Looking to make your mark on the fundraising world?
Then, say goodbye to boring bake sales and hello to innovation.
With our help and these unique fundraising ideas, you can host incredible nonprofit events to blow away your attendees.
And who are we?
We’re Eventbrite — your go-to partner for creating unforgettable fundraising experiences. Since 2008, we’ve been the leading event-organizing platform for nonprofits worldwide.
In this article, we’ll explore the best fundraising ideas — including an auction to spend the day with a furry friend and another favorite of ours: reinventing what a fashion show should look like. All of these ideas are fun and easy to organize — just take a look at the Eventbrite creators who pulled them off! Breathe new life into your fundraising efforts, and make some profit along the way.
Skip to your preferred ideas for fundraising events
Gala and ball fundraising ideas
Raffle and auction fundraising event ideas
Art and culture fundraising ideas
Workshop and educational fundraising event ideas
Sport and outdoor fundraising event ideas
Food and drink fundraising event ideas
Family-friendly fundraising event ideas
Virtual fundraising event ideas
Quick and easy fundraiser ideas
Looking for fundraising ideas to keep you busy for a lifetime?
We’ve got plenty more ideas to share. If you’re looking for a list with hundreds of weird, wonderful, and (most importantly) profitable fundraising events, then download our free fundraising ideas checklist.
Gala and ball fundraising ideas
Are you looking for ‘baller’ fundraising ideas for charity? Well, then, you can’t go past a captivating gala event.
Social fundraising events like galas and balls will bring people together while encouraging them to donate to your cause — and as you know, social interaction is a core part of fundraising events.
Not only are galas and balls fun fundraising ideas, but a recent study found that a nonprofit organization that prioritizes monthly donor programs experiences a 65.71% increase in income.
So, let’s see what you can do to hit those figures.
1. ‘Murder on the dancefloor’: A murder mystery, masquerade ball event
Fundraising potential: 🌟🌟🌟
Overhead cost: 💸💸💸
Event complexity: 💪💪💪
There are many ways to raise money for your nonprofit organization, but in 2024, why not create a world filled with eerie delights inspired by Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s smash hit, Murder On The Dancefloor.
Choose a venue with a Victorian theme, hang ‘tacky’ gold stars from the roof, plaster the walls with green wallpaper, and encourage attendees to arrive all in black.
Introduce a thrilling murder mystery game into the mix where attendees receive clues tied to the mission of your chosen organization, and each step prompts participants to donate.
For example, The Vampire Court of Dallas hosted the Bleeding Hearts Ball, where guests were encouraged to wear fake teeth and dress in regency-era-inspired clothes.
2. ‘A door to the secret garden’: An enchanted garden gala
Fundraising potential: 🌟🌟🌟
Overhead cost: 💸💸
Event complexity: 💪💪
For your next fundraising event idea, opt for the great outdoors, such as a winery or an estate. For example, Shawn Luna is hosting a ‘Glowing Gala Groove Garden.’
Picture a rustic garden dinner with endless bottles of wine and lush greenery.
It’ll be a haven of relaxation, whimsy, and magic — the perfect place for guests to form meaningful connections with each other and your cause without the pressure of a formal event.
You can even have fun prizes for the team with the best flower arrangement, the most creative vegetable sculpture, and more.
3. ‘Dance ‘til you drop’: An all-night dance-a-thon ball
Fundraising potential: 🌟🌟
Overhead cost: 💸💸
Event complexity: 💪💪
Keep everyone on their toes — literally.
Create an all-night ball event that also doubles as a competitive dance competition, but instead of judging who can dance the best, award who can dance the longest.
Play music all night and offer prizes for the dancer who can last the longest on their feet. Invite local DJs to spin and hire a photographer to capture the night’s events.
At event registration, specify that there are different levels to the challenge, such as the ‘white tie’ experience, where attendees stay on their feet for 15 minutes, or the ‘black tie’ challenge, where participants try and remain dancing all night.
Throughout the night, onlookers can place bets on the winning person they believe will take the crown, with all proceeds going to charity.
As a safety precaution, always ensure you watch the temperature in the room, ensure that the venue you pick has good-quality air-conditioning, and make sure people have plenty of access to fresh water.
