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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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Themed auction
Partner with local businesses to source items for a themed auction with a variety of attractive packages, exciting products, and alluring getaways.
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.
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.
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Inspiration
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All
Auctions
Team sponsorship
Ask local businesses to sponsor your team in exchange for logo placement on jerseys, in programs, or on stadium banners. Be sure to follow sponsorship proposal best practices to make the most of this partnership!
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
3
Inspiration
All
Donation forms
Alumni night
Sell tickets to an all-inclusive alumni dinner before a big game or event. During half-time or intermission, bring out the alumni for special recognition. Alternatively, you can livestream a special alumni message during a virtual event.
Cost:
3
Effort:
3
Impact:
3
Inspiration
All
Events
Car wash
Gather volunteers, soap, and plenty of rags to wash cars in exchange for donations. Collect onsite donations easily by displaying a simple scan-to-donate QR code, which allows donors to select from a variety of payment methods. You can even offer different package options for those who are willing to donate more for a deeper clean.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Inspiration
All
Events
Tool drive
Rather than requesting a financial gift, ask supporters to donate new or gently used tools and construction equipment for your programs and services. Or, sell them in an annual community tool sale. Don’t forget to send friendly reminders and guidelines on what kinds of tools can be donated using free email marketing software!
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
1
Inspiration
All
Events
Donation forms
Cup of coffee
Set up a coffee cart in the office and ask employees and/or passersby to donate the cost of their morning coffee towards the cause.
Offer scan to-donate and accept Venmo donations to make giving even easier.
Offer scan to-donate and accept Venmo donations to make giving even easier.
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
2
Inspiration
All
Donation forms
Caroling
Embrace the holiday spirit and spread joy by going caroling around town or at an event. Pass the hat for cash donations AND hold a big QR code or text-to-donate number for easy mobile giving!
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
1
Inspiration
All
Donation forms
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:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Inspiration
All
Events
Peer-to-peer
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
Inspiration
All
Events
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
All
Donation forms
Virtual telethon
Plan exciting entertainment, such as talent showcases and cooking lessons that you can share with your audience entirely online.
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.
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.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
3
Inspiration
All
Events
Flower bulb sale
Sell wholesale flowers or request donations from nurseries and landscaping stores to sell to supporters. To gamify your efforts, use peer-to-peer fundraising to encourage individual supporters to compete to see who can sell the most!
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Inspiration
All
Events
Peer-to-peer
Donation forms
Fundraising page
Mystery art show
Invite local artists, students, and other enthusiastic community members to contribute small paintings or other works for an anonymous community art sale.
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!
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!
Cost:
1
Effort:
3
Impact:
3
Inspiration
All
Events
Donation forms
Costumed car wash
Sprinkle some extra magic into the classic car wash fundraiser by giving it a theme! Get everyone in your group to dress up in costumes representing the ‘80s, classic Disney characters, superheroes, you name it.
Create a smooth experience for all with fundraising pages that include easy in-person payments and a range of giving options.
Create a smooth experience for all with fundraising pages that include easy in-person payments and a range of giving options.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Inspiration
All
Events
Donation forms
Fundraising page
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
All
Events
Donation forms
Teacher “jail”
Challenge students to meet a fundraising goal. If they do, their teacher is sent to relax in the teachers’ lounge while students play games in the classroom. Use a custom fundraising page with a live goal bar to build excitement!
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
2
Inspiration
All
Events
Fundraising page
Peer-to-peer
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.
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
Inspiration
All
Auctions
Bake sale
Everyone loves sweet treats. Whip up some cookies, cakes, and donuts, and set up a bake sale with proceeds going directly to your good cause.
Supporters don’t have cash on them? No problem! With Givebutter you can accept a wide range of modern payment methods, including Venmo.
Supporters don’t have cash on them? No problem! With Givebutter you can accept a wide range of modern payment methods, including Venmo.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Inspiration
All
Events
Valet parking
Create and sell custom VIP event tickets that offer parking perks to donors who'd appreciate the convenience of getting dropped off right at the game entrance.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Inspiration
All
Events
Yard sale
Turn old treasures into fresh new funds for your good cause! Ask community members to host individual yard sales and donate their proceeds to your campaign. Or, host one large community yard sale using donated goods.
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.
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.
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
2
Inspiration
All
Events
Fundraising page
Donation forms
Teddy bear picnic
Sell simple brown-bag lunches or have a mini bake sale at a picnic where participants can bring along their favorite stuffed animal. This fundraising event is a perfect family-friendly way to bring in needed funds.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Inspiration
All
Events
One for one pledge
Whether you’re offering branded merch, boxed lunches, or other appealing products, incentivize even more donations for your cause by pledging to give away one “reward” item for each one purchased. (For example, for every pair of cozy socks sold, you’ll donate a pair to a local shelter.)
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.
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.
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Inspiration
All
Fundraising page
Virtual scavenger hunt
For this totally remote fundraising event, charge a registration fee and ask participants to use their computer or mobile device to complete various challenges. Share instructions and updates and announce winners from a livestream hosted right on your event page.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Inspiration
All
Events
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
All
Events
Fan Combine
Invite family, friends, and fans to this ultimate sports fundraising event. Participants join in a series of challenges, such as football tosses, 50-yard dashes, and obstacle courses.
Cost:
2
Effort:
3
Impact:
2
Inspiration
All
Events
Peer-to-peer
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We're always cooking up new ideas, so check back soon for fresh picks!
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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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