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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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Grill-off

At your next BBQ, invite hobby chefs to compete in a grill-off, where they’ll be judged by a panel of experts—your supporters!

Set up team fundraising pages where everyone can make a donation to vote for their favorite chef. They can also see a live leaderboard and watch the votes land in real time!

Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/grill-off
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Events
Peer-to-peer

5k walk/run

Map out your fundraising run route and have supporters donate to participate. Then, use peer-to-peer and team fundraising tools that let supporters create their own donation pages, set goals, and ask friends and family to contribute!

Cost:
1
Effort:
3
Impact:
3
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/5k-walk-run
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Events
Peer-to-peer

Volleyball tournament

Sell tournament tickets, and spread the word on social media to get your team and wider community involved. Sell concessions, and consider finding a corporate sponsor.

Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
3
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/volleyball-tournament
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Events
Fundraising page

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:
1
Impact:
1
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/photography-walk
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Donation forms
Events

Teacher “jail”

Challenge students to meet a fundraising goal. If they do, their teacher is sent to relax in the teachers’ lounge while students play games in the classroom. Use a custom fundraising page with a live goal bar to build excitement!

Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/teacher-jail
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Events
Fundraising page
Peer-to-peer

VIP cushioned seats sale

Create and sell custom VIP event ticketsthat offer access to front-row, cushioned seats (and maybe some special team swag) at your next home game for your biggest fans and supporters.

Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/vip-cushioned-seats-sale
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Events
Auctions

Town hall event

Host a town hall event to give community members an opportunity to learn about your organization, program, or new project. Display your text-to-give code prominently around the space to raise funds from inspired audience members.

Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/town-hall-event
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Events
Donation forms

Online garage sale

Collect new and used goods from your community and sell items on a first-come, first-served basis—virtually. To introduce some fun competition and bring in more funds, turn the sale into an auction with buy-now pricing options!

Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/online-garage-sale
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Events
Donation forms
Auctions

Festive volunteers

Rally volunteers to act as festive little helpers to put up holiday decorations for others in your community in exchange for donations.

Set up a donation form and use custom labels to create fun options, like a $50 donation = putting up your roof lights.

Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/festive-volunteers
All
Donation forms
Fundraising page

Beach day

Arrange a day of sand and sun for your team members, volunteers, and the wider community with beach games, a picnic, and lots of family fun.

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!

Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/beach-day
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Events

Engraved bricks

Give your supporters the opportunity to “buy” a brick for your new construction project that will have their name or dedication engraved on it for all to see.

Use custom fields on your donation form to capture essential details for donors’ bricks—make sure to provide a word count so they don’t go over!

Cost:
2
Effort:
1
Impact:
3
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/engraved-bricks
All
Donation forms
Fundraising page

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!

Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
3
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/year-end-fundraiser
All
Donation forms
Events
Fundraising page
Auctions

Building tour

If you're opening a new building, offer a VIP tour to your community members. Set a ticket price or auction them off. To raise the most from your VIP building tour, use auction software to host a fun and stress-free experience for your supporters.

Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/building-tour
All
Events
Auctions

Cup of coffee

Set up a coffee cart in the office and ask employees and/or passersby to donate the cost of their morning coffee towards the cause.

Offer scan to-donate and accept Venmo donations to make giving even easier.

Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/cup-of-coffee
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Donation forms

Street clean up

Use the longer days of summer to your advantage and schedule a street clean-up to help keep your neighborhood feeling fresh and welcoming. 

Work with local businesses to sponsor the day and encourage donations towards your charity or group. 
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
1
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/street-clean-up
All
Events
Donation forms

Summer project sale

Host a yard sale themed around helping people finish those summer projects they've been meaning to tackle. Have stalls that cater to a range of DIY projects with materials like paint, furniture, craft supplies, scrapbooking materials, and more.

Use email marketing software to spread the word about the upcoming sale and share a printable map, so attendees know what kinds of booths will be there.

Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/summer-project-sale
All
Events
Donation forms

The guessing game

At your next event, fill a jar with candy and, for a small fee, invite people to guess how many pieces are in the jar. The closest guess wins all the candy!

Use scan-to-donate to send guessers directly to your donation page for easy on-the-spot giving. Print the QR code onto a poster, or display it on a tablet or screen on your stand.

Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
1
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/the-guessing-game
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Events
Donation forms

Summer day out

Raise funds and give your supporters a memorable experience at the same time with an excursion to an exciting attraction, museum, or other destination.

Use a fundraising event page to make registration and payment easy, and add custom fields to capture important information from each participant, such as t-shirt size or dietary restrictions.

Cost:
2
Effort:
3
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/summer-day-out
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Events

You name it

Come up with a creative fundraiser with a cathy name like “Pancakes for Parents” brunch or a “Chicken Wings for Cheerleaders.” To get supporters excited, create a custom fundraising page full of on-theme photos, videos, ands more!

Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/you-name-it
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Events

Petting zoo

Partner with a local farm or petting zoo to bring in animals for a day of fun. Charge an entry fee and offer optional donations for extra activities, like pony rides, to raise even more funds. Make sure attendees can make quick payments from their phones, using methods like Venmo or Tap to Pay, so they don't need to return to their cars for cash.

Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/petting-zoo
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Events

Field day

Invite participants to register for a day of fun outdoor games and competitions, like relay races, a water balloon toss, and a good old-fashioned tug-of-war.

Make your fundraising event a success with sponsorships from local businesses to offset costs and bring in more participants.

Cost:
2
Effort:
3
Impact:
2
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/field-day
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Events

Pet costume contest

Invite owners to enter their pets in costume categories such as "cutest" or "most creative." Charge an entry fee and ask attendees to vote on their stylish furry favorite by donating to the pet’s individual fundraising page.

Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/pet-costume-contest
All
Events
Peer-to-peer
Fundraising page

Silent auction

Swap your traditional auction for a silent one, where supporters or live audience members can bid any time before the auction ends. With a silent auction, your supporters are able to bid on items online or with their phones via QR code, making it easy and accessible for all.

Cost:
1
Effort:
3
Impact:
3
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/silent-auction
All
Auctions

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
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/gala-night
All
Events
Auctions
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