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Small group fundraising ideas

As a small group, you have the opportunity to be nimble and creative in how you approach raising money for your cause. Discover all kinds of unique fundraiser ideas for small groups that will help turn your talents and enthusiasm into practical support and donations for your next big project.

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Small group of kids reading books
Ascension Episcopal Church
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Street clean up

Use the longer days of summer to your advantage by organizing a street clean-up to keep your neighborhood looking fresh and welcoming. 

Partner with local businesses to sponsor the day and encourage donations toward your charity or group. 
Cost:
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Impact:
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Link copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/street-clean-up
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Grown-up bake sale

Sell donated or homemade gourmet goodies like croissants and macarons for the ultimate grownups-with-a-sweet-tooth fundraiser. 

Collect in-person payments with scan-to-donate, which gives donors a wide range of payment options.  
Cost:
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Effort:
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Impact:
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Link copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/grown-up-bake-sale
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Events

Toy drive


Set up a toy drive so your community members can donate toys or cash to support families over the holiday season. Distribute toys to those most in need and use extra funds to buy additional gifts.

Let everyone know when, where, and what to donate with the help of email marketing software.
Cost:
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Effort:
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Impact:
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Link copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/toy-drive
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Flower bouquets

Partner with a local florist to set up a stall where volunteers make, wrap, and sell flower bouquets for Mother's Day, Easter, or any other spring celebration.

Create a fundraising page with custom donation amounts featuring a photo of each kind of bouquet and the number available so donors can reserve bouquets online or purchase in person.
Cost:
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Effort:
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Impact:
2
Link copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/flower-bouquets
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Donation drive


Set up a donation drive to collect valuable in-kind donations or financial gifts for your cause. This can be done by setting up a drop-off zone in person or collecting donations online through a fundraising page. No matter the format—make sure to share your fundraising goal far and wide to keep the momentum going!

Cost:
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Effort:
2
Impact:
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Link copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/donation-drive
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Plant sale


Ask your green-thumbed community members to grow their best seedlings and plants for a future plant sale to raise much-needed funds. Or, send a sponsorship proposal to a local plant nursery to sign on as your event sponsor or partner.
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Link copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/plant-sale
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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:
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Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Link copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/pop-up-clothing-shop
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Yard raking


Set up a yard raking service in exchange for donations toward your good cause.

Follow best practices for volunteer recruitment to build a loyal community of supporters ready to pitch in for yardwork and more.
Cost:
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Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Link copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/yard-raking
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Auctions

Text-to-donate


With text-to-donate, raising funds is as easy as sending a text. Display your shortcode at fundraising events, share it on social media, or add it to signs so your supporters give using their mobile devices right on the spot—no matter where they are.

See for yourself how easy it is! Text “DEMO” to 53-555.
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
3
Link copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/text-to-donate
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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
Link copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/raffle
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Neighborhood tailgate party


Swap the stadium for your local streets and host a neighborhood tailgate party. Clear a block or two and set up food stalls, carnival games, and plenty of activities for everyone to enjoy.

You can make the event free and charge for activities or create a ticketed event—whichever you choose, our fundraising event features can help.
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Link copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/neighborhood-tailgate-party
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Photo contest

Run a short photo contest for an inexpensive, all-ages fundraiser. Choose a theme, charge a small fee to enter, and invite community members to submit their photos alongside their donations in your supporter feed

Raise even more by turning the top photos into a deck of cards or a calendar. 
Cost:
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Effort:
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Impact:
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Link copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/photo-contest
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Teen film festival

Invite teens to showcase their own short films and charge admission to audience members. In order to cast a vote for their favorite films, supporters must give a donation to the film’s/filmmaker’s team fundraising page. Watch the results roll in on the live leaderboard and offer awards for the best film winners in various categories.
Cost:
1
Effort:
3
Impact:
2
Link copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/teen-film-festival
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Peer-to-peer

Cold water plunge

Challenge your supporters to take a dip in an icy cold body of water to raise funds and awareness for your cause! Participants can set up their own peer-to-peer fundraising pages connected to your campaign, where they can share their stories, set a personal target, and bring in donations from friends and family. 
Cost:
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Effort:
3
Impact:
2
Link copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/cold-water-plunge
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Peer-to-peer

Fitness class


Ask local instructors to donate a virtual or in-person class for your cause. Sell tickets and boost revenue on the day of by offering snacks, drinks, or branded merch.
Cost:
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Effort:
1
Impact:
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Link copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/fitness-class
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Photography walk

Invite a photographer to host a tour around the local area, taking in the sights of the season. Sell tickets in advance and use an easy mobile app to check in guests and take any last-minute payments on the day of. 
Cost:
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Effort:
2
Impact:
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Link copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/photography-walk
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Events

Craft sale

Turn your community’s talents into funds for your cause by hosting a craft sale. Ask volunteer crafters to donate some of their goods or ask for a percentage of their profits in return for promoting and hosting the event.

