.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
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.
Please enter a valid email address.
%201.png)
%201.png)
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Shave for the cause
Create a peer to peer fundraising campaign and invite participants to create their own pages and compete to raise the most funds. Watch the leaderboard for live updates on who’s in the lead. The person with the highest amount raised or the most individual donations will shave their head—or nominate someone else to shave their own!
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Examples
.png)
.png)
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/shave-for-the-cause
Please enter a valid email address.
All
Events
Peer-to-peer
Pages & forms
Water balloons & sponge toss
For this fundraising event, charge a small fee per water balloon or sponge, and let students throw them at each other during a pep rally or outdoor event. For easy participation, offer scan-to-donate and accept multiple payment methods like Apple Pay, Venmo, and more.
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
2
.png)
.png)
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/sponge-toss
Please enter a valid email address.
All
Events
Pages & forms
Pool party
Charge an entry fee for a fun day in the sun—think pool floats, squirt guns, and water balloons!
To make this fundraising event even more of a hit, sell summery snacks and drinks, too. Don’t forget the sunscreen!
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Examples
%20(1).png)
.png)
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/pool-party
Please enter a valid email address.
All
Events
Pages & forms
Concert for a cause
Work with popular local musicians and performers to host a benefit concert with a percentage of the proceeds going towards your 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.
Cost:
2
Effort:
3
Impact:
2
Examples
.png)
.png)
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/concert-for-a-cause
Please enter a valid email address.
All
Events
Bake sale
Everyone loves sweet treats! Whip up some cookies, cakes, or donuts and host a bake sale to raise funds for your good cause. Supporters don’t have cash? No problem! With Givebutter, you can accept mobile payments via Cash App, Venmo, Apple Pay, and more.
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
2
Examples
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/bake-sale
Please enter a valid email address.
All
Events
Pages & forms
The guessing game
Fill a jar with candy at your next event and invite people to guess how many pieces are inside for a small donation. The closest guess wins all the candy!
Use scan-to-donate for quick, on-the-spot giving—just print the QR code on a poster or display it at your stand.
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
1
Examples
.png)
.png)
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/the-guessing-game
Please enter a valid email address.
All
Events
Pages & forms
Partner with a local restaurant
Partner with a celebrated local eatery to donate a percentage of their profits from a certain night or weekend to your fundraising campaign. Check out tips for securing corporate sponsorships to make the most of this opportunity.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
1
Examples
.png)
.png)
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/partner-with-a-local-restaurant
Please enter a valid email address.
All
Events
Pages & forms
Grill-off
At your next BBQ, invite hobby chefs to compete in a grill-off, where they’ll be judged by a panel of experts—your supporters!
Set up team fundraising pages where everyone can make a donation to vote for their favorite chef. They can also see a live leaderboard and watch the votes land in real time!
Set up team fundraising pages where everyone can make a donation to vote for their favorite chef. They can also see a live leaderboard and watch the votes land in real time!
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Examples
.png)
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/grill-off
Please enter a valid email address.
All
Events
Peer-to-peer
Take a pie to the face
Set up a booth and invite people to pay to throw a pie at willing participants like teachers, bosses, or coaches—the more authority, the more satisfying!
With scan-to-donate, pie throwers use your QR code to land on your donation page instantly—no waiting around.
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
1
Examples
.png)
.png)
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/take-a-pie-to-the-face
Please enter a valid email address.
All
Events
Pages & forms
Recycling drive
Ask supporters to collect recyclable materials like cans, bottles, or even old tech, then use a local service to turn these items into funds.
Recycling drives work great for long-term fundraising. Keep your supporters engaged and remind them when and where they can drop off materials via your email marketing software.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Examples
.png)
.png)
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/recycling-drive
Please enter a valid email address.
All
Events
Pages & forms
Scavenger hunt
Set up a themed scavenger hunt in your venue, neighborhood, or even across the entire town. Charge participants a small entrance fee and offer donated prizes for the winners.
Streamline ticket sales and create a central hub with a fundraising event page. All the energy you save can be spent making your event even more exciting!
Cost:
1
Effort:
3
Impact:
2
Examples
.png)
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/scavenger-hunt
Please enter a valid email address.
All
Events
Caroling
Embrace the holiday spirit and spread joy by going caroling around town or at a seasonal event. Pass the hat for cash donations and display a large QR code or text-to-donate number for easy mobile giving.
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
1
Examples
.png)
.png)
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/caroling
Please enter a valid email address.
All
Pages & forms
Events
House party
Host a house party and charge a small entrance fee to gain entry. Choose a theme to match your audience or fundraising campaign goal.
Sell event tickets online in advance, check guests in with our mobile app, and use Tap to Pay and Venmo donations to accept latecomers on the spot.
