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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.

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More money, no problems

Instead of hosting an event, ask your supporters to donate a specific amount for the entire year. Create a fundraising page with photos, videos, and a compelling story in order to encourage gifts. Be sure to customize your donation amounts and add descriptions that are specific to your needs and impact.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
3
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/more-money-no-problems
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Fundraising page
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Holiday card campaign

Craft a festive holiday card to mail directly or send digitally to your supporters. Extend season’s greetings, express gratitude for their support, and invite them to contribute toward your year-end fundraising goals

Use Givebutter’s built-in Canva integration to add a little extra cheer to your letters or emails in just a few clicks.
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
2
Inspiration
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/holiday-card-campaign
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Donation forms
Fundraising page

“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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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/celebrity-breakfast
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Events

Concession stand

Use an existing stand or create your own and sell items like popcorn, candy, and sunflower seeds. To boost sales, create customticketswith mouth-watering pictures of available treats!

Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/concession-stand
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Events
Donation forms

Build-a-thon

Invite supporters to have a tangible impact on their communities by raising funds and committing to volunteer their time to help build homes for those in need.

Participants create personal peer-to-peer fundraising pages where they can share their commitment to this cause with their friends and family, encouraging them to donate and support the initiative.

Cost:
1
Effort:
3
Impact:
3
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/build-a-thon
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Peer-to-peer

Fantasy football draft festival

Turn a fantasy football draft into an exciting fundraising event! Sell tickets and offer tailgate games, food, and entertainment. 
Cost:
2
Effort:
3
Impact:
2
Inspiration
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/fantasy-football-draft-festival
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Events

Dance-a-thon

Using individualpeer-to-peer fundraisingpages 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
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/dance-a-thon
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Events
Peer-to-peer

Home exercise classes

Invite local fitness instructors and coaches to donate their skills and invite community members to join you for at-home exercise classes in exchange for a donation.

Manage everything in one place by broadcasting your classes with a livestream right on your event registration page.

Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/home-exercise-classes
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Events

Pie baking contest and potluck

Invite bakers to submit their best pies for consideration as the dessert offering at your next potluck dinner.

Community members can make small donations as their “votes” for their favorite pies, and you can display the leaderboard to keep the competitive spirit up and momentum moving toward your fundraising goal throughout the event.

Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/pie-baking-contest-and-potluck
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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
Inspiration
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/harvest-dinner-party
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Events

Guest speaker event

Host a webinar or TED-style talk with an interesting topic and a captivating guest speaker sourced from your network.

Raise funds for your livestream by selling tickets and include upgrades like signed copies of books to bring in even more donations.

Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/guest-speaker-event
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Events

BBQ cookout

Host a BBQ cookout featuring grilled meats, sides, and desserts. Charge entrance fees and ask for donations at this fundraising event, too. Make this fundraising event even tastier by sharing sponsorship proposals and inviting local restaurants to sponsor your event (or even compete!). 
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Inspiration
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/bbq-cookout
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Events

Bail out the pastor

Lock your pastor or church leader away behind closed doors and ask congregation members to donate towards their freedom. This is a fun and fast-paced way to raise funds quickly! 

Create excitement by displaying a live goal bar on your fundraising page so supporters can watch the total rise in real time. 
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
2
Inspiration
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/bail-out-the-pastor
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Fundraising page
Donation forms

Haunted house

Create a spooky experience and raise funds by encouraging brave participants to enter—if they dare. Accept payments on the spot with scan-to-donate, Venmo, and more convenient options. 
Cost:
2
Effort:
3
Impact:
2
Inspiration
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/haunted-house
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Events
Donation forms

Special series

Create programming for a special series of sermons designed to help raise money for your current fundraising project.

Tie sermons directly to your goal and reach more supporters by livestreaming right from your fundraising page. Anyone can tune into the stream, make a donation, and learn about your campaign all in one place.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Inspiration
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/special-series
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Fundraising page
Events

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. 
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Inspiration
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/comedy-roast
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Events

Night at the museum

Secure a sponsorship from a local museum and invite families and community members to pay a donation to enjoy a crowd-free evening of fun.  
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
2
Inspiration
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/night-at-the-museum
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Events

Car wash

Gather volunteers, soap, and plenty of rags to wash cars in exchange for donations. Collect onsite donations easily by displaying a simplescan-to-donateQR 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
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/car-wash
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Events

Annual holiday party

Throw a big annual holiday party to finish the year in style. Make this a VIP event and raise funds through ticket sales or partner up with sponsors to help offset costs and reach more supporters.

With Givebutter you can create unlimited custom event ticket types—allowing you to create fun VIP packages to offer to your partygoers.
Cost:
2
Effort:
3
Impact:
3
Inspiration
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/annual-holiday-party
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Events

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
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/swim-a-thon
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Events
Peer-to-peer

Speed dating

Find a venue, write up some icebreaker cards, and set a time limit for each date. Charge an entrance fee to this fundraising event and watch the sparks fly.

Encourage extra donations if participants find a special someone! 
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Inspiration
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/speed-dating
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Events

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:
2
Effort:
3
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/summer-day-out
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Events

Apple bobbing

Set up a stall where people can try apple bobbing in exchange for a small donation. This works well as part of a fall festival or Halloween event where you can set up a range of fun activities for families to get involved with.
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
1
Inspiration
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/apple-bobbing
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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
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/pump-a-thon
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Events
Peer-to-peer
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