Fundraising is the lifeblood of philanthropic organizations. More than half of nonprofit revenue in the United States comes from fees and sales, according to stats. That means that if you’re not regularly hosting fundraising events and selling goods and services, your supporters won’t be as motivated to show up for your cause.
Of course, not all fundraising ideas work equally well for all nonprofits. The strategy that attracts generous donations for a preschool might backfire if you’re raising cash for a food bank or an environmental charity.
In this article, we look at 78 creative online fundraising ideas for nonprofits geared toward different types of nonprofits so you can plan a fundraiser that resonates deeply with YOUR unique constituency.
These fundraising ideas for nonprofit campaigns are all vetted, proven, and popular. We’ve gone ahead and sorted them by the type of charity they would suit best, though any idea can be adapted if you see potential in it.
Fundraising Ideas For Preschools
Caring for and educating little ones isn’t cheap! Preschools often have to reach out to generous parents, volunteers, and supporters to help fund events like field trips or purchasing essentials, such as books, art supplies, and other resources. Here are a few fundraising ideas to get inspired.
1. Spelling bee
Fundraiser: A-Thon, Event, Livestreaming
Cost: 1/5
Effort: 1/5
Result: 4/5
A spelling bee is a fun way to sharpen children’s minds while raising some cash! It’s super easy to host the Event online using platforms like RallyUp or Zoom, with contestants competing from their living rooms.
Here’s the kicker: friends and family can cheer on the little ones from wherever they are in the world! Charge an entry fee for Participants (e.g. $20 per child) and ask a minimum donation from audience members (say, $5 minimum).
Then choose a list of age-appropriate words, an exciting prize, a high-energy emcee, and your spelling bee fundraiser is sure to be a big hit!
2. Handmade Calendars
Fundraiser: Store, Event
Cost: 1/5
Effort: 2/5
Result: 4/5
Kids draw all the time. Why not channel all that artistic creativity for a good cause?
Invite students to draw themed pictures representing different seasons, holidays, or special occasions. Take snaps of each drawing, upload the photos to your computer, and use software like Adobe or Photo Calendar Creator to make your preschool’s own unique calendar.
You can print them on glossy paper or stick to digital-only versions to keep costs extra low. Then sell the gorgeous calendars to parents, friends, and family!
3. Read-A-Thon
Fundraiser: A-Thon, Event
Cost: 1/5
Effort: 2/5
Result: 4/5
Read-A-Thons are popular for a reason: it’s a unique way to get the kids reading, building a culture of literacy that involves the entire community.
The basic idea: parents and friends pledge a dollar amount for the number of pages or books children read. Setting it up is simple with a platform like RallyUp, which has tools dedicated specifically to pulling off seamless and successful Read-A-Thons at zero cost to your preschool.
Fundraising Ideas For Churches
Religious organizations are often the backbone of their communities, providing essential services and inspiring others. With these nonprofit fundraising ideas for churches, your spiritual organization can plan something really special for your supporters!
4. Livestream A Special Event
Fundraiser: Livestreaming, A-Thon, Event
Cost: 1/5
Effort: 2/5
Result: 4/5
Next time something special is happening at your church, why not set up some Livestreaming action?
Not everyone can attend events like candlelit mass, evensong, or a holiday service, but they can always tune in from home! Better yet, they can share the link far and wide, picking up supporters outside your network. Simply ask for a donation from your online audience when they register for the Event.
Sell seasonal DIY items
Survey the talents in your base of supporters. Does anyone have a talent for baking? Are there any crafts enthusiasts or folks who can knit up a storm? Put your congregation’s skills to a good cause and sell seasonally themed items online.
Think candles and pumpkin pies for autumn, wreaths and scarves for winter, and seeds and flowers for spring and summer. Unlike a one-off sales Event, you can keep your online store up and running (and collecting funds!) all year long.
5. Donation Page
Fundraiser: Donation Pages
Cost: 1/5
Effort: 1/5
Result: 4/5
This just might be the easiest way on the planet to raise a good chunk of change: Donation Pages.
Customize it with photos of your church and your community members. Get into it and really tell the story of your unique spiritual community. Then link to it on your website, newsletter, and emails, and encourage your supporters to share it across their social media channels.
Fundraising Ideas For Communities and Causes
You might be looking to expand your community or grow your cause from the ground up. Whatever you are hoping to generate some extra cash for, try out the following ideas to drum up the support you need!
6. Crowdfunding
Fundraiser: Crowdfunding, Peer-to-Peer, Donation Pages
Cost: 1/5
Effort: 1/5
Result: 4/5
The brilliant thing about Crowdfunding is that you can generate support for absolutely anything that’s happening in your organization at the moment.
Growing your nonprofit? Expanding your outreach? Looking for alternative funds? Yep, those are all great reasons to share your story with the world and tell your supporters all about your campaign. Once you set up your customized crowdfunding page, donors from all across the globe can pitch in with their donations and help your dreams come true!
7. Social Media Challenge
Fundraiser: A-Thon, Livestreaming
Cost: 1/5
Effort: 1/5
Result: 4/5
If you don’t have a major following online, not to worry!
Social media challenges are a fun way to spread the news about your cause beyond your immediate group of followers. The trick is to think of something creative and fun, but that doesn’t take too much effort, so it’s more likely to go viral.
For example, challenge your followers to snap a no-makeup selfie or their morning latte art. It’s important to create a unique and catchy hashtag so that your fundraising goal keeps everyone on track, like #nomakeupforanimals!
8. Online Class
Fundraiser: Livestreaming, Event
Cost: 1/5
Effort: 2/5
Result: 4/5
What is your expertise?
Whether you play drums on the weekends, know your way around the dance floor, or can identify 14 types of sparrows, make that knowledge work for you by organizing an online class or talk and charge for attendance. Alternatively, offer your own “team talk” or seminar where you invite your supporters to learn about your important mission and cause.
If you’re a nature lover, take your audience on a gorgeous, live-streamed excursion. If you whip up a beautiful summer salad, make a video of the step-by-step process.
Whatever it you do, don’t forget to promote the heck out of it on Facebook, Instagram, your website, and your fave fundraising platform.
Fundraising Ideas For Housing Assistance Organizations
Housing assistance, such as homeless shelters, are an invaluable resource for folks in need. After all, homelessness can happen to anyone. We share a few ideas to help your organization raise extra funds to support your community.
9. Silent Auction
Fundraiser: Auctions, Events
Cost: 2/5
Effort: 2/5
Result: 4/5
One of the best ways to energize the donor base of a philanthropic organization is to bring them together for some friendly competition.
Since you already have a pretty good idea of who your audience is, you can have a blast selecting the items and services that your donors will be thrilled to bid on.
Hosting online Auctions not only helps you engage more supporters, but lets you leverage digital tools that fundraising sites like RallyUp offer for free: mobile bidding, progress tracking, and live streaming. Your Auction will be extra lively!
10. Stage A Virtual Concert
Fundraiser: Livestreaming, Events
Cost: 1/5
Effort: 2/5
Result: 4/5
Plenty of orchestras, bands, and musical groups are struggling to make ends meet post pandemic, even though building community through art is both effective and nourishing.
Your organization can team up with a group of local musicians to organize a performance, tapping into multiple constituencies at once.
After you nail down a venue and start advertising, organize ticket sales for the livestreamed concert. To make your musical evening extra memorable, ask the performers to stick around for a brief Q&A session with the artists.
11. Sell Merch
Fundraiser: Store, Event
Cost: 1/5
Effort: 1/5
Result: 4/5
You know those iconic YMCA t-shirts or breast cancer awareness bracelets? Yep, we love ‘em, too. Merch. Swag. Regardless of what you call them, not only do they make a difference, but they look cute, too!
