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Fundraising ideas

We’ve got the best fundraising ideas for good causes of all shapes and sizes! Check out our curated lists or browse all fundraising ideas below by cost, effort, and impact.

Givebutter fundraising progress graphic showing $45,000 raised out of a $50,000 goal (90% complete), with a smiling yellow character holding a light bulb and a green 'Support Now!' button.

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Sponsor a stud

Encourage donors to "sponsor" a piece of lumber your team will use in your construction projects. Create custom labels for different donation amounts on your donation form that align with the cost of materials (e.g., $50 donation equals 3 pieces of lumber). Don’t forget to invite all sponsors to the ribbon-cutting ceremony when construction is complete!

Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
2
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Donation forms
Fundraising page

Virtual bake sale

Sell homemade or donated treats through a donation form or event page and organize volunteers to make deliveries after purchase! For some additional funds, allow recipients to make a donation alongside their purchase. 

Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
1
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/virtual-bake-sale
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Donation forms
Fundraising page
Auctions

College movers for hire

Organize a service where volunteers help students move into their dorms in exchange for a set fee or a donation of their choice.

Set up a donation form with pre-set donation amounts and customized labels that show how much support they’re getting, like $50 = 2 hours of moving support.

Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
1
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/college-movers-for-hire
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Donation forms
Fundraising page

Mascot showdown

Join forces with your rival team for a good cause. Organize a race or other competition between your mascots during halftime at a big game, and ask supporters to vote for their mascot by donating on a team fundraising page. Use text-to-donate or a QR code to bring in even more funds from the stands during the event.

Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/mascot-showdown
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Events
Peer-to-peer

Karaoke night

Host an unforgettable night for your community to come belt out their favorite songs. Charge a small entry fee or accept donations for participation.

To encourage even more donations during the party, display mobile giving options and your progress toward your goal using live display.

Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/karaoke-night
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Events

Best seat in the house

Auction off tickets to the best seat(s) in the house for an upcoming performance, sports game, gala night, live concert, or other experience your group is hosting.

With Givebutter you can also create unlimited kinds of event tickets—perfect for creating VIP packages.

Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/best-seat-in-the-house
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Events
Auctions

Team apparel sale

Sell custom team apparel like T-shirts and hats featuring your team's logo and colors—online, in person, or both! Be sure to collect key info—like size and color—using custom fields on your donation forms.

Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/team-apparel-sale
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Events
Donation forms

Community resource fair

Reserve a large space like a parking lot or school gym and sell booths to local vendors. Invite the community and charge a small entrance fee with easy mobile giving tools like Tap to Pay or scan-to-donate.

Cost:
2
Effort:
3
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/community-resource-fair
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Events
Donation forms

Meditation retreat

Organize a mindfulness retreat focused on yoga, meditation, and wellness sessions in a serene setting.

Customize tickets for this fundraising event to collect needed information from registrants, such as dietary restrictions.

Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/meditation-retreat
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Events

Community cookbook

Create and sell a custom cookbook featuring favorite recipes from your community members and families. To drum up excitement and spread the word, share sneak peek photos on your custom fundraising page.

Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/community-cookbook
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Fundraising page

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.

Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/bake-sale
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Events

Themed auction

Partner with local businesses to source items for a themed auction with a variety of attractive packages, exciting products, and alluring getaways.

Asking for items to sell at your auction can feel daunting at first, so use this silent auction donation request guide to help you build relationships and attract amazing donations.

Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/themed-auction
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Auctions

Bingo night

Sell bingo cards and offer exciting prizes to keep everyone engaged all night long, either virtually or in person!

In the lead-up to your fundraising event, entice attendees with campaign updates featuring teasers of some of the prizes at stake.

Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/bingo-night
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Events

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
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/field-goal-derby
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Events
Peer-to-peer

Cupcake wars

Have kids prepare their favorite cupcake recipe to sell at a cupcake-only bake sale. To add some friendly competition in the mix, invite supporters to vote on their favorite treats by making a donation to the tastiest cupcake’s team fundraising page. Watch the results roll in on the live leaderboard and offer prizes for the winners!

Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/cupcake-wars
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Events
Peer-to-peer
Fundraising page
Donation forms

Ale tasting

For a fun twist on the usual wine tasting, sell tickets online and in person to an ale-tasting event instead. Host an evening of learning about brewing, tasting different beers, and raising money for a good cause.

Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/ale-tasting
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Events

Hot chocolate stall

Set up a hot chocolate or coffee stand and sell hot drinks to warm up your community! Have coffee, hot chocolate, tea, and plenty of syrups and toppings that they can add for an extra fee. Don’t forget marshmallows! Make it easy for supporters to pay for their drinks as you make them with scan-to-donate, Venmo, and other seamless payment options.

Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
1
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/hot-chocolate-stall
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Events
Donation forms

More money, no problems

Instead of hosting an event, ask your supporters to donate a specific amount for the entire year. Create a fundraising page with photos, videos, and a compelling story in order to encourage gifts. Be sure to customize your donation amounts and add descriptions that are specific to your needs and impact.

Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
3
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/more-money-no-problems
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Fundraising page
Donation forms

Speed dating

Find a venue, write up some icebreaker cards, and set a time limit for each date. Charge an entrance fee to this fundraising event and watch the sparks fly.

Encourage extra donations if participants find a special someone!

Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/speed-dating
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Events

Nostalgia night party

Pick an era (like the ‘90s), set the scene, charge an entrance fee, and sell themed merch, food, and drinks. To encourage even more donations during the festivities, display mobile giving options and your goal bar using live display.

Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/nostalgia-night-party
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Events

PTA mimosa breakfast

Invite parents to a fun twist on the pancake breakfast by selling tickets to an adult-only meal at your next fundraising event. Offer extra goodies—like espresso martinis!—at an additional cost.

Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/pta-mimosa-breakfast
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Events

Teddy bear picnic

Sell simple brown-bag lunches or have a mini bake sale at a picnic where participants can bring along their favorite stuffed animal. This fundraising event is a perfect family-friendly way to bring in needed funds.

Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/teddy-bear-picnic
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Events

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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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/ugly-sweater-5k
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Events
Peer-to-peer

Easter gift basket auction

Source delicious treats and seasonal goodies to create a selection of Easter gift baskets for aneggcellentsilent auction.

Combine classic Easter baskets (chocolate eggs, bunnies, etc.) with other awesome silent auction basket ideas to offer biddable items for the whole family.

Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/easter-gift-basket-auction
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Auctions
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