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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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The guessing game


Fill a jar with candy at your next event and invite people to guess how many pieces are inside for a small donation. The closest guess wins all the candy!

Use scan-to-donate for quick, on-the-spot giving—just print the QR code on a poster or display it at your stand. 
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
1
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/the-guessing-game
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Family photo day

Partner with a local photographer and charge a fee for photo packages with themed backdrops or props. Create custom tickets with time slots for families to sign up to keep the day moving smoothly.

Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/family-photo-day
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Street clean up

Use the longer days of summer to your advantage by organizing a street clean-up to keep your neighborhood looking fresh and welcoming. 

Partner with local businesses to sponsor the day and encourage donations toward your charity or group. 
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
1
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/street-clean-up
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Outdoor adventure day


Charge participants a registration fee for a full day of outdoor activities like hiking, fishing, and nature walks. Use marketing tools to tease different activities and remind supporters what to bring along on the big day!
Cost:
2
Effort:
3
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/outdoor-adventure-day
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Holiday wreath sale


Partner with a local nursery to sell holiday wreaths made of fresh greenery. Create a fundraising page where supporters can purchase them with ease.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/holiday-wreath-sale
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Teddy bear picnic


Host a picnic where participants can bring along their favorite stuffed animals and enjoy simple brown-bag lunches or treats from a mini bake sale. This fundraising event is a sweet and family-friendly way to bring in needed funds.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/teddy-bear-picnic
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Dance marathon

See how long your dance group’s members can dance for by hosting a dance marathon. Set challenges throughout the experience, and use livestreaming to not only bring the experience to a wider group but add more interactivity and fun to the day.
Cost:
1
Effort:
3
Impact:
3
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/dance-marathon
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Peer-to-peer

Used book sale


Reserve a space and ask your community to donate their gently used books for a cause. Set a price for each book and use scan-to-donate or Venmo to easily accept payments on the spot.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
1
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/used-book-sale
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Raffle


Ask your sponsors and community members to donate items or experiences, then raffle them off! The sky’s the limit when it comes to raffle ticket prizes: gift baskets, movie tickets, artwork—anything your community members will love.

Just be sure to check your state laws regarding raffles before you start planning!
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
3
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/raffle
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Sledding course

Embrace the winter wonderland and assemble your own sledding course for all to enjoy. Encourage participants to bring their own sleds and contribute to your cause in exchange for a thrilling ride. Simplify donations with scan-to-donate and raise additional funds by selling cozy treats like hot chocolate or soup.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
1
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/sledding-course
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Turkey raffle

Sell raffle tickets right on your event page to give donors the chance to win an epic Thanksgiving feast while supporting your cause at the same time.

Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/turkey-raffle
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Spring cleaning

Rally volunteers together for a spring cleaning of your community space or a street in your neighborhood. Reach out to local businesses to sponsor the event and offer supplies. Then, invite donations from your local community with scan-to-donate signage as you work!
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/spring-cleaning
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Pride-themed merch sale


Design and sell pride-themed merchandise such as t-shirts, buttons, stickers, and flags. To drum up excitement, create a custom donation form, event, or fundraising page that includes images of the available items.
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
1
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/pride-themed-merch-sale
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Sponsor a stud


Let donors "sponsor" a piece of lumber for your next construction project. Customize donation amounts on your donation form to align with the cost of materials (e.g., $50 donation equals 3 studs). 

Don’t forget to invite all sponsors to the ribbon-cutting ceremony when construction is complete!
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/sponsor-a-stud
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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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Auctions

Coffee morning


Host a coffee morning and invite your community members to join you for tea or coffee, cake, and a warm conversation. Ask a local coffee shop to sponsor the event or donate a percentage of the morning’s profits to your cause. 
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
1
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/coffee-morning
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Holiday performance

Put on a special holiday performance for your dance group’s friends and family members. Encourage everyone to make a donation to your chosen cause, or raise money by selling refreshments and dance-themed holiday decorations.
Cost:
1
Effort:
3
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/holiday-performance
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Pump-a-thon


Find out who can (safely) lift the most weight curling, deadlifting, or squatting. Charge entry fees for participants, sell tickets, and offer food and drink at an additional cost.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/pump-a-thon
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Peer-to-peer

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
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/text-to-donate
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Student battle of the bands

Invite student-run bands to rock out for a prize! Charge entry fees and offer rad, donated prizes for the winners. Have each band create a team fundraising page, and encourage attendees to cast their votes for their favorites bands with a donation! 
Cost:
2
Effort:
3
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/student-battle-of-the-bands
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Peer-to-peer

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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Peer-to-peer

Animal allies


Encourage recurring donors by launching an animal ally monthly giving program. Your monthly supporters will receive exclusive updates about the animals their money is helping, plus access to special events and volunteer opportunities.

Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
3
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/animal-allies
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Tell cancer to take a hike


Grab your walking shoes and show cancer who’s boss with a charity walk or hike. Charge a small entry fee and encourage teams to raise additional funds through peer-to-peer fundraising.
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
3
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/tell-cancer-to-take-a-hike
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Peer-to-peer
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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
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/donut-fundraiser
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