103 Beautiful Fundraising Ideas to Reach Your Goals in 2024

Developing fundraising ideas is integral to running a non-profit, supporting charitable organizations or creating an effective political campaign. Fundraising ideas for students or individuals can also help to improve every child’s educational experience. 

As you peruse available options for raising money, it is common to ask questions such as, "What is the most profitable fundraiser?" or "How can I raise money creatively?" Let’s take some time to consider options and review successful fundraising ideas for nonprofits, schools and individuals. Here are several top picks. 

Jump to Section 

• Fundraising Ideas for Nonprofit Organizations
• Cheap Fundraising Ideas
• Creative Fundraising Ideas
• Fundraising Ideas for Students
• Fundraising Ideas for Individuals
• Big Money Fundraising Ideas

Fundraising Ideas for Nonprofit Organizations

1. Monthly Pledges

If you're searching for a fundraising idea and how to raise $5,000 for a charity each month, ask for monthly pledges. Encouraging multiple donors to contribute small, recurring amounts makes giving manageable. This can increase your organization’s financial stability. 

2. In-Person Auction 

Gather donated goods and services and auction them off as fundraising ideas for a nonprofit organization. Enthusiastic bidders participate, making this a fun, social event with the potential to be highly profitable. 

3. Virtual Run 

These fundraising ideas encourage people to stay healthy and participate from anywhere. Host a digital run where participants register and log their miles. They can share success stories on social media and encourage others to donate for every mile they run. 

4. Sponsor a Brick

Sell inscribed or painted bricks at your nonprofit’s place of business. This is a successful fundraising idea for nonprofits who want donors to have a lasting reminder of their contribution to a good cause. 

5. Google Ad Grants

This powerful fundraising tool provides up to $10,000 monthly in free Google Search advertising. Your organization can reach and promote to a much larger audience, increasing the success of other fundraising ideas and furthering your cause. 

6. Start a Text Campaign

A text campaign is one of the most successful nonprofit fundraisers that takes a straightforward approach. Send a concise, direct ask that links potential donors to your fundraising page where they can donate. 

7. Pet Parade

Host a pet parade where participants show off their furry friends and charge an entry fee to raise funds. As a successful fundraising idea for nonprofits supporting homeless animals, let petless families rent a pet for a day of parade fun. 

8. Host a Casino Night 

For one of the most exhilarating fundraising ideas, invite donors to meet at blackjack tables or roulette wheels for a fun casino night. Attendees donate for admission and play with pretend chips while enjoying food and drink.

9. Food Tasting Night

Involve local restaurants for a food-tasting tour around town. These fundraising ideas are fantastic ways to support the community while letting guests sample prix fixe menus from some of their favorite establishments. 

10. Round Up Your Purchase

A simple yet effective fundraising idea is to partner with a store and have them ask shoppers to round up purchase to the nearest dollar. The rounded-up amount is then donated to your nonprofit. 

11. Get Help from an Influencer

Collaborating with an influencer can be one of the most powerful fundraising ideas. Their reach and credibility amplify your nonprofit’s message. Influencers can share your story, promote donation campaigns, host live fundraisers and invite their followers to believe in your cause.  

12. Plant a Tree

Encourage donors to purchase and plant a tree as one of your inventive fundraising ideas that helps you both raise money and protect the planet. This can be one of the most successful nonprofit fundraisers for environmental agencies and causes. 

13. Adopt or Track an Animal 

Wildlife conservation nonprofits can incorporate one of the fundraising ideas that gives donors a more personal connection with the animals. By virtually adopting and tracking animals, donors can play a part in protecting them while learning about conservation efforts. 

14. Add a Donation Form to Your Website 

Add one if you don’t have a donation button on your nonprofit’s website. This is one of the simplest fundraising ideas as it's accessible to all site visitors and can net significant contributions over time. 

15. Host a Kiosk at a Popular Event 

If there’s a concert or community event in your area, having a presence is one of the top fundraising ideas for quickly drawing attention to your cause. People passing by can stop at your kiosk to get information, ask questions or make a donation. 

Cheap Fundraising Ideas

16. Donation Jar

A labeled donation jar with a description of your cause placed at a local business can help you raise a lot of funds with little effort. Simply put it by the cash register so people can donate their spare change after they pay. One of the simplest fundraising ideas that absolutely anyone can do. 

17. Wear Jeans Day 

Sell tickets that allow employees to wear jeans to work for a day as one of the most casual fundraising ideas. Replacing typical businesswear in an office with jeans creates a relaxed atmosphere, and employees will feel motivated to opt in when tickets only cost a few dollars. 

