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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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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! 
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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Sponsor a stud


Let donors "sponsor" a piece of lumber for your next construction project. Customize donation amounts on your donation form to align with the cost of materials (e.g., $50 donation equals 3 studs). 

Don’t forget to invite all sponsors to the ribbon-cutting ceremony when construction is complete!
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/sponsor-a-stud
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Online garage sale


Collect new and used goods from your community and sell items on a first-come, first-served basis—virtually. To introduce some fun competition and bring in more funds, turn the sale into an auction with buy-now pricing options! 
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/online-garage-sale
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Auctions

Baseball bingo

Create bingo cards featuring baseball terms, players, and teams. Sell tickets and show off prizes with a custom fundraising event page that makes it easy to purchase more cards during the event by accepting every kind of payment method—even Venmo.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/baseball-bingo
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Turkey Trot

Give your community a good reason to break out their jogging shoes on Turkey Day! Offer a one-stop shop for runner signups and donations with registration fundraising tools.

Cost:
2
Effort:
3
Impact:
3
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/turkey-trot
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Peer-to-peer

Chords for Cancer gala


Invite your community to an evening of music, dance, and entertainment in support of cancer research. Host one large gala event or a series of smaller shows throughout the year.
Cost:
2
Effort:
3
Impact:
3
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/chords-for-cancer-gala
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Touchdown sponsorships

Ask local businesses to sponsor your team for the entire season! Create a sponsorship proposal that outlines exactly what donors will get in return—like featuring their signage or logo each time you score! 
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
3
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/touchdown-sponsorships
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Jump-a-thon


Organize a jump-a-thon where participants collect pledges for every jump—or every minute they keep jumping. It’s a fun, high-energy way to raise money while fostering community and a little friendly competition.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/jump-a-thon
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Peer-to-peer
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Pajama party


Raise money for a good cause and create an unforgettable, cozy experience by turning any fundraising event into a pajama party.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
1
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/pajama-party
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Crafts night


Charge an entrance fee and check in attendees as they arrive for an evening of creativity and fun. Ask volunteers to bring craft supplies or request donations from local art stores. 
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
1
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/crafts-night
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Raffle


Ask your sponsors and community members to donate items or experiences, then raffle them off! The sky’s the limit when it comes to raffle ticket prizes: gift baskets, movie tickets, artwork—anything your community members will love.

Just be sure to check your state laws regarding raffles before you start planning!
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
3
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/raffle
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Bake sale


Everyone loves sweet treats! Whip up some cookies, cakes, or donuts and host a bake sale to raise funds for your good cause. Supporters don’t have cash? No problem! With Givebutter, you can accept mobile payments via Cash App, Venmo, Apple Pay, and more.

Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/bake-sale
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Fashion show


Host a fashion show that showcases talented local designers, fashion students, or both! Make it inclusive and invite people of all sizes and abilities to be your models.

At this fundraising event, you can bring in donations by charging entrance fees, selling food and drinks, and adding a silent auction.
Cost:
2
Effort:
3
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/fashion-show
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Events
Peer-to-peer
Pages & forms

Giving Tuesday campaign

Create a special campaign for Giving Tuesday and get your supporters to join in the action with peer-to-peer fundraising pages, social media, and more.

Cost:
1
Effort:
3
Impact:
3
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/giving-tuesday-campaign
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Peer-to-peer

Caroling


Embrace the holiday spirit and spread joy by going caroling around town or at a seasonal event. Pass the hat for cash donations and display a large QR code or text-to-donate number for easy mobile giving.
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
1
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/caroling
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Events

Earth Day

Reserve an indoor or outdoor space and invite your community to come arrange flower bouquets and pot their own plants to celebrate Earth Day (April 22). 

Charge an entrance fee and make your fundraising event move smoothly with mobile app check-in and easy scan-to-donate payment options. 
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/earth-day
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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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Peer-to-peer
Pages & forms

Flag football tournament


Bring fans onto the field for some football fun! Teams register and pay to play and fans buy tickets to cheer them on.
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
3
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/flag-football-tournament
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Peer-to-peer

Arts for animals


Whether you’re hosting an animal art auction or a concert to promote environmental awareness, animals and the arts go hand in hand when it comes to fundraising. 

Dedicate time during your event for a “mission moment” to remind supporters why they’re essential to your work—and highlight the positive impact their donations make.
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
3
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/arts-for-animals
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Events
Auctions

Scratch card fundraiser


Buy a batch of scratch cards from a wholesaler. Each circle hides a dollar amount, typically ranging from 50 cents to several dollars. Participants scratch off as many spots as they’d like—the total amount revealed is how much they’ll donate!

Collect cash or accept virtual payments on the spot with Tap-to-Pay, Venmo, and other convenient options.
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
1
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/scratch-card-fundraiser
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Events

Grants


Research grants that you can apply for to fund your nonprofit organization or project. Be sure to create a stand-out grant proposal in order to impress grantmakers!
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
3
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/grants
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Sports clinic


Host a sports clinic or skills camp for participants to learn from top coaches, pro players, or other notable experts. Depending on the scale of your clinic, you can sell several tickets to the public or offer just a few spots as a big-ticket silent auction item at a fundraising event.
Cost:
2
Effort:
3
Impact:
3
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/sports-clinic
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Auctions

Gala night


Plan a sophisticated gala night with music, food, and a silent auction.

Get your supporters excited about your upcoming event with an eye-catching gala invitation template. Include details on how to buy tickets, or add a scan-to-donate QR code.
Cost:
3
Effort:
3
Impact:
3
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/gala-night
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Auctions

Turkey raffle

Sell raffle tickets right on your event page to give donors the chance to win an epic Thanksgiving feast while supporting your cause at the same time.

Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/turkey-raffle
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