10 of the most profitable fundraisers for nonprofits

There are thousands of different fundraising ideas, ranging from the traditional to the unique. Creativity has its place, but you’re looking for fundraising ideas that generate the most revenue—and quickly. 

You need to know which fundraisers are the most profitable so you can focus your efforts (and resources). Don’t waste time sifting through a library of fundraising ideas; we’ve made it simple. 

Below are the ten most profitable fundraiser ideas we’ve compiled from talking with nonprofits, fundraising consultants, and industry experts. Every idea on this list is inspired by a real-life fundraiser that brought in outstanding results.

Let’s explore these fundraising ideas to help you find your next profitable fundraiser.

Exploring the most successful nonprofit fundraisers

The most profitable fundraiser for one nonprofit might be an annual event, while for another, it’s the yearly fun run. The key is choosing the event or activity that resonates most with your supporters.

Fundraising strategy starts with WHO and WHY, not WHAT and WHEN. All your decisions should flow from ‘what do we know about who we're trying to raise money from, and why they care. — Ariel Glassman, Founder & CEO at Common Great 

Whether you want to make one of your existing events more profitable or start a new annual tradition to raise more funds this year, these high-value fundraisers are just the thing.

1. Creative peer-to-peer fundraising campaigns

🏆 Difficulty: Easy

💰 Potential profitability: $$$

Peer-to-peer fundraising campaigns involve individuals creating their own fundraising pages to raise money on behalf of a nonprofit organization. They tap into their network of friends and family members—all to raise money for your cause. 

The cost of a peer-to-peer campaign depends on your project, but it can be started for very little. Some of the most cost-effective campaigns can have the biggest impact, especially if they go viral. 

Peer-to-peer fundraising revenue grew by 23% in recent years. This upward trend is still going strong, which is a great opportunity for nonprofits that find a creative way to engage their community.

Fundraising example in action

Remember the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge? This viral phenomenon was actually a peer-to-peer fundraiser. 

Participants would complete the challenge, then tag someone else to join in—repeating the cycle and raising more than $115M for ALS.

Why it works

Peer-to-peer campaigns allow you to tap into individuals’ networks, reaching people who might not otherwise engage with your cause. They can also become a smash success if they go viral, like the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge.

How to get started

1. Come up with an idea: Find a fun, creative, or easy challenge idea that supporters can do themselves.
2. Choose the right platform: Use a fundraising platform that simplifies the participation process—like Givebutter.
3. Enlist the help of some key supporters: Ask your most loyal supporters to help spread the word and kickstart your campaign.

2. Sports fundraisers

🏆 Difficulty: Hard

💰 Potential profitability: $$$

Golf tournaments have long been a popular fundraiser, and it’s easy to see why. They’re not just fun (for golf enthusiasts, anyway), but they’re also incredibly profitable.

It’s not just golf that works—sports fundraisers, in general, have the potential to bring significant attention and much-needed funds to your cause. All you need is the right sport, a compelling story, and a way to get your community involved.

While large tournaments or celebrity appearances can put a hefty dent in your budget, there are plenty of affordable ways to host a sports-themed fundraiser. Consider options like fun runs, family sport days, or local tournaments.

Fundraising example in action

Take the Pan-Mass Challenge, a high-profile sports fundraiser that has raised over $1B since it began in 1980. 

Every year, riders join in to raise money for cancer research and care at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. The 2024 fundraiser alone brought in $75M. 

Why it works

People are familiar with the idea of sponsoring someone to complete a marathon or paying to participate in a golf tournament. It’s a popular fundraising idea that attracts attention and support from sports fans and non-sports fans alike.

How to get started

1. Decide on the type of fundraiser: Decide whether you’ll host a casual fun run or a more elaborate sports fundraising event.
2. Finalize your budget: Determine how much you can spend to ensure you properly budget for a venue, host, special guests, and more.
3. Ask companies to sponsor your event: Prepare a proposal and explore corporate sponsorship options to help your dollars go further.

3. Matched giving challenge

🏆 Difficulty: Medium

💰 Potential profitability: $$$

You might know that some individual donations are eligible for matching, but have you considered running a dedicated matching gift campaign? 

If you have a large sponsor or donor on board, host an event or challenge where they match every eligible donation received within a certain timeframe.

This can be difficult to pull off on a large scale, but you can always start small. Ask a local company to match donations up to a set amount for one day of the year. As you gain momentum, you can scale up to a grander event with high-profile donors.

