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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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Pet yoga


Ask a local yoga teacher to lead a class with adoptable animals—or invite participants bring their pets along for some zen!

Make this fundraising event even better by asking a local yoga studio to be a sponsor.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/pet-yoga
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Events

Teacher spelling bee

Put your teachers and school admins in the spelling spotlight. Ask for an entry fee and charge contestants for “help” if their skills are rusty (like buying an “ask-the-audience” pass!). 

To make this event virtual or hybrid, livestream it from your event page for attendees to watch from home.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/teacher-spelling-bee
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Events

Candy bar sale


Sell wholesale candy bars and sweet treats to your supporters. Bring them to events or offer them anywhere people might need a snack! Use peer-to-peer fundraising to spark a bit of friendly competition and easily track who’s sold the most.
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/candy-bar-sale
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Peer-to-peer
Pages & forms

Kick out cancer


Rally soccer fans to raise money for cancer research and care. Charge a small team registration fee, then spark friendly competition by encouraging peer-to-peer or team fundraising.
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/kick-out-cancer
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Events
Peer-to-peer
Pages & forms

Shoe drive


Invite your community members to donate gently worn or newly purchased shoes that you can sell at a pop-up shoe drive.

Make transactions easy with scan-to-donate and multiple payment options, including Venmo.
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
1
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/shoe-drive
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Events

Superhero run


Charge an entry fee to participate in a costumed fundraising run. Encourage runners to raise even more for your cause through their own peer-to-peer fundraising pages, and award prizes for race winners, best super hero costumes, and most donations raised!  
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/superhero-run
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Events
Peer-to-peer

Shoot-a-thon


In this basketball fundraiser, each contestant pays a small entry fee to see how many baskets they can make in a short amount of time.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/shoot-a-thon
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Events
Peer-to-peer
Pages & forms

Calendar fundraiser

Design a calendar featuring fun or themed photos from your community, event participants, or volunteers. Sell it for a set donation amount, or use it as an auction item or giveaway prize.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/calendar-fundraiser
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Pages & forms

Virtual tournament

Skip the traditional in-person event and go virtual to attract even more participants. Plan your digital tournament around any sport or skill, and livestream the action to boost engagement, support, and donations from anywhere.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/virtual-tournament
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Events
Peer-to-peer

Online quiz

Involve your supporters beyond donations by hosting an interactive, online quiz. Bonus points for including a round connected to your mission.

Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/online-quiz
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Events

Eating contest

Challenge contestants to (safely) stuff their faces in a race to the finish. Sell tickets to watch and offer prizes for the winner! To gamify the experience even more, encourage contestants to create personal peer-to-peer fundraising pages where friends and family can show their support.
Cost:
2
Effort:
3
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/eating-contest
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Events

Obstacle course


Challenge supporters to navigate walls, mud pits, and rope climbs. To amplify your impact and spark some friendly competition, encourage team fundraising—all supporters can join an existing team or create their own to compete!
Cost:
2
Effort:
3
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/obstacle-course
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Events
Peer-to-peer

Tool drive

Rather than requesting a financial gift, ask supporters to donate new or gently used tools and construction equipment for your programs and services. Or, sell them in an annual community tool sale. Don’t forget to send friendly reminders and guidelines on what kinds of tools can be donated using free email marketing software!
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
1
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/tool-drive
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Events
Pages & forms

Face painting


Set up a booth where passersby can get their face painted by volunteers from your group in exchange for a small donation.

Make it easy for people to give with scan-to-donate. All they need to do is scan the QR code and they’ll land on your donation page in seconds.
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
1
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/face-painting
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Events
Pages & forms

Desk plant sale


Host a desk plant sale featuring potted greenery employees can purchase to decorate their workspace while supporting your cause. Accept Venmo donations and other seamless payment options for quick, easy transactions.
Cost:
2
Effort:
1
Impact:
1
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/desk-plant-sale
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Pages & forms

Pizza party


Have each class or group create a team fundraising page for donations and campaign sharing. Reward the team that raises the most with a bottomless pizza day, donated by a local pizzeria or made by volunteers. 
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/pizza-party
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Events
Peer-to-peer

Dog walking


Set up a service where volunteers walk or play with community members' dogs in exchange for a donation. Or, auction off this opportunity to the highest bidder! 

Simplify the process for your supporters by using custom labels on your donation forms—for example, $50 for a two-hour walk.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/dog-walking
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Auctions

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:
3
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/art-festival
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Events

Water balloons & sponge toss

For this fundraising event, charge a small fee per water balloon or sponge, and let students throw them at each other during a pep rally or outdoor event. For easy participation, offer scan-to-donate and accept multiple payment methods like Apple Pay, Venmo, and more.

Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/sponge-toss
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Events
Pages & forms

Pros vs. Joes

Invite a local celebrity or sports expert to join you for the day. Sell tickets for guests to compete against the expert—whether it’s beating their score, time, or performance. You raise funds, they get a fun challenge, and you can offer a prize if anyone manages to win.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/pros-vs-joes
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Events
Peer-to-peer

Fantasy football draft party

Host a live draft event where participants pay an entry fee to join a fantasy football league, with proceeds benefiting your team or program. Set the scene with big screens and food vendors!
Cost:
3
Effort:
3
Impact:
3
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/fantasy-football-draft-party
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Events
Auctions
Pages & forms

Pajama run


Ask participants to don their favorite PJs while tackling a walk, jog, roll, or run for the cause. Encourage everyone to set a donation goal and spread the word about the fundraiser through peer-to-peer fundraising. Don’t forget to award prizes to the coziest runners!
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Share idea
Link copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/pajama-run
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Events
Peer-to-peer

Movie marathon

Host a mega movie marathon packed with hits from a popular franchise or films that match a specific theme or season. Raise extra funds by selling drinks and snacks, having a costume competition, or conducting a movie trivia quiz throughout.

Enjoy a better experience with engaging event ticketing options, such as online and in-person ticket sales and app-powered check-ins.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/movie-marathon
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Events
Pages & 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
Share idea
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/online-garage-sale
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Events
Pages & forms
Auctions
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