.svg){kind=small}
.svg){kind=icon}
.svg){kind=icon}
.svg){kind=icon}
.svg){kind=icon}
.svg){kind=icon}
.svg){kind=icon}
.svg){kind=icon}
.svg){kind=icon}
.svg){kind=icon}
.svg){kind=icon}
.svg){kind=small}
.svg){kind=small}
.svg){kind=small}
.svg){kind=small}
.svg){kind=small}
.svg){kind=small}
.svg){kind=small}
.svg){kind=small}
.svg){kind=small}
.svg){kind=small}
.svg){kind=small}
.svg){kind=small}
.svg){kind=small}
.svg){kind=small}
.svg){kind=small}
.svg){kind=small}
.svg){kind=small}
.svg){kind=small}
.svg){kind=small}
.svg){kind=small}
.svg){kind=small}
.svg){kind=small}
Your go-to source for fundraising inspiration
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.
Please enter a valid email address.
.png)
%201.png)
.png)
By organization
.png)
.png)
.png)
Additional lists
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)
%201.png)
All fundraising ideas
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Marathon
A marathon is a classic fun run fundraising event—perfect for your most ambitious supporters! You can host your own fundraising event, or give supporters the resources they need to raise money for your organization by running in an existing race.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
3
Examples
.png)
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/marathon
Please enter a valid email address.
All
Events
Peer-to-peer
Street clean up
Use the longer days of summer to your advantage by organizing a street clean-up to keep your neighborhood looking fresh and welcoming.
Partner with local businesses to sponsor the day and encourage donations toward your charity or group.
Partner with local businesses to sponsor the day and encourage donations toward your charity or group.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
1
Examples
.webp)
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/street-clean-up
Please enter a valid email address.
All
Events
Pages & forms
Smash it!
Ask your local junkyard to donate totaled cars and invite supporters to make a donation to take a sledgehammer to them.
Sell different kinds of tickets online for smashers and audience members and offer food and drinks to raise even more during the fun. Don’t forget the safety goggles!
Sell different kinds of tickets online for smashers and audience members and offer food and drinks to raise even more during the fun. Don’t forget the safety goggles!
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Examples
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/car-smashing
Please enter a valid email address.
All
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
Examples
.png)
.png)
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/hot-chocolate-stall
Please enter a valid email address.
All
Events
Pages & forms
Fantasy football draft festival
Turn a fantasy football draft into an exciting fundraising event! Sell tickets and offer tailgate games, food, and entertainment.
Cost:
2
Effort:
3
Impact:
2
Examples
.png)
.png)
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/fantasy-football-draft-festival
Please enter a valid email address.
All
Events
Literary pub crawl
Each stop on this bar-hopping adventure features readings or performances inspired by famous works of literature related to a given theme—poems, books, plays, you name it!
To take this fundraising event further, arrange to have each watering hole feature a special cocktail or brew (with some non-alcoholic beverages in the mix!) to match your theme.
To take this fundraising event further, arrange to have each watering hole feature a special cocktail or brew (with some non-alcoholic beverages in the mix!) to match your theme.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Examples
.png)
.png)
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/literary-pub-crawl
Please enter a valid email address.
All
Events
Open mic night
Invite community members to perform music, poetry, or comedy for a good cause. Ask audience members to make a small donation and offer snacks to raise more funds using easy in-person mobile payments like Tap to Pay and scan-to-donate.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Examples
.png)
.png)
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/open-mic-night
Please enter a valid email address.
All
Events
Pages & forms
Principal for the day
Auction off the chance for a student to be school principal for the day! The lucky student will get to greet classmates as they arrive, make morning announcements, visit classrooms, and enjoy a special lunch with the principal.
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
2
Examples
.png)
.png)
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/principal-for-the-day
Please enter a valid email address.
All
Auctions
Comedy roast
Invite participants to roast their teachers or coaches—in a light-hearted way. Sell tickets online and check-in attendees as they arrive, in addition to offering in-person donations for entry (and snacks!) with Venmo and scan-to-donate.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Examples
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/comedy-roast
Please enter a valid email address.
All
Events
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
Examples
.png)
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/wine-pull
Please enter a valid email address.
All
Events
Pages & forms
Auctions
Date auction
Brave individuals offer themselves up for your auction to go on a date with the highest bidders. This idea is a little bit dated, but with the right planning, you can have a lot of fun with it.
Ask sponsoring restaurants to donate gift certificates to bring in more bids for these “items” and make for an easy, in-public location for each date.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Examples
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/date-auction
Please enter a valid email address.