Fundraising example in action

One fundraising expert we spoke to shared that a nonprofit they worked with raised $1.2M through a matched giving campaign at their annual gala. Donations up to $500K during the event were matched by a major donor, inspiring unprecedented levels of giving.

Why it works

A time-limited challenge like this creates a sense of urgency, motivating people to give. Knowing their donation will be matched, donors are also more likely to be generous with their contributions, maximizing their impact.

How to get started

1. Find a major donor or sponsor: Ask around in your network to secure a partner willing to match donations up to a certain amount. Take advantage of Givebutter’s matching donations feature to spotlight opportunities and make the entire process effortless.
2. Collaborate on a campaign: Work together to create a challenge that aligns with both your goals, then sign an agreement.
3. Spread the word about your challenge: Rally your supporters to get involved! Promote your campaign via email, social media, and your website.

4. Hybrid event

🏆 Difficulty: Hard

💰 Potential profitability: $$$

Local fundraisers are a staple in many nonprofits’ event calendars, but have you considered going hybrid? Hybrid fundraising events offer the best of both worlds, combining in-person interactions with the ability to reach supporters around the world.

From a themed fundraising day to a virtual gala, an exciting auction, or a 24-hour livestream, hybrid events open up so many possibilities. Plus, they provide plenty of flexibility in terms of both cost and timing.

Fundraising example in action

One of our fundraising experts explained that a nonprofit they worked with switched their traditional local event to a hybrid format, resulting in a 150% increase in donations—raising a total of $250K. This included a generous $10K gift from an online donor and $25K raised after sending a thank you note and impact report.

Why it works

Hybrid events allow you to capture the interest and support of donors wherever they are. 

You’re not limited by venue size, your catering budget, or any other physical restriction. Your in-person attendees get the full event experience, while your online supporters are still able to participate and contribute.

How to get started

1. Choose your event type: Decide whether you’ll host a live telethon, livestream, auction, or another engaging experience. 
2. Make key arrangements: Confirm your event essentials, like an in-person venue, host, technology, and catering.
3. Promote your hybrid event: Use email marketing and social media to spread the word about your upcoming event and give your supporters an easy way to receive updates. Use Givebutter’s event management tools to streamline your in-person, virtual, or hybrid fundraiser planning.

Having the ability to run a silent online auction, sell tickets, and accept donations in lieu of ticket purchases (or in addition to) was a game-changer that led us to nearly double our annual event's overall income. — Givebutter Review, Emily K.

5. Annual gala and auction

🏆 Difficulty: Hard

💰 Potential profitability: $$$

Gala events have long been one of the best ways to engage VIPs, major donors, and corporate sponsors. With so many influential figures in one space, it makes perfect sense that galas rank among the most profitable fundraisers.

Hosting an elegant annual gala night can be costly—especially if you add live music, gourmet catering, and a luxury atmosphere. However, these big-budget events also present an opportunity to bring in substantial funds for your nonprofit.

Fundraising example in action

A recent annual gala and art auction raised more than $150K for a nonprofit organization. 

The event was a success thanks to the high-quality artwork and jewelry donated by collectors and artists, eliminating upfront costs for the auction items. This, combined with other elements like VIP sponsorship tables, helps the organization raise a significant amount year after year.

Why it works

Inviting major donors to a gala is a wonderful way to strengthen relationships while also encouraging continued generosity. Extras like corporate sponsorship, auction item donations, and matched giving challenges help increase the profitability.

How to get started

1. Plan your gala and auction strategy: Set a fundraising goal, secure a venue, and curate high-value auction items through donations from artists, businesses, and collectors.
2. Engage donors before, during, and after: Promote your event through email and social media, create an engaging program with speakers and entertainment, and follow up with personalized thank-yous to strengthen donor relationships.
3. Sell tickets and secure sponsorships: Offer VIP tables, corporate sponsorships, and early-bird discounts to maximize attendance and revenue. Use Givebutter’s auction tools to manage bidding and donations.

I love the ability to host an auction! We have a big event coming up in a few weeks, and it has been very simple to upload items and hide them until we're ready to open the auction. — Givebutter Review, Maggie J.

6. Engraving campaign

🏆 Difficulty: Medium

💰 Potential profitability: $$

If you’re raising funds to build a structure or decorate a garden area, one of the best ways you can inspire people to get involved is an engraving campaign. Offer donors the chance to have a brick or another element of the project engraved with their name on it.