18. 50/50 Raffle

Everyone gets excited about winning money, so a 50/50 raffle is one of the most popular fundraising ideas. Sell tickets for $10 each, and the raffle winner takes home half the funds raised. The other half goes toward your cause. 

19. Potluck Dinner

Gather friends or coworkers and ask them to each prepare a sharing-size dish. Then, sell tickets so others can enjoy the potluck dinner. This is an easy, effective and low-cost fundraising idea. 

20. Challenge Friends on Social Media

Tap the power of social connections and networking by challenging your friends on social media to help you raise funds. Ask them to donate or to raise the most money toward a cause, offering a small award or recognition to the winner once the challenge is complete. 

21. Sell Used Books or Clothes

Your unwanted books and clothes can turn into cash for a cause you believe in. For these fundraising ideas, you can sell clothes locally or advertise them on a local social media marketplace. 

22. Wash Dogs

Put flyers around the neighborhood offering to wash dogs for a good cause. These fundraising ideas will create a super fun time as you get to meet some new pups, and the owners will appreciate seeing their dogs sparkly, clean and smelling great! 

23. Host a Guided Tour

If you love where you live, host a guided tour to raise money for a cause. Hit historical spots and places of interest, or make it a fun ghost tour. Charge a fee to sign up, and use the money toward reaching your fundraising goals. 

24. Paint Faces

Paint faces at a local Art in the Park or sporting event for one of the most fun fundraising ideas for kids (and exhausted parents). Set a suggested donation amount for each design, or ask participants to give what they can. 

25. Balloon Art

Create animals, flowers or other creations out of balloons for one of the more whimsical fundraising ideas. Set a donation amount for each piece, which is higher for custom creations. 

26. Create a Guessing Jar 

Whether you add peanuts, jelly beans or marbles to a jar, fill it to the brim and ask people to donate $1 to guess how many are there. The person guessing closest wins a prize.

27. Host a Duck Race

Race rubber ducks across a pond as one of the more interactive fundraising ideas that gets the community involved. People donate to purchase a duck, place it in the water and race toward the finish line. 

28. Sponsor a Shelter Dog 

If you own a rescue or work for a shelter, one of the most heartwarming fundraising ideas is to ask people to sponsor a homeless pet. They can donate the food, toys and bedding and receive a picture of or meeting with the pet. This can even help pets to find homes. 

29. Silent Dance Party

For popular and creative fundraising ideas, host a silent dance party. Secure a venue (or just meet at the local park or beach), grab some headphones and have the DJ pipe different music into everyone’s ears. Guests dance in what outsiders see as a completely silent soiree.

30. Crowdsource Recipes 

Crowdsource recipes from family and friends, type them up, bind the pages and create a cookbook to sell for some inventive fundraising ideas. You can also skip the printing costs and sell a digital version. 

31. Pancake Breakfast 

Selling tickets to a pancake breakfast is a tasty way to raise money. The costs are minimal if you cook the pancakes yourself. All you need is batter, water, butter and syrup! 

Creative Fundraising Ideas

32. Design an Escape Room Experience

Ask guests to form teams and compete in an escape room you create as some interactive and brain-racking fundraising ideas. Charge an entry fee, and see who can escape the fastest. 

33. Speed Date

Invite singles to try speed dating as fun fundraising ideas. For the price of admission, they can spend 5 minutes getting to know someone before moving on to the next table. This is a creative way to connect while building awareness about your cause. 

34. Host a Comedy Night

Share your love for comedy by inviting local acts or touring artists to perform as fundraising ideas that are entertaining and accessible to everyone. 

35. Spook Your Friends

Host a haunted house for a spooky good and a unique fundraising idea. Charge admission to raise funds toward your cause. 

36. Put on a Costume Parade

A costume parade is a fantastic way to get creative souls together and let them entertain the community. Host one in your local city and charge an entry fee to raise funds. 

37. Paint and Sip 

A paint and sip class is a fun way to get creative. If you don't have your space or supplies, get a vendor involved, asking them to give a portion to your charity. This can be part of your super effective fundraising ideas. 

38. Host a Sculpting Competition

Another artistic fundraising option is to host a sculpting competition. Gather individuals for a pottery-making class, charge admission to raise funds and provide a prize for the best piece. 

39. Host a Cooking Class

For fans of the culinary arts, hosting a cooking class is a fun and educational fundraising idea. Work with a chef instructor and charge an entry fee to raise funds for your cause. 

