Summer fundraising ideas
Set up your nonprofit, community group, or school to thrive this season with these fun summer fundraiser ideas. From yard sales to pool parties and summer concerts in the park, your supporters will be delighted to help you raise funds and build community in the sun.
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.
Team sponsorship
Alumni night
Car wash
Tool drive
Cup of coffee
Offer scan to-donate and accept Venmo donations to make giving even easier.
Caroling
High heels walk
Ice cream social
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!
Naming rights
Create custom labels on your donation form for various donation amounts (for example: $100 = named brick in a sidewalk).
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.
Flower bulb sale
Mystery art show
Charge an entrance fee and invite supporters to purchase pieces all at the same price—without knowing who their artist is until the end of the event!
Costumed car wash
Create a smooth experience for all with fundraising pages that include easy in-person payments and a range of giving options.
Earth Day
Charge an entrance fee and make your fundraising event move smoothly with mobile app check-in and easy scan-to-donate payment options.
Teacher “jail”
Auction your time or skills
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.
Bake sale
Supporters don’t have cash on them? No problem! With Givebutter you can accept a wide range of modern payment methods, including Venmo.
Valet parking
Yard sale
Create a fundraising page for your yard sale, use campaign updates to keep your community engaged, and update the fundraising total to reflect how much you’ve raised.
Teddy bear picnic
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.
Virtual scavenger hunt
Escape Room Challenge
Fan Combine
Frequently asked questions
What are the most popular summer fundraisers?
Summer fundraising event ideas that enable your supporters to enjoy the warm weather are often the most popular. Organize a movie night in the park, a food truck competition, a themed car wash, an ice cream social, or set up a neighborhood tailgate to bring your community together outdoors.
Check out the complete summer fundraising checklist to get even more top tips for making the most of this sunny season.
What is the most profitable summer fundraiser?
Empowering your supporters to raise money through peer-to-peer fundraising campaigns is a fantastic way to hit your fundraising goals in the summer. Host a walk-a-thon, swim-a-thon, or summer beach games tournament and encourage pledges and donations from friends and family. Don’t forget to partner with a local sponsor to raise more funds and awareness for your cause.
How do I plan and promote my summer fundraiser?
Planning a summer fundraiser is exciting but can also be daunting if you don’t know where to start. Luckily, we’ve created a step-by-step event planning checklist that walks you through the journey from idea to execution.
Which summer holidays and awareness days work well for themed fundraisers?
Awareness days and holidays make for perfect summertime fundraising ideas. Host a golf tournament around Father’s Day, a hot dog eating contest on the 4th of July, or plan a social media-based campaign that recognizes Juneteenth or Pride Month.
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