While adding engravings to ceremonial bricks can be costly, you can factor this expense into the suggested donation amount. Setting a minimum donation and offering a limited number of engravings can also help to maximize revenue.

Fundraising example in action

A nonprofit expert explained that a local community center uses this approach to raise more than $34K in six months. 

They offered a range of donation tiers and options, and the combination of limited availability and a live donation wall created urgency and motivated supporters to give—with last-minute donations increasing by 22%.

Why it works

Donors love the idea of contributing to something long-lasting as a symbol of their support—like a brick, plaque, or modern artwork. 

It’s also a great way to give back to the people who support your cause. Making the quantity limited creates a sense of scarcity, which encourages people to give.

How to get started

1. Set a limit on available engravings: Decide how many bricks, plaques, or other items you’ll offer based on your fundraising goal.
2. Choose the right fundraising tool: Look for a fundraising platform with customizable donation tiers and options—like Givebutter.
3. Promote your fundraiser: Encourage people to sign up to your email list to access an exclusive pre-sale and share your campaign on social media.

7. Signature networking event

🏆 Difficulty: Medium

💰 Potential profitability: $$

If a lavish gala night isn’t in your budget or you want a smaller-scale event, consider hosting a signature networking event instead. 

These events typically last for a couple of hours, allowing guests to drop in whenever they like while enjoying activities such as an auction, live music, raffles, and a bar.

Networking events are a great option for smaller nonprofits or those looking for a more laid-back alternative to a gala. You can tailor the venue, guest list, entertainment, fundraising activities, and catering to fit your attendees and budget.

Fundraising example in action

One fundraiser explained that they raised around $5K per event hosting this type of event—and that’s just from the donation page and entrance ticket sales. With corporate sponsors, VIP tables, and auction items, you could increase that total even further.

Why it works

A networking event is easier to plan than a gala night, while allowing you to invite a larger number of people—or a mix of major donors, volunteers, and other community members. Add in a variety of live fundraising methods, and you have the recipe for a profitable event.

How to get started

1. Book the perfect venue: Seek out a venue that matches your guest count and offers something unique, such as themed decor, scenic gardens, or modern art.
2. Finalize your guest list: Decide how many attendees you can accommodate and prioritize your guest list using Givebutter’s nonprofit CRM to track donor history and engagement, helping you invite guests with the highest potential for giving.
3. Plan engaging activities: Prepare entertaining activities for your guests, such as raffles and auctions.

8. Story-driven email campaigns

🏆 Difficulty: Easy

💰 Potential profitability: $$

Many nonprofits still send out bulk emails to their entire contact list. Not only is this a likely way to end up in the spam folder, but the generic messaging means you’re never fully engaging your target audience. 

Swap the plain campaigns for customized, data-based emails to increase your email ROI.

Smaller, more personalized campaigns allow you to tailor your story for each recipient. Email marketing is a very affordable way to reach your audience, so you can test different messaging and optimize your future campaigns based on what is most effective.

Don’t limit your storytelling to emails. You can also incorporate narrative elements in your broader fundraising campaigns.

For example, in Reforest Ecuador's campaign to raise $50K for an interpretive center in the Ecuadorian Andes, they set an initial goal of $10K by the Day of the Andean Spectacled Bear—a meaningful and engaging milestone! — Angie Drake, Co-founder of Not Your Average Consulting

Fundraising example in action

One marketing consultant that works with nonprofit organizations shared that a client increased their donation conversion rates by 60% and gained 40% more recurring donors with this method. As well as personalized emails, they also used short-form videos and ad retargeting to reach a warm audience of would-be donors.

Why it works

People want to feel like they’re the hero in their own story, so sending highly personalized messages is really effective. You can also use your email marketing data to refine your campaigns over time, increasing engagement. 

How to get started

1. Choose the right marketing software: Look for email marketing software that integrates with your fundraising platform—or, better yet, use Givebutter for everything.
2. Personalize your campaigns: Use data from your nonprofit CRM to add the recipient’s name and donation history, then tailor it to their interests and behaviors.
3. Review and refine: Track key metrics like open rates, click rates, and engagement so you can improve future email campaigns.

9. Raffles

🏆 Difficulty: Medium

💰 Potential profitability: $$

What do you do when you have a special prize to give away? Host a raffle! This profitable fundraiser is simple to organize and run, which is why it’s so loved by schools, colleges, and other community groups.