40. Enjoy a Movie Marathon

Whether you choose action or comedy movies, raise funds by hosting a movie marathon. Project the film onto the big screen or rent a theater. Serve popcorn and snacks to guests. You could also get the community involved, creating a poll where you ask which movies they want to see. 

41. Sing Along to Karaoke

Everyone loves to pretend they're a pop star, so invite people who support your cause to do just that with a sing-along karaoke event. Charge admission or offer an option for people to pay to choose a song and the person who will sing it. 

42. Play Paintball 

A paintball competition is a lively and competitive way to raise funds for your cause. Invite teams to RSVP for a fee. You can offer a prize to the last team standing.

43. Polar Plunge for a Cause

Participants pledge to jump into the frigid water for a donation in these engaging, community-focused fundraising ideas. 

44. Build Wallets

Fill wallets with gift cards to gift to families supporting loved ones with critical illnesses as creative and meaningful fundraising ideas. 

45. Enjoy Some Trivia

Host a trivia night where participants pay an entry fee and compete in teams. Add options to purchase food and drink to increase your fundraising potential.

46. Snap Pictures of the Pets

Take photos of pets for fun fundraising ideas that furry-friend parents will love. Donate the money raised from printed photos to your chosen cause. 

47. Ride Bikes 

Bike-a-thons are active fundraising ideas that invite people of all ages to participate. Participants can work to raise money for every minute or mile they bike.

48. Have an Eating Contest

Whether it’s pies or hot dogs, hosting an eating contest is an easy way to raise funds for your organization. Simply charge an admission fee and offer a prize to the winner. 

49. Clean a Lake or Street

Raise funds while helping the environment by asking people to pitch in and clean a lake or street. For these fundraising ideas, have participants collect financial donations for their time investment. 

50. Donate Coffee Money

Ask your coworkers or friends to give up their coffee money for a day and put it toward your cause. 

51. Ugly Sweater Competition 

Raise money by inviting people to pay to enter an ugly sweater competition where the most outrageous ugly sweater ideas win. 

52. Paper Airplane Competition 

Invite participants to create and fly paper airplanes as fun, low-cost fundraising ideas. They’ll pay an entry fee and compete for prizes in creative design, accuracy and distance. 

53. Pickle Ball Tournament 

A pickleball competition is an exciting fundraising tournament idea. It leverages the sport’s rapidly growing popularity and appeals to players of all skill levels, fostering widespread participation.

Fundraising Ideas for Students

54. Bake Treats

Fundraising ideas that have been tried and tested for centuries include baking goodies at home and selling them at school. Host a school bake sale with homemade goodies that everyone brings in to sell. The money raised from these fundraising ideas goes toward your cause. 

55. Wash Cars

Get the school football team to wash cars in front of a local business. Ask car owners to contribute any amount in exchange for a sparkling, clean vehicle. 

56. Hold a Prom Swap

For fun school fundraiser ideas, host a prom, but swap places. The adults are the guests who dress up and dance the night away, while the students play host, serve punch, spin tunes and collect the entry fee.

57. Participate in a Read-a-Thon

A read-a-thon is one of those fantastic school fundraising ideas where everyone can raise money in a unified way. It also promotes literacy. Pledges are collected for the number of books read. 

58. Sell School Pride T-Shirts 

During spirit week, invite students to show school pride by purchasing and wearing your school’s mascot or colors. Ask local print businesses to help out, getting clothing at cost. You can also make pins and as one of the low-cost fundraising ideas.  

59. Wear Pajamas for a Day 

Let teachers and students get cozy by wearing their favorite pajamas to school. For even more fun, offer extras like stuffed animals or blanket passes. Pajama days pair perfectly with a movie day or book-a-thon. 

60. Skip the Uniform Day 

With these fundraising ideas, students can purchase tickets to wear clothes other than their uniform to school for a day. Students will enjoy showing off their style, and you’ll raise some money in the process! 

61. Collect Recycled Goods

Recycled goods like aluminum and glass can often be turned in for money. Collect them at your school as a fun fundraising strategy that also benefits the environment. For these fundraising ideas, check to see which recyclables get the most cash back and aim for very specific types of goods. Or, get your class to do a good deed — go to the nearest park, forest or beach and collect as much trash as possible. These fantastic fundraising ideas help the environment and allow you to get some extra cash if you find particular items in the trash. 

62. DIY Craft Fairs

Have students and faculty create artwork and crafts, then sell them to raise money for your school. This fundraising strategy is creative and fantastic around the holidays. 

