LGBTQ+ fundraising ideas
Whether you’re a nonprofit community center that serves queer youth or an individual looking to raise funds for a cause that’s close to your heart, we’ve got a list of the best LGBTQ fundraiser ideas—from pride-themed merchandise sales to dance-a-thons, trivia nights, and everything in between.
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Shoe drive
Invite your community members to donate gently worn or newly purchased shoes that you can sell at a pop-up shoe drive.
Make transactions easy with scan-to-donate and multiple payment options, including Venmo.









Town hall event









Legacy giving









Beach day
Set an affordable ticket price or ask for donations to cover the cost of the event and raise funds—whichever you choose, our fundraising event tools can help!









Membership drive
Incentivize supporters to invite friends and family to sign up for a membership during a specific period of time. Offer discounted rates or additional perks, and accept recurring donations on a monthly or annual basis.









Comedy night
Sell tickets to join your organization for an evening of laughter, drinks, and fundraising! Partner with a local venue and ask other businesses for corporate sponsorships to offset costs and bring in even more dollars for your cause.









Give $5, grab 5 friends
This is a great social media fundraising idea that can spread quickly within your community, helping you raise funds fast.









Fitness challenge
Participants commit to completing a certain number of workouts and collect pledges for each milestone achieved using personal peer-to-peer fundraising pages.
Watch as donations come in and friends and family share words of encouragement on the supporter feed.









Drag show
Sell tickets for a night of performances by local drag artists and musicians (with food and drinks available, too!).
Manage your event ticketing, check in your attendees, and accept additional donations in person with easy fundraisng event software.









LGBTQ+ workshop series
Charge a registration fee for a series of educational workshops or panel discussions on topics such as gender identity, allyship, and queer history.
Spread the word and follow up with attendees using free email marketing software.









Drag bingo
Sell bingo cards for a night of drag entertainment and competition! Winners receive donated prizes. To raise even more at this memorablefundraising event, offer drink specials and sell eye-catching merch.









LGBTQ+ trivia night
Charge a registration fee for a fun night of testing your LGBTQ+ knowledge. To raise additional funds at this fundraising event, sell pride-themed merch, drinks, and snacks, too!









Pride-themed merch sale
Design and sell pride-themed merchandise such as t-shirts, buttons, stickers, and flags. To drum up excitement, create a custom donation form, event, or fundraising page that includes images of the available items.









Thrifty fashion show









Speakeasy night
Sell tickets to a prohibition-era-themed night that features poker, themed cocktails, live music, and more. Sell tickets to this fundraising event ahead of time, and accept donations from latecomers on the spot, too.









Photo contest
Raise even more by turning the top photos into a deck of cards or a calendar.









Pumpkin carving contest
See who can carve or decorate the best pumpkin while raising funds for your group or cause. Award prizes in different categories like kids, families, and most talented adults.
Make it easy as pumpkin pie to vote for the winners with a small donation using text-to-donate.









Year-end fundraiser
Celebrate the end of the year with a big annual fundraiser. Host an event and attract donations and support with a silent auction, peer-to-peer campaign, and more.
Use the year-end giving checklist to make sure you’ve covered every angle!









Date auction
Brave individuals offer themselves up for your auction to go on a date with the highest bidders. This idea is a little bit dated, but with the right planning, you can have a lot of fun with it.
Ask sponsoring restaurants to donate gift certificates to bring in more bids for these “items”and make for an easy, in-public location for each date.









Literary pub crawl
To take this fundraising event further, arrange to have each watering hole feature a special cocktail or brew (with some non-alcoholic beverages in the mix!) to match your theme.









Masquerade ball
Whether it's time for Mardi Gras or you’re looking for a creative New Year’s Eve idea, a masquerade ball will make for a memorable evening and bring in lots of donations. Create an unforgettable fundraising event experience with easy ticket sales and check-ins, live display, and a silent auction.









Frequently asked questions
How do you fundraise for an LGTBQ+ nonprofit during Pride Month?
Pride fundraising ideas are as diverse as LGBTQ+ communities. Reach out to local nonprofits to see if you can join any current fundraising campaigns, or offer to organize one on their behalf.
Gather a group of volunteers and decide how you’ll raise money: Hosting a pride-themed merch sale? Selling tickets to a special Drag Queen Story Hour? Whatever shape your pride fundraiser takes, be sure to collaborate with local businesses and influencers to amplify your fundraising efforts and reach a wider audience during your local gay pride parade, too!
How can I raise awareness for LGBTQ+ nonprofits?
Social media campaigns and fun events that bring people together are two ways that you can celebrate the LGBTQ+ community and raise money and awareness for organizations that create safe spaces for LGBTQ+ individuals. Strategies like peer-to-peer fundraising also help rally community support and raise funds for LGBTQ+ nonprofits.
Consider sharing educational content, like a history of the Stonewall Riots, to grow an understanding of the struggles of LGBTQ people, and show how organizations are continuing the fight for equality today.
What are the most popular LBGTQ+ fundraising ideas?
Some popular LGBTQ+ fundraising ideas include queer trivia nights, pride art auctions, and drag bingo. Additionally, you can offer pride-themed products or services with a portion of the proceeds donated to LGBTQ+ nonprofits.
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