.svg){kind=small}
.svg){kind=icon}
.svg){kind=icon}
.svg){kind=icon}
.svg){kind=icon}
.svg){kind=icon}
.svg){kind=icon}
.svg){kind=icon}
.svg){kind=icon}
.svg){kind=icon}
.svg){kind=icon}
.svg){kind=small}
.svg){kind=small}
.svg){kind=small}
.svg){kind=small}
.svg){kind=small}
.svg){kind=small}
.svg){kind=small}
.svg){kind=small}
.svg){kind=small}
.svg){kind=small}
.svg){kind=small}
.svg){kind=small}
.svg){kind=small}
.svg){kind=small}
.svg){kind=small}
.svg){kind=small}
.svg){kind=small}
.svg){kind=small}
.svg){kind=small}
.svg){kind=small}
.svg){kind=small}
.svg){kind=small}
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.
Please enter a valid email address.
%201.png)
%201.png)
Featured campaign
Women's Club Basketball at NC State
3rd Annual Play4Kay Basketball Tournament & Competition
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
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
Examples
.png)
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/student-battle-of-the-bands
Please enter a valid email address.
All
Events
Peer-to-peer
Movie night
Choose an indoor or outdoor space and host a ticketed screening of a fan-favorite movie—bonus if it’s related to your cause! Sell popcorn, treats, and drinks to raise even more funds.
Use Givebutter’s fundraising event tools like online ticketing, mobile check-ins, and scan-to-donate to keep everything seamless.
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Examples
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/movie-night
Please enter a valid email address.
All
Events
Fantasy football draft festival
Turn a fantasy football draft into an exciting fundraising event! Sell tickets and offer tailgate games, food, and entertainment.
Cost:
2
Effort:
3
Impact:
2
Examples
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/fantasy-football-draft-festival
Please enter a valid email address.
All
Events
Chili cook-off
Invite participants to prepare their best chili for attendees—and offer prizes for the winner! Create team fundraising pages for each chili recipe/culinary team. There, supporters can cast their vote with a donation and watch the live leaderboard to see which chef is in the lead!
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Examples
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/chili-cook-off
Please enter a valid email address.
All
Events
Peer-to-peer
Wine pull
Collect donated bottles of wine, disguise the labels, and invite attendees to buy them blindly to discover what they’ve won. For some extra fundraising, host a livestream wine-tasting class afterward for everyone to learn more about their picks.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Examples
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/wine-pull
Please enter a valid email address.
All
Events
Pages & forms
Auctions
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
Examples
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/drag-show
Please enter a valid email address.
All
Events
Trivia night
At this crowd-favorite activity, you can come up with fun questions, charge entry fees for teams, and raise extra money by providing sweet and salty snacks.
Make the evening go even smoother with seamless attendee check-ins and easy payment options like Tap to pay, Venmo donations, and scan-to-donate.
Make the evening go even smoother with seamless attendee check-ins and easy payment options like Tap to pay, Venmo donations, and scan-to-donate.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Examples
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/trivia-night
Please enter a valid email address.
All
Events
Donate or dare
Pledge to do something wild, exciting, or newsworthy if your campaign hits its goal. Shaving your head is a classic option for this fundraising idea!
Share regular updates on your fundraising page and add a goal bar to keep the momentum going and drive more donations.
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
2
Examples
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/donate-or-dare
Please enter a valid email address.
All
Peer-to-peer
Pages & forms
Back-to-school sale
Get everyone set up for the new school year with a back-to-school sale. Sell items like stationery, backpacks, water bottles, and other accessories for kids of all ages.
Customize online tickets with the name and image of each product, so your supporters can easily choose between the items on sale.
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Examples
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/back-to-school-sale
Please enter a valid email address.
All
Events
Peer-to-peer
Pages & forms
Grow-your-own garden kit
Ask local nurseries to donate herbs, seeds, and soil you can use to assemble gardening kits. Bring volunteers together to assemble everything and sell them on a custom fundraising page or donation form.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Examples
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/grow-your-own-garden-kit
Please enter a valid email address.
All
Events
Pages & forms
Charity golf day
Combine two or more golf-themed events into your own charity or nonprofit golf day. Host a golf tournament, hand out sponsored awards, and end the day with an evening gala and an auction.
Cost:
3
Effort:
3
Impact:
3
Examples
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/charity-golf-day
Please enter a valid email address.
All
Events
Peer-to-peer
Oscars fundraiser
Sell tickets to an extra special Oscars viewing party—or create your very own awards program fundraiser that’s as glamorous and exciting as the real thing.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Examples
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/oscars-fundraiser
Please enter a valid email address.
All
Pages & forms
Auctions
Kiss the pig
Invite supporters to donate to your good cause—with a creative twist. The top fundraiser earns the honor of kissing a pig!
