All fundraising ideas

Easy fundraising ideas

Raising money for your organization can be a drain on your limited resources—especially when fundraising is just one item on your very long to-do list! The simple fundraiser ideas on this list are designed to be quick and easy to pull together, so you can spread the word and raise cash fast.

From favorites like board game nights and baked goods sales to donation pages and photo contests, the easiest fundraising ideas will get you closer to your goal without taking up too much of your time or energy.

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Home decor workshop

Charge a registration fee and provide materials for attendees to create their own home decor. Selecting seasonal DIY projects—such as holiday wreaths or pumpkin painting—is a great way to draw a larger crowd. Take this event to the next level by turning it into a competition! Once all projects are completed, attendees can donate to vote for who should be crowned winner.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
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Inspiration
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Events

Fourth of July party

Celebrate our nation’s independence with a red, white, and blue fundraiser! Work with businesses to secure sponsorships and an amazing venue, then sell tickets to your fundraising event, filled with food, music, and activities.
Cost:
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Effort:
2
Impact:
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Inspiration
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Auctions
Donation forms
Events
Fundraising page

Mascot showdown

Join forces with your rival team for a good cause. Organize a race or other competition between your mascots during halftime at a big game, and ask supporters to vote for their mascot by donating on a team fundraising page. Use text-to-donate or a QR code to bring in even more funds from the stands during the event. 
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
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Inspiration
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Events
Peer-to-peer

Raffle

Ask your sponsors and community members to donate items or experiences, then raffle them off! The sky is the limit when it comes to raffle ticket prizes: gift baskets, movie tickets, artwork—anything that will appeal to your community members. 

Just be sure to check your state laws regarding raffles before you start planning!
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
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Inspiration
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Events
Fundraising page
Donation forms

Flag football tournament

Bring fans onto the field for some football fun! Teams register and pay to play and fans buy tickets to cheer them on. 
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
3
Inspiration
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Events
Peer-to-peer

Pumpkin carving contest

See who can carve or decorate the best pumpkin while raising funds for your community group or cause. Award prizes in different categories for kids, families, and talented adults.

Make it easy as pumpkin pie for participants to vote for the winners with a small donation using text-to-donate
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
1
Inspiration
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Events
Peer-to-peer

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.
Cost:
2
Effort:
3
Impact:
2
Inspiration
All
Events
Auctions
Donation forms

Virtual gala

Showcase live or pre-recorded presentations and guest speakers, host an auction, and solicit donations—all livestreamed from your event registration page. 
Cost:
1
Effort:
3
Impact:
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Inspiration
All
Events
Auctions

“Celebrity” breakfast

Charge an entrance fee for a special family breakfast with a beloved children’s character like Elmo! Check-in attendees and accept in-person donations with Tap to Pay as guests arrive, ask volunteers to whip up scrambled eggs and pancakes, and arrange a corner of the room for family photos and selfies. 
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Inspiration
All
Events

Staff vs. students

Organize an afternoon of relay races, obstacle courses, and brain teasers at your school and challenge teachers to partake. Be sure to create a fun and engaging event page where attendees can easily purchase tickets!
Cost:
2
Effort:
3
Impact:
2
Inspiration
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Events

Family fun run

Encourage families to run, walk, or jog for a cause by featuring kid-friendly activities, prizes, and course options. 

Use peer-to-peer fundraising to encourage participants to set a donation goal and spread the word about the cause. 
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
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Inspiration
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Events
Peer-to-peer

Scratch card fundraiser

Buy a bulk batch of scratch cards from a wholesaler. Each circle hides a dollar amount, usually ranging from 50 cents to several dollars. Participants scratch off as many sections as they’d like, and the total amount is how much they’ll donate!

Collect cash or accept virtual payments on the spot with Tap-to-Pay, Venmo, and more convenient options.
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
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Inspiration
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Donation forms
Events

Donate or dare

Pledge to do something wild, exciting, or newsworthy if your fundraising campaign hits or exceeds its target.

Share regular campaign updates and add a goal bar to your fundraising page to keep the momentum going and encourage more donations. 
Cost:
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Effort:
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Impact:
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Inspiration
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Fundraising page
Peer-to-peer

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
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Impact:
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Inspiration
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Fundraising page

Photo contest

Run a short photo contest for an inexpensive, all-ages fundraiser. Choose a theme, charge a small fee to enter, and invite community members to submit their photos alongside their donations in your supporter feed

Raise even more by turning the top photos into a deck of cards or a calendar. 
Cost:
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Effort:
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Impact:
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Inspiration
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Events
Fundraising page

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:
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Inspiration
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Peer-to-peer
Events

Grants

Research grants that you can apply for to fund your nonprofit organization or project. Be sure to create a stand-out grant proposal in order to impress grantmakers! 
Cost:
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Effort:
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Impact:
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Inspiration
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Donation forms

Networking night

Find a suitable space, charge an entry fee, and check in attendees as they arrive at your networking event! Get creative by inviting food trucks and hosting hands-on activities. 
Cost:
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Effort:
2
Impact:
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Inspiration
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Events

Family photo day

Partner with a local photographer and charge a fee for photo packages with themed backdrops or props. Create custom tickets with time slots for families to sign up to keep the day moving smoothly. 
Cost:
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Effort:
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Impact:
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Inspiration
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Events
Donation forms

Auction your time or skills

Ask supporters to volunteer their special skills, then auction their time and expertise to the highest bidder!

Streamline the whole experience with the help of free auction software. Add and categorize items, manage bids, and your bidders can get real-time updates on what’s happening.
Cost:
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Impact:
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Inspiration
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Auctions

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:
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Inspiration
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Events

All you can eat buffet

Host an all-you-can-eat buffet or potluck dinner, and charge a small fee to enjoy a meal together with your community.

A free event ticketing platform can help you organize and manage your evening and check people in from your mobile device without any stress. 
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
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Inspiration
All
Events

Pride-themed merch sale

Design and sell pride-themed merchandise such as t-shirts, buttons, stickers, and flags. To drum up excitement, create a custom donation form, event, or fundraising page that includes images of the available items. 
Cost:
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Impact:
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Inspiration
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Donation forms
Events
Fundraising page

T-shirt design contest

Encourage supporters to submit their best t-shirt designs to enter them into a competition. Set up team fundraising pages for each design and have supporters donate in order to cast their vote for for their favorite design. Each donation will appear on a leaderboard so everyone can watch the votes (and donations!) come in.
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Inspiration
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Fundraising page
Peer-to-peer

Family and friends game night

Sell custom event ticket types and group tickets that offer unlimited access to games. Or, charge a certain amount of tickets per game.
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
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Inspiration
All
Events
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Frequently asked questions

If you need to raise money for your cause quickly, look through super-easy fundraising ideas featured on this page to find one that works for you. Pair these great fundraisers with our step-by-step guide on how to raise $1K in 30 days for a smoother journey toward your fundraising goal.

The best thing about these fast fundraising ideas for nonprofit organizations is that they don’t require heaps of expert knowledge, weeks of planning, or buckets of cash. Instead, these fundraising efforts only require a few materials, inexpensive supplies, and a healthy dose of enthusiasm.

We’ve designed this list of quick fundraising ideas to meet two criteria—that they’re simple and fast. Each fundraiser can be planned with little effort, meaning they’re perfect for small teams, volunteers on a budget, and anyone who needs a last-minute fundraising idea to hit an unexpected target quickly.

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