Sell event tickets online in advance, check guests in with our mobile app, and use Tap to Pay and Venmo donations to accept latecomers on the spot.
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Examples
.png)
.webp)
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/house-party
Please enter a valid email address.
All
Events
Crowdfunding campaign
Collect online donations from friends, family, and community members by creating a fundraising page that lays out your needs and the impact that you will make with the money you raise. Use photos and videos to make your story more engaging, and use a goal bar to showcase your progress.
Be sure to follow crowdfunding best practices in order to make your campaign an even bigger success!
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
3
Examples
.png)
.png)
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/crowdfunding-campaign
Please enter a valid email address.
All
Peer-to-peer
Pages & forms
Video Game Tournament
Host a tournament featuring the most popular video games. Charge entry fees for participants and offer donated prizes for winners. To make it digital, livestream the event so participants can play—and cheer each other on—from home.
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Examples
.png)
.png)
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/video-game-tournament
Please enter a valid email address.
All
Events
High heels walk
Instead of a 5k, organize a high heels walk down a “runway” of your choice. Challenge supporters to see who can raise the most funds leading up to the event through peer-to-peer fundraising—and who can rock the best look. Encourage your supporters to personalize their pages to attract more donations!
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Examples
.png)
.png)
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/high-heels-walk
Please enter a valid email address.
All
Events
Peer-to-peer
Tie-dye fundraiser
Invite students to bring t-shirts, tote bags, socks, and other light-colored items of clothing for a tie-dye party. Charge a small fee for entry and supplies, and have some extra clothing items on hand to sell, too.
If you produce a large volume lot of tie-dyed items, create a donation form or buy-now auction to sell them to your community!
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Examples
.png)
.png)
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/tie-dye-fundraiser
Please enter a valid email address.
All
Events
Pages & forms
Holiday-grams
Put together bundles of holiday cards and small gifts and charge extra for distribution at your club, school, college, or workplace.
Customize your donation form with custom fields to collect all the details you need—such as the recipient’s name, a personalized, heartfelt holiday message, and where the gram should be delivered.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
1
Examples
.png)
.png)
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/holiday-grams
Please enter a valid email address.
All
Pages & forms
Battle of the bands
Host a battle of the bands with local musicians. Change the audience a small ticket fee, or raise funds by selling drinks and snacks.
Raise even more money by livestreaming the show. Encourage your supporters to tune in, support the event, and donate what they can towards your goal.
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Examples
.png)
.png)
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/battle-of-the-bands
Please enter a valid email address.
All
Events
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:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Examples
.png)
.png)
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/auction-your-time-or-skills
Please enter a valid email address.
All
Auctions
Events
Rent your space
Rent your field, venue, office, or community space to other groups and organizations to make the most of any time it isn't in use.
Spread the word that your space is available for rent with your email marketing software. Don’t forget to include photos of the space to encourage interest!
Spread the word that your space is available for rent with your email marketing software. Don’t forget to include photos of the space to encourage interest!
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
3
Examples
.png)
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/rent-your-space
Please enter a valid email address.
All
Pages & forms
Give it up challenge
Ask supporters to “give up” a small indulgence—like their morning coffee—for a set amount of time and donate those funds to your campaign instead.
Create a fundraising page to share challenge ideas, set suggested donation amounts, and post updates or donor shout-outs to keep momentum going.
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
2
Examples
.png)
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/give-it-up-challenge
Please enter a valid email address.
All
Peer-to-peer
Pages & forms
Ice cream social
Set up an ice cream stall with different flavors, cones, toppings, and sauces. Raise funds by asking for donations to unlock the most popular or extravagant toppings.
Create a vibrant, themed fundraising page, then send your supporters straight to it with scan-to-donate. From there they can pay for their ice-cream and unlock flavors!
Create a vibrant, themed fundraising page, then send your supporters straight to it with scan-to-donate. From there they can pay for their ice-cream and unlock flavors!
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
1
Examples
.png)
.png)
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/ice-cream-social
Please enter a valid email address.
All
Events
Pages & forms
Yard sale
Turn old treasures into new funds for your good cause! Ask community members to host individual garage sales and donate their proceeds to your campaign—or host one large community yard sale using donated goods.
Create a fundraising page for your event, post campaign updates to keep people engaged, and update the fundraising total as donations come in.
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
2
Examples
.png)
.png)
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/yard-sale
Please enter a valid email address.
All
Events
Pages & forms
Penny wars
Organize a friendly competition between grades or classes to collect the most pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters. Just grab a few jars and encourage students to find some loose change to get started!
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
2
Examples
.png)
.png)
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/penny-wars
Please enter a valid email address.
All
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
.png){kind=small}
.svg){kind=small}
Get top features for your nonprofit fundraiser
.svg){kind=small}
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.
%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}