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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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All fundraising ideas

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Virtual scavenger hunt

For this totally remote fundraising event, charge a registration fee and ask participants to use their computer or mobile device to complete various challenges. Share instructions and updates and announce winners from a livestream hosted right on your event page.

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

Teen film festival

Invite teens to showcase their own short films and charge admission to audience members. In order to cast a vote for their favorite films, supporters must give a donation to the film’s/filmmaker’s team fundraising page. Watch the results roll in on the live leaderboard and offer awards for the best film winners in various categories.

Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/teen-film-festival
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Events
Peer-to-peer

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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Fundraising page
Donation forms

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

Holiday movie marathon

Create a lineup of classic holiday movies for a community movie marathon. Sell tickets, popcorn, hot chocolate, and other treats to create a delightful (and profitable!) experience.

With user-friendly fundraising event features for online ticket sales and in-person donations, organizing this event can be as easy as hitting play on your favorite festive film.

Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/holiday-movie-marathon
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Events
Donation forms
Fundraising page

Lend a helping hand

Let donors "purchase" 2-5 hours of extra help from students or volunteers (think raking leaves or mowing the lawn).

In order to streamline the process and keep track of contributions, create custom labels for different donation amounts on a special fundraising page or donation form (e.g. $50 = 2 volunteer hours).

Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/lend-a-helping-hand
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Fundraising page
Donation forms
Auctions

Pool volleyball tournament

Turn your community pool into a sports arena with a pool volleyball tournament. To make this a high-value event, charge teams an entry fee and encourage them to raise sponsorship through their team fundraising pages.

Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/pool-volleyball-tournament
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Events
Peer-to-peer

Cup of coffee

Set up a coffee cart in the office and ask employees and/or passersby to donate the cost of their morning coffee towards the cause.

Offer scan to-donate and accept Venmo donations to make giving even easier.

Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/cup-of-coffee
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Donation forms

Pop-up clothing shop

Ask community members to purge their wardrobes and donate sell-worthy items to your cause. Host a pop-up clothing shop at a local venue and sell tickets for entry!

Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/pop-up-clothing-shop
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Events
Donation forms

Local celebrities

Invite a local children’s book author or beloved mascot to an event. Guests will pay a fee to attend, ask questions, and take photos! 
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/local-celebrities
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Events
Donation forms

Church trivia nights

Put your knowledge to the test with a faith-filled trivia night! Pick a lively host, sell team tickets, and let the friendly competition begin.

Want to reach an even bigger audience? Go hybrid or virtual so everyone can join in on the fun!

Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/church-trivia-nights
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Fundraising page
Events

Golf tournament

Golf tournaments are an incredible way to build relationships and raise funds for your cause. Charge teams an entry fee, secure sponsorships, and enjoy a day on the green with your community.

Check out our guide to discover how to make your next golf tournament even more profitable.

Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
3
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/golf-tournament
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Events
Auctions
Peer-to-peer

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

Drag show

Sell tickets for a night of performances by local drag artists and musicians (with food and drinks available, too!).

Manage your event ticketing, check in your attendees, and accept additional donations in person with easy fundraisng event software.

Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/drag-show
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Events

Culture day

Introduce the wider community to your club or group by hosting a themed culture day. Offer workshops, food, and activities in exchange for small donations using easy fundraising event tools like ticketing and mobile payment options.

Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/culture-day
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Events
Donation forms

Sledding course

Embrace the winter wonderland and assemble your very own sledding course for all to enjoy. Encourage participants to bring their own sleds and consider contributing to your cause in exchange for a thrilling ride. Simplify donations with scan-to-donate and raise additional funds by selling cozy delights 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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Events
Donation forms

One for one pledge

Whether you’re offering branded merch, boxed lunches, or other appealing products, incentivize even more donations for your cause by pledging to give away one “reward” item for each one purchased. (For example, for every pair of cozy socks sold, you’ll donate a pair to a local shelter.)

Showcase this cycle of generosity on your donation forms using custom labels and donation amounts to make it clear you’ll be making an in-kind donation for every monetary donation received.

Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/one-for-one-pledge
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Fundraising page

Crafts night

Charge an entrance fee and check-in attendees as they arrive for an evening of creativity and fun. Ask volunteers to bring various supplies, or ask for donations from local art stores.

Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
1
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/crafts-night
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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 an adorable 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 too! Crown a winner, raise funds, and fill everyone’s feed with cuteness.

Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
3
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/cutest-pet-contest
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Fundraising page
Events

Take a pie to the face

Set up a booth and invite people to pay to throw a pie at willing participants like teachers, bosses, or coaches—the more authority, the more satisfying!

With scan-to-donate, pie throwers use your QR code to land on your donation page instantly—no waiting around.

Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
1
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/take-a-pie-to-the-face
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Events
Donation forms

Scavenger hunt

Set up a themed scavenger hunt in your venue, neighborhood, or across the entire town. Charge participants a small entrance fee and offer fun, donated prizes for the winners.

Streamline the process of selling tickets and create a hub for your hunt with a fundraising event page. Any energy saved can be spent on making your event even more exciting!

Cost:
1
Effort:
3
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/scavenger-hunt
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Events

Drive-in movie night


Turn a parking lot and the side of a building into a makeshift drive-in movie theater. Charge an entrance fee and raise funds by selling drinks and snacks.

Sell tickets for your fundraising event in advance, and use engaging features like scan-to-donate and mobile app check-in to streamline your guests' experience.

Cost:
2
Effort:
3
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/drive-in-movie-night
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Events

Ski-a-thon

Swap a traditional walk-a-thon for a wintry ski-a-thon. Invite supporters to raise funds from friends and family members leading up to the big day through peer-to-peer fundraising, and watch your leaderboard update in real time to reflect who’s raised the most!

Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
3
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/ski-a-thon
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Events
Peer-to-peer

Desk plant sale

Hold a desk plant sale featuring potted plants that employees can purchase to decorate their workspace while supporting the cause. Accept Venmo donations and other seamless payment methods for quick and easy transactions.

Cost:
2
Effort:
1
Impact:
1
Share this idea
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/desk-plant-sale
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Donation forms
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