Your go-to source for fundraising inspiration

Fundraising ideas

We’ve got the best fundraising ideas for good causes of all shapes and sizes! Check out our curated lists or browse all fundraising ideas below by cost, effort, and impact.

Get more ideas for fundraisers, along with other helpful tips and tools, sent straight to your inbox

Subscribed! Your fundraising journey just got a whole lot butter. 🧈
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

All fundraising ideas

Filter
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Pancakes for parents

Charge a small entrance fee for a dropoff pancake breakfast just for kids, allowing parents to take some much-needed time to rest and relax.

Make the whole process even more convenient for parents with easy online ticketing and scan-to-donate options at the door.

Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/pancakes-for-parents
All
Events

Candy grams

Buy some crowd-favorite candies and charge supporters to send these sweet treats to a chosen recipient along with a heartfelt note. To streamline the process, have donors fill out custom fields on your donation form with their personal notes and recipient addresses.

Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/candy-grams
All
Donation forms
Fundraising page

Bingo night

Sell bingo cards and offer exciting prizes to keep everyone engaged all night long, either virtually or in person!

In the lead-up to your fundraising event, entice attendees with campaign updates featuring teasers of some of the prizes at stake.

Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/bingo-night
All
Events

Dance-a-thon

Using individual peer-to-peer fundraising pages connected to your central event page, participants gather donations and pledges based on how long they aim to dance—without taking a break!

Supporters can donate, leave messages of support for the dancers, and purchase tickets to join in the fun all in one place.

Cost:
1
Effort:
3
Impact:
3
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/dance-a-thon
All
Events
Peer-to-peer

Street food stand

Bring in donations with the sizzling smells and sweet treats from a street food stand.

Partner with a local restaurant or food truck, or set up your own stall for the day. Want to strike up a relationship with a local restaurant? Use our sponsorship proposal guide to get started!

Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/street-food-stand
All
Events
Donation forms

Volley-a-thon

Request each participant solicit pledges for the number of volleys they’re able to make. Sell event tickets, and put a call out for volunteers to keep things running smoothly.

Cost:
2
Effort:
3
Impact:
3
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/volley-a-thon
All
Events
Peer-to-peer
Fundraising page

Fitness class

Ask local instructors to donate a virtual or in-person class for your cause. Sell tickets and bring in some extra funds on the day of by selling snacks and branded merch.

Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
2
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/fitness-class
All
Events

Obstacle course

Challenge supporters to complete a course of obstacles like walls, mud pits, and rope climbs. To amplify your impact, and spark some friendly competition, encourage team fundraising: all supporters can join an existing team or create their own to compete!

Cost:
2
Effort:
3
Impact:
2
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/obstacle-course
All
Events
Peer-to-peer

Harvest dinner party

Host a grand harvest or Thanksgiving dinner party for special guests. Raise money through exclusive ticket sales, and use corporate sponsorship best practices to secure a partnership with a local restaurant or catering company.

Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/harvest-dinner-party
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
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/car-wash
All
Events

“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
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/celebrity-breakfast
All
Events

Spa crawl

Sell tickets or auction off a grand schedule of manicures, pedicures, massages, and more at various spas in your city. Include lots of perks for participating local businesses—like free marketing and publicity—in your corporate sponsorship proposal. 
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/spa-crawl
All
Events
Auctions

Oozeball tourney

Turn the sand volleyball court into a temporary mud pit. Ask participants to pay an entrance fee and create team fundraising pages where friends and family can show their support with donations.
Cost:
2
Effort:
3
Impact:
2
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/oozeball-tourney
All
Events
Peer-to-peer

Postcard drive

Handwritten, personalized messages can have a huge impact on your fundraising efforts. During your next campaign, ask volunteers to write and address postcards to your contacts to ask for donations. 

Add a modern twist to this old-school tactic and have volunteers include an easy-to-read, short URL that goes right to your fundraising page. 
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
3
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/postcard-drive
All
Fundraising page
Donation forms

Date auction

Brave individuals offer themselves up for your auction to go on a date with the highest bidders. This idea is a little bitdated, 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.

Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/date-auction
All
Auctions

Penny wars

Grades or classes compete to collect the most pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters. Grab a few jars and encourage students to find some loose change to get started! To ensure that no one forgets their cents at home, send reminders to parents with free texting software.

Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
2
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/penny-wars
All
Fundraising page
Donation forms

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:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/swim-a-thon
All
Events
Peer-to-peer

Crafts night

Charge an entrance fee and check-in attendees as they arrive for an evening of creativity and fun. Ask volunteers to bring various supplies, or ask for donations from local art stores.

Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
1
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/crafts-night
All
Events

Pump-a-thon

Find out who can (safely) lift the most weight curling, deadlifting, or squatting. Charge entry fees for participants, sell tickets, and offer food and drink at an additional cost.

Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/pump-a-thon
All
Events
Peer-to-peer

Gala night

Plan a sophisticated gala night with music, food, and a silent auction.

Get your supporters excited about your upcoming event with an eye-catching gala invitation template. Include details on how to buy tickets, or add a scan-to-donate QR code.

Cost:
3
Effort:
3
Impact:
3
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/gala-night
All
Events
Auctions

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!

Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/lgbtq-trivia-night
All
Events

Home decor workshop

Charge a registration fee and provide materials for attendees to create their own home decor. Selecting seasonal DIY projects—such as holiday wreaths or pumpkin painting—is a great way to draw a larger crowd. Take this event to the next level by turning it into a competition! Once all projects are completed, attendees can donate to vote for who should be crowned winner.

Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/home-decor-workshop
All
Events

Rah-rah raffle

Raffle or auction off donated spirit-related items or experiences like a spot at a cheer clinic and private cheer lessons.

To attract the right audience, host a silent auction at your next spirited event with these experiences included!

Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/rah-rah-raffle
All
Events
Auctions

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:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
1
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/pride-themed-merch-sale
All
Donation forms
Events
Fundraising page
Looks like we don’t have any fundraising ideas matching that criteria 🔎
We're always cooking up new ideas, so check back soon for fresh picks!
Dive into our list of best fundraising ideas in the meantime 

Subscribe to
The Butter Brief

Get fundraising ideas, tips, and free resources right in your inbox

Subscribed! Your fundraising journey just got a whole lot butter. 🧈
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Givebutter helps you turn ideas into impact

Subscribe to
The Butter Brief

Get fundraising ideas, tips, and free resources right in your inbox

Subscribed! Your fundraising journey just got a whole lot butter. 🧈
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

The most-loved fundraising platform

G