63. Sell Ads in the Yearbook

Sell yearbook ads to businesses or parents who want to recognize their student’s accomplishments. Parents will appreciate the keepsake, and companies will appreciate the opportunity to earn new customers. 

64. Offer Candy Grams

For these sweet fundraising ideas let students share thoughtful messages and tasty treats with friends or teachers. Sell candy grams around the holidays and special occasions like the top Valentine's Day ideas.

65. Eat Ice Cream

Ice cream is a favorite treat, no matter which school you are in the world. Sweeten your fundraising ideas by selling sundaes or popsicles after lunch to raise funds toward school improvements or any cause. 

66. Have a Spirit Night 

Spirit week ideas can include hosting a spirit night at a local restaurant as one of the most fun fundraising ideas for your students. When customers mention the school while ordering, some of the profits can go toward your cause. Advertise the evening on your school bulletin board to increase participation. 

67. Offer School Supply Bundles 

Make back-to-school easier by partnering with a local office supply store to sell school supply bundles at the beginning of the year. Keep a portion of the profits for your school or cause.

68. Snap Some Pictures

Set up a fun photo booth where students can snap pictures with friends and donate money toward your cause. These fundraising ideas are social, creative and fun. 

69. Challenge Your Teacher

Invite students to engage with faculty through humorous dares. Whether it’s a pie in the face, a silly hairstyle or an afternoon in the dunk tank, everyone will laugh while participating in this fundraising event.

70. Auction Off Homework Passes

A night off from homework appeals to every student. You can turn this into fundraising ideas by auctioning homework passes to the highest bidders. Or you can set a fixed price per pass, remembering to cap the number of passes per student and placing their name on the pass — otherwise, things may get a bit chaotic with the richer students never getting anything done!

71. Invite Green Thumbs to Help

Ask the green thumbs in your community to help you start a school garden. Sell produce from the garden to raise funds for your school or to save on the lunch budget.

72. Enlist Community Helpers 

Community helpers like policemen and firefighters can offer students the chance to ride on a truck or sound the siren in a vehicle for the cost of a ticket. The younger students will enjoy learning about these professions and playing on the big trucks!

73. Swap Uniforms

Fundraise by selling admission tickets to a school uniform swap. Everyone brings their used but too-small uniforms, and they swap for sizes that work for their children. 

74. Call Alumni

For some no-brainer fundraising ideas, call your school’s alumni as they're likely some of the school's biggest fans. Calling them to ask for donations can be a highly effective fundraising method, espcially if you have some super successful ex-students. Get current students to phone bank to increase your reach.

75. Have a School Color Run

Host a 5K at your school, and throw colored dust on students as they run by. Students raise money for every lap they compete. 

76. Make a Snake

Work together to make a snake from spare change. Ask students to bring in nickels, dimes and quarters. Add the coins to the snake to watch it grow. 

77. Sleep on a Roof

Set a fundraising goal, and if the school reaches it, the principal has to sleep on the roof for a night! This fundraising idea will garner a lot of laughs when students watch their school admin climb up on the roof and roll out the sleeping bags. 

Fundraising Ideas for Individuals

78. Personal Crowdfunding

Sites like GoFundMe and Fundly are great options for crowdsourcing funds for a cause, need or purchase. This simple fundraising strategy allows individuals to use social media to raise money. NORC at the University of Chicago states that one in five Americans reported that they or someone in their household has contributed to a crowdfunding campaign, lending to the idea that these campaigns are highly effective.

79. Sell Handmade Crafts

Crafty individuals can sell their creations as unique fundraising ideas. Market them in-person or online to friends, family or even your boss for employee appreciation gifts.

80. Host a Small Dinner Party

Invite a few friends over for an intimate dinner party as an economical and social fundraising idea. For a slightly more extravagant idea, hire a private chef to prepare the meal. 

81. Share Your Skills with Lessons

Whether you’re good at cooking, quilting or tennis, ask for donations for your time and teach someone how to master the art of your skill. This is a great way to get out in the community, share knowledge and raise money. 

82. Pet Sitting Fundraiser

Watching or walking pets in your neighborhood is a pretty fun way to give back. Your neighbors will feel comfortable while traveling without Fido, and you have a fuzzy companion for a couple of hours. Put the money earned from these fundraising ideas toward your cause. 

83. Babysitting for a Cause

Offering babysitting services is a fantastic way to help the community and raise money. You can babysit for individual families or a small group of children. For these types of fundraising ideas, it's always best to know what you're getting into. Babies and toddlers can be cute for a few minutes, but they require a lot of attention and care. 

