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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.

Givebutter fundraising progress graphic showing $45,000 raised out of a $50,000 goal (90% complete), with a smiling yellow character holding a light bulb and a green 'Support Now!' button.

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Jersey auction


Auction off game-worn jerseys from your team or donated professional jerseys either online or in person. Take advantage of free silent auction software for simple and easy bidding, custom item descriptions, and more.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/jersey-auction
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Auctions

Tag 3

Ask donors to tag three friends when they give. This fun, no-cost challenge turns every donation into an instant ripple effect, sparking new connections and spreading your campaign further.

Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/tag-3
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Thanksgiving dinner

Host a big Thanksgiving meal to bring your entire community together. Sell tickets on a sliding scale so everyone can join in the fun.

Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
3
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/thanksgiving-dinner
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Events

Historic home tour


Open up the doors to your historic home or local landmark and invite the public inside for an exclusive look. Sell tickets, tell its story, and raise much-needed funds for your cause or a restoration project.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/historic-home-tour
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Give it up challenge


Ask supporters to “give up” a small indulgence—like their morning coffee—for a set amount of time and donate those funds to your campaign instead. 

Create a fundraising page to share challenge ideas, set suggested donation amounts, and post updates or donor shout-outs to keep momentum going. 
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/give-it-up-challenge
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Peer-to-peer
Pages & forms

Dinner dance

Sell tickets for guests to join you for a sophisticated dinner and dance. This is an ideal fundraising idea for dance groups and studios that want to show off their skills and attract major donors and sponsors.
Cost:
3
Effort:
3
Impact:
3
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/dinner-dance
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Events

Coding bootcamp

Partner with coding organizations and offer students discounted class fees and programs. Be sure to include some appealing benefits for participating companies in your corporate sponsorship proposal, like free marketing and publicity.
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/coding-bootcamp
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Events

Photography walk

Invite a photographer to host a tour around the local area, taking in the sights of the season. Sell tickets in advance and use an easy mobile app to check in guests and take any last-minute payments on the day of. 
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
1
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/photography-walk
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Events

Grab bags

Reach out to local businesses and ask them to donate a small number of products that you can bundle together and offer donors online. 

To attract more partnerships from businesses, create a sponsorship proposal that emphasizes the benefits for them, like free publicity and marketing opportunities.  
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/grab-bags
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Auctions
Pages & forms

Fourth of July party


Celebrate our nation’s independence with a red, white, and blue fundraiser! Work with businesses to secure sponsorships and an amazing venue, then sell tickets to your fundraising event, filled with food, music, and activities.
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/fourth-of-july-party
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Auctions
Events
Pages & forms

Outdoor education class


Invite your community to explore the world around you with an outdoor education experience. Determine your target age group(s) and create an out-of-classroom adventure they’ll treasure.
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/outdoor-education-class
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Events
Pages & forms

Pay you not to ask me again

Give your supporters a way to opt out of all your upcoming donation requests during a big fundraising effort. If they contribute via your donation form before a certain date, you’ll take them off your email and call list for the whole campaign! Then, you can easily segment your email list with your built-in CRM and marketing tools.

Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
3
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/pay-you-not-to-ask-me-again
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Pages & forms

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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Events

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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Events
Auctions

Virtual book club


Host a virtual book club and charge a small registration fee or ask for donations to join. Hold regular discussions via Zoom or another video conferencing platform to keep the community engaged.

Set up recurring donations as a simple way to collect membership fees for ongoing gatherings.
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
1
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/virtual-book-club
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Events
Pages & forms

Silent disco

Organizing a disco can feel like a lot of work, but a silent disco is easier and just as much fun! Sell tickets in advance so you know how many people to prepare for, and raise extra funds by selling food and drink on the night.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/silent-disco
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Events

Thanksgiving food drive

Raise funds and ask supporters to contribute food items to provide neighbors in need with all the ingredients for a delicious and dignified Thanksgiving dinner.

Cost:
2
Effort:
3
Impact:
3
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/thanksgiving-food-drive
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Pages & forms

Pet run/walk


Invite community members to bring their furry friends along to walk in a charity 5K. Encourage participants to create individual fundraising pages that feature their pets, set a donation goal, and help spread the word about the cause.
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
3
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/pet-run-walk
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Events
Peer-to-peer

Sponsor my uniform fundraiser

Bring your A-game to a uniform sponsorship drive! 
Create a fun, easy sponsorship form so players can rally support from friends and family to help cover uniform costs——because looking sharp on the field starts with a little team spirit (and a lot of love from your biggest fans). 
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/sponsor-my-uniform-fundraiser
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Peer-to-peer
Pages & forms

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

Movie night


Choose an indoor or outdoor space and host a ticketed screening of a fan-favorite movie—bonus if it’s related to your cause! Sell popcorn, treats, and drinks to raise even more funds.

Use Givebutter’s fundraising event tools like online ticketing, mobile check-ins, and scan-to-donate to keep everything seamless.
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/movie-night
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Events

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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Events
Peer-to-peer

Photo contest

Run a short photo contest for an inexpensive, all-ages fundraiser. Choose a theme, charge a small fee to enter, and invite community members to submit their photos alongside their donations in your supporter feed

Raise even more by turning the top photos into a deck of cards or a calendar. 
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/photo-contest
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Events
Pages & forms

5k walk/run


Map out your fundraising run route and have supporters donate to participate. Then, use peer-to-peer and team fundraising tools that let supporters create their own donation pages, set goals, and ask friends and family to contribute!
Cost:
2
Effort:
3
Impact:
3
Share idea
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/5k-walk-run
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Events
Peer-to-peer
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