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Fundraising ideas for individuals on behalf of nonprofits

Whether you’re a passionate individual supporter or a nonprofit organization eager to engage more people in your fundraising efforts, we’ve pulled together a slew of individual fundraising ideas that are sure to make an impact. 

From birthday donations and crowdfunding campaigns to baked goods sales and social media challenges, this list of easy fundraising ideas for individuals will help you find the inspiration you need to start raising funds for your favorite organization.

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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.

Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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Events
Donation forms

Bowl-a-thon

Reserve lanes at a bowling alley, ask participants to gather pledges for an all-you-can-bowl night, and watch the donations roll in on team fundraising pages.

Offer special prizes for the team with the highest score, most creative name, or even the best uniforms.

Cost:
1
Effort:
3
Impact:
3
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/bowl-a-thon
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Peer-to-peer

Candy bar sale

Sell wholesale candy bars and sweet treats to your supporters. Bring them to events or offer them anywhere people might need a snack! Use peer-to-peer fundraising to spark a bit of friendly competition and easily track who’s sold the most.

Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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Peer-to-peer
Fundraising page
Donation forms

Lend a helping hand

Let donors "purchase" 2-5 hours of extra help from students or volunteers (think raking leaves or mowing the lawn).

In order to streamline the process and keep track of contributions, create custom labels for different donation amounts on a special fundraising page or donation form (e.g. $50 = 2 volunteer hours).

Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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Auctions

You name it

Come up with a creative fundraiser with a cathy name like “Pancakes for Parents” brunch or a “Chicken Wings for Cheerleaders.” To get supporters excited, create a custom fundraising page full of on-theme photos, videos, ands more!

Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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Events

Family fun run

Encourage families to run, walk, or jog for your cause! Offer kid-friendly activities, prizes, and course options.

Use team and peer-to-peer fundraising to encourage participants to set a donation goal and spread the word about the event.

Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
3
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/family-fun-run
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Events
Peer-to-peer

Pajama run

Ask participants to don their favorite PJs while tackling a walk, jog, roll, or run for the cause. Encourage everyone to set a donation goal and spread the word about the fundraiser through peer-to-peer fundraising. Don’t forget to award prizes to the coziest runners!

Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
3
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Peer-to-peer

Tailgate party

Invite a local restaurant to contribute or have volunteers create a menu for a tailgate. Sell entry tickets and offer some fun merch or special treats at an additional price to bring in extra dollars.

Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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Events

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.
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
2
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Events
Peer-to-peer
Donation forms

Pet run/walk

Invite community members to bring their furry friends along to walk in a charity 5K. Encourage participants to create individual fundraising pages that feature their pets, set a donation goal, and help spread the word about the cause.

Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
3
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Peer-to-peer

Car wash

Gather volunteers, soap, and plenty of rags to wash cars in exchange for donations. Collect onsite donations easily with a scan-to-donate QR code that lets donors to select from a variety of payment methods.

Sprinkle some extra magic into this classic fundraiser by giving it a theme! Encourage your group to dress up in costumes representing ‘80s icons, classic Disney characters, superheroes—you name it.

Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/car-wash
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Events

Pump-a-thon

Find out who can (safely) lift the most weight curling, deadlifting, or squatting. Charge entry fees for participants, sell tickets, and offer food and drink at an additional cost.

Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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Peer-to-peer

Pop-up clothing shop

Ask community members to purge their wardrobes and donate sell-worthy items to your cause. Host a pop-up clothing shop at a local venue and sell tickets for entry!

Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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Events
Donation forms

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.

Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
3
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/social-media-challenge
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Donation forms
Fundraising page

Obstacle course

Challenge supporters to navigate walls, mud pits, and rope climbs. To amplify your impact and spark some friendly competition, encourage team fundraising—all supporters can join an existing team or create their own to compete!

