All nonprofits rely on donations to operate, regardless of their size. Fundraising can be overwhelming for newbies and a challenge for seasoned fundraisers.
This article covers the basics, including the best ways to fundraise, what's needed, and how to launch a fundraiser. Plus, over 30 fundraising ideas suitable for any organization, regardless of type, time frame, or budget.
Get the most out of your event
1. Grow a team (even if it's just you at first)
Having a fundraising team helps a ton, but it's not a requirement to run a successful event. Long term you will see the value in building a team and giving people responsibility. Start this as early as possible in order to leverage skills, brainstorm ideas, and get a better understanding of what type of people align best with your cause.
2. Develop a clear plan
Don't overcomplicate it. Keep it simple and don't be afraid to cut the fluff.
1. Set a Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound (aka SMART) goal
2. Figure out the bare minimum required to reach that goal
3. Figure out how many resources you have to execute that goal
Remember, no one gets this first try. Treat each event as a learning opportunity. Rather than trying to execute perfectly each time look back at what worked and what didn't last time and improve from there.
If this is your first time, then you're in luck, completing an event is considered a massive success in itself.
3. Invest in tools (it's worth it)
The biggest missed opportunity we see NPOs and charities make is defaulting to free tools. I get it! You have little to no budget to work with which can be extremely challenging, but let's do a little thought experiment.
Example
You are looking to raise $1500 and gain 2 more recurring donors. The choice between two auction tools is:
1. Auctionz (Free)
• Limited auction items
• Displays ads
• Barely works on mobile
2. PrestigeBid ($250/event)
• Unlimited auction items
• No ads
• Outbid notifications
• Custom site and branding
For the free tool, you're limited to the number of auction items which forces you to raise the starting bids in order to reach your goal. Because of this you'll likely not get as many bids and therefore will raise less. Not to mention some bidders might get frustrated and leave because of the confusing ads mixed in with items or some cryptic error messages that keep popping up.
For the paid tool, you're able to host as many auction items as you want. In the end this allows you to set the items at a more accessible price to get the bids rolling in. Outbid notifications are pulling people back in to bid more, ultimately driving up prices even more.
For argument sake, let's say both options bring in a profit of $1500. That's awesome! But where does this leave the bidders?
The free version wasn't the best experience.
The paid version was fun, exciting and left bidders wanting more.
What version do you think brought back more donors? My bet would be the paid version. Long term, recurring donors are what make or break orgs so getting as many recurring donors as possible to crucial.
4. Choose ideas donors will love
Know your audience in order to choose fundraising ideas that resonate with their interests, values, and lifestyles. If you're not sure, put in the time to research, send out a survey, or just reach out an ask!
Audiences and preferences can change over time, so make sure you're consistently talking with them to figure out what they want to see more of.
5. Multiple channels reach more people
Each channel has the potential reach more or less people of different audience types. Remember that sometimes it's worth going deep into one channel rather than spreading thin across all channels.
Here are a few channels that we've seen work well for organizations:
• Instagram (Large reach, high-quality leads)
• Radio (Medium reach, medium-quality leads)
• Facebook (Medium reach, medium-quality leads)
• Newspaper (Medium reach, low-quality leads)
• Word of mouth (Low reach, high-quality leads)
6. Share your impact
Show the impact donors can make by sharing past accomplishments and how new funds will be used. This allows people to see the impact they can create by doing something as simple as placing a bid, donating $10/month, etc.
30+ Unique Event Ideas
Before we get to the goods, here's a break down of how each attribute is rated.
Cost
$ Free - 100 dollars
$$ 100 - 1000 dollars
$$$ 1000 - 5000 dollars
$$$+ Beyond 5000 dollars
Complexity
Beginner First time event planner can do this
Intermediate You have done few events, but nothing professionally
Expert You run fundraising events professionally
Return
$ 0 - 100 dollars
$$ 100 - 1000 dollars
$$$ 1000 - 5000 dollars
$$$+ Beyond 5000 dollars
1. Sponsorship Package
Cost: $
Complexity: Beginner
Return: $$ - $$$+
Creating a sponsorship package is a valuable fundraising strategy for any organization, as it can generate interest from businesses in supporting your events. It's an essential step to take when planning any event, even though it's not technically an event itself.
