55 Awesome Fundraising Ideas to Kickstart Your Next Fundraiser

#1

T-shirt fundraiser BonfireFunds.com make the process surprisingly simple, and your supporters will love getting a comfortable shirt

that makes them feel connected to your cause.

#2

Garage SaleEncourage members of your group to start collecting

household items that they could easily do without. Pool all of the donated items and host one giant garage sale, with

all of the profits going to your cause.

#3

Craft SaleThere is an incredible amount of demand for hand-made

jewelry and decorative crafts. Get your most gifted volunteers to create some stylish, Do-It-Yourself items to

sell from a both or with an online Etsy shop.

#4

Pre-Ordered FoodCompanies with popular food items often have fundraiser kits already available for non-profits and other groups to resell. Have members of your group pre-sell items such as

Cookie Dough, Popcorn, or Homemade Pizza Kits to generate profits for your organization.

#5

Dodgeball TournamentCharge teams an entry fee and create & sell official team shirts in different colors for players to wear for this high-

energy fundraising idea.

#6

Poker Tournament Poker players are already used to paying tournament

entry fees. Use a portion of the proceeds for cash prizes that will be awarded to the 1st, 2nd, and maybe 3rd place

winners. The rest of the entry fees will be kept as donations.

#7

Cornhole TournamentThis popular yard game also known simply as “bean bag toss,” is a game that anyone and everyone is capable of playing. Have a crafty member of your group make the

wooden boards and sand-filled bags, or do so yourself. You can auction them off or use as prizes for the winners.

#8

Dance-a-ThonFind a venue such as a gym or rec center with an area that

can be used as a dance floor for 12 or 24 hours. The majority of your donations will come from ticket sales. The person or couple that stays on the floor the longest

and dances the hardest wins the grand prize.

#9

5k Walk/RunRunners get sponsors to donate or you can have

participants buy race packets that serve as their entry fee. To maximize donations, start your own team and motivate your fellow members throughout the months leading up to

the race using this checklist.

#10

Donkey BasketballPlayers ride on the backs of donkeys, pass a basketball to

fellow teammates, and attempt to rack up the most baskets. Pay a company to provide the mules and take care

of all the logistics. Sell tickets to the game to raise money for your group.

#11

Golf TournamentContact a local golf course near you – chances are they

already have an information packet for letting non-profits and other groups run fundraising tournaments with them. Teams of 4 pay an entry fee of anywhere from $200-$1000

and businesses can sponsor individual holes.

#12

Miniature Golf TournamentAsk a local mini-golf business to let your participants play

for free so you can take the proceeds of entry fees. Participants keep track of their own score on the honor

system. Everyone submits their score at the end of the last hole and the winner receives a small prize.

#13

Bake SaleEnlist volunteers to contribute a batch of baked goods to

sell at an event or during school hours. Consider specializing in one kind of treat so you can create a

brandable name like “The Cupcake Craze” or “The Pie Drive” to drum up excitement.

#14

Eating ContestPick your poison: pies, hot dogs, watermelon, or anything

else able to eaten in rapid succession. Charge an admission fee to the event. Award the winner(s) a small prize and

keep the remaining entry fees as a donation.

#15

Lemonade/Coffee StandSell coffee if you are free during the mornings, or

lemonade if it’s hot and your spare time usually comes in the afternoon. Make sure it is very visible what donated

funds are going to, and consider giving away the drink for free with a “donations are welcome” sign and message as

you hand the drinks out.

#16

Spaghetti DinnerThe secret to the spaghetti dinner fundraiser lies in the illusion that spaghetti is an elegant 5-star Italian entrée, when in fact it can be prepared extremely economically.

Sell tickets at $10-$20 per plate and add a nice salad, rolls, and a few beverage options to the menu.

#17

All You Can Eat Potato BarSimilar to the Spaghetti Dinner fundraising idea, the all

you can eat potato bar is a banquet style meal with a recommended cost per plate of somewhere around $20. For an in-depth recipe and list of cooking instructions,

check out this blog post.

