Your go-to source for fundraising inspiration
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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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
Examples
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/horseback-riding
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Events
Basketball bonanza
Challenge contestants to score as many points as they can within the time limit. Charge an entry fee and check attendees in as they line up.
Cost:



1
Effort:



2
Impact:



2
Examples
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/basketball-bonanza
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All
Peer-to-peer
Events
Ice cream social
Set up an ice cream stall with different flavors, cones, toppings, and sauces. Raise funds by asking for donations to unlock the most popular or extravagant toppings.
Create a vibrant, themed fundraising page, then send your supporters straight to it with scan-to-donate. From there they can pay for their ice-cream and unlock flavors!
Create a vibrant, themed fundraising page, then send your supporters straight to it with scan-to-donate. From there they can pay for their ice-cream and unlock flavors!
Cost:



2
Effort:



2
Impact:



1
Examples
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/ice-cream-social
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Events
Pages & forms
Earth Day
Reserve an indoor or outdoor space and invite your community to come arrange flower bouquets and pot their own plants to celebrate Earth Day (April 22).
Charge an entrance fee and make your fundraising event move smoothly with mobile app check-in and easy scan-to-donate payment options.
Charge an entrance fee and make your fundraising event move smoothly with mobile app check-in and easy scan-to-donate payment options.
Cost:



2
Effort:



2
Impact:



2
Examples
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/earth-day
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Events
Pages & forms
Envelope fundraiser
Distribute branded envelopes around your community and invite supporters to pick one up, insert a donation, and drop it off at a designated location.
Spread the word with easy email marketing software. Share campaign details and send reminders as the deadline gets approaches.
Cost:



1
Effort:



1
Impact:



2
Examples
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/envelope-fundraiser
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Pages & forms
Fur a good paws
Host the ulti-mutt fundraiser your animal charity or veterinary nonprofit with this pun-tastic theme. Rally your community in support of their four-legged friends for a day of celebration and giving.
Cost:



2
Effort:



2
Impact:



3
Examples
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/fur-a-good-paws
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Auctions
Events
Pages & forms
Historic home tour
Open up the doors to your historic home or local landmark and invite the public inside for an exclusive look. Sell tickets, tell its story, and raise much-needed funds for your cause or a restoration project.
Cost:



1
Effort:



2
Impact:



2
Examples
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/historic-home-tour
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Events
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Donut fundraiser
Some bakeries like Krispy Kreme sell their doughnuts at a discounted price to individuals and groups raising money for a good cause.
Create a fundraising page or donation form to promote your efforts and make it easier to sell your sweet treats with multiple payment options wherever you are.
Cost:



2
Effort:



2
Impact:



2
Examples
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/donut-fundraiser
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Events
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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
Examples
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/cupcake-wars
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Events
Peer-to-peer
Pages & forms
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
Examples
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/office-games
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Events
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Peer-to-peer
Pie-eating contest
Ask local bakeries and volunteers to contribute pies, then host a pie-eating contest with a ticket price for entry. Sell refreshments (including slices of pie!) to raise extra funds.
Use a range of fundraising event features, such as online registration, on-the-spot payments, and seamless check-ins.
Use a range of fundraising event features, such as online registration, on-the-spot payments, and seamless check-ins.
Cost:



1
Effort:



2
Impact:



1
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/pie-eating-contest
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All
Peer-to-peer
Events
That’s a wrap
Students make donations to buy sections of toilet paper. At the end of the fundraising period, they get to wrap their teacher with it! For a smoother process, set custom donation amounts and labels on your fundraising page or donation form.
Cost:



1
Effort:



2
Impact:



1
Examples
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/that-s-a-wrap
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Pages & forms
Costume contest
Throw a themed costume party to match the season or holiday and award prizes for the best costumes! Sell tickets to your fundraising event online and partner with local sponsors to offset costs and spread the word.
Cost:



2
Effort:



2
Impact:



2
Examples
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/costume-contest
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Events
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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
Examples
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/ugly-sweater-5k
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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
Examples
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/count-the-jellybeans
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Pages & forms
Themed run
Make your peer-to-peer fundraising run truly memorable with a standout theme! Ask participants to dress up and choose a route relevant to the theme. Encourage participants to create teams to build community and boost the competitive spirit!
Cost:



2
Effort:



2
Impact:



3
Examples
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/themed-run
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Events
Peer-to-peer
Flower bulb sale
Sell wholesale flowers or request donations from nurseries and landscaping stores to sell to supporters. To gamify your efforts, use peer-to-peer fundraising to encourage individual supporters to compete to see who can sell the most!
Cost:



1
Effort:



2
Impact:



2
Examples
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/flower-bulb-sale
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Events
Peer-to-peer
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:



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Effort:



3
Impact:



3
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/youth-lock-in
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Events
You name it
Come up with a creative fundraiser with a catchy 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
Examples
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/you-name-it
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Dance challenge
Find a viral social media dance challenge and invite your supporters to have a go. Ask them to include a message to donate towards your good cause, or use peer-to-peer fundraising to help them raise money from their friends and family members.
Cost:



1
Effort:



2
Impact:



2
Examples
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/dance-challenge
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Peer-to-peer
Pages & forms
Masquerade ball
Whether it's time for Mardi Gras or you’re looking for a creative New Year’s Eve idea, a masquerade ball will make for a memorable evening and bring in lots of donations. Create an unforgettable fundraising event experience with easy ticket sales and check-ins, live display, and a silent auction.
Cost:



2
Effort:



3
Impact:



3
Examples
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/masquerade-ball
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Events
Auctions
Pages & forms
Summer project sale
Host a yard sale/craft fair event focused on helping people finish those summer projects they've been meaning to tackle. 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:



3
Impact:



2
Examples
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/summer-project-sale
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Events
Pages & 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
Examples
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/summer-day-out
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Events
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
Examples
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/text-to-donate
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Pages & forms
Looks like we don’t have any fundraising ideas matching that criteria 🔎
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