Challenges to Consider
While organizing a sponsorship drive may be complex, it is important to generate consistent support and awareness for all of your events. Obtaining recurring support from sponsors can help sustain your organization's efforts.
The Best Time to Do This
Prepare a sponsorship package and reach out to people before organizing your event.
Sponsoring or Partnering Organization
Reach out to anyone that your organization thinks would be a good fit for a particular event or for your cause.
2. Can by the Register
Cost: $
Complexity: Beginner
Return: $$
Using a can with an interesting image and brief message is a classic marketing strategy to attract customers' attention at the checkout counter. People are more generous with their loose change than you might think.
Challenges to Consider
You'll need to find a way to make your message stand out from the crowd. Loose change can also be hard to come by in our digitized world.
An alternative to this is to partner with stores and do a "round up" campaign where customers round up there grocery bill to the nearest dollar to support your cause.
The Best Time to Do This
Anytime
Sponsoring or Partnering Organization:
Local grocery stores and small businesses are great places to ask about placing a can.
3. Instagram Auction
Cost: $ - $$
Complexity: Beginner - Expert
Return: $$ - $$$+
Post auction items on Instagram and have people place bids in the comments. This is a great way to grow online, bring in funds and reach new donors! You can think of it as and event that does marketing and fundraising all in one.
Challenges to Consider
Depending on how big your auction is, you may need make use of people or tools to help organize and manage these auctions.
The Best Time to Do This
3-6 item auctions every 2 months seem to work the best, but organizations tend to host one big 20-40 item auction event around summer time.
Sponsoring or Partnering Organization:
Local small businesses are great places to ask for auction items because they benefit from the built-in marketing too!
4. Used Book Sale
Cost: $
Complexity: Intermediate
Return: $ - $$
You can request donors to donate their used books to help your cause. After getting a decent amount books, organize a book fair where your local community can browse the wide selection. The upside of this event is that you can keep all the proceeds as profit since there are little to no overhead costs.
Challenges to Consider
Pricing and organizing the books into genres so people can find something that piques their interest will take some time.
The Best Time to Do This
Anytime, but your supporters might be more interested in donating books when they're doing their spring cleaning and decluttering their homes.
5. Drive a Luxury Car
Cost: $$
Complexity: Intermediate
Return: $$
Give people the chance to win a taste of the high life with a ride in a luxury vehicle. Ask a Maserati, Porsche, Lamborghini rental company if they'd be willing to donate their car for a few hours for a good cause. This could be a raffle or auction prize.
Challenges to Consider
Make sure everything is in order for insurance and safety, since these very expensive vehicles will be on loan!
The Best Time to Do This
Anytime
6. Beer Pong Tournament
Cost: $$
Complexity: Intermediate
Return: $$
Invite supporters to show off their beer pong skills from "back in the day". All you need is a large table, ping pong balls and plenty of those those famously red cups. You can charge a small participation fee and offer a cash prize. Make sure to have some beer and snacks for sale as well!
Challenges to Consider
Depending on your location, you may need an alcohol permit.
The Best Time to Do This
Anytime
Sponsoring or Partnering Organization
Reach out to local breweries to see if they would support and volunteer at your event.
7. Pie in the Face
Cost: $
Complexity: Beginner
Return: $-$$
Charge people a fee to toss a pie at the face of their teacher or boss. People are sure to build up an appetite watching all that delicious “pie” get throw around. For extra donations, have the person potentially being pied to donate more than the previous person to pass it on.
Challenges to Consider
Instead of wasting money by tossing actual pies, just use aluminum pie tins filled with whipped cream.
The Best Time to Do This
Anytime, but for added effect, we typically see people do it on March 14th (also known as Pi Day).
8. Paper Airplane Toss
Cost: $
Complexity: Beginner
Return: $
Section off part of your parking lot (or other open space) into squares. Put donated prizes into each area and sell registration forms that can be turned into paper airplanes. Participants can toss their paper airplanes to win the prizes. For those who want another go, they can keep buying more forms, and keep making more planes!
Challenges to Consider
Make sure you have a wide open space available and you've picked a day with great weather. Soggy planes aren't fun to clean up.
The Best Time to Do This
Whenever the weather is nice!