Whatever your logo is, you can sell branded items at an online store or at your next fundraising Event. That way, your staff, volunteers, and donors can rep your nonprofit wherever they go!
Everything from coffee mugs to hair scrunchies to t-shirts will raise impressive amounts of cash and awareness. Remind your supporters that buying gifts for their loved ones from your shop instead of for-profit stores means that they’re “voting with their dollars” for a good cause.
Fundraising Ideas For Clubs
Whether you’re a neighborhood tennis group or a large institution with an international membership, all social clubs need an extra boost now and again! These nonprofit fundraising ideas are easy to pull off and are guaranteed to boost engagement.
12. Email Campaigns
Fundraiser: Email Campaign, Donation Pages
Cost: 1/5
Effort: 1/5
Result: 4/5
Whether you’re a sports team, youth organization, or university club, an effective way to raise cash is through email campaigns. Sending emails is cheap and easy, and you probably already have a solid list of addresses to get the ball rolling.
Take a minute to craft a thoughtful email with images, emotional appeal, and a clear call to action (i.e. DONATE NOW). Another tactic is to skip all the fancy hoopla and keep the email simple, human, and honest—the kind of email you would send to a friend. Experiment with both approaches and blast it out to all your supporters, encouraging them to donate and forward.
13. Peer-To-Peer Fundraising
Fundraiser: Peer-to-Peer, Crowdfunding
Cost: 1/5
Effort: 2/5
Result: 4/5
If your club hasn’t tapped into the power of Peer-to-peer fundraising campaigns, prepare to be amazed. Everyone in your group already knows somebody who knows somebody who knows somebody who… you get the idea.
Take advantage of that existing network by having all those contacts lend your club a hand by creating their own customized fundraising page. As their donors become your donors, you can sit back and watch the dollars roll in!
14. Virtual Happy Hour
Fundraiser: Livestreaming, Event
Cost: 1/5
Effort: 2/5
Result: 4/5
When your club hasn’t met in months because of the pandemic, winter, or just life getting in the way, it’s time to catch up over drinks—at home!
Host a virtual happy hour on a streaming app like Zoom, Teams, or Instagram Live and invite your group members along with their pals and family, exactly like you would if it was a “real” happy hour Event.
Charge an entry fee right before the Event begins, then kick back and chat with drinks in hand. For younger groups, host a Cookie Hour, Lunch Break, or just a Catch Up!
Fundraising Ideas For Museums
Museums are the guardians of our collective heritage, and they need all the support they can get! Inspire giving in your members, volunteers, and donors with fundraising strategies geared toward the museum lovers in your community.
15. Virtual Tour
Fundraiser: Livestreaming, Event
Cost: 1/5
Effort: 2/5
Result: 4/5
Whether your institution is artistic, historical, literary, or scientific, take advantage of your unique space by giving all your supporters a chance to tour it—virtually.
This is especially cool if you have a new artifact, artwork, or discovery to share. Select a few objects or galleries to focus on and ask a knowledgeable guide to walk through the museum as they address your at-home audience via livestream.
Your donors will love their private tour, where they can learn something new and ask the guide questions at the end. You can even offer exclusive content for members!
16. Gift Matching
Fundraiser: Corporate Partnership
Cost: 1/5
Effort: 2/5
Result: 4/5
If your museum hasn’t entered into any corporate partnerships yet, it’s time to get a move on! Businesses like to support museums because it’s mutually beneficial: they get a branding platform from which to engage their visitors, and you get extra revenue.
An easy way to take advantage of that relationship is by organizing a special online exhibition funded in part by your sponsor. For example, the Museum of the Moving Image recently organized an innovative virtual exhibit of all the presidential campaign commercials from 1952 to 2020. Guess who helped develop and produce it? A NYC digital agency.
17. Online Talk or Workshop
Fundraiser: Livestreaming, Event
Cost: 1/5
Effort: 2/5
Result: 4/5
Your museum has plenty of archivists, curators, and other experts who can share their talents and insights with your supporters. From archaeology lectures to drawing workshops, hosting a recurring Event that engages online audiences is a surefire way to bring in some cash.
You can post a video interview, start a podcast, or simply host a talk via conference call and invite audiences to come armed with questions for the expert.
Pro tip: for the widest engagement, pick a time that works across as many time zones as possible.
Fundraising Ideas For Hospitals
What would neighborhoods do without their local hospitals? From delivering much-needed emergency procedures to acting as a pillar in their communities, hospitals are always in need of extra funds.
18. Sweepstakes
Fundraiser: Sweepstakes, Event
Cost: 2/5
Effort: 2/5
Result: 4/5
A Sweepstakes fundraiser can rally your supporter base to your hospital and clinic like no other Event! Why? The competitive edge and the thrill of chance build major suspense as Participants give Lady Luck a shoutout.
Select impressive, high-level prizes to give away—think automobiles or homes—that will jive with your major donors. Most importantly, in the weeks leading up to the Event, promote the Sweepstakes on a fundraising site that helps you execute the game with ease.
19. Wine, Cheese, and News Party
Fundraiser: Livestreaming, Event
Cost: 2/5
Effort: 2/5
Result: 5/5
What’s better than a glass of red wine? A glass of red wine with cheese, of course.
For your next online fundraiser, organize a Virtual Wine, Cheese, and News Party. Major donors can enjoy an exclusive charcuterie board and wine pairing while catching up on all the latest news, trends, and gossip at your hospital or clinic.
Here’s how to pull it off:
Step 1. Send a curated charcuterie board kit along with a bottle of wine to your donors’ homes.
Step 2. On the day of your party, a virtual expert will show your supporters how to assemble their boards at home.
Step 3. Your donor audience can enjoy their elevated hors d’oeuvres while your healthcare team talks them through all the happenings affecting the hospital.
20. Trivia Night
Fundraiser: Event, Peer-to-Peer
Cost: 1/5
Effort: 3/5
Result: 4/5
If you’re thinking that you’re a small local community clinic and your donors can’t afford fancy stuff like charcuterie boards, then look no further than a virtual trivia night.
It combines the thrill of chance with the accessibility of digital platforms to make sure that all the families in your community can participate. Invite your supporters to form and register their teams after paying an entrance fee (for example, $20 per person or $100 per team). The prize can be something families will enjoy, like a gift card to a local restaurant.
Make sure you have a fun, energetic host and questions that are general enough to give everyone a shot at winning!
Fundraising Ideas For Healthcare Charities
Some folks who need medical care and advice prefer to avoid larger hospitals and work with smaller-sized healthcare charities. Unfortunately, it’s precisely those small healthcare charities that often provide critical community care on a shoestring. We share nonprofit fundraising ideas that will boost your supporter base!
21. Livestream Comedy-A-Thon
Fundraiser: Livestreaming, A-Thon, Event
Cost: 1/5
Effort: 2/5
Result: 4/5
Laughter makes the world go around, and these days we could all use a good laugh. Host a unique Comedy-A-Thon where funny people get on stage and tell jokes for as long as they can. You’ll need a live audience, a gaggle of willing amateur comedians, and community support.
This non-profit fundraiser involves three components, selling tickets to the live Event, finding comedians, and getting the community to pledge money for every joke told. Finally, you’ll livestream the Event to an audience of paying donors.
Every entry sold, pledge realized, and Livestream access granted is money towards your goal. Spice up your Event by inviting professional comedians from your local stand-up comedy club. At the end of the marathon comedy session, crown the highest earning comedian the winner.
