How To Raise Money Fast And Easy

Virtual events are some of our favorite fundraising ideas.

Virtual Events

If your in-person fundraiser needs to be modified or you're having trouble gathering your supporters in a physical location, virtual events are a popular alternative.

Virtual events enable your organization to foster the same level of community and engagement as an in-person event without the need for a physical space. Common examples of these include virtual auctions, galas, walk-a-thons, and more.

If your organization is interested in planning a virtual event or transitioning an existing event to the virtual space, be sure to research more about best practices and technology you'll need for success.

Pledge Fundraising

A pledge campaign is a unique fundraising opportunity that gathers promises to donate to be collected at a later date, rather than asking for on-the-spot gifts.

Walk-a-thons are a popular choice for pledge campaigns, although a similar structure can be applied to new and exciting ideas as well (like a dance-a-thon!).

Gather supporters who are willing to participate in your event. Provide each participant with an individual fundraising page, empowering them to solicit pledges from friends and family. Plus, be sure to encourage the use of social media and other digital sharing tools to get the word out far and wide.

Silent auctions bring people together, making them an effective fundraising idea for fraternities and sororities.

Silent Auctions

Silent auctions are a fun way to get a little more face time with your donors while they bid on unique and appealing items. Plus, desirable auction items can boost your fundraising potential!

Ask local businesses and individuals to donate items to your silent auction. Common items include gift cards to restaurants, signed memorabilia, lessons from local professionals, gift baskets, vacations and getaways, and more!

You can enlist the help of a mobile bidding tool to create a tech-enhanced bidding experience for your attendees. Mobile bidding software also makes checking in, checking out, and item monitoring easier on your auction volunteers and staff.

Host a chili cook-off to raise money for your church or religious organization.

Chili Cook-Off

A chili cook-off is the perfect fundraising event idea for clubs and organizations looking to inspire their communities to come together and enjoy a great meal.

All you have to do is recruit your best chili chefs, set a time and date, and sell tickets to your supporters and community members to taste each one!

Set up donation boxes in front of each pot so supporters can vote with their dollars on which chili they like the best.

Golf Tournament

Golf tournaments are a tried and true fundraising event for nonprofit organizations as well as political campaigns and school fundraisers.

A leisurely golf tournament is a great way to get to know some of the movers and shakers in your community and ask for their support for your charity or cause.

Charge an entrance fee for individuals or teams. Once the tournament is over, make sure to tie your campaign to your event by giving a speech to ask for support from your participants and emphasize the impact of their donations.

Host a Battle of the Bands event to raise money

Battle of the Bands

A Battle of the Bands event can be an opportunity to raise money for your creative project and a chance for local talent to get their music out into the community.

Create a physical and online sign up sheet for local bands who want to register. Spread the word about your event on social media, via email, and with flyers.

Charge an entrance fee at the door or sell tickets online beforehand. You can also set up a concession stand to bring in some extra money.

Host a serve-a-thon event to raise money for your club or organization

Serve-a-Thon

A serve-a-thon fundraiser helps your club or organization raise money while cleaning up your community at the same time.

Ask for donations per item of trash that you pick up on a given day. For example, someone might donate a dollar for every aluminum can you pick up.

Collect sponsorships and donations from people in your community. Then, get out and clean up your town!

Carnival

Holding a spring or fall carnival can bring your community together for some fun and games while you raise money for your cause.

All you have to do is organize some simple (but still really fun!) games and activities, get the word out about your event, and charge an admission price.

You can even sell concessions if you want to make a little extra money throughout the afternoon or evening.

Hold a trivia night to raise money for your cause.

Trivia Night

You can organize a trivia night by pairing up with a local bar or restaurant.

Advertise your event well in advance and charge an admission fee for trivia teams who want to put their knowledge to the test.

Make sure that you have a good system for asking questions and getting teams' answers. You don't want to have a disorganized trivia fundraiser!

Fundraising ideas for churches can be as simple as hosting a themed party.

Themed Fundraising Party

Themed parties are more common for nonprofits, but anyone can use them to raise money for their cause.

Charge a few dollars at the door. People that show up in a themed costume can pay a small fee while those in "normal" clothes can pay a little bit more.

Don't forget to promote your themed fundraising party on social media. You want supporters to invite as many people as they can to help you raise more money!

Create an obstacle course event to raise money for your club or organization

Obstacle Course Event

Obstacle courses can be fun challenges for kids, teenagers, and adults alike. Your club or organization can set one up to raise some extra money!

Create different games and obstacles that make up the courses. Then, set up an online registration form.

Give people the option to participate as individuals or in teams. And don't forget to offer a small prize for whoever gets through the course the fastest!

Have a classic car show to raise money for your club or organization

Classic Car Show

If members of your club, organization, association, or community like to build, refurbish, and drive classic cars, this is the fundraising event for you!