9. Relay
Cost: $
Complexity: Intermediate
Return: $$
Have teams compete in a relay for a grand prize donated by a local gym or health food store. Charge teams an admission fee for the race and allow viewers to place a wager on who is going to win for the chance to win a cash prize.
Challenges to Consider
Make sure you have access to a track or treadmills (if the weather isn't nice).
The Best Time to Do This
Whenever the weather is nice!
10. Movie Night
Cost: $$
Complexity: Expert
Return: $$
Everyone loves a good movie night! Hold it at your local community center (or school gym) and charge admission. You can also have a concessions stand for a little added boost.
Challenges to Consider
There are several things you'll need to consider with this fundraiser, including movie licensing, renting a projector and/or a screen, and how you'll get sound. Choosing a comfortable location is also key.
The Best Time to Do This
Anytime
Sponsoring or Partnering Organization
Consider partnering with a local movie theatre to split proceeds — you might not get quite as many donations, but you also won't have to handle the challenges mentioned above.
11. Doggy Happy Hour
Cost: $$
Complexity: Intermediate
Return: $$
Drinks and puppies, what more could you ask for?
Ask the community to bring out their puppers for doggy happy hour for a reasonable entrance fee. This event is a great fit for animal-related organizations, but no matter, puppies are always a hit to raise money.
Challenges to Consider
Make sure people understand the allergy risk.
The Best Time to Do This
Anytime
Sponsoring or Partnering Organization
This is a great event to invite your local SPCA and brewery!
12. Dinner Party Auction
Cost: $$
Complexity: Expert
Return: $$$-$$$+
Who doesn't love a dinner party? The excuse to get dressed up and eat delicious food will certainly attract an audience. Combine food and the excitement of bidding (as well as a little wine), and you're sure to have a winning night!
Challenges to Consider
Securing donations can be a challenge, but start early and sell businesses on your cause and the number of eyes their brand will get exposed to. You may also need to leverage tools or people to help organize and manage the auction.
The Best Time to Do This
Anytime
Sponsoring or Partnering Organization
Leverage local businesses who can donate items. You could potentially also partner with a local restaurant to host the night!
13. Volunteer Auction
Cost: $$
Complexity: Expert
Return: $$$
Encourage members of your community to lend their skills and expertise, whether it's in home repairs or website development, and organize an auction to raise funds for your charitable cause. This not only allows people to accomplish their necessary tasks, but it also provides an opportunity for community members to foster closer relationships.
Challenges to Consider
It's important to follow up with your volunteers and ensure a seamless experience for the auction winners who receive their services.
The Best Time to Do This
Anytime
14. Hiking Day
Cost: $
Complexity: Beginner
Return: $$
Who doesn't love a breath of fresh air? Organize a group hike or nature walk outside your town and charge a small fee to donors.
Challenges to Consider
To make sure your guests have a good time and stay safe, you need a guide who knows the way and can warn them of any dangers like bears or ticks. You might also need to arrange transportation, like a bus, to get everyone to and from the starting point.
The Best Time to Do This
Best to do this when it's warm outside especially if you live in an area that might have snow long into spring.
15. Pop-Up Picnic
Cost: $$
Complexity: Expert
Return: $$$
Many people associate picnics with the park, but what if everyone brought blankets and ate under the stars on Main Street? You could choose a different location, coordinate with local authorities, and sell tickets ahead of time for a community dinner event. The best part is that everyone brings their own food and seating! Your job is to take care of the location, parking, transportation, bathrooms, trash, and entertainment. To add some excitement, you could keep the location secret until the day of the event!
Challenges to Consider
Make sure to work with local officials to confirm that the location you've selected is safe and closed to cars.
The Best Time to Do This
Over the summer, when weather is good for outdoor activities.
16. Hand-on-the-Prize
Cost: $$
Complexity: Intermediate
Return: $$
Let's say you've secured a big donation, but auctioning or raffling just won't cut it? Sell tickets and the “winners” get a chance to sit all together in a room with their hand-on-the-object. The last one to break contact wins!
Challenges to Consider
Securing a donation of this size can be a challenge, but start early and really sell businesses on your vision and cause.