#18

Pancake BreakfastCharge $10 a head for hungry attendees to raise money. Buy a few aluminum tins to keep plain, blueberry, and

chocolate chip pancakes in as they come off the assembly line. A separate garnishing station should include tasty

toppings such as maple syrup, whipped cream, and butter.

#19

Chili Cook-OffRaise money by asking your guests to pay $10 for a

bottomless bowl of chili. Let each guest vote for their 3 favorite chili’s, and tally the scores to announce a winner. This event is best done outside with lawn games and other

activities to create a casual social environment.

#20

Yard Work for HireCreate a menu of jobs with set prices. Set a $50 flat price for a job like a mowed lawn, leaf removal, or mulching,

and people are more likely to be generous for your cause.

#21

Car WashMake sure you will be visible in a place that will give

drivers plenty of time to make a decision and pull into the parking lot where you are set up. Keep it classy with

matching t-shirts or institute a uniform of jean shorts for male and female volunteers alike to add a touch of comedy

to the event.

#22

Dog WashHave dog owners bring their furry friends out and let your volunteers give them a good scrub down. Raise money by

charging $10 per dog.

#23

Wall/Fence PaintingHomeowners often need help painting fences and rooms

in their house. Nobody likes spending every weekend for a month climbing ladders and washing paintbrushes to use and reuse. Offer to provide a few helping hands to knock

it out all in one day and ask for a donation in return.

#24

Jail & Bail Have members of your group volunteer to be “prisoners.” Place them in a prop jail cell that is highly visible in a park

or campus. They have to call, post on social media, or solicit passersby to donate their bail amount to go free.

#25

Head ShaveSet a fundraising goal, and encourage people to start

donating. If you reach the goal, pick a teacher, principal, executive, or community member that will have to shave

their head.

#26

CarnivalSell tickets as well as concessions to raise money. Maybe

even have a few extra pay-per-play stations like face painting. Have a PA sound system to announce raffle

drawings or a silent auction while everyone is enjoying the carnival.

#27

Camp OutCommit to camping out every night until your fundraising

goal is met. If you have a high visibility area on a school campus, consider having 2 or more people at the tent site 24 hours a day. Use a lawn sign to advertise your cause

and where people can go online to donate.

#28

B.I.N.G.OHold a Bingo event and sell bingo books/cards for

anywhere from $1-10 per card. Players can buy a handful to increase their odds of winning. You can purchase

BINGO kits from Amazon.

#29

Yard FlamingosBuy a gaggle of plastic flamingos and place them into the

lawn of a friend or coworker under the cover of night. Leave behind a sign that says: “You got flocked! If you are

able, donate (recommended amount) to our cause here (donation site) and above all else, keep the flock moving to

a new, unsuspecting home!”

#30

Cardboard RegattaTeams get a pile of cardboard boxes, packing tape, and paddles to make a seaworthy vessel on the day of the

event. Charge a team entry fee and a spectator admission fee at the pool/body of water that you hold the event at.

Award donated prizes to the winner(s).

#31

Drive-in MovieBorrow or rent a projector to play a classic film that is universally loved. Project the movie onto the side of a

white building or a large bed sheet. Use a PA system for the audio or buy an FM transmitter to allow cars to tune in to a radio station. Charge an admission fee to the viewing.

#32

Bachelor/Bachelorette AuctionFind the most dapper gentlemen or elegant ladies in your

midst and host an auction.

#33

50/50 RaffleSell raffle tickets for $1 or $2 and draw one winner from the pool of tickets. The grand prize is half of the money taken in from ticket sales, with the other half being kept

for donations.

#34

Silent Auction Register on DonationMatch.com or check out this list of

retailors that are known to generously contribute to local organizations.

#35

Single/Multiple Prize Raffle Get prizes donated from local businesses. Sell raffle tickets

over the course of a month or all at once during a large event. All tickets go into one drawing pool. Pick as many

winners as you have prizes, starting with the smallest and leading up to the grand prize.

#36

eBay Auction Gather donated items from members of your group,

similar to how you would for a joint yard sale, and post those items on eBay for nationwide exposure.

#37

Butler AuctionAuction off upperclassmen or members of your group to be someone’s personal butler and assistant for the day. A

pencil thin mustache and white towel over the arm is recommended but not required.