Want to make an even bigger impact? Auction off some larger or more in-demand items.
Cost:
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Effort:
3
Impact:
2
Link copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/craft-sale
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Auctions
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Give $5, grab 5 friends

Ask your supporters to donate $5 to your cause. Then, each donor has to tag at least five people via social media. The goal is that each person who gets tagged matches that $5 gift to your campaign—and then tags five others.

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

Cost:
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Effort:
2
Impact:
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Link copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/give-5-grab-5-friends
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Peer-to-peer
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One-day giving event


Take part in Giving Tuesday or create your own giving day in which you mobilize your community to reach your fundraising goal in one day.

Keep your supporters invested in your progress with a goal bar and campaign updates that highlight milestones, matching gifts, and special shout-outs throughout the day.
Cost:
1
Effort:
3
Impact:
3
Link copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/one-day-giving-event
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Virtual movie night


Host a virtual family movie night using Teleparty (formerly Netflix Party) on your favorite streaming platform. Collect donations before or during your fundraising event, and make it more interactive and fun with movie trivia questions throughout the evening. 

Cost:
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Effort:
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Impact:
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Link copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/virtual-movie-night
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Tag Day


Invite students to set up outside local businesses and collect donations from patrons. Donors receive “tags” (stickers) to show they gave. Accept payments via Venmo or scan-to-donate!
Cost:
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Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Link copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/tag-day
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Escape Room Challenge

Charge a participation fee and challenge teams to solve puzzles and clues to "escape” from various spaces in this exciting, community-building fundraising event.
Cost:
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Effort:
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Impact:
2
Link copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/escape-room-challenge
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Holiday card campaign


Send a festive holiday card—by mail or email—to share season’s greetings, thank your supporters, and invite them to contribute toward your year-end fundraising goals

Use Givebutter’s built-in Canva integration to add extra cheer to your letters or emails in just a few clicks.
Cost:
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Effort:
1
Impact:
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Link copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/holiday-card-campaign
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Donate or dare


Pledge to do something wild, exciting, or newsworthy if your campaign hits its goal. Shaving your head is a classic option for this fundraising idea!

Share regular updates on your fundraising page and add a goal bar to keep the momentum going and drive more donations.
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
2
Link copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/donate-or-dare
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Peer-to-peer
Pages & forms

Workshop or masterclass


Put your community’s talents to good use.Host an expert workshop or masterclass series and raise funds through ticket sales.

You don’t need to limit your audience to only the people you can fit in the room. Consider livestreaming your event to make it more accessible and raise even more dollars.
Cost:
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Effort:
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Impact:
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Link copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/workshop-or-masterclass
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Frequently asked questions

Small groups can raise money in many different ways. They can set up an online donation page, run a car wash, or charge a small fee for tickets to an event. They can also raise funds with silent auctions and peer-to-peer fundraising campaigns. It’s never a bad idea to partner with a local restaurant or another local business for sponsorship to bring in even more funds and exposure for their fundraising efforts.

When it comes to finding easy fundraising ideas for small groups, stick with what you know best and what you already have the resources for. You can organize a Sunday morning bake sale or a yard sale to turn goods into funds. These kinds of events don’t require extensive planning or materials, making them great ways to raise money with less prep work.

If baked goods aren’t cutting it and you need to raise money straight away, some quick fundraiser ideas for small groups include time-based events like virtual telethons, online fundraisers, and urgent appeals. Our How to Raise $1K in 30 Days guide is packed with simple yet powerful fundraising strategies and tips on how to spread the word and hit your fundraising goal fast.

The best small group fundraiser ideas come from creative experiences that capture the attention and excitement of your friends, family, and community members. Choose themes and activities that your supporters are likely to enjoy the most, whether that’s a movie night, a murder mystery event, a walk-a-thon, a talent show, or a sports game. You know your community best! 

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