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All fundraising ideas

Best fundraising ideas

No matter your budget or team size, the best fundraiser ideas can significantly impact your cause. With hundreds of great fundraising ideas out there, it’s tough to create a list of the best. This list includes tried-and-true classics as well as creative twists on old favorites. All of these fundraisers made the cut by being low-cost or low-effort while also bringing in the most dollars.

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Fashion show

Host a fashion show that showcases talented local designers, fashion students, or both! Make it inclusive and invite people of all sizes and abilities to be your models.

At this fundraising event, you can bring in donations by charging entrance fees, selling food and drinks, and adding a silent auction.

Cost:
2
Effort:
3
Impact:
2
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Events

Nostalgia night party

Pick an era (like the ‘90s), set the scene, charge an entrance fee, and sell themed merch, food, and drinks. To encourage even more donations during the festivities, display mobile giving options and your goal bar using live display.

Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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Events

Community service day

Organize volunteers to take part in a day of community care in which you work together to tackle projects and tasks in exchange for donations from your community members.

Showcase every project or fundraiser you’re working on with a central giving hub. Your supporters can then see all your amazing work in one place.

Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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Events
Fundraising page
Donation forms

Virtual bike-a-thon

Set a distance and have your bikers pay a registration fee to join in. Then, foster some friendly competition by encouraging supporters to start or join a team, raise funds, and set off wherever they are.

Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
3
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Peer-to-peer
Events

Parents’ night out

This fundraising event can be a fun gathering for parents, or you can make it an opportunity for grownups to drop off their kids for a few hours in exchange for a donation to your cause! Charge an hourly rate or a flat “entrance fee” and give caregivers some priceless peace and quiet.

Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
3
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Events

Peer-to-peer fundraising

Multiply your reach with a peer-to-peer fundraising campaign in which individuals reach out to their own networks of family, friends, and coworkers to solicit donations for your cause.

Create teams to add some fun competition into the mix—and bring in more donations!

Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
3
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Peer-to-peer

24-hour marathon

Host a 24-hour livestream fundraiser for a high-energy day of fun and fundraising.

Great livestream activity ideas include a poetry slam, gaming tournament, or virtual concert.

Cost:
1
Effort:
3
Impact:
3
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Events

Engraved bricks

Give your supporters the opportunity to “buy” a brick for your new construction project that will have their name or dedication engraved on it for all to see.

Use custom fields on your donation form to capture essential details for donors’ bricks—make sure to provide a word count so they don’t go over!

Cost:
2
Effort:
1
Impact:
3
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Donation forms
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Postcard drive

Handwritten, personalized messages can have a huge impact on your fundraising efforts. During your next campaign, ask volunteers to write and address postcards to your contacts to ask for donations. 

Add a modern twist to this old-school tactic and have volunteers include an easy-to-read, short URL that goes right to your fundraising page. 
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
3
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Donation matching

Build relationships with local businesses and major donors that can offer matching donations to feature during your next campaign.

Matching gifts create an enormous incentive for supporters who understand that they can automatically double (or even triple or quadruple!) their impact for your cause.


Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
3
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Text-to-donate

With text-to-donate, raising funds is as easy as sending a text message. Post your shortcode on signs at fundraising events, share it on social media, and offer it as a payment option so your supporters can contribute 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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Fundraising page

Virtual telethon

Plan exciting entertainment, such as talent showcases and cooking lessons that you can share with your audience entirely online.

Plan a day or evening program, then livestream it to your community right from your event page, so members can make a donation without clicking away from the show.

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

Telethon

Livestream an engaging program from your fundraising page with information, entertainment, and impact stories to inspire viewers to donate. Task volunteers with accepting gifts over the phone and replying to comments and gifts on your supporter feed. Don’t forget to display a live thermometer so everyone can watch donations come in in real time!

Cost:
1
Effort:
3
Impact:
3
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Events
Peer-to-peer
Fundraising page

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

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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Events

Virtual auction

Take the bidding online by allowing participants to browse your silent auction catalog, place bids, and win from anywhere!

Use auction software that makes the bidding process smooth and simple for you and your donors.

Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
3
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Auctions
Fundraising page

Legacy giving

Encourage supporters to make a planned gift to your organization (e.g., bequests, charitable trusts, or beneficiary designations) to leave a lasting legacy. Wealth screening software can help you identify the best donors to reach out to right in your CRM.

Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
3
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/legacy-giving
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Donation forms

Swim-a-thon

Swap your sneakers for a swimsuit or trunks and host a swim-a-thon to raise money for your cause. Set a route that feels achievable, and invite participants to create their own peer-to-peer fundraising pages to help you reach your goal.

Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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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

Comedy night

Sell tickets to join your organization for an evening of laughter, drinks, and fundraising! Partner with a local venue and ask other businesses for corporate sponsorships to offset costs and bring in even more dollars for your cause.

Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
3
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Events

Fitness challenge

Participants commit to completing a certain number of workouts and collect pledges for each milestone achieved using personal peer-to-peer fundraising pages.

Watch as donations come in through the leaderboard in real time and friends and family share words of encouragement on the supporter feed.

Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
2
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Events
Peer-to-peer

Dodgeball tournament

Put teams together and face off to see who truly is the best when it comes to dodgeball. Charge teams an entry fee, sell tickets to watch the games, and sell refreshments to raise even more funds.

Invite participants to set up team fundraising pages so they can also compete to see who can raise the most funds for your cause.

Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
3
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Peer-to-peer

Year-end fundraiser

Celebrate the end of the year with a big annual fundraiser. Host an event and attract donations and support with a silent auction, peer-to-peer campaign, and more.

Use the year-end giving checklist to make sure you’ve covered every angle!

Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
3
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/year-end-fundraiser
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Donation forms
Events
Fundraising page
Auctions

Masquerade ball

Whether it's time for Mardi Gras or you’re looking for a creative New Year’s Eve idea, a masquerade ball will make for a memorable evening and bring in lots of donations. Create an unforgettable fundraising event experience with easy ticket sales and check-ins, live display, and a silent auction.

Cost:
2
Effort:
3
Impact:
3
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Events
Fundraising page
Donation forms
Auctions

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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Peer-to-peer

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