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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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Dodgeball tournament


Put teams together and face off to see who truly is the best when it comes to dodgeball. Charge teams an entry fee, sell tickets to watch the games, and sell refreshments to raise even more funds.

Invite participants to set up team fundraising pages so they can also compete to see who can raise the most funds for your cause.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
3
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/dodgeball-tournament
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Tree planting day

Plan a day of tree or flower planting to beautify your community. Invite local businesses to sponsor the whole event or an individual plant or tree, and invite donations from the wider community.
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/tree-planting-day
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Grown-up bake sale

Sell donated or homemade gourmet goodies like croissants and macarons for the ultimate grownups-with-a-sweet-tooth fundraiser. 

Collect in-person payments with scan-to-donate, which gives donors a wide range of payment options.  
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
1
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/grown-up-bake-sale
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Staff vs. students


Organize an afternoon of relay races, obstacle courses, and brain teasers at your school and challenge teachers to partake. Be sure to create a fun and engaging event page where attendees can easily purchase tickets!
Cost:
2
Effort:
3
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/staff-vs-students
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Building tour

If you're opening a new building, offer a VIP tour to your community members. Set a ticket price or auction them off. To raise the most from your VIP building tour, use auction software to host a fun and stress-free experience for your supporters.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/building-tour
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Auctions

Bring your pet to work day

Let employees bring their furry friends to work for the day in an exchange for a donation to your local animal shelter. Organize pet-themed activities and competitions to raise additional funds. To get remote employees involved, livestream some of the activities and invite coworkers to tune in!
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
1
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/bring-your-pet-to-work-day
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Maze for a cause

Find a large outdoor space where you can build a corn maze from hay bales and turn it into a fundraiser!

Charge an entrance fee to walk the maze and make transactions simple with scan-to-donate and Tap to Pay options. 
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/maze-for-a-cause
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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

Beach bingo


Give the traditional game of bingo a summer twist by hosting it on or near the beach. Set the vibe with upbeat music, tropical decorations, and beachside snacks and drinks.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
1
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/beach-bingo
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TikTok dance-off


Challenge participants to create a dance and post their video to social media. Each person must tag someone and donate once they’ve completed the challenge.

For easy and simple sharing, create a custom fundraising page that’s optimized for mobile!
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/tiktok-dance-off
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Field goal derby

Invite fans to donate to see how many field goals they can make in a minute (use a smaller goalpost for kids!). Have each participant create a personal peer-to-peer fundraising page and reach out to friends and family for support!
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/field-goal-derby
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Cupcake wars


Have kids prepare their favorite cupcake recipe to sell at a cupcake-only bake sale. To add some friendly competition, invite attendees to vote on their favorite by making a donation to the tastiest cupcake’s team fundraising page. Use a leaderboard to show real-time votes and award prizes for the winning bakers!
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/cupcake-wars
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Cheer off


Invite dance, cheer, or pom squads to pay a small entry fee and battle it out for top spots like “Most Spirited” and “Best Routine.” Take this event to the next level by asking attendees to consider adding a donation to their ticket purchase, offering concessions, or evenlivestreamingthe event.
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/cheer-off
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Puck cancer


Host a hockey-themed fundraiser in support of cancer research or a cancer care facility. Rally your community of hockey fans to raise much-needed funds through ticket sales, themed merch, and peer-to-peer fundraising.
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/puck-cancer
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Events
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Pages & forms

Field day


Invite participants to register for a day of fun outdoor games and friendly competitions, like relay races, a water balloon toss, and tug-of-war.

Make your fundraising event a success with sponsorships from local businesses to help offset costs and bring in more participants.
Cost:
2
Effort:
3
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/field-day
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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
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/special-series
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Online quiz

Involve your supporters beyond donations by hosting an interactive, online quiz. Bonus points for including a round connected to your mission.

Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/online-quiz
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Events

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

Bowl-a-thon


Reserve lanes at a bowling alley, ask participants to gather pledges for an all-you-can-bowl night, and watch the donations roll in on team fundraising pages.

Offer special prizes for the team with the highest score, most creative name, or even the best uniforms.
Cost:
1
Effort:
3
Impact:
3
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/bowl-a-thon
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Peer-to-peer

Take a stroll


Host an inclusive fun run event that’s a little more leisurely. Set a time window for participants to complete their stroll and encourage them to collect donations through peer-to-peer fundraising pages. Be sure to showcase their achievements on social media! 
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
3
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/take-a-stroll
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Pajama run


Ask participants to don their favorite PJs while tackling a walk, jog, roll, or run for the cause. Encourage everyone to set a donation goal and spread the word about the fundraiser through peer-to-peer fundraising. Don’t forget to award prizes to the coziest runners!
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/pajama-run
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Events
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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
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/volley-a-thon
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Pet expo

Partner with local vendors to bring your animal-loving community together for an exciting day out. Pets and their people can visit various tents, participate in activities, and learn about your organization’s impact. Sell tickets for general admission, and for a larger donation, offer VIP tent access with catered treats for both humans and furry friends.

Cost:
3
Effort:
3
Impact:
2
Share idea
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/pet-expo
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Student battle of the bands

Invite student-run bands to rock out for a prize! Charge entry fees and offer rad, donated prizes for the winners. Have each band create a team fundraising page, and encourage attendees to cast their votes for their favorites bands with a donation! 
Cost:
2
Effort:
3
Impact:
2
Share idea
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/student-battle-of-the-bands
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