Get as many classic cars together as you can and line them up in a common space like a parking lot or field.

Then, charge admission for people to come through and view the vehicles. You can even have side events like a raffle or auction to raise even more.

Host an angel festival to raise money for your church or religious organization.

Angel Festival

An angel festival is a Christmas-themed fundraiser that gives you a chance to raise money for your cause.

First, you'll need to recruit volunteers to design and craft life-size angels out of whatever materials they want. Then, display the angels at a festival and sell hot cocoa and cider.

People vote on their favorite angel by placing money in containers underneath each one. It's that easy!

Host an art auction to raise money

Art Auction

If you're an artist or know artists willing to donate their work to your cause, why not try to make some money by hosting an art auction?

Producing enough art for a full scale art auction requires hours of work from multiple artists, so it's a good idea to partner with other creatives. You can also check in with local auctions to see if they are willing to sell your art for a small fee.

Not only will you raise some extra money for your creative project, but you'll be promoting local artists in the process.

Host an art show to raise money

Art Show

If you have a passion for the arts, you can use your interests to raise money for your project or cause!

Search your community for talented artists or use your own works to host an event that displays your creativity or puts local artists in the spotlight.

On the day of the event, charge a few dollars for admission and set up a donation table or booth for general contributions. And don't forget to price the artwork for sale!

Host a dorm decorating contest to raise money for your Greek organization

Decorating Contest

Many students and coworkers love bringing their own unique touches to their dorm rooms and office spaces. You can put that creativity to use and fundraise with a dorm or office decorating contest!

Spread the word a month or two in advance so that contestants have time to prepare. Then, lead attendees through the halls, letting them vote on their favorite space with their dollars.

Whoever has the most by the end of the night can win a small prize or a portion of the money raised.

Field Day

Many kids take part in a field day event in elementary school, but that doesn't mean older children don't enjoy them, too!

Get your older kids involved in an active event by hosting a field day. You can plan for traditional games like tug o' war, three-legged race, water balloon toss, and more! But don't hesitate to add your own unique field day games to the mix.

Charge a small admission fee or charge per game at the event. You can even sell concessions and merchandise like water bottles, t-shirts, and baseball caps.

Host a walkathon to raise money for your cause.

Fundraising Walk

Many walkathons are organized to raise money for a medical cause. Larger research institutions usually set up and promote these fundraisers. However, if you want to set up a smaller-scale community fundraising walk for your particular cause, you definitely can!

Get in touch with friends and family members who have supported you in the past and ask if they would be willing to participate. You can also market the event to the larger community.

Charge an admission fee and sell merchandise such as t-shirts, water bottles, and hats along the walkathon route. And don't forget to set up water stations for your participants!

Paw-a-Thon

Walkathons are a popular nonprofit fundraising event that raises money by getting people up and moving. A dog walkathon (or paw-a-thon) is the same thing but with adorable pooches!

Of course, people still participate, but they can bring their (leashed) dogs along to keep them company while they walk.

You can charge an admission fee and sell shirts, baseball caps, water bottles, and leashes to raise more. Try it next summer to raise money. Just make sure to have water stations set up for humans and pups alike!

You can wash dogs as a way to raise funds.

Dog Wash

Just like your typical car wash fundraiser, many people would be willing to pay to have their dog cleaned as well. After all, groomers can be pricey and so many dog owners don't have the time to wash their furry friends as often as they should.

Plan for a warm and sunny day and advertise your event by hanging up flyers and posting on social media. You can even set up two stations: one for cars and one for dogs. Then, allow supporters to get their cars and their dogs washed simultaneously!

Make sure that you explain where the funds are going during the event to encourage more donations. People will drive off with fresh-smelling, happy pups, and you'll raise money for your cause!

Bingo Night

Bingo is a fun and easy game that even the youngest children can play. Use a weekend night to host a family bingo night to raise money!

A bingo night can be a great way to educate people about your cause as well.

Throughout the night, remind attendees what you're raising money for and encourage them to make contributions during the event. The majority of your proceeds will come from selling admission tickets, concessions, and merchandise.

Hold a concert to raise money for a military or veteran cause

Benefit Concert

Hosting a benefit concert can be an excellent way to bring your community together to support an organization or cause.

You can enlist the help of local artists and bands to determine the line-up. Alternatively, you could make your concert have more of a karaoke vibe.Either way, your community is sure to have a fun and music filled evening!

Set a date and time, sell tickets at the door, and offer concessions for a small price. Don't forget to set up a general donation table to accept other contributions throughout the night.

Pet Party

A pet party can be as elegant or laid-back as you want. It could be a fancy gala-type event where pets and humans alike get all dressed up, or it could be an informal gathering at a local park on a Saturday.

Either way, you should set up a donation table so that pet owners can donate to your organization or cause.

