Nonprofit fundraising ideas
Battle of the food trucks
Partnering with food trucks is a great way to reach your fundraising target. Discover how to secure corporate sponsorships.
Plant sale
One for one pledge
Showcase this cycle of generosity on your donation forms using custom labels and donation amounts to make it clear you’ll be making an in-kind donation for every monetary donation received.
Festive volunteers
Set up a donation form and use custom labels to create fun options, like a $50 donation = putting up your roof lights.
Engraved bricks
Use custom fields on your donation form to capture essential details for donors’ bricks—make sure to provide a word count so they don’t go over!
Expert lecture series
Sell tickets to in-person attendees and offer a livestreaming option to increase donations and reach interested supporters from anywhere.
Themed auction
Asking for items to sell at your auction can feel daunting at first, so use this silent auction donation request guide to help you build relationships and attract amazing donations.
Pie baking contest and potluck
Community members can make small donations as their “votes” for their favorite pies, and you can display the leaderboard to keep the competitive spirit up and momentum moving toward your fundraising goal throughout the event.
Youth lock-in
Set up an online fundraising event page where participants can register and supporters can make donations.
Speed dating
Encourage extra donations if participants find a special someone!
Toy drive
Let everyone know when, where, and what to donate with the help of email marketing software.
Postcard drive
Add a modern twist to this old-school tactic and have volunteers include an easy-to-read, short URL that goes right to your fundraising page.
Donation matching
Matching gifts create an enormous incentive for supporters who understand that they can automatically double (or even triple or quadruple!) their impact for your cause.
Coffee morning
Murder mystery night
Use easy event ticketing features to register guests online and check them in quickly with your mobile app to get the festivities started sooner!
Naming rights
Create custom labels on your donation form for various donation amounts (for example: $100 = named brick in a sidewalk).
Craft sale
Want to make an even bigger impact? Auction off some larger or more in-demand items.
Mother’s Day brunch
Charge a small ticket fee for this fundraising event and offer a selection of refreshments, sandwiches, and sweet treats.
Text-to-donate
See for yourself how easy it is — text “DEMO” to 53-555.
Virtual telethon
Plan a day or evening program, then livestream it to your community right from your event page, so members can make a donation without clicking away from the show.
Guest speaker event
Raise funds for your livestream by selling tickets and include upgrades like signed copies of books to bring in even more donations.
Street food stand
Partner with a local restaurant or food truck, or set up your own stall for the day. Want to strike up a relationship with a local restaurant? Use our sponsorship proposal guide to get started!
Virtual gala
Best seat in the house
With Givebutter you can also create unlimited kinds of event tickets—perfect for creating VIP packages.
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.
Frequently asked questions
How do I raise money for my nonprofit?
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.
Which ideas for nonprofit fundraising are the easiest?
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.
What are the most profitable nonprofit fundraising ideas?
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.
How can I raise money for my nonprofit fast?
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.
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