22. Team-Based Scavenger Hunt
Fundraiser: Peer-to-Peer, Livestreaming, Event
Cost: 2/5
Effort: 2/5
Efficiency: 4/5
A scavenger hunt is a great way to get groups or teams of people involved in a fun event. They’re also quite easy to set up – all you need is a way for Participants to buy tickets and a platform that they can use to raise money for their team before the Event begins.
You can make your scavenger hunt as simple or as complex as you like. Start by picking a location where the hunt will take place. Then design a map with a dynamic clue list that leads from one location to the next. Hide items for your teams to find at each stop – make them interesting!
Nonprofit fundraising ideas like the classic scavenger hunt are fun to livestream. Set up a stream at each location to film the teams as they discover your items or perform your challenges. Charge people to watch the hunt online, then edit and package the videos for sale after the hunt.
23. Community Auction
Fundraiser: Auction, Store
Cost: 1/5
Effort: 3/5
Efficiency: 4/5
Community Auctions are popular with health charities because they cost almost nothing to create, and the items up for Auction can be donations from the same community. Donated item Auctions are easy to stage in-person or online. They simply require the right platform and a bit of promotion.
At the Auction, your attendees will bid on the displayed items as they come up for sale. Set a minimum bid, and make sure that it is low enough to encourage a lot of people to feel like they might get a great deal if they bid to win. Bidding competition will take care of the rest.
Successful fundraising ideas for nonprofits like the community Auction will help you raise the money you need for your cause. Host regular Auctions once your charity has accumulated enough donated items, or list them online for sale as an alternative. Charity shops love this type of fundraiser.
Fundraising Ideas For Food Banks
From a hot meal to social support, a lot of unfortunate folks regularly rely on food banks to get through the day. We share a few ideas to help your food bank raise some extra cash.
24. Seasonal Cards
Fundraiser: Store
Cost: 1/5
Effort: 3/5
Result: 4/5
Make the seasons work for you by creating and selling original cards.
Take a cue from the Quartzsite Food Bank in Arizona: the food bank partnered with a local artist. Her original artwork was then photographed and turned into one-of-a-kind Christmas cards and prints sold at the food pantry, starting at $15 each.
If you don’t have a local artist to tap, simply take photos of your customers and volunteers, then transform your digital pics into cards that celebrate your food bank and community.
25. Virtual Food Drive
Fundraiser: Livestreaming, Store
Cost: 1/5
Effort: 3/5
Result: 4/5
Just because an in-person food drive might be off the table doesn’t mean you still can’t collect food donations. How? Virtually!
Set up an online store on a fundraising platform that offers all the typical products your pantry stocks, from beef stew to fresh fruit to whatever special treats your customers love.
Your supporters can shop online, tossing items into a virtual cart and donating to your food bank without leaving their homes.
The best part: unlike regular food drives which are limited to non-perishable goods, a virtual food drive empowers your donors to contribute fresh produce! So, go ahead and add fruit, vegetables, meats, and cheeses to your online store.
Tip: To avoid well-intentioned but impractical supporters who want to donate one can at a time, simply set a 10 or 20 product minimum (or dollar amount minimum).
26. Essentials Kit Donation
Fundraiser: Store
Cost: 1/5
Effort: 2/5
Result: 4/5
While food banks focus primarily on distributing food, they know better than anyone that one of the biggest challenges facing vulnerable populations is access to basics like toothpaste, toothbrushes, and sanitary items.
Your food bank can create an “essentials” kit, complete with basic supplies like toiletries and snacks that can be easily transported: granola bars, nuts, pop-open cans with spoons, and bottled water.
Encourage your supporters to purchase the kits on an online store in addition to, or in lieu of, a monetary donation (for example, $20 per kit) which you can then distribute to your constituency.
Fundraising Ideas For Environmental Charities
If you’re raising money for an environmental cause, you will be concerned with climate change, pollution, wildlife conservation and educating people about recycling. Here’s what will work.
27. Beach Clean Up Event
Fundraiser: Event, Peer-to-Peer
Cost: 1/5
Effort: 1/5
Efficiency: 4/5
Beach cleanups are great if you want an event that people will pay to attend, and still has practical use for the community. Everyone loves the beach, so make sure to host this Event on a beautiful summer’s day. Charge people entry and ask them to bring along supplies (gloves, tongs, water).
To make the beach cleanup fun, tell your attendees that you’re running a competition for the most trash collected. You could also split this into types of trash, and award prizes to people who have collected the most plastic bottles, aluminum cans or paper cartons.
A fun beach cleanup day wouldn’t be complete without hot dogs, volleyball and some bonding time for the donors who came to support your cause. When green teams brainstorm charity fundraising ideas in the workplace, beach cleanups are a big winner – they’re ideal for team building.
28. Virtual Relay Race
Fundraiser: Livestreaming, A-Thon, Event
Cost: 2/5
Effort: 3/5
Efficiency: 4/5
Some nonprofit fundraising ideas for the environment don’t take place outside. The virtual relay race is one of these ideas. It’s recently become popular with virtual fitness enthusiasts who join large-scale online events that sync with their home exercise equipment.
Now, your charity can run a virtual team-based race that is the equivalent of a triathlon, simply by setting up a livestream Event. Entrants will form teams (cyclists, runners, rowers) to compete in a head-to-head virtual relay race that happens in real-time. It’s super exciting!
Get your teams to find sponsors who will pledge money for every leg of the race that they finish, or how many laps they can do before giving up. However you structure it, this is a new way of raising money for a charity that has zero impact on the environment – with no event cleanup afterward.
29. Sustainable Craft Fair
Fundraiser: Store, Event
Cost: 3/5
Effort: 5/5
Efficiency: 4/5
Here is one of those easy charity fundraising ideas that takes a bit of organization. A sustainable craft fair is a gathering of crafters who only create products for sale using reusable, recycled or otherwise sustainable materials. This is the perfect way to raise awareness for a green cause.
Craft fairs are popular because they attract large crowds. A small entry fee will get you inside, where vegan food stalls, live music, and a host of fascinating eco-friendly items are displayed for sale. Families will come out to support your charity if you promote the event a few weeks before its opening date.
Sustainable craft fairs are best over a weekend, to give people time to enjoy the festivities on the most convenient day. Use the fair as a platform to get your message out to the media and plan to have everything used at the fair recycled or composted.
Fundraising Ideas For Animal Shelters
Caring for our furry pals is an enormous joy, but also an enormous challenge. From staffing shortages to lack of essential resources, animal shelters need all the financial help they can get! Here’s how to encourage giving from your animal-loving community.
30. Work With a Social Media Influencer
Fundraiser: Donation Page, Livestreaming
Cost: 1/5
Effort: 2/5
Result: 4/5
You know what lends itself effortlessly to social media? Animals. People are constantly scrolling and sharing adorable photos and videos of our furry pals.
Recently, a TikTok video catapulted a pup named Mugsy to stardom—and raised 10k for the KC Pet Project in the process! Capitalize on that animal-loving audience by reaching out to a social media influencer who loves animals and the environment.
Ask them to share pics of the critters in your care along with a request for donations. You’re guaranteed a global audience as you raise awareness of your cause and drive revenue.
31. Virtual Dog Walk
Fundraiser: A-Thon, Event
Cost: 1/5
Effort: 2/5
Result: 4/5
Put paws to the pavement for a good cause. Your supporters are walking their pups anyway, so why not ask them to dedicate one of those walks to helping the animals in your shelter?
Walkers can register themselves and Fido on your fundraising Event page, where they will be charged to enter (i.e. $20 per walker, or $5 per paw).
On the big day, encourage Participants to share pictures of their walks, their dogs, and their routes with you. To keep the energy sky-high, update your supporters on your social media channels.
