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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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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

Corporate matching gift drive

Create a special awareness campaign and fundraiser that highlights the matching donation programs that many companies offer. 

Feature matching gifts on your fundraising page and encourage corporate staffers to explore employer matching via Double the Donation
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
3
Inspiration
All
Donation forms
Events
Fundraising page

Shoe-decorating

Source an array of paints and art supplies and invite community members to make a donation and bring a pair of sneakers to paint together for your good cause. 

To create a seamless event experience, set up custom ticket types, like an upsell ticket that provides a pair of shoes. Make sure to add a custom question to get the right shoe size!
Cost:
2
Effort:
1
Impact:
1
Inspiration
All
Events

Superhero run

Participants pay an entry fee to partake in a costumed fundraising run. Encourage runners to raise more for your cause with their own peer-to-peer fundraising pages, and award prizes for race winners, best super hero costumes, and most donations!  
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Inspiration
All
Events
Peer-to-peer

Field goal derby

Invite fans to donate to see how many field goals they can make in a minute (make a smaller goalpost for kids, too!).  Have each participant create a personal peer-to-peer fundraising page and reach out to friends and family for for their support!
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
2
Inspiration
All
Events
Peer-to-peer

Basketball tournament

Host a basketball tournament between different schools, teams, or departments. Sell event tickets and offer drinks, snacks, and merch using Tap to Pay.

Step things up by challenging each team to see who can raise the most. Encourage them to create team fundraising pages to track their impact and build momentum toward game day.
Cost:
2
Effort:
3
Impact:
3
Inspiration
All
Events
Peer-to-peer

Pumpkin Games

Perfect for the Halloween season, challenge participants to a pay-to-play series of games like pumpkin races and decorating contests. Sell tickets in advance or on the day of using scan-to-donate or Venmo. 
Cost:
2
Effort:
3
Impact:
2
Inspiration
All
Events
Peer-to-peer

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.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Inspiration
All
Events

Book sale

Partner with a publisher or local book store and host a book sale to raise money. Sell books of all kinds or organize the event around a theme—romance novels, religious books, or children's literature—whatever will resonate with your community. 

Make sure to spread the word about your sale and send reminders using free email marketing software
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Inspiration
All
Events

Count the jellybeans

Fill a big jar with jellybeans or other individual pieces of candy and have guessers write their number estimation next to their name. Use scan-to-donate and other easy mobile payment options to accept donations for guesses on the spot, and offer a worthwhile prize to the person that comes closest! 
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
1
Inspiration
All
Donation forms

Pool party

Charge an entry fee for access to a fun day in the sun—think pool floats, squirt guns, and water balloons!

To make this fundraising event even more of a hit, sell summery snacks and drinks, too. Don’t forget the sunscreen! 
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Inspiration
All
Events
Donation forms

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

Online garage sale

Collect new and used goods from your community and sell items on a first-come, first-served basis—virtually. To introduce some fun competition and bring in more funds, turn the sale into an auction with buy-now pricing options! 
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Inspiration
All
Events
Donation forms
Auctions

Plant sale

Ask your green-thumbed community members to grow their best seedlings and plants for a future plant sale to raise much-needed funds. Or, send a sponsorship proposal to your favorite plant nursery with the goal of signing them as your event sponsor or partner.
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Inspiration
All
Events
Fundraising page
Donation forms

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
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Inspiration
All
Events

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

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).
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
2
Inspiration
All
Donation forms

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
All
Fundraising page
Donation forms

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!
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
1
Inspiration
All
Events
Fundraising page
Donation forms

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

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
All
Events

Student art auction

Auction off students' art projects online, in-person, or both! Add photos and descriptions for each masterpiece using easy auction software.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Inspiration
All
Auctions
Events
Fundraising page

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
All
Events
Donation forms

Face painting

Set up a booth where passers-by can have their face painted by volunteers in your group in exchange for a small donation.

Make it easy for people to take part with scan-to-donate. All they need to do is scan the QR code and they’ll land on your donation page in seconds.
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
1
Inspiration
All
Events
Donation forms
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Dive into our list of best fundraising ideas in the meantime 

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