The Best Time to Do This
Anytime
17. Polar Bear Plunge
Cost: $
Complexity: Intermediate
Return: $$
This is a great fundraiser for colder locations (I'm looking at you 🟥🍁🟥). Have donations based on whether or not your participants are brave enough to jump into the water. You can have a concession stand and charge spectators and participants for warm drinks and snacks.
Challenges to Consider
It's important to choose a cold location or a cold month to hold this event. Additionally, it's a good idea to have someone available on site in case of any safety emergencies.
The Best Time to Do This
Depending on where you live, winter is your best bet!
18. Golf Tournament
Cost: $$$
Complexity: Expert
Return: $$$+
Golf tournaments can be simple to coordinate with an experienced golf course manager, or as complicated as a PGA event. Set up drink stations around the course and have the tips go to charity. Be sure to do longest-drive competitions, hole-in-one on the greens, and even auction off some golf prizes. Whether you go big or keep it simple, golfing for a cause is always a good bet.
Challenges to Consider
Renting the course could be very expensive, so start inquiring early.
The Best Time to Do This
Most outdoor golf courses open in the spring and stay open until early fall. Just try not to have it at the same time as another golf tournament, or your potential attendees will be too busy watching!
19. Food Festival
Cost: $-$$$
Complexity: Expert
Return: $$$+
Hook people with what they love: delicious food and drinks. Rent a large lot and sell space to local vendors (food trucks are great for festivals) with an array of yummy offerings to give your attendees a taste of the community. Adding a stage and engaging musical guests encourages people to stay and keep eating and drinking throughout the day.
Challenges to Consider
Space is key with festivals. Make sure you pick an area with ample room for all your vendors. Festivals also tend to get really messy, don't skimp on the trash bin rentals. You always need more than you think you will. Having water readily available is also key, especially if you're selling alcohol.
The Best Time to Do This
People love to hang out at festivals whenever the weather is nice, so late spring, summer, and early fall are all solid options.
Sponsoring or Partnering Organization
You'll need to secure lots of different vendors with diverse food and drink.
20. Fashion Show
Cost: $$
Complexity: Expert
Return: $$$
Give a platform to local, up-and-coming designers and also get the word out there about your cause. Be sure to have clothing for purchase where a portion goes to you, to fully leverage your social media channels to preview and livestream the event, and to get your models out there selling tickets to the fashion show!
Challenges to Consider
You will need a runway, dressing room, and audience area as well as concessions.
The Best Time to Do This
Anytime
Sponsoring or Partnering Organization
Local designers are your greatest resource! Your local theatre might also be willing to provide a venue.
21. Casino Night
Cost: $$$
Complexity: Expert
Return: $$$+
A casino night provides a great reason for people to come and cut loose for a great cause. The possibility of winning a little cash won't hurt ticket sales either.
Challenges to Consider
Most people don't just have casino games laying around, so you'll likely need to use a party rental company. Some offer off-peak rental prices. You'll also need to organize a large enough space, such as a community centre, and figure out which food and drinks you're offering. Local gambling laws in your area might also affect this event.
The Best Time to Do This
Anytime
Sponsoring or Partnering Organization:
Consider partnering with a local restaurant to host.
22. Board Game Tournament
Cost: $$
Complexity: Intermediate
Return: $$$
Get a great event host and make sure your rules are clear, and you're sure to have a great time at your tabletop game tournament. Charge an entry fee, and you could even make a game library the grand prize!
Challenges to Consider
Ask community members to donate board games to keep costs low. Make sure you've arranged for some fun judges to determine the winners at each station. Rather than hosting a tournament, you could also just have a casual board games night where community members can drop in to play whatever they want.
The Best Time to Do This
Anytime
Sponsoring or Partnering Organization
Consider connecting with a board game café or bar since they'll already have everything you need of the event — and sweeten the pot with a food or drink minimum for attendees.
23. Video Game Tournament
Cost: $-$$$
Complexity: Intermediate
Return: $$$
Get a variety of games and systems together and start playing! Make sure you have a good variety of games, including some new ones that your audience might not have tried (if anyone has a VR set, now's the time to pull it out!).
Challenges to Consider
Ask community members to donate video games and loan you some controllers to keep costs low. You'll also need to make sure you have enough gaming systems to support attendance, which could also be loaned by community members.
The Best Time to Do This
Anytime
Sponsoring or Partnering Organization
Your community might already have some unwanted games to donate (or loan).
