather your community for a friendly cornhole tournament. Set a donation amount to participate, and don’t forget prizes for the winning team.









Sell merch
Branded T-shirts, sweaters, shorts, or water bottles are a great way to raise cash and advertise your organization. Set up an online store and sell merch at community events.









Singing telegram
Unleash your inner performer with a singing telegram! Cast willing team members to be singers, and and sell performances for a set donation amount.









Cutest pet contest
Who has the cutest pet in your community? Host a photo contest to find out! Invite participants to submit a photo of their four-legged (or feathered or scaly!) friend for a set donation amount. Then, open up voting to the public—each vote can be a small donation. Crown a winner, raise funds, and flood everyone’s feed with cuteness.









Bake to give raffle
Gather your community’s star bakers and turn their sweet creations into a fundraising feast!
Ask members to whip up their favorite cakes or cookies to sell at your event. Want to add some extra excitement? Sell raffle tickets and give away delicious baked goods as prizes









Costume contest
Throw a themed costume party to match the season or holiday and award prizes for the best costumes! Sell tickets to your fundraising event online and partner with local sponsors to offset costs and spread the word.









Shoot-a-thon
In this basketball fundraiser, each contestant pays a small entry fee to see how many baskets they can make in a short amount of time.









Social media challenge
Choose a theme and a hashtag, encourage supporters to post their video or picture, and then tag others to challenge them to do the same—and donate!
Learn more social media fundraising tips to take your efforts to the next level.









Coach dare
Challenge your coach to do something wild (like shaving their head!) if your team reaches their fundraising goal. Have supporters watch the fundraiser’s progress—and create some exciting anticipation—with an engaging fundraising page that features a live goal bar.









VIP cushioned seats sale
Create and sell custom VIP event ticketsthat offer access to front-row, cushioned seats (and maybe some special team swag) at your next home game for your biggest fans and supporters.









Jeans day / Out of uniform day
Sell passes for a day out of uniform or a day in jeans. Allow parents to pre-pay ahead or donate on the day-of the event. For easy payments, use scan-to-donate or accept Venmo and other convenient options.









Storybook Character Dress-Up Day









Principal challenge
Challenge your principal to do something wild (like dye their hair) if your team reaches their fundraising goal. Use a custom fundraising page with a live goal bar to drum up excitement and share updates (and photos!) as donations roll in.









Virtual movie night
Use Teleparty (formerly Netflix Party) to host a virtual family movie night fundraising event on the streaming service of your choice. Ask movie trivia questions throughout to make the evening more interactive!









Food truck smorgasbord
Invite food trucks to a big game or event and ask them in return to donate a portion of all food sales to your team. To really sweeten the sponsorship opportunity, offer benefits for these small businesses, like free marketing and publicity.









Fitness class
Ask local instructors to donate a virtual or in-person class for your cause. Sell tickets and bring in some extra funds on the day of by selling snacks and branded merch.









Sponge toss
For this fundraising event, charge a small fee per water balloon or sponge, and let students throw them at each other during a pep rally or outdoor event. For easy participation, offer scan-to-donate and accept multiple payment methods like Apple Pay, Venmo, and more.









Bake sale
Everyone loves sweet treats. Whip up some cookies, cakes, and donuts, and set up a bake sale with proceeds going directly to your good cause.
Supporters don’t have cash on them? No problem! With Givebutter you can accept a wide range of modern payment methods, including Venmo.









High five booth
Brighten up someone’s day and raise money for a good cause. Set up a booth where passers-by or event attendees can make a donation of their choice and receive a high-five from you or your volunteers.
Make the donation process as quick and easy as the high-five itself—send people straight to your donation form with scan-to-donate.









The guessing game
At your next event, fill a jar with candy and, for a small fee, invite people to guess how many pieces are in the jar. The closest guess wins all the candy!
Use scan-to-donate to send guessers directly to your donation page for easy on-the-spot giving. Print the QR code onto a poster, or display it on a tablet or screen on your stand.









Partner with a local restaurant
Partner with a celebrated local eatery to donate a percentage of their profits from a certain night or weekend to your fundraising campaign. Check out tips for securing corporate sponsorships to make the most of this opportunity.









Donate or dare
Pledge to do something wild, exciting, or newsworthy if your fundraising campaign hits or exceeds its target.
Share regular campaign updates and add a goal bar to your fundraising page to keep the momentum going and encourage more donations.









Caroling
Embrace the holiday spirit and spread joy by going caroling around town or at an event. Pass the hat for cash donations AND hold a big QR code or text-to-donate number for easy mobile giving!









Crowdfunding campaign
Collect online donations from friends, family, and community members by creating a fundraising page that lays out your needs and the impact that you will make with the money you raise. Use photos and videos to make your story more engaging, and use a goal bar to showcase your progress.
Be sure to follow crowdfunding best practices in order to make your campaign an even bigger success!









Birthday fundraiser
Encourage friends and family members to make a donation to your nonprofit cause instead of giving you a birthday gift.
Givebutter’s fundraising pages make it easy to get creative and express your personality. Add photos and videos, share your story, and leave comments and drawings for your supporters as they give.









Frequently asked questions
How can I raise funds immediately or as soon as possible?
If you need to raise money for your cause quickly, look through super-easy fundraising ideas featured on this page to find one that works for you. Pair these great fundraisers with our step-by-step guide on how to raise $1K in 30 days for a smoother journey toward your fundraising goal.
What are the benefits of running an easy fundraiser?
The best thing about these fast fundraising ideas for nonprofit organizations is that they don’t require heaps of expert knowledge, weeks of planning, or buckets of cash. Instead, these fundraising efforts only require a few materials, inexpensive supplies, and a healthy dose of enthusiasm.
What makes something an easy or simple fundraising idea?
We’ve designed this list of quick fundraising ideas to meet two criteria—that they’re simple and fast. Each fundraiser can be planned with little effort, meaning they’re perfect for small teams, volunteers on a budget, and anyone who needs a last-minute fundraising idea to hit an unexpected target quickly.
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