Raffle and auction fundraising event ideas
In 2022, people donated $85.53 billion to donor-advised funds, indicating that the average American wants to give money to a great cause.
So give the people what they want! Allow attendees to spend big on a worthy cause by organizing a cutting-edge charity raffle or auction.
4. ‘Be mine…for the right price’: A furry-date auction
Fundraising potential: 🌟
Overhead cost: 💸💸
Event complexity: 💪💪
Let’s be honest: Dating humans is so 2023.
Instead, allow attendees to bet on spending 12 hours with a special someone from an animal rescue shelter nationwide. From a horse to a bulldog or a teacup pig, the pre-booked date will be a day of fun and adventure (for animals and humans alike).
Take a leaf out of Dream Hospitality Group‘s book and hire a water-side venue like Harbor NYC Rooftop with a view of the city. Paint the room with decorations of love — think white tablecloths, tea light candles, and, of course, high chairs so that your furry date can sit with you all night.
Date auctioning works great if the date in question is someone well-known or beloved in the community. So, why not invite a micro-influencer to be your starlet of the evening and bring their adorable furry friend along with them?
Although romance is a year-long affair, an event around Valentine’s Day might attract additional interest.
5. ‘Oh my, what are the chances!’: A ‘test of luck’ raffle
Fundraising potential: 🌟🌟
Overhead cost: 💸💸
Event complexity: 💪💪
Give a traditional fundraiser raffle a hilarious twist by keeping the prizes a surprise.
Let attendees know the fundraiser is a ‘mystery draw’ where participants could win exciting prizes like a complimentary stay-cation for two or not-so-great prizes, like a rock wrapped in tin foil.
Pool together some money or find a local donor to offer some great (and some not-so-great) prizes. Then, sell raffle tickets to give them away. It’s a simple fundraising method that’s practiced nationwide, and no wonder — it’s easy enough that an organization of any size can pull it off.
From here, market your fundraising event idea all over your social media channels. We can picture it now, a TikTok trend blowing up with the caption ‘…is fate on your side? This raffle will decide!’
Unlike the raffle, however, when it comes to your fundraiser’s promotion strategy, you don’t want to leave anything to chance. Instead, leverage insights from previous event data to create compelling social media advertisements based on the desires of your target audience.
The best way to do this is to utilize an event management platform like Eventbrite, which offers valuable features such as custom tracking links, data, reports, and social media integration to enhance your promotional efforts.
Market your fundraiser with Eventbrite
6. ‘Keep quiet and give me all your money’: A silent auction
Fundraising potential: 🌟🌟
Overhead cost: 💸💸
Event complexity: 💪💪
Silent auctions are popular for a reason. Not only do they make for a unique fundraising event, but they also help raise money for a nonprofit while providing tangible value to their attendees.
The best way to pull off a successful silent auction is to have some creative ideas for the auction items. Think about experiences instead of things. For example, you may have supporters willing to grant access to their vacation home for the weekend. Alternatively, you can take a note from The Newport Theater and host a silent auction selling handmade goods.
An end-of-year event might inspire additional donations from those seeking to meet certain charitable giving thresholds.
Art and culture fundraising ideas
Art and culture play a significant role in the fundraising world. In 2022, $25 billion was donated to charitable organizations focused on art, culture, and humanities.
Help others get in touch with their creative side by putting together an arts and crafts fundraiser. Your guests will come away with a project, skill, or experience they didn’t have before, and that could make them even happier to donate. Those advantages make arts and crafts fundraisers a great way to raise money.
7. ‘Come as you are’: A community fashion show
Fundraising potential: 🌟🌟🌟
Overhead cost: 💸💸
Event complexity: 💪💪
Got a catwalk? Got models? You actually don’t need either to pull off a fundraising fashion show.
Fashion For Cancer has proven that you don’t need either to put on a great fashion event.
Instead, they have their catwalk feature cancer survivors with live music and visual art displays to create an immersive experience.
This year, do the same by inviting the people impacted most by your nonprofit to be your unique guest models. It’ll be a fun, educational, and emotional experience for attendees — plus, it’ll help showcase exactly where proceeds are heading.
8. ‘Paint jam’: A street art event
Fundraising potential: 🌟🌟
Overhead cost: 💸💸
Event complexity: 💪💪
Charity street art events — often called “paint jams”— are among the most unique fundraisers you can host.