32. Pet Kit Raffle
Fundraiser: Raffle
Cost: 1/5
Effort: 1/5
Result: 4/5
An effortless way to get your supporters excited about donating to your shelter? Host an online Raffle! Your donors can buy entries online, and winners will receive a top-notch pet kit.
For dog owners, that might include a matching leash, collar, and bandana, matching food and water bowls, treats, toys, dog wash passes, and a 60-lb bag of premium dog food. For cats, award similar supplies, but squeakier and fluffier.
You can even tailor it for puppies and kittens with engraved collar tags! Platforms like RallyUp make organizing Raffles super simple, so the pet lovers in your community can participate and enjoy the suspense and the prizes.
33. Shelter Sleep In
Fundraiser: Event, Crowdfunding
Cost: 2/5
Effort: 3/5
Efficiency: 4/5
Sleep-ins at an animal shelter are one of those fundraising campaign ideas that invite mass community support. Your basic sleep-in involves spending the night with a shelter animal (usually a dog or cat), and bonding with them over a fundraising period of 2 days.
This raises awareness about the animal shelter, what it’s like for the animals who stay there, and it encourages adoptions, donations, and support for the shelter. Non-profits promote the Event and invite members of the community to the sleep-in and adoption drive.
Over the 2-day period other events take place, like training showcases, pack walks and organized livestreams to collect donations for food, shelter repairs and medical care. Charge to take part in the sleep-in and promote the Event so that the community supports the drive with donations.
Fundraising Ideas For Neighborhood Groups
Have a tight-knit community that chips in to support neighborhood initiatives with regular fundraisers? These nonprofit fundraising ideas will help you organize your next fun neighborly event!
34. Get Local Businesses on Board
Fundraiser: Small Business Collaboration
Cost: 1/5
Effort: 3/5
Result: 5/5
Businesses, especially small ones, tend to give generously to their communities. If they can’t give cash, they’ll often support you with products, supplies, equipment, venue space, or just useful contacts. If you’re running a Raffle or other contest, for example, they might help out by donating retail items, services, or gift cards.
The best way to reach out to small businesses:
Figure out who does what. Does the local grocer donate to food banks? Does the café down the street sponsor the high school football team? Do some research on what the businesses in your neighborhood stand for. Check their mission statement.
Zero in on the right contacts. Unless the business is tiny, it’s likely that there’s someone in charge of outreach and corporate social responsibility. Scour their site, newsletters, and any PR that might indicate who that is. There’s nothing worse than having your thoughtful letter tossed in the bin because it was forwarded to the wrong person.
Send your best elevator pitch. Send a letter—a real letter—that describes as succinctly as possible your neighborhood group, what you need, and why the business will benefit from a partnership with you. You’ll have to demonstrate that by supporting you, they’ll get a valuable kick back, like increased visibility for their brand or more traffic to their store.
Follow up. A phone call with a thank you will do just fine, even if the answer is no. You never know what might change down the line, so keep communication friendly and open.
35. Virtual Block Party
Fundraiser: Event, Livestreaming
Cost: 1/5
Effort: 3/5
Result: 4/5
If your neighborhood group misses all those circa 2019 barbeques at the community center, get the gang back together by hosting a virtual block party—while fundraising!
Choose a time that’s best for everyone and a fun theme, like Virtual Sunday BBQ or Party Like it’s 2019. Then invite your neighbors and their families to catch up online, using an app like Hangouts, Zoom, or Teams.
Have fun games and trivia questions prepared, or just give every family in your community a chance to share what they’ve been up to. Ask about any recent trips, family milestones, and plans for the summer. When registering, your community members can add a donation to support the neighborhood!
36. Book Sale
Fundraiser: Store, Event
Cost: 1/5
Effort: 3/5
Result: 4/5
Celebrate the bibliophiles in your community with an online book sale. It beats Amazon any day!
Here’s how it works:
Step 1. Round up all the neglected tomes in your neighborhood. To get a decent haul, post a call on your community newsletter, email, and social media. Encourage your supporters to go on a book treasure hunt through garages, closets, and basements.
Step 2. Remind everyone that the books should be in good condition! Also, it’s a good idea to put a number limit on cookbooks, mysteries, or romances. You don’t want to end up with a bunch of cheap paperbacks that nobody wants.
Step 3. Have everyone take a (non-blurry) digital snap of the books they rounded up and send the pictures to you.
Step 4. Post the pics, with a title and brief description, on an online store using a free fundraising site.
Step 5. Charge anywhere from a dollar to $20 per book, depending on its condition and genre. If one of your neighbors has unearthed a hardcover 1960s Hemingway novel, for example, that’s likely to fly off the shelves for as much as $100!
Step 6. Unlike an in-person book sale, a virtual one has no time limit! Keep your online shop open for as long as you want.
Step 7. Once every few weeks, recruit volunteers to drop off the purchased books. So long as you keep purchases to your neighborhood, they won’t have to drive far.
Step 8. Post pictures across your social media channels of all the happy readers in the neighborhood showing off their new-old books!
Fundraising Ideas For International NGOs
If you spend most of your time raising money to provide relief and aid in developing nations, then you’re an international NGO. From fighting for human rights, to being an advocate for social, environmental, and political change – these fundraising ideas will produce results for you.
37. Gala Fundraising Event
Fundraiser: Event, Raffle, Store
Cost: 4/5
Effort: 5/5
Efficiency: 5/5
As nonprofit fundraising ideas go, the traditional gala is an Event that can raise an enormous amount of financial support for your NGO. Galas are glamorous social events where multiple sources of entertainment inspire guests to donate to your cause.
It’s up to you to make them something special, by inviting guest performers to delight your audience. Often the model involves a simple dinner and a show – with performances from various artists, entertainers, and musicians that follow a specific theme.
These grand gala Events charge ticket fees, sell merchandise to guests, and involve Raffles to excite the crowd with winnings at the end of the evening. Come up with a superb theme for best results, and recruit talent from across the entertainment spectrum to crank entry sales into high gear.
38. Livestream Variety Show
Fundraiser: Livestreaming, Event
Cost: 3/5
Effort: 4/5
Efficiency: 5/5
A variety show is another high-end fundraiser that has the potential to garner widespread attention from a broad audience of donors. Effective fundraising for nonprofits, in this instance, means tracking down some original acts to perform in your variety concert and grouping them together for flow.
Get individuals or teams from local schools, universities, and clubs to join in – and add a special show from a local playhouse or performer. These can be plays, showcases, stand-up comedy, instrumentalists, singers, bands, or trapeze artists. The keyword here is to attract variety!
Your nonprofit will raise money through ticket sales, and you can livestream the Event to an online audience. The evening can be a celebration of your cause, or a competition to see which act is most popular with the crowd. This one can take some organization, so start a few months in advance.
39. A Virtual Conference
Fundraiser: Livestreaming, Event
Cost: 2/5
Effort: 5/5
Efficiency: 4/5
If you’re looking for business fundraising ideas for charity, few are as effective as the virtual conference. It casts a wide net for who might attend, which increases your conference entry sales. Plus, it’s COVID-19 safe, and gives a lot of stranded business influencers the chance to help a cause.
A virtual conference is run exclusively online. Before promoting the Event, you will reach out to various leaders, influencers, and personalities. Ask them to donate their time to your NGO and build a strong list of speakers around an enticing theme. Make it uplifting, inspiring and relevant.
Then spend time promoting the conference and try to sell out of tickets before the Event. If you make your conference important for businesses to attend, you’ll raise money quickly. Companies have a CSR budget and will sponsor tickets for their employees.