If you can work with partners to donate prizes, a raffle game can be a very profitable fundraiser with minimal costs. All you need is a team to run the raffle, books of tickets, and some enticing prizes to win.

Fundraising example in action

We’ve spoken to many people involved with school fundraising, and they agreed that raffles are an ideal way to attract donations. Some have pooled funds together to buy expensive items like a handbag for a 5x ROI, while others have partnered with companies to donate prizes, cutting out the cost of purchasing items entirely.

Why it works

The thrill of winning something big is a powerful motivator, which is why raffles remain so popular. As long as you follow your state’s requirements, this is an easy and affordable way to raise funds with a great ROI.

How to get started

1. Find the right prizes: Raising money with this fundraiser is all about having attractive raffle prizes. Seek out products that appeal to your audience, so they’ll be enticed to buy tickets.
2. Determine your ticket price: Set a reasonable cost for your tickets based on the value of the prize and how much you want to raise. 
3. Sell raffle tickets: Enlist volunteers to sell raffle tickets in advance or walk around the event on the day to capture last-minute sales. Optimize your ticket sales with Givebutter’s free ticketing software. 

The ability to build ticket sales online easily was a life-saver for me. My nonprofit held its very first in-person fundraiser event a few weeks ago, and without Givebutter, I honestly don't think it would have happened. — Givebutter Review, Stacey M.

10. Exclusive dinner party

🏆 Difficulty: Medium

💰 Potential profitability: $$

You don’t have to host a big event to achieve a great return on investment. If you haven’t tried it yet, an exclusive party with a limited guest list can be a highly effective way to raise funds for your nonprofit.

Partner with one or more of your board directors and encourage them to host a dinner party or gathering. Offer logistical support, but allow them to take the lead by inviting their closest friends and influential acquaintances. 

Fundraising example in action

Many fundraisers have found success with this concept. One reported encouraging attendees to contribute $500+ at the end of the night, resulting in an average of over $5K raised per event. Multiply this by the number of board members you have, and this can turn into a very profitable fundraiser.

Why it works

This big money fundraising idea leverages the networks and influence of your board members, meaning you don’t have to go out and seek potential donors—they’re already bringing them to you. 

People trust the recommendation of someone they know, so this is a powerful approach to drive donations for your cause.

How to get started

1. Collaborate with a board member: Choose one board member to start and ask if they’d be willing to host the event.
2. Organize the party: Support the board member with managing logistics, catering, and anything else they need.
3. Encourage them to make the ask: Asking guests for money can be tough, so provide your board member with some encouraging words and best practice advice.

Enhance donor experience to drive donations with Givebutter

When you need to raise a substantial amount but don’t have the capacity to plan multiple events, it’s best to focus on activities known to generate results. Take inspiration from this list of the most profitable fundraisers and follow the example of nonprofits that have successfully implemented these tactics.

Although we’ve reached the end of this guide, this isn’t goodbye. Don’t forget that Givebutter can help you streamline, organize, and optimize your fundraising efforts. Whether you’re planning a hybrid event or a peer-to-peer campaign, Givebutter has the tools and features you need—and all for free. 

Ready to plan your most successful fundraiser yet? Sign up for Givebutter for free today to get started.

FAQs: Top questions about the most profitable fundraisers 

Still have a question about the most profitable fundraisers? Here are some of the most common questions, along with expert answers.

What fundraiser makes the most money?

There isn’t a single fundraiser that makes the most money. How much you raise will depend on factors like your organization, audience, budget, and fundraising goals. 

In general, galas and large sporting events attract major donors and corporate sponsors, leading to larger donations.

How to fundraise $5K dollars?

To raise $5K or a similar figure, plan a few events with low upfront costs but a high return on investment. 

Classics like bake sales, talent shows, and movie nights are easy fundraising ideas that can help you reach your goal without requiring major expenses or complex planning.

What was the most successful fundraiser?

While there are different ways to measure success, the London Marathon raised a record-breaking $98.2M in 2024, making it the largest annual one-day fundraising event in the world.

How to fundraise $100K?

If you’re aiming for a big goal like $100K, it’s best to choose a fundraising strategy that resonates with your audience. This could be an elegant annual gala or a charity golf tournament. 

Alternatively, you might opt for a series of monthly campaigns or smaller events if you have a limited budget for upfront costs.

What is the most profitable fundraiser?

The most profitable fundraiser will be different depending on your organization, your goals, your supporter base, and how much money you can invest. Events like galas, marathons, silent auctions, and sports tournaments are often highly profitable.