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All fundraising ideas
College fundraising ideas
Whether you're raising money for your study abroad trip or on behalf of a local nonprofit, college fundraising requires strategy. To stand out in a crowd of other activities, you’ll need fresh campaigns and events that are fun and easy to get involved in.
These university fundraising ideas will help you tap into the generosity of your fellow students, faculty, alumni, and the broader campus community.
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Featured campaign
Women's Club Basketball at NC State
3rd Annual Play4Kay Basketball Tournament & Competition
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Cold water plunge
Challenge your supporters to take a dip in an icy cold body of water to raise funds and awareness for your cause! Participants can set up their own peer-to-peer fundraising pages connected to your campaign, where they can share their stories, set a personal target, and bring in donations from friends and family.
Cost:
1
Effort:
3
Impact:
2
Examples
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/cold-water-plunge
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Events
Peer-to-peer
Earth Day
Reserve an indoor or outdoor space and invite your community to come arrange flower bouquets and pot their own plants to celebrate Earth Day (April 22).
Charge an entrance fee and make your fundraising event move smoothly with mobile app check-in and easy scan-to-donate payment options.
Charge an entrance fee and make your fundraising event move smoothly with mobile app check-in and easy scan-to-donate payment options.
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Examples
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/earth-day
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Events
Pages & forms
Valet parking
Create and sell custom VIP event tickets that offer parking perks to donors who'd appreciate the convenience of getting dropped off right at the game entrance.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Examples
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/valet-parking
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Events
Fitness class
Ask local instructors to donate a virtual or in-person class for your cause. Sell tickets and boost revenue on the day of by offering snacks, drinks, or branded merch.
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
2
Examples
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/fitness-class
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Events
Dance challenge
Find a viral social media dance challenge and invite your supporters to have a go. Ask them to include a message to donate towards your good cause, or use peer-to-peer fundraising to help them raise money from their friends and family members.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Examples
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/dance-challenge
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Peer-to-peer
Pages & forms
Photography walk
Invite a photographer to host a tour around the local area, taking in the sights of the season. Sell tickets in advance and use an easy mobile app to check in guests and take any last-minute payments on the day of.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
1
Examples
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/photography-walk
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Pages & forms
Events
Cup of coffee
Set up a coffee cart in the office and invite employees or passersby to donate the cost of their morning beverage to your cause.
Offer scan to-donate and accept Venmo donations to make giving even easier.
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
2
Examples
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/cup-of-coffee
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Pages & forms
Flower bulb sale
Sell wholesale flowers or request donations from nurseries and landscaping stores to sell to supporters. To gamify your efforts, use peer-to-peer fundraising to encourage individual supporters to compete to see who can sell the most!
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Examples
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/flower-bulb-sale
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Events
Peer-to-peer
Pages & forms
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
Examples
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/nostalgia-night-party
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Events
Craft sale
Turn your community’s talents into funds for your cause by hosting a craft sale. Ask volunteer crafters to donate some of their goods or ask for a percentage of their profits in return for promoting and hosting the event.
Want to make an even bigger impact? Auction off some larger or more in-demand items.
Want to make an even bigger impact? Auction off some larger or more in-demand items.
Cost:
2
Effort:
3
Impact:
2
Examples
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/craft-sale
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Events
Auctions
Pages & forms
Give $5, grab 5 friends
Ask your supporters to donate $5 to your cause. Then, each donor has to tag at least five people via social media. The goal is that each person who gets tagged matches that $5 gift to your campaign—and then tags five others.
This is a great social media fundraising idea that can spread quickly within your community, helping you raise funds fast.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Examples
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/give-5-grab-5-friends
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Peer-to-peer
Pages & forms
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
Examples
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/culture-day
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Events
Pages & forms
Basketball bonanza
Challenge contestants to score as many points as they can within the time limit. Charge an entry fee and check attendees in as they line up.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Examples
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/basketball-bonanza
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Peer-to-peer
Events
Dance-a-thon
Using individual peer-to-peer fundraising pages connected to your main event page, participants gather donations and pledges based on how long they aim to dance—without taking a break!
Supporters can donate, leave encouraging messages for the dancers, and purchase tickets to join in the fun—all in one place.
Supporters can donate, leave encouraging messages for the dancers, and purchase tickets to join in the fun—all in one place.
