Copied!
All fundraising ideas

Kids fundraising ideas

Whether you’re looking to host a fundraiser that appeals to parents and community members or one that involves kids, too, you’ve come to the right place. From T-shirt design contests to a much-needed parents' night out, these children's fundraising ideas are fun, family-friendly ways to raise money for schools, clubs, sports teams, and more.

Filter
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Ride-a-thon

Partner with a local horse riding stable to host a ride-a-thon! Ask the stable to donate a group ride package or discounted sessions. Supporters can join by making a set donation, with proceeds going directly to your fundraiser. It’s a fun, family-friendly way to raise money, connect with your community, and make unforgettable memories—no riding experience required!

Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/ride-a-thon
All
Fundraising page
Events
Peer-to-peer

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.

Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
2
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/cutest-pet-contest
All
Fundraising page
Events

Pajama party

Raise money for a good cause and create an unforgettable, cozy experience by turning any fundraising event into a pajama party.

Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
1
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/pajama-party
All
Events
Donation forms

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
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/costume-contest
All
Events
Donation forms

Field goal derby

Invite fans to donate to see how many field goals they can make in a minute (use a smaller goalpost for kids!). Have each participant create a personal peer-to-peer fundraising page and reach out to friends and family for support!

Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/field-goal-derby
All
Events
Peer-to-peer

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
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/bowl-a-thon
All
Events
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
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/candy-bar-sale
All
Peer-to-peer
Fundraising page
Donation forms

Flag football tournament

Bring fans onto the field for some football fun! Teams register and pay to play and fans buy tickets to cheer them on.

Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
3
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/flag-football-tournament
All
Events
Peer-to-peer

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
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/you-name-it
All
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
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/family-fun-run
All
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
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/pajama-run
All
Events
Peer-to-peer

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
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/pet-run-walk
All
Events
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
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/car-wash
All
Events

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
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/pop-up-clothing-shop
All
Events
Donation forms

Raffle

Ask your sponsors and community members to donate items or experiences, then raffle them off! The sky’s the limit when it comes to raffle ticket prizes: gift baskets, movie tickets, artwork—anything your community members will love.

Just be sure to check your state laws regarding raffles before you start planning!

Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
3
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/raffle
All
Events
Fundraising page
Donation forms

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
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/obstacle-course
All
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
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/color-run
All
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
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/virtual-fun-run
All
Events
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
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/walkathon
All
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
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/5k-walk-run
All
Events
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
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/ugly-sweater-5k
All
Events
Peer-to-peer

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
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/halloween-costume-run
All
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
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/t-shirt-design-contest
All
Fundraising page
Peer-to-peer
Donation forms

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.

Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
2
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/vip-cushioned-seats-sale
All
Events
Auctions

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
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/dance-a-thon
All
Events
Peer-to-peer
Looks like we don’t have any fundraising ideas matching that criteria 🔎
We're always cooking up new ideas, so check back soon for fresh picks!
Dive into our list of best fundraising ideas in the meantime 

Frequently asked questions

Children have many options when it comes to crafting items for charity. The best kid-friendly fundraiser ideas often involve getting kids to use their creativity for good, like designing T-shirts or baking tasty treats.

Some of the most popular events encourage kids to participate in fundraising efforts. Car washes and lemonade stands are two classic choices. Charity walks or runs also provide opportunities for kids to get active and raise money through pledges or sponsorships from local businesses. Plus, offering small prizes at the end also helps with motivation!

Simple yet effective, easy kid fundraising ideas require minimal resources and supervision. Game nights and read-a-thons, for example, are two great fundraisers for kids requiring little parental assistance while also providing exciting experiences for the children.

Subscribe to
The Butter Brief

Get fundraising ideas, tips, and free resources right in your inbox

Subscribed! Your fundraising journey just got a whole lot butter. 🧈
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Givebutter helps you turn ideas into impact

Subscribe to
The Butter Brief

Get fundraising ideas, tips, and free resources right in your inbox

Subscribed! Your fundraising journey just got a whole lot butter. 🧈
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

The most-loved fundraising platform