Copied!
All fundraising ideas

Nonprofit fundraising ideas

From charity balls to penny drives, the possibilities are endless when it comes to raising money for good causes. Whether you’re looking for inspiration for your next big event or seeking creative concepts on a smaller scale, we’ve assembled a whole spread of fundraiser ideas for nonprofits to get you across the finish line.

Get fundraising ideas, tips, and best practices right to your inbox

Subscribed! Your fundraising journey just got a whole lot butter. 🧈
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Featured campaign
Three individuals holding a Stay Epic frame
Filter
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Easter egg hunt

Set up an epic Easter egg hunt and create a fundraising event page for families in your community to register and make a sliding-scale donation to participate. 

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! 

Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Inspiration
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/easter-egg-hunt
All
Events

Gift basket showdown

Using peer-to-peer fundraising, participants compete to raise the most money for your campaign. The winner gets the first pick from a selection of gift baskets.  
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
1
Inspiration
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/gift-basket-showdown
All
Peer-to-peer
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:
3
Inspiration
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/virtual-bike-a-thon
All
Peer-to-peer
Events

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
Inspiration
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/wine-pull
All
Events
Donation forms
Auctions

Kids vs. grownups field day

Organize an afternoon of hilarious games and exciting dual-team events, such as tug-of-war, that are sure to get the competitive spirit going. 

Charge entrance fees for this fundraising event, offer for-sale hydration and snacks, and don’t forget prizes for the winners! 
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Inspiration
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/kids-vs-grownups-field-day
All
Events

Teddy bear picnic

Sell simple brown-bag lunches or have a mini bake sale at a picnic where participants can bring along their favorite stuffed animal. This fundraising event is a perfect family-friendly way to bring in needed funds.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Inspiration
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/teddy-bear-picnic
All
Events

Home exercise classes

Invite local fitness instructors and coaches to donate their skills and invite community members to join you for at-home exercise classes in exchange for a donation.

Manage everything in one place by broadcasting your classes with a livestream right on your event registration page.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Inspiration
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/home-exercise-classes
All
Events

BBQ cookout

Host a BBQ cookout featuring grilled meats, sides, and desserts. Charge entrance fees and ask for donations at this fundraising event, too. Make this fundraising event even tastier by sharing sponsorship proposals and inviting local restaurants to sponsor your event (or even compete!). 
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Inspiration
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/bbq-cookout
All
Events

Virtual book club

Charge a registration fee or ask for donations to join your book club, and host regular discussions via Zoom or another video conferencing platform. 

Be sure to set up recurring donations as a simple way to collect membership fees for ongoing gatherings.
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
1
Inspiration
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/virtual-book-club
All
Events
Donation forms

International Women's Day fundraiser

Highlight the power, strength, and talent of women in your community today and throughout history with a special fundraising event.  

Whether it’s in-person, virtual, or hybrid, raise more and stress less with easy online registration, mobile app check-ins, and live display
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Inspiration
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/international-women-s-day-fundraiser
All
Auctions
Donation forms
Events
Fundraising page
Peer-to-peer

Student art auction

Auction off students' art projects online, in-person, or both! Add photos and descriptions for each masterpiece using easy auction software.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Inspiration
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/student-art-auction
All
Auctions
Events
Fundraising page

Farmer’s market

Approach a local farmer’s market with a sponsorship proposal and see if they can host a special fundraising event for your cause or dedicate a certain percentage of their Saturday morning profits to your campaign. Be sure to outline all of the perks that vendors can expect from the collaboration, like free publicity. 
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
2
Inspiration
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/farmer-s-market
All
Events
Donation forms

Bingo night

Sell bingo cards and offer exciting prizes to keep everyone engaged all night long, either virtually or in person! 

In the lead-up to your fundraising event, entice attendees with campaign updates featuring teasers of some of the prizes at stake. 
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Inspiration
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/bingo-night
All
Events

Book sale

Partner with a publisher or local book store and host a book sale to raise money. Sell books of all kinds or organize the event around a theme—romance novels, religious books, or children's literature—whatever will resonate with your community. 

