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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.

All fundraising ideas

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Giving Tuesday campaign

Create a special campaign for Giving Tuesday and get your supporters to join in the action with peer-to-peer fundraising pages, social media, and more.

Cost:
1
Effort:
3
Impact:
3
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/giving-tuesday-campaign
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Peer-to-peer

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
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/ride-a-thon
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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:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/holiday-card-campaign
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Holiday movie marathon

Create a lineup of classic holiday movies for a community movie marathon. Sell tickets, popcorn, hot chocolate, and other treats to create a delightful (and profitable!) experience. 

With user-friendly fundraising event features for online ticket sales and in-person donations, organizing this event can be as easy as hitting play on your favorite festive film.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/holiday-movie-marathon
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Online quiz

Involve your supporters beyond donations by hosting an interactive, online quiz. Bonus points for including a round connected to your mission.

Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/online-quiz
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Events

Mini-golf tournament


Assemble teams, charge entry fees, and cheer everyone on as they compete for the best score. Encourage participants to make personal team fundraising pages and ask friends and family to support them and the cause.

Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/mini-golf-tournament
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Basketball tournament

Host a basketball tournament between different schools, teams, or departments. Sell event tickets and offer drinks, snacks, and merch using Tap to Pay.

Step things up by challenging each team to see who can raise the most. Encourage them to create team fundraising pages to track their impact and build momentum toward game day.
Cost:
2
Effort:
3
Impact:
3
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/basketball-tournament
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Office Games

Organize a series of lighthearted office games like chair races or paper airplane contests. Charge a small fee (donation) for participation and award prizes to winners. Offer scan to-donate to make the process smooth and simple.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/office-games
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Bring your pet to work day

Let employees bring their furry friends to work for the day in an exchange for a donation to your local animal shelter. Organize pet-themed activities and competitions to raise additional funds. To get remote employees involved, livestream some of the activities and invite coworkers to tune in!
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
1
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/bring-your-pet-to-work-day
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Horseback riding


Charge a fee for donated guided trail rides or lessons with trained instructors. To give participants access to more activities, offer custom ticket types for this memorable fundraising event.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/horseback-riding
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Ugly sweater run

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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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:
3
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/color-run
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Take a stroll


Host an inclusive fun run event that’s a little more leisurely. Set a time window for participants to complete their stroll and encourage them to collect donations through peer-to-peer fundraising pages. Be sure to showcase their achievements on social media! 
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
3
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/take-a-stroll
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50-yard-line movie night

Hang a projector screen (or large, white sheet) from the goalposts at the football field. Charge a small entrance fee, sell popcorn, and enjoy an outdoor movie night together—football-themed film or not! 
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/50-yard-line-movie-night
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Holiday performance

Put on a special holiday performance for your dance group’s friends and family members. Encourage everyone to make a donation to your chosen cause, or raise money by selling refreshments and dance-themed holiday decorations.
Cost:
1
Effort:
3
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/holiday-performance
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Events

All you can eat buffet

Host an all-you-can-eat buffet or potluck dinner, and charge a small fee to enjoy a meal together with your community.

A free event ticketing platform can help you organize and manage your evening and check people in from your mobile device without any stress. 
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/all-you-can-eat-buffet
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Adopt-a-room


Encourage donors to sponsor specific furniture peices and appliances so they can see how their contributions directly support families in need. The easiest way to do this is to set up custom labels for different donation amounts on your donation form that correspond with the items you need. For example, “$25 provides a toaster,” “$50 provides a dinnerware set,” and so on.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/adopt-a-room
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Crowdfunding campaign


Collect online donations from friends, family, and community members by creating a fundraising page that lays out your needs and the impact that you will make with the money you raise. Use photos and videos to make your story more engaging, and use a goal bar to showcase your progress.

Be sure to follow crowdfunding best practices in order to make your campaign an even bigger success!
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
3
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/crowdfunding-campaign
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Trivia night

At this crowd-favorite activity, you can come up with fun questions, charge entry fees for teams, and raise extra money by providing sweet and salty snacks.

Make the evening go even smoother with seamless attendee check-ins and easy payment options like Tap to pay, Venmo donations, and scan-to-donate. 
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/trivia-night
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Coffee morning


Host a coffee morning and invite your community members to join you for tea or coffee, cake, and a warm conversation. Ask a local coffee shop to sponsor the event or donate a percentage of the morning’s profits to your cause. 
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
1
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/coffee-morning
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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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Zookeeper


Create individual pages for the animals you care for and invite your supporters to donate to become a “Zookeeper” for a group or specific animal. Zookeepers receive regular updates on their animals and special access to events and volunteer opportunities. 
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/zookeeper
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Art festival


Secure a large space, reach out to local artists, and charge an entrance fee to your very own art festival. Check-in attendees and accept payments at the door and use scan-to-donate to encourage additional in-person donations throughout the event.
Cost:
2
Effort:
3
Impact:
3
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/art-festival
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High five booth


Brighten up someone’s day and raise money for a good cause. Set up a booth where passersby can make a donation and receive a high-five in return.

Make the giving process as quick and easy as the high-five itself with scan-to-donate.
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
1
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/high-five-booth
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