Cost:
2
Effort:
3
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/obstacle-course
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Events
Peer-to-peer

Color run

Spray participants with brightly colored powder along the course of your charity fun run. By the end, runners will be rainbow-ed! Set up a photo booth at the finish line for selfies, and encourage donations on social media via a scan-to-donate code.

Cost:
2
Effort:
3
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/color-run
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Events
Peer-to-peer

Virtual fun run

Take your fundraising run online—or create a hybrid event—by encouraging participants to complete a designated distance anytime, anywhere! Be sure to use peer-to-peer fundraising to spread the word and bring in some major funds.

Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
3
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/virtual-fun-run
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Peer-to-peer

Walkathon

Ask supporters to lace up their shoes and gather pledges or donations for every mile they walk.

Sell official charity gear, encourage participants to share updates on their own personal donation pages, and award top fundraisers with exciting prizes.

Cost:
2
Effort:
3
Impact:
3
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/walkathon
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Events
Peer-to-peer

5k walk/run

Map out your fundraising run route and have supporters donate to participate. Then, use peer-to-peer and team fundraising tools that let supporters create their own donation pages, set goals, and ask friends and family to contribute!

Cost:
1
Effort:
3
Impact:
3
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Peer-to-peer

Ugly sweater 5k

Get festive by encouraging supporters to wear their ugliest holiday sweater for a fun run! Use peer-to-peer fundraising to encourage participants to set a donation goal and spread the word—along with photos of them in their ugly regalia. Offer a special award for the “best” dressed.

Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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Halloween costume run

Ask supporters to wear their silliest or spookiest Halloween costumes during this fun run. Use team or peer-to-peer fundraising to help participants set a donation goal and spread the word.

At the end, award special prizes to the race winners, the teams or individuals who raised the most, and the best costumes!

Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/halloween-costume-run
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Events
Peer-to-peer

T-shirt design contest

Encourage supporters to submit their best t-shirt designs to enter a competition. Set up team fundraising pages for each design and have supporters donate to vote for their favorite. Each donation will appear on a leaderboard so everyone can watch the votes (and donations!) come in.

Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/t-shirt-design-contest
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Fundraising page
Peer-to-peer
Donation forms

Valet parking

Create and sell custom VIP event tickets that offer parking perks to donors who'd appreciate the convenience of getting dropped off right at the game entrance.

Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/valet-parking
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Dance-a-thon

Using individual peer-to-peer fundraising pages connected to your main event page, participants gather donations and pledges based on how long they aim to dance—without taking a break!

Supporters can donate, leave encouraging messages for the dancers, and purchase tickets to join in the fun—all in one place.

Cost:
2
Effort:
3
Impact:
3
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/dance-a-thon
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Events
Peer-to-peer

Open mic night

Invite community members to perform music, poetry, or comedy for a good cause. Ask audience members to make a small donation and offer snacks to raise more funds using easy in-person mobile payments like Tap to Pay and scan-to-donate.

Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/open-mic-night
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Events
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Frequently asked questions

When it comes to raising funds solo, there are plenty of effective personal fundraising ideas that don't require the support of a large team or organization. Once you choose a nonprofit you want to support, take advantage of online fundraising by creating a personal fundraising page, asking friends and family to contribute to your donation page in lieu of gifts on your birthday, or even running a race and asking for small donations.

There are numerous ways to ask for donations, but be sure to keep a few best practices to keep in mind. Instead of sending generic messages, personalize your outreach to each potential donor. Share why the cause is meaningful to you and how their contribution can truly make a difference. And don't forget to express genuine gratitude for their support, no matter the size of their donation.

While birthday donations and crowdfunding are classic single-person fundraising ideas, larger-scale fundraising campaigns and events are more likely to bring in higher donations with greater speed. Whether you charge an entry fee for a concert, ask local businesses to sponsor a car wash, or sell tickets for a block party, exciting events have the potential to attract a large audience and help you reach your fundraising goal more quickly.

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