Make sure to spread the word about your sale and send reminders using free email marketing software
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Inspiration
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/book-sale
All
Events

Superhero run

Participants pay an entry fee to partake in a costumed fundraising run. Encourage runners to raise more for your cause with their own peer-to-peer fundraising pages, and award prizes for race winners, best super hero costumes, and most donations!  
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Inspiration
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/superhero-run
All
Events
Peer-to-peer

Lip sync competition

Invite community members to sign up and submit their songs for an unforgettable lip-sync battle. Recruit a volunteer panel of judges to select the winners—and don’t forget prizes for the winners!

Sell tickets for this fundraising event online, streamline check-in, and accept extra donations with the same easy platform.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Inspiration
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/lip-sync-competition
All
Events

Multicultural fair

Showcase dishes and traditions from around the globe and celebrate the diversity of your community with a multicultural fair fundraiser. Sell tickets and set up food, drinks, and gift booths for attendees to enjoy.
Cost:
2
Effort:
3
Impact:
2
Inspiration
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/multicultural-fair
All
Events
Donation forms

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
Inspiration
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/parents-night-out
All
Events

Night at the museum

Secure a sponsorship from a local museum and invite families and community members to pay a donation to enjoy a crowd-free evening of fun.  
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
2
Inspiration
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/night-at-the-museum
All
Events

TikTok dance-off

Challenge participants to create a dance and post their video to social media. Each person must tag someone and donate once they’ve completed the challenge. 

For easy and simple sharing, create a custom donation form that’s optimized for mobile!
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
2
Inspiration
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/tiktok-dance-off
All
Fundraising page
Donation forms

Cooking competition

Take inspiration from the TV show “Chopped” and challenge teams to a culinary showdown! 

You can get even more spectators in on the fun by livestreaming the event and asking for donations throughout the program. 
Cost:
2
Effort:
3
Impact:
2
Inspiration
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/cooking-competition
All
Events
Fundraising page
Peer-to-peer

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
Inspiration
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/peer-to-peer-fundraising
All
Peer-to-peer

Board game night

Host a pay-to-play fundraising event where participants can compete against their friends in games like UNO or Sorry. Sell goodies for competitors to snack on to make this event extra sweet.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
1
Inspiration
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/board-game-night
All
Events

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
Inspiration
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/24-hour-marathon
All
Events

Pancakes for parents

Charge a small entrance fee for a dropoff pancake breakfast just for kids, allowing parents to take some much-needed time to rest and relax.

Make the whole process even more convenient for parents with easy online ticketing and scan-to-donate options at the door.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Inspiration
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/pancakes-for-parents
All
Events
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 

Frequently asked questions

Many valuable funding sources are available for your nonprofit, including foundations, corporate sponsors, and major donors. Our favorite strategy, however, is more grassroots: fundraising campaigns and events that rally community support for your cause, like the ideas shared on this page.
New to fundraising? Learn how to start a fundraiser with step-by-step guidance and even more inspiration.

When it comes to easy fundraising ideas for nonprofit organizations, it all depends on your resources, time constraints, and how much you need to raise. One tip is to incorporate your fundraising efforts into pre-existing events, like partnering with a local team to promote your text-to-donate campaign at their next big game.

Pro tip: Offering mobile-friendly payment options makes the entire process easier for youandyour donors.

Some of the highest-raising charity fundraising ideas put the focus—and goal—on a specific day or moment, like Giving Tuesday or an annual benefit auction. Auctions with high-ticket items and campaigns with incentives like matching gifts can also bring in large donations for a more successful fundraiser.

When you need results fast, consider setting up an online fundraiser that includes a social media challenge or some friendly competition. With a peer-to-peer campaign, your supporters can create their own donation pages and spread the word online, building momentum toward your collective fundraising goal.

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

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