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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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10,000 steps challenge


Encourage members to set up a fundraising page and accept pledges based on how long they’ll commit to their 10k-steps-a-day habit.

Invite participants to set up a peer-to-peer fundraising page where they can share their personal stories and interact with supporters.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
3
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/10-000-steps-challenge
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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
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/battle-of-the-bands
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Events

Food fight


This isn’t your typical cafeteria food fight. This cleverly named event raises awareness and funds to fight food insecurity and help keep your community fed.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
3
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/food-fight
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Events
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Restaurant takeover

Find a local restaurant that will host your fundraising event and donate at least 10-20% of the profits from the evening to your campaign. To really sweeten the sponsorship, offer lots of benefits for participating restaurants like free marketing and publicity. 
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/restaurant-takeover
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Pajama day

For a small donation, students can come to school in their pajamas and enjoy a cozy day. Grownups can organize a pajama day fundraiser at work, too! Accept donations in advance or on the day of via multiple payment methods like Google Pay, Apple Pay, and Venmo.
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/pajama-day
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Game night

Sell custom event ticket types and group tickets that offer unlimited access to games—or charge a certain number of tickets per game.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/family-and-friends-game-night
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Events

All you can eat buffet

Host an all-you-can-eat buffet or potluck dinner, and charge a small fee to enjoy a meal together with your community.

A free event ticketing platform can help you organize and manage your evening and check people in from your mobile device without any stress. 
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/all-you-can-eat-buffet
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Events

Nostalgia night party

Pick an era (like the ‘90s), set the scene, charge an entrance fee, and sell themed merch, food, and drinks. To encourage even more donations during the festivities, display mobile giving options and your goal bar using live display
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/nostalgia-night-party
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Events

Storybook Character Dress-Up Day

Invite students to come to school dressed as their favorite storybook characters. Charge a small participation fee and organize storytimes throughout the day.
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/storybook-character-dress-up-day
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Wine pull


Collect donated bottles of wine, disguise the labels, and invite attendees to buy them blindly to discover what they’ve won. For some extra fundraising, host a livestream wine-tasting class afterward for everyone to learn more about their picks.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/wine-pull
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Auctions

Beach day

Arrange a day of sand and sun for your team members, volunteers, and the wider community with beach games, a picnic, and lots of family fun. 

Set an affordable ticket price or ask for donations to cover the cost of the event and raise funds—whichever you choose, our fundraising event tools can help!
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/beach-day
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Events

Trending hashtag

Keep an eye out for trending hashtags to join the conversation and introduce your cause to new audiences. Just be sure to find a clear way to connect the trend back to your mission.

Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/trending-hashtag
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Pages & forms
Peer-to-peer

Membership drive


Incentivize supporters to invite friends and family to sign up for a membership during a specific period of time. Offer discounted rates or additional perks, and accept recurring donations on a monthly or annual basis.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
3
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/membership-drive
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Slide into DMs

Few things beat a personalized, one-on-one request. Send direct messages to thank your supporters and link to your donation form or fundraising campaign.

Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/slide-into-dms
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Peer-to-peer

Sand ‘n’ sip


For a summer twist on a paint 'n' sip, invite donors to join you for a day of fun on the beach alongside a wine-tasting experience. To reach your goal, sell tickets for your fundraising event online and strike up a sponsorship deal with a local wine company.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/sand-n-sip
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Events

Improv night


Invite community members to try their hand at comedy while earning money—and a few good laughs—for a cause. Sell tickets and raise even more at your event with snacks and drinks.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/improv-night
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Events

Hot chocolate stall


Set up a cozy drink stand to warm up your community! Offer coffee, hot chocolate, tea, and an array of syrups and toppings for an added fee. Don’t forget the marshmallows!

Make it easy for supporters to pay as they order with scan-to-donate, Venmo, and other seamless options.
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
1
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/hot-chocolate-stall
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School auction

Source quality school-related items, such as backpacks and shoes, and auction them off during a virtual, in-person, or hybrid event. 
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/school-auction
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Auctions

Peer-to-peer fundraising


Multiply your reach with a peer-to-peer fundraising campaign in which individuals reach out to their own networks of family, friends, and coworkers to solicit donations for your cause.

Create teams to add some fun competition into the mix—and bring in more donations!
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
3
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/peer-to-peer-fundraising
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Peer-to-peer

Summer project sale


Host a yard sale/craft fair event focused on helping people finish those summer projects they've been meaning to tackle. Cater to a range of DIY projects with materials like paint, furniture, craft supplies, scrapbooking materials, and more.

Use email marketing software to spread the word about the upcoming sale and share a printable map, so attendees know what kinds of booths will be there.
Cost:
1
Effort:
3
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/summer-project-sale
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Pages & forms

Uncork it for cancer


Plan a wine-themed lunch or dinner event featuring delicious food and drink, live music, and great conversation—all while raising money for cancer care and research. Include an auction to attract even more donations.
Cost:
3
Effort:
3
Impact:
3
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/uncork-it-for-cancer
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Events
Auctions
Pages & forms

Easter gift basket auction


Source delicious treats and seasonal goodies to create a selection of Easter gift baskets for aneggcellentsilent auction.

Combine classic Easter baskets (chocolate eggs, bunnies, etc.) with other awesomesilent auction basket ideasto offer biddable items for the whole family.
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/easter-gift-basket-auction
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Auctions

Holiday market

Ring in the festive season with your own holiday market. Invite stallholders to participate for a small fee and raise funds through selling refreshments, merch, and game tickets.

Use engaging fundraising event features to make it an enjoyable experience for all—with easy online ticket sales, on-the-spot donations, and more.
Cost:
2
Effort:
3
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/holiday-market
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Events
Pages & forms

Trash-a-thon

Team up to clean up! Rally volunteers to collect litter in your local community, and have each participant gather sponsorships based on bags filled or hours spent. It's a powerful way to raise funds and make a visible impact.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
3
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/trash-a-thon
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Events
Peer-to-peer
Pages & forms
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