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Summer fundraising ideas

Set your nonprofit, community group, or school up for success this season with these fun summer fundraiser ideas.

From yard sales and pool parties to concerts in the park, your supporters will be delighted to make the most of the sun while helping raise funds for your cause.

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Outdoor education class


Invite your community to explore the world around you with an outdoor education experience. Determine your target age group(s) and create an out-of-classroom adventure they’ll treasure.
Cost:
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Cornhole tournament

Gather your community for a friendly cornhole tournament. Set a donation amount to participate, and don’t forget prizes for the winning team. 
Cost:
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Impact:
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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:
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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:
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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!
Cost:
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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:
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Impact:
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/take-a-pie-to-the-face
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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!
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/ice-cream-social
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Lemonade stand


Set up a classic lemonade stand—and maybe add some tasty treats—to raise funds for your cause. Make purchases seamless with scan-to-donate and mobile-friendly donation forms that accept Venmo and other popular payment methods. 
Cost:
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Impact:
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Link copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/lemonade-stand
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Skate-a-thon


For a fun twist on a walk-a-thon, swap the walking shoes for rollerblades or quad skates and raise money for a good cause.

Encourage participants to create peer-to-peer fundraising pages they can personalize with their own stories and updates leading up to the big day. 
Cost:
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Impact:
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/skate-a-thon
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Kids vs. grownups field day


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

Charge entrance fees for this fundraising event, sell snacks and drinks, and don’t forget prizes for the champs!
Cost:
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Effort:
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Impact:
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Battle of the food trucks

Host a showdown between some of your favorite food trucks. Ask each truck to donate a percentage of sales towards your good cause, and award a fun prize to the truck that makes the most sales that day. 

Partnering with food trucks is a great way to reach your fundraising target. Discover how to secure corporate sponsorships.
Cost:
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Impact:
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Link copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/battle-of-the-food-trucks
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Golf tournament


Golf tournaments are an incredible way to build relationships and raise funds for your cause. Charge teams an entry fee, secure sponsorships, and enjoy a day on the green with your community.

Check out our guide to discover how to make your next golf tournament even more profitable.
Cost:
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Effort:
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Impact:
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Peer-to-peer

Movies in the park


Invite your community to enjoy a summer movie series in the park. Screen a classic or trending film somewhere scenic, and sell popcorn, drinks, and other refreshments.

Sell tickets online, check guests in with your mobile app, and offer easy payment options like scan-to-donate for on-the-spot donations.
Cost:
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Impact:
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Link copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/movies-in-the-park
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Beach day

Arrange a day of sand and sun for your team members, volunteers, and the wider community with beach games, a picnic, and lots of family fun. 

Set an affordable ticket price or ask for donations to cover the cost of the event and raise funds—whichever you choose, our fundraising event tools can help!
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Link copied!
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Sand ‘n’ sip


For a summer twist on a paint 'n' sip, invite donors to join you for a day of fun on the beach alongside a wine-tasting experience. To reach your goal, sell tickets for your fundraising event online and strike up a sponsorship deal with a local wine company.
Cost:
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Pool or beach volleyball tournament

Turn your local beach or community pool into a sports arena with a pool volleyball tournament. To make this a high-value event, charge teams an entry fee and encourage them to raise sponsorship through their team fundraising pages.
Cost:
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Impact:
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Link copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/pool-volleyball-tournament
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Peer-to-peer

Beach Games

Plan an exciting beach competition including an Olympics-style championship for events like volleyball, surfing, and sandcastle making. 

Ask participants to pay a small fee to register and raise even more funds by selling cold drinks and ice cream.
Cost:
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Effort:
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Impact:
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Link copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/beach-games
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Swim-a-thon


Swap your sneakers for a swimsuit or trunks and host a swim-a-thon to raise money for your cause. Set a route that feels achievable, and invite participants to create their own peer-to-peer fundraising pages to help you reach your goal.

Cost:
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Effort:
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Impact:
2
Link copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/swim-a-thon
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Peer-to-peer

Summer day out


Raise funds and give your supporters a memorable experience at the same time with an excursion to an exciting attraction, museum, or other destination.

Use a fundraising event page to make registration and payment easy, and add custom fields to capture important information from each participant, such as t-shirt size or dietary restrictions.
Cost:
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Impact:
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Link copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/summer-day-out
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Summer project sale


Host a yard sale/craft fair event focused on helping people finish those summer projects they've been meaning to tackle. Cater to a range of DIY projects with materials like paint, furniture, craft supplies, scrapbooking materials, and more.

Use email marketing software to spread the word about the upcoming sale and share a printable map, so attendees know what kinds of booths will be there.
Cost:
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Impact:
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Link copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/summer-project-sale
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LGBTQ+ trivia night


Charge a registration fee for a fun night of testing your LGBTQ+ knowledge. To raise additional funds at this fundraising event, sell pride-themed merch, drinks, and snacks, too!
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Impact:
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Link copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/lgbtq-trivia-night
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Pride-themed merch sale


Design and sell pride-themed merchandise such as t-shirts, buttons, stickers, and flags. To drum up excitement, create a custom donation form, event, or fundraising page that includes images of the available items.
Cost:
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/pride-themed-merch-sale
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Frequently asked questions

Summer fundraising event ideas that let supporters enjoy the warm weather are always a hit. To bring your community together, organize an outdoor movie night, food truck competition, themed car wash, ice cream social, or beach cleanup.

Check out the complete summer fundraising checklist for more top tips on making the most of the sunny season.

Empowering your supporters and local community to raise money through peer-to-peer fundraising campaigns is one of the most effective ways to hit your fundraising goals in the summer. Host a walk-a-thon, swim-a-thon, or summer beach games tournament, and encourage friends and family to pledge or donate. Don’t forget to partner with a local sponsor to increase visibility and impact.

Planning a summer fundraiser is exciting, but it can also feel overwhelming if you don’t know where to start. That’s why we created a step-by-step event planning checklist to walk you through the process, from brainstorming ideas to executing your event. It’s great for both indoor and outdoor fundraising ideas.

Awareness days and holidays make perfect summertime fundraising ideas. Try a golf tournament around Father’s Day, a hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July, or a social media campaign for Juneteenth or Pride Month. You can charge a small fee or ask for a small donation to participate in a specific event or activity.

There are plenty of ways to encourage participation in your summer fundraising efforts! If you usually charge an entry fee, try hosting a free event in the local park, where guests can support your cause by buying treats at a bake sale or custom items from your merch stand. For traveling supporters, make giving easy with donation pages, online auction items, or even a virtual scavenger hunt to keep the momentum going.

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