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All fundraising ideas
Virtual fundraising ideas
Raising money through a virtual fundraiser is a powerful way to get more supporters involved in your cause—anyone around the globe can join and donate! The possibilities are endless when it comes to online fundraising ideas, but we’ve assembled a list of favorites, including virtual happy hours, livestream telethons, and book clubs, to help get your own digital party started.
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Bar crawl
Organize a themed 21+ bar crawl to the local pubs! Create custom ticket types for various amounts of drink tickets and eats along the way.
Cost:
2
Effort:
3
Impact:
2
Inspiration
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Players vs. parents game
It’s kids vs. grownups in this ultimate showdown. Ask for a small donation per participant or family or charge a small fee for supporters to come watch it all go down.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
3
Inspiration
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Events
Peer-to-peer
Maze for a cause
If you don’t have corn maze capabilities, find a large outdoor space where you can build a maze from hay bales!
Charge an entrance fee to walk the maze, and make transactions easy with scan-to-donate and Tap to Pay options.
Charge an entrance fee to walk the maze, and make transactions easy with scan-to-donate and Tap to Pay options.
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Inspiration
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Events
Donation forms
Karaoke night
Host an unforgettable night for your community to come belt out their favorite songs. Charge a small entry fee or accept donations for participation.
To encourage even more donations during the party, display mobile giving options and your progress toward your goal using live display.
To encourage even more donations during the party, display mobile giving options and your progress toward your goal using live display.
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
2
Inspiration
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Toy drive
Set up a toy drive to allow your community members to turn their generosity into thoughtful gifts for kids over the holiday season. Ask for toy and cash donations, then distribute toys to those most in need and use funds to buy extra gifts.
Let everyone know when, where, and what to donate with the help of email marketing software.
Let everyone know when, where, and what to donate with the help of email marketing software.
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
2
Inspiration
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Fundraising page
Donation forms
Naming rights
Supporters cast their vote with donations to name a bench, tree, garden, sculpture, or pathway.
Create custom labels on your donation form for various donation amounts (for example: $100 = named brick in a sidewalk).
Create custom labels on your donation form for various donation amounts (for example: $100 = named brick in a sidewalk).
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
2
Inspiration
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Donation forms
Talent show
Stage a talent show and invite members to take to the stage to show off their skills. Sell tickets, drinks, and snacks to raise money.
Make the whole experience feel even more interactive with text-to-donate. Invite audience members to vote from their seats and raise money for your cause at the same time.
Make the whole experience feel even more interactive with text-to-donate. Invite audience members to vote from their seats and raise money for your cause at the same time.
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Inspiration
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Grants
Research grants that you can apply for to fund your nonprofit organization or project. Be sure to create a stand-out grant proposal in order to impress grantmakers!
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
3
Inspiration
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Donation forms
“Celebrity” breakfast
Charge an entrance fee for a special family breakfast with a beloved children’s character like Elmo! Check-in attendees and accept in-person donations with Tap to Pay as guests arrive, ask volunteers to whip up scrambled eggs and pancakes, and arrange a corner of the room for family photos and selfies.
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Inspiration
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Baby picture guessing
Invite employees to bring in baby photos. Hang them all up and ask everyone to make a donation in order to guess which colleague is depicted in each picture!
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
1
Inspiration
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Donation forms
Earth Day
Reserve an indoor or outdoor space and invite your community to come arrange flower bouquets and pot their own plants to celebrate Earth Day (April 22).
Charge an entrance fee and make your fundraising event move smoothly with mobile app check-in and easy scan-to-donate payment options.
Charge an entrance fee and make your fundraising event move smoothly with mobile app check-in and easy scan-to-donate payment options.
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Inspiration
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Events
Donation forms
Escape Room Challenge
Charge a participation fee and challenge teams to solve puzzles and clues to "escape” from various spaces in this exciting, community-building fundraising event.
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Inspiration
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Speakeasy night
Sell tickets to a prohibition-era-themed night that features poker, themed cocktails, live music, and more. Sell tickets to this fundraising event ahead of time, and accept donations from latecomers on the spot, too.
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Inspiration
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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
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5k walk/run
Map out your fundraising run route and have supporters donate to participate. Then, use peer-to-peer fundraising tools that allow supporters to make their own donation pages, set their own goals, and ask friends and family to contribute!