Fundraising Ideas For Arts and Culture Charities
There is no greater investment than the arts, so when you’re called to protect, preserve and commemorate works of cultural and artistic memory – you must be an art charity. These are the best ways to raise money in your niche.
40. The Art Show
Fundraiser: Event, Auction
Cost: 2/5
Effort: 3/5
Efficiency: 4/5
An art show consists of inviting a host of local artists and creators to exhibit their work in a central location. These sorts of non-profit fundraising ideas are best in cultural hubs, seaside villages and other art-centers where large crowds will be drawn to new installations, expressions, and voices.
You can charge artists a small entry fee and then charge ticket sales to your donor audience on the day. Shows can run on a single day or over a weekend. Depending on your chosen model, artists can donate pieces of their art to sell at a live Auction to help you raise more money.
If you plan it well, you can get everything donated – the venue, catering, and even live music if you want to be fancy. The goal is to create a unique fundraiser for attendees. Give them a reason to see your show, by thinking outside-the-box when you brainstorm themes.
41. Themed Film Evening
Fundraiser: Event, Store
Cost: 2/5
Effort: 2/5
Efficiency: 4/5
One of the more creative charity fundraising ideas is the themed film evening. This kind of Event is generally more accessible to the public than an art show – everyone loves the movies. The trick is to make the evening unusual by picking an interesting location, or a vibrant costume theme.
Movies like Grease, Jurassic Park, Mad Max, and Star Wars are a few that have inspired seriously fun film evenings for donors. An outdoor screening of Jurassic Park, complete with authentic dinosaur foods and merchandise, and cosplay level costumes – can create a lot of social media buzz.
Host a dress-up competition, sell themed foods at the Event, and collect ticket sales. This idea can be reused over and over again, especially if you land on a formula that works. The success of your evening depends on your theme, so ask your intended audience to vote for their favorite.
42. Music Festival
Fundraiser: Event, Livestreaming, Store
Cost: 3/5
Effort: 4/5
Efficiency: 5/5
Music festivals are a celebration of sound that will help support your charity. Whether you decide to organize professional musicians, famous bands, or have school kids perform, is up to you. Local concerts, battle of the bands competitions and even ‘American Idol’ styled singing contests are fun.
These nonprofit fundraising ideas boil down to one thing: sharing the love of music with your local community. Direct ticket sales and the promotion of your cause is enough to get people through the door. Once there, merchandise sales can become just as valuable as ticket sales.
Stream the show live online to add another revenue stream to your fundraiser. You can charge to watch the stream or ask for donations periodically throughout a free livestream. Both can produce strong results, especially if your bands are calling for donations throughout the Event.
Fundraising Ideas For Education Charities
An education charity works hard to improve access to education among marginalized groups and improves everything from educational systems to policy. If you’re raising money for an education charity, these ideas will come in handy.
43. Online Learning
Fundraiser: Livestreaming, Event, Sweepstakes
Cost: 2/5
Effort: 5/5
Efficiency: 5/5
If you have access to teachers or desirable skills that people want to learn – setting up an online class is an incredible way to raise money for your cause. Classes can be livestreamed, and you can charge per person or by the group. These events have a lot of repeat potential for your nonprofit.
Online learning is one of the most popular school charity fundraising ideas today. They’re easy to structure, set up, and sell, and if people loved your class, they will be back for more. Everything from one-off classes (livestreamed then packaged for sale) to regular class slots can raise money.
Add an amazing Sweepstakes contest to your class for a bonus cash boost. Your students will be challenged to enter the contest, and by the end of the class the winner will get a prize. Make sure your prize is relevant to your class, and the lessons you’re teaching.
44. Quiz Night
Fundraiser: Livestreaming, Event, Raffle
Cost: 1/5
Effort: 3/5
Efficiency: 4/5
Hosting a quiz night is perfect for the education space, and much-loved by adults and kids alike. Sometimes the best charity fundraising ideas are realized when light competition is involved. All you need is creativity, imagination, and a strong theme to get attendees excited.
This charity Event can be hosted online or in-person. The venue is critical, so choose wisely! Sell tickets to the evening a few weeks in advance and invest time developing fun and challenging questions for your theme. Rock music, Harry Potter, Movies from the 80’s – the sky’s the limit.
A nice addition to your general ticket sales is to offer a live Raffle at your Event. Attendees will pay to enter, and you can do a draw at the very end of the evening. It’s a nice way to finish off a lively evening of debate and good-natured competition.
45. Rent a Tutor
Fundraiser: Event, Auction, Store
Cost: 1/5
Effort: 2/5
Efficiency: 4/5
The rent-a-tutor concept is one of those non-profit fundraising ideas that always hits the mark. It’s a combination of a live Event and an Auction or Store. Kids will always need tutors, and if your organization has access to skilled volunteers, they can be ‘rented’ as an educational resource.
Other models include recruiting teachers, parents or teams who then donate their time for your Auction – and are rented over the period of a week (or however long you choose). The rental amount is established at the Auction, and proceeds go to your non-profit.
A direct sale of a period of time is also popular and is easier to sell at an Auction. Host these engaging live Auctions in the weeks leading up to exams, at a school fundraising evening, or online if your charity wants to tap into a much bigger donor base.
46. Outdoor Film Festival
This is a perfect fundraising idea for nonprofits, as who does not love a great movie?
And there is only one thing better than a movie night under the stars, and that’s an entire series of movie nights under the stars!
Unique fundraising ideas like this give your supporters an exciting Event to look forward to. But remember, your fundraising campaigns should offer an easy way to schedule something on your events calendar so that your organization has a steady stream of funds to count on for the entire summer.
For example, you have the option to screen a movie outdoors once a month during warmer months, or indoors when it’s chilly. Alternatively, depending on interest and availability, you can screen a film…whenever your heart desires!
The most cost-effective way to pull this fundraising campaign off:
Prepare. Rent a projection screen and set it up in a grassy outdoor space, like a community park or the grounds of your local art museum.
Promote. Advertise and sell tickets (i.e. $20 per person or $50 per family) through an online fundraising platform so you don’t have to worry about paper tickets.
Pick a film. The hardest part will also be the most fun part: deciding which movies to screen! You can opt for family friendly classics or, if you have film buffs in your constituency, why not show unusual, independent films lauded by the likes of the Sundance or Cannes Film Festivals? Ask your supporters to bring comfy blankets, low chairs, and picnic items to enjoy during the film.
Spice it up. Make the festival extra buzzy by running exciting Raffles in the weeks leading up to the first film night, final film night, or even every film night! Give away Hollywood-themed gifts, like cult movie posters and signed memorabilia, or a picnic basket complete with popcorn. Announce the winner right before the movie starts!
Bonus step: Nothing lights up a movie-goer’s face like soft-serve ice cream and popcorn! To make some extra cash, rent a portable soft-serve ice cream machine and popcorn maker for the night. And why not get a local business involved? It is always a great idea to have a local restaurant pull up with their food truck and set up shop during your Event. Get creative with your local community and even consider getting a corporate sponsor for your Event. This will help raise money, raise awareness and raise community.
47. Dog-Walk-A-Thon
Next to family and friends, who do your donors spend the most time with? Their beloved furry four-legged friends! That’s why at least one of the most unique fundraising ideas for nonprofits should involve Fido, with a Dog-Walk-A-Thon! Raising money has never been cuter, fluffier or friendlier than this!
Here’s how to make this fundraising Event happen:
Research. First, scope out walking trails in your area, whether that’s in the woods, near a river, a dog-friendly nature preserve, or just a big park. Check all the regulations regarding pooches: are dogs allowed in the area? If so, do they need to be leashed at all times? Is there an off-leash dog area? Are there limits on group sizes? You can find a handy list of dog-friendly hiking trails across the United States here, but it’s a good idea to check out the rules in your local trails and parks, too!
