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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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"24 Hours to Give" countdown challenge

Create a goal thermometer on a Givebutter campaign page and post hourly updates on social media to track progress toward the goal. For extra fundraising power, offer a matching gift opportunity.

Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
3
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/24-hours-to-give-countdown-challenge
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Scavenger hunt


Set up a themed scavenger hunt in your venue, neighborhood, or even across the entire town. Charge participants a small entrance fee and offer donated prizes for the winners.

Streamline ticket sales and create a central hub with a fundraising event page. All the energy you save can be spent making your event even more exciting!
Cost:
1
Effort:
3
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/scavenger-hunt
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Events

Partner with a local restaurant


Partner with a celebrated local eatery to donate a percentage of their profits from a certain night or weekend to your fundraising campaign. Check out tips for securing corporate sponsorships to make the most of this opportunity.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
1
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/partner-with-a-local-restaurant
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Events
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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
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/date-auction
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Auctions
Events
Peer-to-peer
Pages & forms

VIP cushioned seats sale


Sell VIP event tickets that offer access to front-row, cushioned seats—and maybe some team swag—at your next home game. Give your biggest fans an unforgettable experience while raising funds for your cause. 
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/vip-cushioned-seats-sale
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Events
Auctions

Silent auction


Swap your traditional auction for a silent one, where supporters or live audience members can bid any time before the auction ends. With a silent auction, your supporters are able to bid on items online or with their phones via QR code, making it easy and accessible for all.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
3
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/silent-auction
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Auctions

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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Events
Pages & forms

Penny wars


Organize a friendly competition between grades or classes to collect the most pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters. Just grab a few jars and encourage students to find some loose change to get started! 
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/penny-wars
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Comedy night


Sell tickets to join your organization for an evening of laughter, drinks, and fundraising! Partner with a local venue and ask other businesses for corporate sponsorships to offset costs and bring in even more dollars for your cause.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
3
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/comedy-night
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Events

Animal allies


Encourage recurring donors by launching an animal ally monthly giving program. Your monthly supporters will receive exclusive updates about the animals their money is helping, plus access to special events and volunteer opportunities.

Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
3
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/animal-allies
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Text-to-donate


With text-to-donate, raising funds is as easy as sending a text. Display your shortcode at fundraising events, share it on social media, or add it to signs so your supporters give using their mobile devices right on the spot—no matter where they are.

See for yourself how easy it is! Text “DEMO” to 53-555.
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
3
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/text-to-donate
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Pages & 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
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/virtual-scavenger-hunt
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Events

Raise the roof

Challenge your congregation to reach your fundraising goal by pledging that your pastor or ministry leader will sleep on the roof if you hit it—or until you do!

Embed a donation form on your website with a live goal bar, so your community members can see just how close you are to hitting that target.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
3
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/raise-the-roof
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Peer-to-peer
Pages & forms

Cold water plunge

Challenge your supporters to take a dip in an icy cold body of water to raise funds and awareness for your cause! Participants can set up their own peer-to-peer fundraising pages connected to your campaign, where they can share their stories, set a personal target, and bring in donations from friends and family. 
Cost:
1
Effort:
3
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/cold-water-plunge
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Events
Peer-to-peer

Tailgate party


Invite a local restaurant to contribute or have volunteers create a menu for a tailgate. Sell entry tickets and offer some fun merch or special treats at an additional price to bring in extra dollars.
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/tailgate-party
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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
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/ceo-challenge
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Pages & forms

Ales for tails


Partner with your favorite animal-friendly brewery and invite supporters to sip refreshing beverages—all for a good cause.  

Charge a set ticket price that includes a donation and two beer tokens. Pair the event with a pet costume contest to make it even more memorable and raise more funds. 
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/ales-for-tails
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Events

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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Pages & forms

3-v-3 tournament

Whether it’s soccer, volleyball, or basketball, organize a fast-paced 3v3 tournament where teams compete to hit a set score or time limit. Require a minimum donation to enter and sell tickets for spectators to cheer them on.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
3
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/3-v-3-tournament
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Events
Pages & forms

Fix the felines


Launch a trap-neuter-return fundraising campaign to help reduce the number of stray cats and kittens in your community. 

Make your fundraising goal visible with a fundraising thermometer, so supporters can see how their contributions are moving you one step closer to your goal. 
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/fix-the-felines
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Pages & forms

Pros vs. Joes

Invite a local celebrity or sports expert to join you for the day. Sell tickets for guests to compete against the expert—whether it’s beating their score, time, or performance. You raise funds, they get a fun challenge, and you can offer a prize if anyone manages to win.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/pros-vs-joes
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Events
Peer-to-peer

Escape Room Challenge

Charge a participation fee and challenge teams to solve puzzles and clues to "escape” from various spaces in this exciting, community-building fundraising event.
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/escape-room-challenge
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Events

Raise for rescues


Create a giving day or online fundraising campaign to raise awareness for your shelter program. Share photos and stories that highlight your impact and offer multiple giving levels so everyone can take part in making a difference. 
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/raise-for-rescues
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Pages & forms

Taco-Making Contest


Put your culinary skills to the test! Charge an entry fee per team, and provide everyone with the same ingredients. The winner is the team with the tastiest tacos. Ready, set, cook!
Cost:
2
Effort:
3
Impact:
3
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/taco-making-contest
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Events
Pages & forms
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