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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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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
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Events
Peer-to-peer

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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Events
Peer-to-peer

Bake to give raffle

Gather your community’s star bakers and turn their sweet creations into a fundraising feast!

Ask members to whip up their favorite cakes or cookies to sell at your event. Want to add some extra excitement? Sell raffle tickets and give away delicious baked goods as prizes

Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/bake-to-give-raffle
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Fundraising page
Events
Auctions

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

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

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:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/art-festival
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Events

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

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

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

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

Membership drive

Incentivize supporters to invite friends and family to sign up for a membership during a specific period of time. Offer discounted rates or additional perks, and accept recurring donations with ease on a user-friendly platform.

Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
3
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/membership-drive
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Fundraising page
Donation forms

Battle of the food trucks

Host a showdown between some of your favorite food trucks. Ask each truck to donate a percentage of sales towards your good cause, and award a fun prize to the truck that makes the most sales that day.

Partnering with food trucks is a great way to reach your fundraising target. Discover how to secure corporate sponsorships.

Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/battle-of-the-food-trucks
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Events

Raise the roof

Challenge your congregation to reach your fundraising goal by pledging that your pastor or ministry leader will sleep on the roof if you hit it—or until you do!

Embed a donation form on your website with a live goal bar, so your community members can see just how close you are to hitting that target.

Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
3
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/raise-the-roof
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Fundraising page
Donation forms
Peer-to-peer

Fantasy football draft festival

Turn a fantasy football draft into an exciting fundraising event! Sell tickets and offer tailgate games, food, and entertainment.

Cost:
2
Effort:
3
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/fantasy-football-draft-festival
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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

Sports team car wash

Host a car wash where team members do the washing in their uniforms! Schedule players in shifts and offer premium wash packages for higher donations.

Cost:
1
Effort:
3
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/sports-team-car-wash
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Events
Fundraising page

Spa crawl

Sell tickets or auction off a grand schedule of manicures, pedicures, massages, and more at various spas in your city. Include lots of perks for participating local businesses—like free marketing and publicity—in your corporate sponsorship proposal. 
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/spa-crawl
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Events
Auctions

Virtual concert

Ask local musicians or bands to perform for a livestreaming audience and invite viewers to make donations or purchase tickets to attend virtually right on your event page.

Make sure to feature a donation thermometer on your page to encourage viewers to make extra donations and get you closer to your goal as they enjoy the music.

Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/virtual-concert
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Events

Auction your time or skills

Ask supporters to volunteer their special skills, then auction their time and expertise to the highest bidder!

Streamline the whole experience with the help of free auction software. Add and categorize items, manage bids, and your bidders can get real-time updates on what’s happening.

Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/auction-your-time-or-skills
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Auctions

Expert lecture series

Recruit local experts, professors, speakers, and community leaders to donate their time and expertise for a series of talks on a certain theme.

Sell tickets to in-person attendees and offer a livestreaming option to increase donations and reach interested supporters from anywhere.

Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/expert-lecture-series
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Events

Cutest pet contest

Who has the cutest pet in your community? Host a photo contest to find out! Invite participants to submit a photo of their four-legged (or feathered or scaly!) friend for a set donation amount. Then, open up voting to the public—each vote can be a small donation. Crown a winner, raise funds, and flood everyone’s feed with cuteness.

Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/cutest-pet-contest
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Fundraising page
Events

Fall carnival

Host your very own fall-themed festival with live music, food and drink, local vendors, and carnival games.

Ask local businesses for supplies and prize donations and raise funds through refreshments, games, and stallholder fees.

Cost:
2
Effort:
3
Impact:
3
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/fall-carnival
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Events
Donation forms
Fundraising page

Bonfire BBQ

Plan a cozy community fundraiser with a firepit, s'mores, firecrackers, and a delicious BBQ. Charge an entrance fee or raise funds through carnival games and refreshments.

With user-friendly fundraising event features, you can sell tickets in advance and accept donations in person, too.

Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Share this idea
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/bonfire-bbq
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Events
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