All
Auctions
Events
Peer-to-peer
Pages & 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
Examples
.png)
.png)
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/battle-of-the-bands
Please enter a valid email address.
All
Events
Pet portraits
Pet owners love having portraits of their pets—even if they’re not made by professionals! Host a fun pet portrait fundraiser where volunteers draw or paint pictures of supporters’ furry friends. Ask donors to bring a photo of their pet or upload one when they make a donation online.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Examples
.png)
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/pet-portraits
Please enter a valid email address.
All
Events
Auctions
Pages & forms
Auction your time or skills
Ask supporters to volunteer their special skills, then auction their time and expertise to the highest bidder!
Streamline the whole experience with the help of free auction software. Add and categorize items, manage bids, and your bidders can get real-time updates on what’s happening.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Examples
.png)
.png)
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/auction-your-time-or-skills
Please enter a valid email address.
All
Auctions
Events
High heels walk
Instead of a 5k, organize a high heels walk down a “runway” of your choice. Challenge supporters to see who can raise the most funds leading up to the event through peer-to-peer fundraising—and who can rock the best look. Encourage your supporters to personalize their pages to attract more donations!
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Examples
.png)
.png)
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/high-heels-walk
Please enter a valid email address.
All
Events
Peer-to-peer
Office Games
Organize a series of lighthearted office games like chair races or paper airplane contests. Charge a small fee (donation) for participation and award prizes to winners. Offer scan to-donate to make the process smooth and simple.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Examples
.png)
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/office-games
Please enter a valid email address.
All
Events
Pages & forms
Peer-to-peer
Golf ball drop
Get creative with ticket selling and sell golf balls instead, then drop these numbered balls from a height. The one closest to the hole is the winner. Pair this with other golf-themed fundraisers for an impressive event.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Examples
.png)
.png)
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/golf-ball-drop
Please enter a valid email address.
All
Events
Queen brunch or dinner
Invite supporters to dress up for a classy brunch or dinner party. This event is all about elegance, with every ticket helping raise money for a good cause.
Cost:
2
Effort:
3
Impact:
2
Examples
.png)
.png)
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/queen-brunch-or-dinner
Please enter a valid email address.
All
Events
Peer-to-peer
Pages & forms
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
Examples
.png)
.png)
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/coding-bootcamp
Please enter a valid email address.
All
Events
CEO challenge
Challenge company leaders to undertake fun or silly activities if you reach your fundraising goal. For example, the CEO could agree to wear a superhero costume for a day if your office reaches its fundraising target by a certain date. Use a custom donation page with a goal bar so everyone can watch donations roll in—and make sure you hit your goal.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Examples
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/ceo-challenge
Please enter a valid email address.
All
Pages & forms
Trunk or treat
Ask local businesses to sponsor this non-traditional trick-or-treating experience. Families and volunteers decorate their cars and hand out candy to kids in a designated parking lot for a safe, fun-filled event.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Examples
.png)
.png)
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/trunk-or-treat
Please enter a valid email address.
All
Events
Pages & forms
Harvest dinner party
Host a grand harvest or Thanksgiving dinner party for special guests. Raise money through exclusive ticket sales, and use corporate sponsorship best practices to secure a partnership with a local restaurant or catering company.
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Examples
.png)
.png)
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/harvest-dinner-party
Please enter a valid email address.
All
Events
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!
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:
2
Impact:
1
Examples
.png)
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/shoe-decorating
Please enter a valid email address.
All
Events
Auctions
Holiday cookie sale
Whip up some sweet treats to sell at your next fundraising event, group gathering, or around town. Consider setting up a station for supporters to decorate their own cookies or create kits for families to bring home in exchange for a donation.
Streamline the buying process with scan-to-donate—which guest can use to make their payment instantly right from their phones!
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Examples
.png)
.png)
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/holiday-cookie-sale
Please enter a valid email address.
All
Events
Pages & forms
Looks like we don’t have any fundraising ideas matching that criteria 🔎
We're always cooking up new ideas, so check back soon for fresh picks!
Dive into our list of best fundraising ideas in the meantime
Subscribe to
The Butter Brief
Get fundraising ideas, tips, and free resources right in your inbox
Subscribed! Your fundraising journey just got a whole lot butter. 🧈
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Givebutter helps you turn ideas into impact
.webp)
Subscribe to
The Butter Brief
Get fundraising ideas, tips, and free resources right in your inbox
Subscribed! Your fundraising journey just got a whole lot butter. 🧈
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
The most-loved fundraising platform
.png)
%201.png)
.svg){kind=small}
.svg){kind=small}
%201.webp){kind=icon}