84. Sell Items Online

Purchase items at wholesale prices and sell them online for a profit. The profit you make goes toward your cause. If you're crafty, why not set up a shop on Etsy and seel your goods on the side.

85. Start a Yard Sale

Sell unwanted items at a solo or community yard sale. This is a fantastic way to clear your garage, reduce waste, raise money and invite your neighbors to do the same. 

86. Help with Odd Jobs

If you're handy, share your skills with others. Raise funds by doing minor household repairs. If you're not handy, but have some time to spare, why not power wash some houses or help with yard work around the neighborhood. 

87. Ask for Birthday Funds

Simply ask your friends to donate to a cause instead of purchasing birthday gifts. This is one of the most fast and effective fundraising ideas if it's your special day.

88. LEGO® Night

Charge a small admission fee and invite kids of all ages to build with LEGO®. This fundraising night is engaging and can double as a parents' night off to increase profits. 

89. Write Poems or Verses

Do you love crafting stories and elequant prose? Use your writing talents to create poems and verses for birthday cards, weddings and other occasions. It's one of the most romantic fundraising ideas where you can feel creative while raising money for a good cause. 

90. Petting Zoo

Partner with the SPCA or a local farm and organize a petting zoo. Charge admission to visit, pet and feed the animals. 

Big Money Fundraising Ideas

91. Hold a Gala

Host a black-tie gala to bring in big dollars for your charity, campaign or organization. Charge admission for an evening of dancing, great food, top-shelf drinks and entertainment. Combine it with a silent auction to increase giving. 

92. Masquerade Party 

To add an air of mystery, make your gala fundraising ideas into a masquerade party. Invite everyone to come wearing their favorite mask. Hold a contest for the best design or most creative costume. 

93. Fundraising Concert

Invite a big-name act or popular local talent to perform for a fundraising concert. People will pay top dollar for the highly coveted tickets, making this a fantastic fundraising event for any organization. For a bonus, get VIP or backstage tickets to the event, where a select few guests can meet the talent.

94. Golf Tournament

Golf tournaments attract corporate sponsors, community leaders and avid golfers, making them excellent big-ticket fundraising events. Funds can be generated through entry fees, sponsorship packages or auctions. 

95. Legacy Giving Programs

Invite your supporters to leave a lasting legacy by including your organization in their estate planning. These lucrative fundraising ideas provide donors with a profound sense of purpose.

96. Big-Ticket Item Auction

Auction off big-ticket items like a car, exotic vacation, autographed memorabilia or celebrity meet-and-greet. A fundraising auction brings in big dollars and creates an air of excitement. 

97. Celebrity Meet-and-Greet

Imagine how much people would pay for a chance to meet their favorite rock star, local news celebrity or actor. If you can find that person and get them to agree to support your cause, this might just be your biggest ticket fundraising event for the year. 

98. Art Auction

Hold an art auction as a big-ticket fundraiser to combine the allure of high-end, unique items with a competitive atmosphere. Feature work by local or esteemed artists to increase interest and your fundraising efforts. 

99. High-End Fashion Show

Merge glamour, philanthropy and entertainment by putting on a fashion show featuring well-known or up-and-coming designers and skilled models. This is a fantastic fundraising plan to draw in high-profile guests and sponsors. 

100. Corporate Match Program

Amplify individual donations with a corporate match fundraising strategy. This leverages a company’s commitment to double or triple donations, helping your organization to raise more money in a shorter time. 

101. Exclusive Getaway or Retreat

Host a getaway at an exclusive resort to raise funds for your cause. Guests purchase their tickets outright, or tickets for a draw to win the experience, and a portion of the proceeds go to your organization. 

102. Annual Giving Program 

Ask big donors to commit to annual giving to help them form a strong commitment to your organization. This fundraising option increases sustained donations, which can have a significant positive impact on your bottom line. 

103. Wine Tasting Event

Host a wine-tasting event to combine sophisticated social engagement with giving. These fundraising ideas allow guests to donate for a ticket to sample premium wines and food pairings. 

What makes the most money in fundraising? Whether you choose traditional fundraising ideas for nonprofit organizations, modern digital campaigns, low-cost fundraising options or unique and innovative approaches, the key to meeting your goals is to remain authentic and share your passion with everyone you contact. Efforts add up, dollar by dollar, and help you tally marks that lead to realizing your ultimate goal. One step at a time is how you bring an impactful fundraising plan to life. 

For even more fun ideas, check out other experiences happening on Classpop!