Make sure that you have plenty of bowls of food and water set up for the dogs and other pets. You can even buy or make pet-themed snacks for the pet owners to munch on while their pets play.

Host a parents' party to raise money for your school

Parents' Party

If your community has a lot of families, you can host a parents' party while you watch the kids. Hosting a parents' party is an excellent way to give mom and dad a night out with their friends while you raise money!

All you'll need to do is find a venue. Then you can charge a small amount and set up a fun night of food, drinks, and socializing for parents. You can also set up a donation box for other contributions.

You can even get volunteers to look after the children so that parents don't have to pay extra money for a babysitter. Take care of their evening from start to finish!

Host a family fun day to raise money for your church.

Family Fun Day

A Family Fun Day can be an easy way to raise money for your organization or cause. Plus, it brings your supporters and their families together for an afternoon.

Set up games, food and drink stations, and a donation table. Then, send out invitations to your supporters. You can also hang up flyers around town to get the whole community involved!

You can host your Family Fun Day during the weekend. Have signs that direct people to the outdoor area you organized for fun, games, food, and fundraising!

Host a backyard barbecue to raise money.

Backyard Barbecue

Everyone loves a good old-fashioned barbecue. Whether you're making ribs, chicken, or veggie burgers, a barbecue is a great way to bring your community together for a common cause.

You can use your summer barbecue as a way to raise money for any organization, project, or cause. All you have to do is advertise!

You can either charge a fee for your barbecue or simply set up a donation table with a jar for change. Make sure you explain the cause you're raising money to drive donations.

Start your next fundraiser with a yard sale.

Barter and Trade Fair

A barter and trade fair is similar to a garage sale, but instead of purchasing items or services with money, people trade items.

You can raise funds for your cause by charging each person an entry fee or a fee for every item/service attendees bring to barter. Plus, you can sell snacks and drinks to raise even more!

Use your monthly newsletter (if you have one) or post flyers around the neighborhood to let your community know about the event.

Start a car wash as a way to raise funds.

Car Wash

A car wash is a great fundraising idea for nonprofit organizations and individuals that gets everyone outside. Plus, it's an incredibly simple fundraiser to pull off.

All you need are the suds, water, some sponges, and signs for advertising. Simply charge around $5-10 per car, and accept donations from those who would like to give above and beyond!

Rally a group of eager volunteers to stand a safe distance from the road and draw attention to your car wash with signs.

Dance Off

A dance-off fundraiser can be a great way to bring your community together and raise money for your organization or cause!

All you have to do is set up a registration process and charge participants a small fee.

You can raise more money by charging admission for attendees and selling concessions and branded sports merchandise during the event.

Host a game night as a fundraising event.

Game Night

Host a game night where your friends, family, community members, and coworkers can enjoy a few board games!

Make sure that you have a variety of board games to entertain guests throughout the night. Play classic board games like Monopoly, LIFE, chess, dominoes, or experiment with new card and board games to find a new favorite!

To make your game night a reality, you'll need a space where you can host your event as well as volunteers to help set up and handle admissions.

House Party

You've probably hosted a few get-togethers for your friends and family members (or even a few for your organization). Use these opportunities to raise money for your cause!

You don't have to make the night all about raising money, but be sure to mention your crowdfunding campaign and encourage people to make donations.

When you pull off a successful house party fundraiser, you'll raise money for your cause while also providing your supporters with a fun night to remember. You can also provide or sell refreshments to guests to bring in some added revenue.

Throw seasonal fundraising events to raise money for your nonprofit or charity

Seasonal Fundraiser

Seasonal fundraisers can take many forms, but their unifying feature is that they are related to the current season or holiday.

For instance, you can sell wrapping paper during Christmas, set up a pumpkin patch in October, or sell tulips around Mother's day. The options are endless!

Seasonal fundraisers are great because you willalwayshave a way to raise money, regardless of the temperature, time of year, or occasion. Additionally, you can make your seasonal fundraiser as involved or hands-off as you want. The fundraising decisions are up to you!

Host a kids' face painting event to raise money for your walk, run, or ride

Face Painting Event

If there's another fundraising event going on in your local community, ask if you can set up a face-painting booth to raise additional funds.

To get started, make sure that you have lots of different designs and patterns as well as paint that is safe for sensitive skin.

You'll also need to locate a volunteer or two with artistic abilities who are willing to paint faces at the event. Then, charge a small fee for each person and put out a general donation jar to raise even more money for your cause.

Multicultural Fair

A multicultural fair is a great way for schools and other organizations to raise funds and showcase their diverse heritages.

Student groups can perform cultural demonstrations or sell products and food.Offer an incentive to the group who raises the most money!

Though this event will take a good deal of planning, you have the opportunity to raise money while celebrating different cultures at the same time.

Organize a picnic as a fundraising idea.