Cost:
1
Effort:
3
Impact:
3
Inspiration
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Events
Peer-to-peer
Outdoor adventure day
Charge participants a registration fee for a whole day of activities like hiking, fishing, and nature walks. Use free marketing tools to tease different activities and remind supporters of what they need to bring along on the day of!
Cost:
2
Effort:
3
Impact:
2
Inspiration
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Events
Building tour
If you're opening a new building, offer a VIP tour to your community members. Set a ticket price or auction them off. To raise the most from your VIP building tour, use auction software to host a fun and stress-free experience for your supporters.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Inspiration
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Auctions
Photography walk
Invite a photographer to host a tour around the local area, taking in the sights of the season. Sell tickets in advance and use an easy mobile app to check in guests and take any last-minute payments on the day of.
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
1
Inspiration
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Donation forms
Events
Membership drive
Incentivize supporters to invite friends and family to sign up for a membership during a specific period of time. Offer discounted rates or additional perks, and accept recurring donations with ease on a user-friendly platform.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
3
Inspiration
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Fundraising page
Donation forms
High five booth
Brighten up someone’s day and raise money for a good cause. Set up a booth where passers-by or event attendees can make a donation of their choice and receive a high-five from you or your volunteers.
Make the donation process as quick and easy as the high-five itself—send people straight to your donation form with scan-to-donate.
Make the donation process as quick and easy as the high-five itself—send people straight to your donation form with scan-to-donate.
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
1
Inspiration
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Pajama run
Ask participants to don their favorite PJs while tackling a walk, jog, roll, or run for the cause. Encourage everyone to set a donation goal and spread the word about the fundraiser with peer-to-peer fundraising. Don’t forget to award prizes to the coziest runners!
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
3
Inspiration
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Peer-to-peer
Workshop or masterclass
Put your community’s talents to good use. Host an expert workshop or masterclass series and raise funds through ticket sales.
You don’t need to limit your audience to only the people you can fit in the room. Consider livestreaming your event to make it more accessible and raise even more dollars.
You don’t need to limit your audience to only the people you can fit in the room. Consider livestreaming your event to make it more accessible and raise even more dollars.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Inspiration
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Auctions
Celebrity guest appearance
Invite minor or major league players or other celebrity guests to your fundraising event to make a general appearance, offer a meet-and-greet session for VIPs, or participate in the event themselves! You can sell tickets and offer food and drink at an additional cost to make this fundraising event a big win for your cause.
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
3
Inspiration
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Events
Envelope fundraiser
Leave stacks of branded envelopes in various places around your community or grounds. Invite supporters to pick up an envelope, insert a donation, and leave it at a designated drop-off point.
Spread the word with easy email marketing software. Share the details of your campaign and send reminders as the deadline gets closer.
Spread the word with easy email marketing software. Share the details of your campaign and send reminders as the deadline gets closer.
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
2
Inspiration
Share this idea
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Donation forms
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Frequently asked questions
What is a virtual fundraiser?
A virtual or online fundraiser is a campaign or event created to raise money for a good cause that happens entirely on the World Wide Web. While using the Internet to raise funds has been happening for quite some time, this strategy became even more popular during the pandemic when in-person events were prohibited and social distancing was a must.
Unlike in-person fundraising, virtual fundraisers allow people to participate from wherever they are using their computers, phones, or other mobile devices. It's like bringing the fundraising party to your living room! You can connect with others online and support a good cause without having to leave the comfort of your own home.
How can I raise money virtually?
Good causes can raise money online through various channels, such as donation pages, peer-to-peer fundraising, or crowdfunding campaigns, as well as events like livestream concerts, talent shows, and auctions.
Some of the best virtual fundraising event ideas leverage social media (Facebook Live, social media takeovers, etc.), email campaigns, and text-to-donate tools to bring in more donations. Corporate sponsorships, partnerships with local businesses, matching gift programs, and online merchandise sales can also help boost virtual fundraising efforts, too.
What is the best online fundraising site?
The top fundraising sites include popular options like Givebutter, GoFundMe, Fundly, Kickstarter, and Donorbox. Each platform offers different features, fees, and support, so it's important to research and choose the one that aligns best with your fundraising goals and needs.
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