Plan. Decide how you want to organize your walk. A fun Walk-A-Thon can add encouragement with supporters collecting pledges for how many minutes, hours, or miles they, and their dog, walk, run or hike! Or you can host a big, informal get together for your supporters and their furry friends, in which case you can charge Participants or ask for a minimum donation (i.e. $20).
Promote. Advertise your Dog-Walk-a-Thon on all your social media pages, your favorite online advertising platform, your nonprofit website, and your newsletter. Talk to your fellow board members and call your friends and family. Use Peer-to-Peer to really get the word out there.
Here’s what to include:
Show impact. Explain briefly to your supporters how all their donations or pledges will support your cause. Place your mission statement and proposed use of funds on your fundraising page.
Make it shareable. Find a fundraising solution that has easy social sharing options for your fundraising pages. Encourage supporters to share your fundraising Event and you can even ask donors to share funny pics of their pups to get everyone in the mood!
Include logistics. Be sure to clearly state the date, time, and location of your fundraising Event. Remind donors and community members to bring essentials, like water bowls, leashes, treats, and poo bags.
On the day. Tie up your fundraising strategy with a sweet bow. Consider offering cute “doggie bags” to walkers that include dog treats, a dog toy, and info about your organization and fundraising goal. Instead of boring brochures or flyers, you can save paper and look super modern by including a QR code on the doggie bags for raising funds. Your supporters can scan them with their mobile phones to be taken straight to your website or donation pages, so they can donate on the spot! Don’t forget to take tons of photos!
48. Tropical Paradise Party
Nothing says relaxation like the white sandy beaches and aquamarine waters of a beautiful island paradise.
For an innovative twist on the traditional fundraiser gala, take a break from a stuffy black-tie atmosphere by hosting a casual party with a beachy, tropical theme. This is the perfect fundraising idea for raising money while everyone lets their hair down!
Your nonprofit can recreate the island atmosphere for your donors with a fundraising Event filled with flower necklaces, fruity drinks, and that by-the-ocean vibe.
4 Easy steps to bring this to life:
Plan it. Find a venue that’s either on a beach or has an outdoor swimming pool. An indoor pool will do in a pinch! Tip: check out your local Airbnb listings—the platform offers plenty of party-friendly homes with swimming pools! You can recreate your beach theme in a local community center, town hall or at a local business space. Or, if the weather and your geography allows for it (if you are in sunny Florida for example), you could host an actual beach Event. These are the perfect fundraising ideas for nonprofits that have a beach close by and the sun on their side! You can invite local businesses to sponsor and attend the Event with different food and drink items, sound and entertainment.
Decorate it. Book a live band that will play light-hearted jams all night long and decorate with palm leaves, tropical flowers, and seashells. Plan to serve fruity drinks (little pink umbrellas are a must!) and light snacks like pineapple chunks, mango salsa, and shrimp cocktail.
Add bonuses. Jazz up your Tropical Paradise Party and make extra cash with a beach-themed fundraising Auction. Prizes can be anything from seashell-encrusted candles all the way to a major beach getaway!
Whether you choose to host this on a real or faux beach, you can sell Raffle entries, Auction off items or add additional fundraising activities to your Event like a A-Thon (who can build the biggest sandcastle, perhaps?)
This will surely keep your donors engaged and having the time of their beachy lives!
49. Paint and Wine Outdoor Workshop
Not everyone is sporty and not everyone loves to party (we think ;)). Sometimes you need to slow it down for those charity fundraising ideas that cater to your art and wine lovers.
With one of the most unique fundraising ideas, you can delight all those artsy types in your community by hosting an outdoor painting workshop. It’s super easy to set up and donors get the chance to channel their inner Monet while getting some fresh air and supporting your nonprofit.
If you’re thinking that your donors are not exactly painting masters, don’t worry! Painting classes are a blast even if your artistic repertoire has never grown beyond stick figures. With the right instructor, it’s easy to create a one-of-a-kind artwork your donors will be proud to hang in their living rooms.
The “paint and sip” industry, which targets adults between 20 and 64, has grown in popularity across the United States as an enjoyable and unique leisure activity. Why not capitalize on the trend and support your mission at the same time?
If the Event is a hit, you can even make it a monthly fundraising Event to raise funds while building lifelong relationships and community!
Perfect for women’s groups, families, and fun dates, here’s how to set up a painting workshop:
Find an artist. Get in touch with an artist. The first order of business is to find an art instructor. If nobody pops up from your network, reach out to your local art institute, speak to the owner of a local art gallery, or just post a call on social media calling for all artists for your fundraising Event. Strive to find someone with both artistic talent and solid teaching Fundraiser. After all, most of your supporters are likely to have limited art skills and will need a lot of patient guidance to make the class fun!
Figure out the logistics. Find an outdoor space, pick a date, and get an alcohol license. Whether it’s a local park, a donors’ backyard, or the botanical garden in your area, do your best to select a date that’s unlikely to get rained out! Just in case of bad weather, it’s smart to have an indoor Plan B.
P.S. If you intend to offer alcoholic beverages, you’ll have to apply for a one-day alcohol and entertainment license with your state—nonprofits can generally apply for any type of alcohol license, just be sure to purchase only from approved sellers.
Gather supplies. Communicate with your chosen art instructor about what materials will make more sense. Will they show your donors how to paint with watercolors? Acrylics? Depending on the artist’s advice, gather enough paint, paintbrushes, and canvases for a class of, say, 15-20 students. If you have more folks sign up, you can always host multiple classes in one day or have a series of classes!
While easels for each attendee can get pricey, try getting in touch with a local art school or university. They may be willing to donate supplies for a good cause, especially if you thank them on your social media channels.
Sell entries and advertise. Promote your painting class and sell entries on an online fundraising platform. Don’t forget to introduce your art instructor to your donors and to let them know that you’ll provide all the necessary painting materials. Remind supporters that they get to leave with their very own masterpiece!
Enjoy the day. As your supporters let their creative juices flow, play relaxing tunes and offer light refreshments (a glass of wine for a suggested donation of $5, for example). Ask artists if it’s okay to snap pics of their works in progress to share on your social media account with a catchy hashtag, like #paintforgood23.
Livestream it. For all your supporters who can’t make it in person, offer Livestreaming of the Event. Donors can sign up for the class for a reduced fee or a suggested donation and collect their own art supplies beforehand. On the day of the class, they can follow along from their living rooms, local park, or front porch. Encourage your at-home artists to share pictures of their masterpieces, too, so you can include them on your social media channels.
Budget-Friendly Online Fundraising Ideas
By embracing online platforms and implementing these creative strategies, you can engage, inspire, and involve your supporters in your cause without breaking the bank.
50. Crowdfunding Campaigns
Start with a compelling story and launch a Crowdfunding campaign on popular platforms to attract donors.
51. Virtual Charity Auctions
Host an online Auction featuring donated items and fundraiser, turning it into an engaging Event.
52. Peer-to-Peer Fundraising
Empower your supporters to create their own fundraising pages and rally their networks behind your cause.
53. Virtual 5Ks and Walk-A-Thons
Organize virtual races where Participants can join from anywhere, and the proceeds go directly to your cause.
54. Online Raffles
Offer exciting prizes and sell Raffle entries online, making it easy for people to participate.
55. Donation Matching
Find donors willing to match contributions, effectively doubling the impact of every donation.
56. Digital Cook-Offs
Host a cooking competition online, where Participants share their culinary skills and collect donations.
