Fundraising ideas for individuals on behalf of nonprofits
Whether you’re a passionate individual supporter or a nonprofit organization eager to engage more people in your fundraising efforts, we’ve pulled together a slew of individual fundraising ideas that are sure to make an impact.
From birthday donations and crowdfunding campaigns to baked goods sales and social media challenges, this list of easy fundraising ideas for individuals will help you find the inspiration you need to start raising funds for your favorite organization.
Halloween costume run
At the end, award the winners of the race, the teams or individuals who raised the most, and, of course, the best dressed with special prizes.
Desk plant sale
Telethon
Pop-up clothing shop
Concert for a cause
Want to make sure everyone can listen in and donate, no matter where they are? Livestream your concert to the masses and enable people to contribute to your campaign without leaving the stream.
Baby picture guessing
Best seat in the house
With Givebutter you can also create unlimited kinds of event tickets—perfect for creating VIP packages.
Comedy night
Membership drive
Pride flag decoration party
Make the silent auction process as smooth as possible with mobile bidding tools that enable supporters to participate right from their phones.
Home exercise classes
Manage everything in one place by broadcasting your classes with a livestream right on your event registration page.
Celebrity guest appearance
You name it
Harvest dinner party
Easter egg hunt
Create an Easter Bunny photo booth and host a bake sale to bring in even more donations with scan-to-donate and Venmo donations on the day of the hunt!
Garage sale
Use our free email marketing software to send a big launch email with all the details, then send reminders closer to the day of the sale.
Gala night
Get your supporters excited about your upcoming event with an eye-catching gala invitation template. Include details on how to buy tickets, or add a scan-to-donate QR code.
Legacy giving
Home decor workshop
Cup of coffee
Offer scan to-donate and accept Venmo donations to make giving even easier.
Bowl-a-thon
Offer special prizes for the team that scores the highest points, has the most creative team name, or even the best team uniforms.
Birthday fundraiser
Givebutter’s fundraising pages make it easy to get creative and express your personality. Add photos and videos, share your story, and leave comments and drawings for your supporters as they give.
Pet costume contest
LGBTQ+ trivia night
Frequently asked questions
How can I raise money individually?
When it comes to raising funds solo, there are plenty of effective personal fundraising ideas that don't require the support of a large team or organization. Once you choose a nonprofit you want to support, take advantage of online fundraising by creating a personal fundraising page, asking friends and family to contribute to your donation page in lieu of gifts on your birthday, or even running a race and asking for small donations.
How do I ask for donations?
There are numerous ways to ask for donations, but be sure to keep a few best practices to keep in mind. Instead of sending generic messages, personalize your outreach to each potential donor. Share why the cause is meaningful to you and how their contribution can truly make a difference. And don't forget to express genuine gratitude for their support, no matter the size of their donation.
How can I fundraise a lot of money fast?
While birthday donations and crowdfunding are classic single-person fundraising ideas, larger-scale fundraising campaigns and events are more likely to bring in higher donations with greater speed. Whether you charge an entry fee for a concert, ask local businesses to sponsor a car wash, or sell tickets for a block party, exciting events have the potential to attract a large audience and help you reach your fundraising goal more quickly.
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