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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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50-yard-line movie night

Hang a projector screen (or large, white sheet) from the goalposts at the football field. Charge a small entrance fee, sell popcorn, and enjoy an outdoor movie night together—football-themed film or not! 
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Inspiration
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/50-yard-line-movie-night
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Events

Street clean up

Use the longer days of summer to your advantage and schedule a street clean-up to help keep your neighborhood feeling fresh and welcoming. 

Work with local businesses to sponsor the day and encourage donations towards your charity or group. 
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
1
Inspiration
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/street-clean-up
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Events
Donation forms

Refer a friend

For successful referrals to your program, offer your current members discounted membership fees, merchandise, or entry into a raffle. Create custom fields (like “Who referred you?”) on your donation forms to keep track of eligible members.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Inspiration
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/refer-a-friend
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Fundraising page
Donation forms

Adopt-a-mile fundraiser

Raise funds for a mission trip by asking congregation members to “adopt a mile.” This is a fun way to tie your fundraising activity into the experience and drive donations closer to your goal.

Highlight how close you are to reaching your target by displaying a live goal bar on your fundraising page, where the fundraising goal total equals the number of miles.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Inspiration
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/adopt-a-mile-fundraiser
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Fundraising page
Donation forms

Battle of the bands

Host a battle of the bands with local musicians. Change the audience a small ticket fee, or raise funds by selling drinks and snacks.

Raise even more money by livestreaming the show. Encourage your supporters to tune in, support the event, and donate what they can towards your goal.
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Inspiration
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/battle-of-the-bands
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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
Inspiration
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/candy-grams
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Donation forms
Fundraising page

Sell swag or merch

Raise some extra funds for your organization or club and spread the word about your cause by selling branded swag like totes, stickers, and t-shirts.

With advanced ticketing features, you can offer each item on a mobile-friendly platform and add an image and available amount so supporters can easily purchase and share their sizing info, too!
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Inspiration
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/sell-swag-or-merch
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Fundraising page
Events
Donation forms
Auctions

Virtual gala

Showcase live or pre-recorded presentations and guest speakers, host an auction, and solicit donations—all livestreamed from your event registration page. 
Cost:
1
Effort:
3
Impact:
3
Inspiration
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/virtual-gala
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Events
Auctions

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

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

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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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/board-game-night
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Events

Give it up challenge

Invite supporters to “give up” something small like their morning coffee order for a set amount of time and donate those funds towards your campaign instead. 

Create a fundraising page for your challenge, including a list of ideas and suggested donation amounts. Share campaign updates and donor shout-outs to keep momentum going toward your goal! 
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
2
Inspiration
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/give-it-up-challenge
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Fundraising page
Peer-to-peer

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

Town hall event

Host a town hall event to give community members an opportunity to learn about your organization, program, or new project. Display your text-to-give code prominently around the space to raise funds from inspired audience members. 
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Inspiration
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/town-hall-event
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Events
Donation forms

Teacher spelling bee

Put your teachers and school admins in the spelling spotlight. Ask for an entry fee and charge contestants for “help” if their skills are rusty (like buying an “ask-the-audience” pass!). 

To make this event virtual or hybrid, livestream it from your event page for attendees to watch from home.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Inspiration
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/teacher-spelling-bee
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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
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/tool-drive
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Events
Donation forms

Trivia night

At this crowd-favorite activity, you can come up with fun questions, charge entry fees for teams, and raise extra money by providing sweet and salty snacks.

Make the evening go even smoother with seamless attendee check-ins and easy payment options like Tap to pay, Venmo donations, and scan-to-donate. 
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Inspiration
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/trivia-night
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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
Inspiration
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/pump-a-thon
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Events
Peer-to-peer

Pet therapy

Invite local animal shelters to bring adoptable dogs and cats to campus during midterms or finals to reduce student stress and raise money for a good cause.

Charge an entry fee and sell inexpensive extras like dog and cat treats. Be sure to offer multiple ways to purchase treats in-person like scan-to-donate and Venmo! 
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Inspiration
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/pet-therapy
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Events

Parents’ night out

This fundraising event can be a fun gathering for parents, or you can make it an opportunity for grownups to drop off their kids for a few hours in exchange for a donation to your cause! Charge an hourly rate or a flat “entrance fee” and give caregivers some priceless peace and quiet. 
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
3
Inspiration
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/parents-night-out
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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
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/valet-parking
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Events

Pet photo calendar

Create a pet photo calendar featuring adorable photos of shelter animals. Sell the calendars online using a donation form or fundraising page and at local events, too! 
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
2
Inspiration
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/pet-photo-calendar
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Fundraising page
Donation forms

Hot chocolate stall

Set up a hot chocolate or coffee stand and sell hot drinks to warm up your community! Have coffee, hot chocolate, tea, and plenty of syrups and toppings that they can add for an extra fee. Don’t forget marshmallows! 

Make it easy for supporters to pay for their drinks as you make them with scan-to-donate, Venmo, and other seamless payment options.
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
1
Inspiration
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/hot-chocolate-stall
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Events
Donation forms

Sponsor a stud

Encourage donors to "sponsor" a piece of lumber your team will use in your construction projects. Create custom labels for different donation amounts on your donation form that align with the cost of materials (e.g., $50 donation equals 3 pieces of lumber). Don’t forget to invite all sponsors to the ribbon-cutting ceremony when construction is complete!
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
2
Inspiration
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/sponsor-a-stud
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Donation forms
Fundraising page
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