School Picnic

A school picnic is a chance to get the entire student body outside for some fresh air, food, and fun.

Sell picnic tickets to students and families so that they can enjoy spending a unique lunch period in the sunshine. Alternatively, you can host your picnic on the weekend when parents are more likely to be available.

All your school needs to do is choose a nice spring or fall day, set up picnic tables or blankets, and provide food and drinks to your attendees.

Haunted House

Boo! Don't be scared; it's just your next creative fundraising idea! A haunted house is a fun way to raise money for your cause.

Enlist the help of a few spooky volunteers to dress up as ghouls, goblins, witches, and zombies.

Then, charge an admission fee for members of the community who think they can make it through your haunted house without getting scared. Sell cider, hot cocoa, and autumnal treats as concessions to earn extra money.

Rubber Duck Race

A rubber duck race is a silly, family-friendly fundraising event that can be a fun way to get to know more of your local supporters and inform them about your cause.

To get started, simply buy yellow ducks in bulk and write numbers on the bottom of them. Then, sell tickets with the same numbers to your local supporters.

When you release the ducks into a local river or stream, the first one to cross the finish line entitles its "owner" to a small prize. Just make sure you have a way to capture all of the ducks once the event is over!

Marathon

Marathons are a tried and true fundraiser for nonprofits that seek to raise awareness and get their entire communities involved for a common cause.

While they can take months to plan, marathons can be excellent opportunities to generate more revenue for your nonprofit or charity to continue advancing your mission.

Get the word out about your event early and make sure that participants are aware of the cause that they're running for. You can set up an online registration portal so that supporters can pay their entrance fees, buy t-shirts or other merchandise, and share the event on social media.

Host a cultural cuisine night to raise money for your trip or adventure

Cultural Cuisine Night

A cultural cuisine night is perfect for adventurous and food-loving travelers looking to raise money for a trip, organizations educating supporters on diversity, and so many other causes. All you'll need are some supporters who like to cook and eat!

Invite people to submit their unique and exotic dishes with a small donation attached. You can keep the meal specific to a country or region or let your cooks choose their own dishes.

People can then vote on their favorite dishes with their dollars. Whoever has the most "votes" at the end of the night can walk away with the pride of being the best exotic chef.

Host your own Olympic games to raise money for your walk, ride, or run

Olympic Games

Everyone gets excited about the Olympics, and your organization can replicate the Olympic games to raise money for any cause or project.

While it will take some planning, hosting a mock Olympic games can be great fun for the families in your local community. You can organize events like track and field races, swimming competitions, and more!

You can charge a small admission fee for attendees and sell (healthy) concessions as well. And don't forget the medal ceremony!

Community Potluck

A community potluck can be an excellent opportunity to get to know your supporters better, educate them about your cause, and raise money for your nonprofit.

Send out invitations a few weeks in advance and promote your potluck event on social media and via email. Then, ask people to bring their favorite covered dishes!

Charge a small admission fee for the event and set up a general donation table or booth. Have a staff member stationed at the table to answer any questions that attendees might have and give them more information about how to get involved and support your nonprofit.

Host a location-setting event to raise money for your trip or adventure

Geography Bowl

If you have a few geography buffs in your friend group or family, you can host a game of geography bowl to put their knowledge to the test and raise money for your cause!

A geography bowl is essentially a trivia night, but with only geography questions! You can host the event in your home or reach out to a local restaurant or bar.

Charge a small admission fee and encourage people to make donations throughout the night. Everyone will have fun guessing the answers to tricky geography questions, and you'll raise some money for your cause!

Used Book Sale

If you're someone who loves books (or a recently graduated college student), you likely have stacks of books that you won't read or have read too many times to count!

If you need to raise money for a project or cause, you can try to sell some of your gently used books for some extra cash.

Pick a date and set up a book sale event! All you need is a table located in a high trafficked area and price tags on the books, and you're set!

Host a rockathon to raise money for your run, walk, or ride

Rock-a-Thon

If you need to raise money for an upcoming event or cause, try hosting a rock-a-thon fundraiser with your friends and family members! All you'll need are a few rocking chairs and some willing participants.

In the weeks leading up to your event, request sponsorships for your rock-a-thon. People can donate a certain amount for a particular time period spent "rocking out" (i.e, $5 for every hour spent in a rocking chair).

Then, set out your rocking chairs in a well-trafficked area and advertise!

Host a memorial dinner to raise money

Memorial Dinner

An easy way to raise money and bring friends and family together after the passing of a loved one is to host a memorial dinner.

You can ask people to donate food and drinks. Set out a general donation jar for individuals to contribute to throughout the evening.

As people eat and mingle, they can reminisce about the life of their loved one. A memorial dinner is a great way to help cover the cost of a funeral or memorial service while remembering the life of the person you care about.