57. Livestream Fundraisers
Leverage platforms like Twitch or Facebook Live to host virtual Events, from gaming marathons to talent shows.
58. Crowdsourced Art Projects
Invite artists to contribute to a collaborative project, selling prints or digital downloads to raise funds.
59. E-commerce Partnerships
Collaborate with local businesses to donate a percentage of their sales to your cause during specific periods.
60. DIY Fundraising Kits
Create and sell DIY kits with instructions, supplies, or ingredients tailored to various hobbies.
61. Monthly Giving Clubs
Encourage supporters to become monthly donors, providing a reliable source of income for your organization.
62. Webinars and Workshops
Offer online seminars or workshops related to your cause, charging a participation fee.
63. Virtual Pet Pageants
Organize an online pet photo contest and let Participants make donations to cast votes for their favorites.
64. Scavenger Hunts
Design virtual scavenger hunts with clues and challenges, requiring Participants to donate for participation.
65. Interactive Quizzes and Games
Create engaging quizzes on your website or social media, asking for donations as an entry fee.
66. Digital Art Sales
Collect artwork from local artists and sell it online, with proceeds supporting your cause.
67. Personalized Thank You Notes
Show appreciation by sending personalized thank-you notes or videos to donors, making them feel valued.
68. Storytelling Campaigns
Share compelling stories of individuals impacted by your organization to connect emotionally with potential donors.
69. Online Challenges with Milestones
Set fundraising milestones and reward Participants as they reach them, fostering a sense of accomplishment.
70. Virtual Gala Events
Host virtual galas with guest speakers, entertainment, and opportunities for attendees to donate.
71. Online Merchandise Stores
Sell branded merchandise related to your organization, such as T-shirts, mugs, or stickers.
72. Monthly Challenges
Create themed monthly challenges that supporters can participate in, with each challenge benefiting your cause.
73. Online Talent Shows
Organize virtual talent shows where Participants can showcase their skills and collect donations.
74. Social Media Takeovers
Partner with influencers or supporters to take over your social media for a day, sharing your mission and encouraging donations.
75. Online Contests
Run various online contests like photo contests or best story competitions, with entry fees benefiting your cause.
76. Virtual Book Club
Start an online book club, with Participants making donations to join and discuss books related to your cause.
77. Web-Based Quizzes and Games
Design fun quizzes or games related to your organization’s mission and encourage participation with small donations.
78. Mystery Fundraising Challenges
Keep supporters engaged with mysterious challenges, releasing clues as more donations are received.
There you have it! Unique and quirky fundraising ideas for nonprofits that will help you and your nonprofit organization stay true to your mission while also keeping your donors and volunteers (two and four-legged alike) engaged and bonding!
Now, as you embark on your online fundraising journey, remember that the right platform can make all the difference. RallyUp is a versatile, user-friendly solution that empowers organizations like yours to create and manage successful online fundraising campaigns effortlessly.
More Fundraing Ideas
79. All the A-Thons
The classic A-Thon pairs an event with donations from supporters, whether individuals or big sponsors, who pledge to contribute a certain amount of money for each segment of an activity.
Whether it’s a dollar per block walked or a chapter read, a well-executed A-Thon can really bring in the big bucks. These event fundraisers are an effective way to boost your mission’s visibility and help the community put names to faces. Best of all, they’re super fun!
Of course, there’s no need to make excuses to get out and move in the fresh air with a Walk-A-Thon or Bike-A-Thon, and a Read-A-Thon poses a satisfying intellectual challenge.
However, there are other–and, frankly, weirder–ways to up the a-thon ante! We promise that this is going to be extra fun.
- Bounce-A-Thon: This is exactly what it sounds like. Participants use giant toy balls, trampolines, jumping castles, or basic jump ropes to bounce for a good cause. Tweak the logistics to suit your needs: bouncers can be sponsored per jump, per minute, per hour, or per block. It’s easy, silly, and kids love it, so get your Tigger on!
- Juggle-A-Thon: If you have a ball, you have a juggle-a-thon in the making. It doesn’t have to be traditional juggling, either: volunteers can bounce soccer balls, toss a football back and forth, or even kick around a hacky sack. Collect donations based on the number of minutes or number of objects in the air.
- Poem-A-Thon: Calling all nerds! A-Thons often privilege physical skills, but you can celebrate the brainiacs in your organization by hosting a Poet-A-Thon.
How it works: sponsors pledge to donate for every line or full poem a participant recites in a given time period. Not exactly a Shakespeare fan? You can still put cultural heritage front and center with stanzas from Maya Angelou, Langston Hughes, or even Dr. Seuss. Or write your own poem! Your fundraiser, your rules.
80. Holiday Lights Drive-Thru Fundraiser
What’s more magical than strings of multi-colored lights twinkling from trees and rooftops? Holiday lights are a big hit with kids and families, and you can harness all that creativity and winter spirit with a drive thru fundraiser. (If you’re reading this in, say maybe February, plan ahead for bountiful fundriasing all year long.)
The best part? You don’t even have to get out of your car.
Since many homes and organizations put up lights each year anyway, most of the work is done for you. Get in touch with a school, a church, or a community center and discuss going the extra mile with their winter decor. Think filling the parking lot with giant candy canes, sparkly deer, and waving Santas in addition to glamming up the building itself. Decide on the price per vehicle and sell tickets near the entry or make it easy and utilize an online fundraising platform, like RallyUp.
An even more relaxed option is to coordinate decking out all the homes in a cul-de-sac, for example, or a row of businesses on a block. You can even make it a contest! Vehicles drive along the block with kids oohing and aahing from the back seat at the holiday bling.
For bonus winter flair, set up a drive-thru hot cocoa booth. Don’t forget the marshmallows!
81. Used Book Sale Fundraiser
Books make us better humans. In fact, research shows that literature increases empathy and lowers stress. Take advantage of all the mental health perks of a good read with a low cost and easy fundraising idea: a used book sale.
A book sale works just like a garage sale or rummage sale but is much less effort to set up and run. Books are easy to sort and stack, don’t need to be washed or ironed, and automatically look pretty on a shelf. Plus, you can just write the prices on the inside of the cover, eliminating the need for price stickers.
The trick with a book sale is getting a big book haul. You don’t need enough to fill a library, but you do want the selection to be browsable. If you spread the net wide enough, however, this shouldn’t be an issue. Pretty much everyone has some books lying around and gathering dust.
Encourage donations of used or unwanted books by providing drop-off boxes at schools, churches, local shops, and even the lobbies of apartment buildings. Community colleges and libraries almost always have unwanted books they’re willing to give away. Stop by used book shops, too, since they often have a shelf or two of books that they would be happy to part with.
Collect all that literary loot in one location, set a date, advertise the heck out of it, and watch the cash roll in. If you’re feeling feisty, flirt with the idea of serving themed baked goods or handmade items. Who can resist a slice of Jane Austen Crumb Cake?
82. Film Under the Stars Fundraiser
Treat the neighborhood to an unforgettable night and screen a film under the stars while generating serious cash for your special cause. Whether you opt for a family-friendly evening, a scary movie, or an action film extravaganza, movie nights bring in a pretty chunk of change. It just takes an inflatable screen (rent it!), a projector, and you’re in business.
If you’re planning a cozy indoor event for a chilly night, a community gym or a local library can be a great movie venue for a bigger crowd. You just need a wall–literally, any indoor wall will do–and space for the audience. You can set up folding chairs or, to make things truly effortless for yourself, just tell attendees to bring their own chairs and blankets. For extra cash, charge more for VIP seating, even if all it means is that your VIPs are seated closer to the popcorn maker!