Cost:
2
Effort:
3
Impact:
3
Examples
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/dance-a-thon
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All
Events
Peer-to-peer
Team sponsorship
Ask local businesses to sponsor your team in exchange for logo placement on jerseys, in programs, or on stadium banners. Be sure to follow sponsorship proposal best practices to make the most of this partnership!
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
3
Examples
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/team-sponsorship
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Pages & forms
Literary pub crawl
Each stop on this bar-hopping adventure features readings or performances inspired by famous works of literature related to a given theme—poems, books, plays, you name it!
To take this fundraising event further, arrange to have each watering hole feature a special cocktail or brew (with some non-alcoholic beverages in the mix!) to match your theme.
To take this fundraising event further, arrange to have each watering hole feature a special cocktail or brew (with some non-alcoholic beverages in the mix!) to match your theme.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Examples
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/literary-pub-crawl
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Events
Coach or teacher dare
Challenge a coach or teacher to do something wild (like shaving their head!) if your team reaches its fundraising goal. Build anticipation by letting supporters track your progress in real time with a fundraising page that features a live goal bar.
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
2
Examples
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/coach-or-teacher-dare
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Pages & forms
One-day giving event
Take part in Giving Tuesday or create your own giving day in which you mobilize your community to reach your fundraising goal in one day.
Keep your supporters invested in your progress with a goal bar and campaign updates that highlight milestones, matching gifts, and special shout-outs throughout the day.
Cost:
1
Effort:
3
Impact:
3
Examples
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/one-day-giving-event
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Events
Pages & forms
High five booth
Brighten up someone’s day and raise money for a good cause. Set up a booth where passersby can make a donation and receive a high-five in return.
Make the giving process as quick and easy as the high-five itself with scan-to-donate.
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
1
Examples
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/high-five-booth
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Events
Pages & forms
Bonfire BBQ
Plan a cozy community fundraiser with a firepit, s'mores, firecrackers, and a delicious BBQ. Charge an entrance fee or raise funds through carnival games and refreshments.
With user-friendly fundraising event features, you can sell tickets in advance and accept donations in person, too.
With user-friendly fundraising event features, you can sell tickets in advance and accept donations in person, too.
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Examples
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/bonfire-bbq
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Events
Tag Day
Invite students to set up outside local businesses and collect donations from patrons. Donors receive “tags” (stickers) to show they gave. Accept payments via Venmo or scan-to-donate!
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Examples
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/tag-day
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All
Pages & forms
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
Examples
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/eating-contest
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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.
Use auction software that makes the bidding process smooth and simple for you and your donors.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
3
Examples
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/virtual-auction
Please enter a valid email address.
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Auctions
Pages & forms
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
Examples
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/drive-in-movie-night
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All
Events
Street painting competition
Choose a theme and secure a paved area where supporters can register to paint their own parking space or designated square.
Ask a local business to donate painting supplies, then invite the community to vote for their favorite design by making a donation ($1 = 1 vote) using a scan-to-donate QR code.
Ask a local business to donate painting supplies, then invite the community to vote for their favorite design by making a donation ($1 = 1 vote) using a scan-to-donate QR code.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Examples
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/street-painting-competition
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Events
Pages & forms
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Dive into our list of best fundraising ideas in the meantime
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Frequently asked questions
How do college clubs and groups make money?
College clubs and groups use various strategies to raise money and collect donations in support of their activities. Common fundraising ideas for college organizations include running bake sales or car washes, selling tickets to events, getting sponsorships from local businesses, and receiving grants.
What are the most popular college fundraising ideas?
The most popular fundraising ideas for college students engage fellow students and the local community while providing value or entertainment. Favorite options include charging an entry fee to themed parties or events like a battle of the bands, organizing social media challenges, selling raffle tickets, or teaming up with local restaurants to add some flavor to your fundraising efforts.
What are the most profitable college fundraisers?
The impact of college fundraisers can vary depending on factors such as the size of the audience, the level of engagement, and the expenses involved. Some of the most profitable fundraisers for college clubs and groups include hosting large-scale events such as concerts, festivals, charity galas, gaming tournaments, and auctions, and leveraging online platforms for crowdfunding campaigns.
Strategic partnerships with businesses or alumni networks can also help maximize fundraising potential, too!
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