24. Car Show
Cost: $$
Complexity: Expert
Return: $$$
Set up a car show to raise money in a few different ways. Auto exhibitors will pay a fee to display their cars and you can add on raffles, prize drawings, and concession stands. Consider charging participants a fee to vote for their favorite car(s), and then present “People's Choice” awards to the exhibitors.
Challenges to Consider
You'll need a large venue conducive to showing lots of cars, and permits for selling food and alcohol. This event might also take a lot of volunteers to take tickets, sell food, and coordinate with the car vendors.
The Best Time to Do This
This event may be best at a large outdoor lot, so consider warmer months.
Sponsoring or Partnering Organization
Auto exhibitors and owners are your key partners for this event!
25. Rubber Duck Race
Cost: $
Complexity: Intermediate
Return: $
Is there a river running through your town? Get permission to have a “rubber duck race” where you sell numbered ducks and dump them all in the river. The first one to the end is the grand prize winner!
Challenges to Consider
Be sure to get the proper authorization from your town and coordinate ducky-clean up after the event to make sure you are have good, clean eco-friendly fun!
The Best Time to Do This
Anytime but winter.
26. Lawnmower Races
Cost: $$
Complexity: Expert
Return: $$$
There are several lawnmower racing clubs around the US, all centering around racing these machines against each other. Why not organize your own version? Depending on your region, there may be laws governing this kind of racing.
Challenges to Consider
Confirm with local authorities that you're allowed to organize it (or piggyback on another organization's race).
The Best Time to Do This
Whenever the weather is nice, so late spring to mid fall is ideal.
27. Amazon Smile Program
Cost: $
Complexity: Beginner
Return: $-$$$
Get your supporters to sign up for Amazon Smile, your organization will get 0.5% of the purchases they make. Although it's not a big amount, promoting it won't be a lot of work for your organization and even small amounts will eventually add up!
Challenges to Consider
This fundraiser depends on your members. It's probably only worth setting up if you know that most of your supporters use Amazon to shop.
The Best Time to Do This
Because this only gathers a small percentage of each sale, this is a campaign that needs to be run year-round to see donations accumulate.
28. Succulent Sale
Cost: $
Complexity: Intermediate
Return: $$
Succulents are easy to grow, affordable, and on trend! You can either sell the plants directly with a small markup, or have volunteers repot them into interesting objects (plastic dinosaurs or teacups are sure to be a hit) for added visual interest.
Challenges to Consider
Be sure to decide early whether you'll be purchasing succulents from a nursery or growing them yourself.
The Best Time to Do This
Succulents look great all year round!
29. VIP Parking Sale
Cost: $
Complexity: Beginner
Return: $$
There's always a prime parking spot in a workplace or apartment building parking lot. Auction off exclusive parking rights to the spot for a year and see the donations come rolling in. You could even add a sign with the winner's name to make it officially theirs.
Challenges to Consider
Be sure to check with the building management first, and to let everyone else with access to the parking lot know that the spot is now out of bounds.
The Best Time to Do This
January, so you can auction off the spot for a full year. You can also auction it off month by month.
30. Farmer's Market Booth
Cost: $$
Complexity: Intermediate
Return: $$
This fundraising idea could combine a few of the other fundraisers we've listed. You could sell baked goods, calendars, crafts… anything that your volunteers or staff can make.
Challenges to Consider
For this idea, you need to have people who are willing to contribute goods they've made or bought to your stall, as well as people who are willing to run it.
The Best Time to Do This
Farmers' markets typically run in the late spring or summer. However, you could also do this in the winter if you can find a Christmas fair or other craft sale nearby.
31. Flamingo a Yard
Cost: $
Complexity: Beginner
Return: $
Grab 20-30 flamingos and plant them in someone's yard overnight. To have them removed, they'll pay to send them to someone else's house. This can work with gnomes, school mascots, forks, etc. – be creative!
Challenges to Consider
As always, consent is everything. Make sure community members know this fundraiser is happening so they know that they may get “flamingoed” and how to get them moved. Volunteers need to be considerate of the flowers and other decorations already in the yard.
The Best Time to Do This
You could do this seasonally — flamingoes for summer, and reindeer for winter.
Happy fundraising!
Rhys L
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