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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.

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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!
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/lgbtq-trivia-night
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Disc golf fundraiser

Swap traditional golf for disc golf and attract a new crowd to help you raise money. Sell tickets for people to take part, and livestream the event so your community can cheer on participants and donate from wherever they are.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/disc-golf-fundraiser
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Events
Peer-to-peer

Jog-a-thon


Host a family friendly jog-a-thon at your local running track. Participants can collect pledges for the number of laps they jog, walk, or run. Recruit volunteers to tally the number of laps each participant completes. 
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/jog-a-thon
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Events
Peer-to-peer

Count the jellybeans


Fill a jar with jellybeans (or another candy) and have guessers write down their number estimation alongside their name. 

Use scan-to-donate or other mobile payment options to accept donations for each guess and award a prize to the person whose comes closest! 
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
1
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/count-the-jellybeans
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Pet picture day


Ask a photographer in your area to volunteer to take pictures of pets and their owners at a local park. Customize your fundraising event page with time-slotted tickets to make the day run smoothly.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/pet-picture-day
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Putting contest

Gather everyone around the practice green and sell tickets for golfers to putt the ball as far as they can. The winner is the participant that gets their ball closest to the hole.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
1
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/putting-contest
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Peer-to-peer

Trike-a-thon


Set up a mini racecourse and encourage family and friends to sponsor your little big-wheel racers by making a donation on their behalf through your fundraising page. Don’t forget to award prizes!
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/trike-a-thon
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Take a pie to the face


Set up a booth and invite people to pay to throw a pie at willing participants like teachers, bosses, or coaches—the more authority, the more satisfying!

With scan-to-donate, pie throwers use your QR code to land on your donation page instantly—no waiting around.
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
1
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/take-a-pie-to-the-face
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Peer-to-peer fundraising


Multiply your reach with a peer-to-peer fundraising campaign in which individuals reach out to their own networks of family, friends, and coworkers to solicit donations for your cause.

Create teams to add some fun competition into the mix—and bring in more donations!
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
3
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/peer-to-peer-fundraising
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Peer-to-peer

Postcard drive


Handwritten messages can make a huge impact on your fundraising by helping donors feel seen and appreciated. During your next campaign, have volunteers write and mail postcards to your contacts asking for support. 

Add a modern twist by including a short URL that links directly to your fundraising page. 
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
3
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/postcard-drive
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24-hour relay race


Create the ultimate relay race to raise funds for your cause. Participants create individual or team fundraising pages where friends and family can show their support with donations and progress toward their goal in real time.
Cost:
2
Effort:
3
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/24-hour-relay-race
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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, invite attendees to vote on their favorite by making a donation to the tastiest cupcake’s team fundraising page. Use a leaderboard to show real-time votes and award prizes for the winning bakers!
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
Pages & forms

Shamrock festival


Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with a shamrock-themed live event or auction in support of a good cause. Go all out with a green color scheme, traditional live music, and Irish-inspired activities.
Cost:
3
Effort:
3
Impact:
3
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/shamrock-festival
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Online bake sale

Sell homemade or donated treats through a donation form, event page, or buy-now auction, 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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Auctions
Pages & forms

Serve-a-thon


Turn your volleyball skills into a high-energy fundraiser with a serve-a-thon! Players collect pledges for every successful serve they make during a timed event. Invite teammates, supporters, and even future players to join in the fun. It’s a great way to raise funds, strengthen your team, and build community—all while spiking your fundraising goals.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
3
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/serve-a-thon
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Events
Pages & forms

Open mic night

Invite community members to perform music, poetry, or comedy for a good cause. Ask audience members to make a small donation and offer snacks to raise more funds using easy in-person mobile payments like Tap to Pay and scan-to-donate
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/open-mic-night
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Events
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Gala night


Plan a sophisticated gala night with music, food, and a silent auction.

Get your supporters excited about your upcoming event with an eye-catching gala invitation template. Include details on how to buy tickets, or add a scan-to-donate QR code.
Cost:
3
Effort:
3
Impact:
3
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/gala-night
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Events
Auctions

Gift wrapping

Source donated paper, set up a gift wrapping station in a popular location, and charge for holiday gift-wrapping! Use scan-to-donate or Venmo to accept payments on the spot.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
1
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/gift-wrapping
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Events
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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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Peer-to-peer
Pages & forms

Golf scramble

Host a more relaxed golf tournament by switching to a game of golf scramble instead. This team effort also makes it easier to use peer-to-peer fundraising to raise even more money for your good cause.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/golf-scramble
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Events
Peer-to-peer

Bake to give raffle

Gather your community’s best bakers and turn their sweet creations into a fundraising feast! Ask volunteers to whip up their favorite cakes or cookies to sell at your event. 

To add some extra excitement, sell raffle tickets and offer baked goods as delicious prizes.
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/bake-to-give-raffle
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Events
Auctions
Pages & forms

Youth lock-in


Plan a good old-fashioned lock-in for your younger community members. Charge a registration fee and have chaperones on hand to supervise activities like trivia, movie screenings, and video game tournaments.

Set up an online fundraising event page where participants can register and supporters can make donations.
Cost:
1
Effort:
3
Impact:
3
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/youth-lock-in
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Events

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:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
1
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/photography-walk
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Events

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:
1
Effort:
3
Impact:
2
Share idea
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/cold-water-plunge
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Events
Peer-to-peer
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