To enhance all those happy vibes, it’s always fun to encourage attendees to don themed costumes. They require zero budgeting or planning on your end but create a cheerful and communal mood.
Can’t decide what to show? Consider your audience. If you want to entertain the yuppie residents of your slick downtown apartment building, you can’t go wrong with old-school film noir faves like Double Endemnity or thrillers like Pulp Fiction. If you’re searching for something imaginative that delights all ages on a school night, look no further than E.T. or Frozen.
83. Trivia Night Fundraiser
Crazy as it sounds, playing trivia games delivers a dopamine rush that’s not so different from a gambler’s high. Turns out, knowing obscure stuff makes people feel good. What this means for you and your organization: all of that right brain brilliance can be effectively channeled toward your fundraising goals with a trivia night, or quiz night, fundraiser.
To ensure a good turnout, first find a venue–anything from your pal’s living room to the high school cafeteria will do. After you get the advertising in motion with flyers and social media channels, start selling tickets.
Next, figure out the quiz format. If you’re after less work, just purchase or borrow a trivia card game. There are also free online resources available with good questions in different categories. If you’re in the mood to be creative, make the questions up yourself!
Just remember to include a wide range of categories, since pop culture buffs may not know the first thing about world history, while computer science gurus may get totally stumped by Justin Bieber references.
Trivia enthusiasts can get competitive, so be sure to keep them on their toes with a satisfying mix of good questions. If you’re planning a trivia night fundraiser that includes children, be sure to make the little ones feel welcome with kid-friendly questions, too. And no calling out answers!
84. Fashion Show Fundraiser
If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to be a celebrity, here’s a chance to shine while staying on mission. A blast for schools, religious organizations, or youth groups, hosting a fashion show is one of the most playful and easy fundraising ideas.
Okay, so this one takes an extra bit of planning, but if you have a dedicated team, it’s a breeze. You don’t even need a runway!
A fashion show fundraiser can be scaled to meet your budgeting needs. If you’re aiming to raise awareness of your organization while generating a little extra cash, then keep it on the downlow among co-workers in a volunteer’s basement.
If you’re looking to make a big splash, then Go Big or Go Home with a team of models, a bigger venue, and even a backstage manager.
How to make it happen:
- Collect used clothing. If you’re a school or a church, stick a big box near the door and encourage donations. Remind donors to wash the clothes, first!
- Collect new clothing. This step is optional, but if you’re feeling ambitious, chat with local retailers, vendors, and designers about donating a few items. If they agree, be sure to attach their coupons to the tickets and thank them publicly during the show.
- Recruit your models. Volunteers can be students, neighbors, friends, or members of your nonprofit.
- Find a venue. Again, this depends on how much of an impact you’re hoping to make and how big the crowd will be. For bigger events, a school auditorium, a community gym, or a sorority house can do the trick. Ask around: a local coffee shop might agree to host your fashion show, especially if the audience likes coffee!
Tip: if there’s no extra space that can be used as a dressing area, improvise with screens or even a shower curtain. - Sell tickets in advance. Post ads in your church, library, and local newsletter. Don’t forget digital advertising: it’s quick and easy to throw something up on Facebook, and fundraising platforms like RallyUp are there to help you sell tickets and get the word out.
- The day before: have your models select spectacular ensembles from the clothing donations. Outfits can be posh–think 80s glam. Themed or funny choices are a crowd pleaser, too: that bright orange sweater and pink feather boa look fabulous, dah-ling.
- Don’t forget music! This part is as easy as making a playlist and then plugging a portable speaker into your mobile device.
Tip: it’s a good idea to have models wear bike shorts and tank tops beneath their outfits so changes are seamless. - On the day, take lots of pictures to share with friends and community members. Post them on your fundraising site and social media accounts to show the world your fabulous and totally on-trend fundraiser. If you want to step it up, invite the audience to bid on clothing items while the fashionistas strut their stuff. You can toss in a merch table, mystery goodie bags, and photo ops with the models for extra cash.
85. Count On Small Businesses
When you don’t have time to hunt down venues, plan events, or sell tickets, it’s time to start reaching out to small, local businesses.
Did you know that small businesses donate 250% more to nonprofit causes than big enterprises, giving an impressive 6% of their profits to charity each year? Of course, the more invested a business is in a community, the more likely it is to get involved, take a stand, and contribute resources to your cause.
For example, a local bar or restaurant might donate a dollar to a cancer research foundation for each burger or martini purchased on a certain night. Or maybe a retailer will pledge to donate a percentage of their December sales to help families during the holidays. That’s why approaching local companies is a surefire way to get fundraising support with minimal work on your end.
So, how can you leverage small business philanthropy to meet your fundraising goals?
Find the Right Businesses
Start with some research on the companies in your area. What do they believe in? What have they supported in the past? How can they benefit from collaborating with you? Remember: while businesses often do wonderful work in their communities, at the end of the day, they’re still for-profit businesses. Make it worth their while to help you out. That means offering opportunities for publicity or helping them attract new clients.
Tell Them What You Need
Next, send a letter describing what you do and why it matters. Business administrators are busy people, so unless you want your beautifully crafted message to end up in the recycling bin, double-check that it’s addressed to the right person and department.
Be thorough, but don’t ramble. A page is fine. With that said, now is not the time to be coy, so ask for a specific amount for a specific cause. If you need $500 for ten jerseys, say exactly that. Remember to articulate how you will acknowledge their sponsorship. Whether it’s their name on that jersey or weekly dinner meetings in their restaurant, be clear about your intentions.
Make It Easy to Donate
Enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope and a simple form that your donor can complete and send to you with their contribution. Or you can simply provide a link to your donation page to make it even easier. Having a dedicated donation page not only makes it easy to track businesses contributing but also enables you to provide them deeper information about your cause helping to build that relationship for the long-term.
If a business responds with a donation or pledge, do a happy dance and take a bow, because you have sponsorship! That makes your cause even more legit, and is likely to encourage other businesses to make similar donations.
Don’t forget to come down from the clouds long enough to write a personal letter expressing your gratitude. Take it a step further and give your generous sponsor a shoutout with a heartfelt thank you through your social media channels too.
84. Fiddling On the Roof Fundraiser
For the easiest fundraising event on the planet, take a cue from a cop and climb a roof. Yep, seriously.
Every year, New York’s Special Olympics partners with local law enforcement, and police officers volunteer to stand on a roof of a local Dunkin Donuts shop until a certain amount of money is raised. Cleverly called “Cops on Top,” the amount raised is somewhere near the six-figure range. Impressed? We thought so.
To make this cute, effective, and easy fundraising idea work for you, begin by identifying a volunteer in your organization: maybe it’s a school principal, the mayor, or a local celebrity. Their job is to stand on a roof like a stalwart NYC cop and vow to remain up there, rain or shine, until you meet your fundraising goal. Collect donations throughout the day from community members who gather to watch the spectacle unfold.
The grass roots stunt guarantees an excited crowd and tons of exposure for your cause. Plus, there are so many fun opportunities to get creative. For example, earlier this year, a Nebraska principal spent the night on his school’s roof after the fundraising goal of 30k was met! Unless you’re a school, try to camp out on the roof of a local business, since it’s an awesome collaborative opportunity that can generate momentum to be repeated year after year.
Be sure to pick a good date and time–Saturday mornings and Friday evenings are best–and check the weather. Keep a camera handy, since this is exactly the type of easy fundraiser event that generates tons of pics, videos, likes, and shares.
Be sure to invite local newspapers to cover your silly on-the-roof campaign to generate even more publicity! And consider creating a donation page so donors have a place to go to get more information, can contribute, and then easily share the word through social media.
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