#38

Write Support LettersType up a support letter template that briefly explains

your cause, your goal, and how their donation will help. Always leave room for a small handwritten note to your

contact in the top or bottom margin.

#39

Christmas Gift DonationsAsk people to donate to your cause in lieu of Christmas gifts or other holiday treats. Make sure your message focuses on the lives that will be brightened by their

donations, as that is the spirit of most holidays that people are ultimately looking to enjoy.

#40

Online Video ChallengesPost a video of yourself doing something that is short,

requires little preparation, and has a high entertainment value. At the end of your video, challenge 2 friends to

complete the challenge and donate what they can to your specified charity. Example: ALS Ice Bucket Challenge

#41

Corporate Matching ProgramsLarge employers often have programs set up where they will donate the same amount of money that you raise on your own to your cause. Have willing supporters in your

group contact their Human Resources department and ask if they would be willing to participate.

#42

Company ConcertFind the musically inclined employees in your company

and ask their band to play a benefit show. Charge an admission fee and maybe even do a raffle or other

supplemental fundraising activity at the event.

#43

School DanceSchool dances can be incredibly effective at raising funds through ticket sales. Sadie Hawkins, Winter Formals, and

Spring Flings are all great ideas to get your students moving during every season of the year.

#44

Class Donation CompetitionCreate different buckets for each class to place donations

in. Keep a running total of each team’s amount raised. Decide a prize that is going to somehow benefit every

person in that class such as a pizza party or leaving school early for a week.

#45

Drive of DimesEach teacher has a coffee tin with their name on it, and every dime donated to that tin counts as a point. At the

end of the week or month, the teacher with the most points has to dress up in a zany costume the next day.

#46

Penny WarVariation on Drive of Dimes. Pennies and dollar bills count

towards your team’s total, and any silver coins (dimes, nickels, quarters) that you put in another team’s jar counts

against them.

#47

Guessing Game JarGet a large, eye-catching jar and fill it with a colorful

candy like Skittles, M&Ms, or candy corn. Make sure you know how many pieces are in the jar. Charge a set dollar

amount per guess and have participants write their contact info on a slip of paper along with their guess and

put it in a box.

#48

Candy GramsBuy cardstock/cards that will allow candy to be attached

with a piece of ribbon. You should be able to produce each candy gram for 15-20 cents. Sell them to students for $1

and let them write the name and classroom/address of the lucky recipient on the card.

#49

Dunk TankDo you have a principal, teacher, or company president

that is always buttoned up in their Sunday best? Charge $1 per ball to anyone who wants to try out their aim in hitting

the dunk tank target that will send your beloved leader into the ice cold water.

#50

Talent ShowTalent shows can be huge winners, but you’ll have to start planning several months in advance for this fundraiser.

Promote the event and start selling tickets for $5-10 dollars. Lastly, ask a popular student, community member,

or local celebrity to act as your master of ceremonies.

#51

Fashion Show Bring the glitz and glamour of Paris Fashion Week to your

hometown. Grab some models from your organization that know how to confidently strut down a runway.

Promote the event and sell tickets for $5-10 per head to raise money.

#52

48-Hour Film FestivalTeam’s have 48 hours to write their script/outline, film,

edit, and submit the final movie. Host your own film festival in an auditorium or local theater where audience

members or a panel of judges vote on the best submissions. Charge $5 or $10 admission to the event.

#53

Battle of the BandsThere’s never a shortage of musicians looking to book their next gig. Bands get started by maximizing their exposure to potential new fans. Once you have some

contestants selected, pick a date, contact a venue with a stage, and sell tickets for $5-10.

#54

Comedy ShowAmateur comedy can be a delightfully unique experience.

Make sure you screen performers so you know your future audience will have a good time. Sell tickets for $5-

10 and start promoting the fundraiser.

#55

Coffee HouseWhat do hipsters, slam poetry, and cappuccino machines

all have in common? They all live inside the quintessential coffee house. Have a poetry night or acoustic open mic

night where you can sell coffee drinks to raise money for your cause.

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