All fundraising ideas

Fundraising ideas for work

Whether you’re looking to rally your employees or coworkers around a cause close to your heart or your nonprofit is eager to engage more supporters with workplace fundraising, you’ll find inspiration in this list of exciting ideas for fundraisers at work. 

Get everyone in the office involved in the action, from coffee cart donations to CEO challenges, and help bring in donations and bring your staff together at the same time.

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Principal challenge

Challenge your principal to do something wild (like dye their hair) if your team reaches their fundraising goal. Use a custom fundraising page with a live goal bar to drum up excitement and share updates (and photos!) as donations roll in.
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Peer-to-peer

Virtual auction

Take the bidding online by allowing participants to browse your silent auction catalog, place bids, and win from anywhere! 

Use auction software that makes the bidding process smooth and simple for you and your donors.
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Auctions
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Open mic night

Invite community members to perform music, poetry, or comedy for a good cause. Ask audience members to make a small donation and offer snacks to raise more funds using easy in-person mobile payments like Tap to Pay and scan-to-donate
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Virtual concert

Ask local musicians or bands to perform for a livestreaming audience and invite viewers to make donations or purchase tickets to attend virtually right on your event page. 

Make sure to feature a donation thermometer on your page to encourage viewers to make extra donations and get you closer to your goal as they enjoy the music.
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Pet spa day

Recruit volunteers to perform various pet grooming services like bathing and nail trimming. Charge a fee for every “treatment” at this fundraising event by offering tiered ticket types for various services and combinations. 
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Comedy roast

Invite participants to roast their teachers or coaches—in a light-hearted way. Sell tickets online and check-in attendees as they arrive, in addition to offering in-person donations for entry (and snacks!) with Venmo and scan-to-donate. 
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Lemonade stand

Sell lemonade (and maybe some tasty treats, too!) to raise funds for your cause. Make purchases smooth as butter with scan-to-donate and donation forms that accept every payment method, including Venmo!  
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Jersey auction

Auction off game-worn jerseys from your team or donated professional jerseys either online or in person. Take advantage of free silent auction software for simple and easy bidding, custom item descriptions, and more.
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Fourth of July party

Celebrate our nation’s independence with a red, white, and blue fundraiser! Work with businesses to secure sponsorships and an amazing venue, then sell tickets to your fundraising event, filled with food, music, and activities.
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Date auction

Brave individuals offer themselves up for your auction to go on a date with the highest bidders. This idea is a little bit dated, but with the right planning, you can have a lot of fun with it. 

Ask sponsoring restaurants to donate gift certificates to bring in more bids for these “items” and make for an easy, in-public location for each date. 
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Bring your pet to work day

Employees make a donation and bring their furry friends to work with them for the day. Organize pet-themed activities and competitions to raise additional funds. To get remote employees involved, livestream some of the activities and invite coworkers to tune in!
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Petting zoo

Partner with a local farm or petting zoo to bring in animals for a day of fun. Charge an entry fee and offer optional donations for extra activities, like pony rides, to raise even more funds. Make sure attendees can make quick payments from their phones, using methods like Venmo or Tap to Pay, so they don't need to return to their cars for cash.
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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.
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Movie night

Find a suitable indoor or outdoor space and host a ticketed screening of a fan-favorite movie (bonus if it’s related to your cause!). Sell popcorn, treats, and drinks, too. 

Use Givebutter’s fundraising event tools like online ticket sales, mobile app check-ins, and in-person payments to make it easier for you and your supporters. 
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Church camp dessert bake-off

Challenge your church camp attendees to a bake-off to raise money for your next big project or trip. Bakers offer samples of their treats in exchange for donations from parishioners and community members, and a panel of judges can award prizes for the best s’mores, cupcakes, and ice cream sundaes. 
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Family dance

Give the “father-daughter” or “mother-son” dance an inclusive update and give families of all shapes and sizes an unforgettable night of cutting a rug together for a good cause. 

Choose a theme, sell tickets for your fundraising event online, and raise even more by setting up a photo booth with silly props!  
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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 this fundraiser digital, livestream the event so participants can play—and cheer each other on—from home.
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Puppy party

Team up with your local animal shelter to host an event to raise awareness and funds for both the shelter and your organization or campaign. Attendees get bonus puppy snuggles! 

At the event, highlight the different mobile giving options your supporters can choose from with live display
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Social media challenge

Choose a theme and a hashtag, encourage supporters to post their video or picture, and then tag others to challenge them to do the same—and donate! 

Learn more social media fundraising tips to take your efforts to the next level.
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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.
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Staff vs. students

Organize an afternoon of relay races, obstacle courses, and brain teasers at your school and challenge teachers to partake. Be sure to create a fun and engaging event page where attendees can easily purchase tickets!
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Frequently asked questions

Your workplace is one of the best places to raise money for charity, especially if your fundraising efforts are work-related or promote employee involvement. Hosting bake sales in your building lobby, planning desk decorating contests, and organizing trivia nights are just a few fun office fundraising ideas your team will be eager to participate in. Plus, they offer a great opportunity for networking and building camaraderie, all while helping you reach your goal.

Don't forget to include donation jars around the office and online fundraising pages that employees can use to spread the word and raise more from friends and family. 

Launching these easy workplace fundraising ideas is pretty simple. Buy-in is key. Gather a small group of coworkers to pick a charitable cause that will resonate with your colleagues. Together, choose the best kind of activity or event for raising money. Be sure to check in with the nonprofit you’re supporting about your plans or even to collaborate on ideas!

You can also check out the different types of workplace giving programs that can further incentivize your coworkers to participate in raising funds.

Corporate fundraising, also known as corporate philanthropy, is the practice of a company or business raising money to support a cause or charity. 

Corporate fundraising ideas can range from larger-scale happenings like wine tastings and golf tournaments to smaller-scale activities like a car wash. At more formal events, organizers often charge an entry fee and invite the local community and other small businesses to attend and participate. 

Some companies also donate a portion of their profits to a specific charity or encourage staff to volunteer. Others match donations, meaning employees can give to their organization of choice, and their employer will contribute the same amount or more!

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