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Examples
.png)
.png)
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/kiss-the-pig
Please enter a valid email address.
All
Events
Peer-to-peer
Pages & forms
Charity golf outing
Plan an outing for your golf team somewhere special and donate a percentage of ticket sales towards your nonprofit cause. This works great for school, college, and work golf groups.
Cost:
3
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Examples
.png)
.png)
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/charity-golf-outing
Please enter a valid email address.
All
Events
Feast of ideas
Celebrate the knowledge and passion of your school or learning community with a gala or dinner event centered on sharing ideas, insights, and wisdom.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Examples
.png)
.png)
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/feast-of-ideas
Please enter a valid email address.
All
Events
Auctions
Pages & forms
Shamrock festival
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with a shamrock-themed live event or auction in support of a good cause. Go all out with a green color scheme, traditional live music, and Irish-inspired activities.
Cost:
3
Effort:
3
Impact:
3
Examples
.png)
.png)
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/shamrock-festival
Please enter a valid email address.
All
Events
Pages & forms
Summer camp fundraiser
Organize paid day or week-long camps filled with favorite summertime activities like arts, sports, and outdoor adventures. Parents receive childcare and kids build new skills—creating a win-win event that raises money while strengthening community ties.
Cost:
3
Effort:
3
Impact:
2
Examples
.png)
.png)
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/summer-camp-fundraiser
Please enter a valid email address.
All
Events
Pages & forms
Food fight
This isn’t your typical cafeteria food fight. This cleverly named event raises awareness and funds to fight food insecurity and help keep your community fed.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
3
Examples
.png)
.png)
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/food-fight
Please enter a valid email address.
All
Peer-to-peer
Events
Pages & forms
Jog-a-thon
Host a family friendly jog-a-thon at your local running track. Participants can collect pledges for the number of laps they jog, walk, or run. Recruit volunteers to tally the number of laps each participant completes.
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Examples
.png)
.png)
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/jog-a-thon
Please enter a valid email address.
All
Events
Peer-to-peer
Benefit dance recital
Turn your next dance recital into a benefit in aid of your chosen charity or nonprofit. Sell tickets and donate a percentage of sales, and raise even more funds by selling refreshments, branded merch, and dance supplies.
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Examples
.png)
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/benefit-dance-recital
Please enter a valid email address.
All
Events
Boardwalk bash
Host a boardwalk get-together complete with carnival games and treats. You can also use the event to introduce a renovation project for your beachside community and rally support for your cause.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
1
Examples
.webp)
.webp)
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/boardwalk-bash
Please enter a valid email address.
All
Events
Pages & forms
Pet portraits
Pet owners love having portraits of their pets—even if they’re not made by professionals! Host a fun pet portrait fundraiser where volunteers draw or paint pictures of supporters’ furry friends. Ask donors to bring a photo of their pet or upload one when they make a donation online.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Examples
.png)
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/pet-portraits
Please enter a valid email address.
All
Events
Auctions
Pages & forms
Creative design workshop
Host a paid workshop that teaches hands-on skills like painting, design thinking, or advanced crafting. Ask instructors to volunteer their time, and keep supply costs low by partnering with local business sponsors to maximize profit margins.
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Examples
.png)
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/creative-design-workshop
Please enter a valid email address.
All
Events
Pages & forms
Chords for Cancer gala
Invite your community to an evening of music, dance, and entertainment in support of cancer research. Host one large gala event or a series of smaller shows throughout the year.
Cost:
2
Effort:
3
Impact:
3
Examples
.webp)
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/chords-for-cancer-gala
Please enter a valid email address.
All
Events
Auctions
Pages & forms
DIY workshop
Host a DIY workshop where attendees pay to learn new skills—like crafting, home repair, or cooking—while supporting your cause. Charge an entry fee for each class, and use donated materials and volunteer instructors to lower costs and boost revenue.
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Examples
.png)
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/diy-workshop
Please enter a valid email address.
All
Events
Pages & forms
Looks like we don’t have any fundraising ideas matching that criteria 🔎
We're always cooking up new ideas, so check back soon for fresh picks!
Dive into our list of best fundraising ideas in the meantime
Explore related fundraising ideas
.png){kind=small}
Get top features for your college fundraiser
.svg){kind=small}
.svg){kind=small}
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!
%201.png)
Subscribe to
The Butter Brief
Get fundraising ideas, tips, and free resources right in your inbox
Subscribed! Your fundraising journey just got a whole lot butter. 🧈
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Givebutter helps you turn ideas into impact
.webp)
Subscribe to
The Butter Brief
Get fundraising ideas, tips, and free resources right in your inbox
Subscribed! Your fundraising journey just got a whole lot butter. 🧈
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
The most-loved fundraising platform
.png)
%201.png)
.svg){kind=small}
.svg){kind=small}
%201.webp){kind=icon}