They bring together several street artists to paint live, reeling in fans to watch the artists in action, in person, via live streaming, or by video.
You can also sell art supplies beforehand so a wider audience can join in on the fun.
9. ‘Give it a go. Otherwise, you’ll never know’: An open mic comedy night
Fundraising potential: 🌟🌟🌟
Overhead cost: 💸💸
Event complexity: 💪💪💪
Let donors explore their stand-up comedy aspirations with a ‘judgment-free’ open mic night.
To create a fun and lively atmosphere, consider collaborating with a popular local restaurant to host the event and give attendees the option to buy VIP tickets that include dinner and drink.
For example, The Incrowd hosted a party at Forget Me Not Kitchen and Cocktail Lounge and turned their outdoor venue into an entertainment space complete with NBA games on TV screens and 90s hip hop blaring from speakers.
Then, invite a professional comedian to emcee and keep the night moving along.
10. ‘Woah, scary!’: A costume contest
Fundraising potential: 🌟🌟
Overhead cost: 💸💸
Event complexity: 💪💪
Invite contestants to dress up in their spookiest, wackiest, and most outrageous costumes and have them collect pledges or pay an entry fee. Offer prizes for the funniest costume, best makeup, and more.
You could always do this around Halloween, but don’t let that limit you!
Just make sure that everyone understands the standards for the costumes, what kinds would be appropriate, and if there’s a theme they should stick to.
11. ‘Live, laugh and love karaoke’: A karaoke event
Fundraising potential: 🌟🌟
Overhead cost: 💸
Event complexity: 💪💪
Organize a karaoke night and charge an admission fee at the door and, of course, for drinks. Encourage participants to get pledges from their friends and family for each song they sing.
Hold it at a local pub or bar, or rent out equipment and host it in your own space.
Just make sure the song selections available are appropriate for all ages attending!
Workshop and educational fundraising event ideas
In 2024, there’s a trend towards holding nonprofits accountable for ‘living their mission and values.’ To stay on top of this, it’s crucial to focus on raising funds and being 100% transparent about where and how donations will be spent.
Putting together a creative workshop to help your attendees connect with their creative side is an entertaining way to educate them about the impact of their donations while offering them a fun-filled experience.
12. ‘College? No thanks, I prefer collage’: A collaging class
Fundraising potential: 🌟🌟
Overhead cost: 💸
Event complexity: 💪
Invite a local art instructor to teach principles of composition, color design, and collage.
Use old newspapers and magazines to create unique works — since no drawing skills are necessary, collages can be especially attractive to a wide range of people.
As a bonus, they can be themed around your charity’s goals and shared on social media — with the creator’s permission.
13. ‘Frosting finesse’: A cupcake decorating class
Fundraising potential: 🌟🌟
Overhead cost: 💸💸💸
Event complexity: 💪💪
Invite a local baker to teach the sweet art of cupcake decoration.
Provide pre-baked cupcakes and give each attendee sprinkles, icing tubes, and candy pieces so they can follow along with the instructor and create masterful works of delicious cake.
If you want to elevate the experience, consider following Mequon Public Market’s example and offering an ‘advanced workshop’ for attendees who wish to improve their decorating skills.
14. Geocaching excursion
Fundraising potential: 🌟
Overhead cost: 💸
Event complexity: 💪💪
Hold a geocaching competition in your local area and invite participants to search for hidden treasures. Ask them to collect pledges or charge entry fees, with the proceeds going to your chosen charity.
The whole area is your oyster! That’s the beautiful thing about geocaching — you can do it anywhere, but it’s typically outdoors.
Product sale fundraiser ideas
Fun fundraising ideas often involve some sort of product sale — and for good reason.
This approach gives attendees a tangible takeaway from your event and offers different ways to make money on the day.
15. ‘Just grab your hoodie and go’: A clothing swap event
Fundraising potential: 🌟
Overhead cost: 💸
Event complexity: 💪💪
Hand-me-downs aren’t just for family members anymore.
Hang everyone’s upcycled clothes on retail racks and let participants ‘shop’ and swap for one new piece of apparel or buy them for cash.
To get the best turnout possible, schedule your swap near the beginning of spring or fall, when people change their wardrobes for the new season.
16. ‘Proud parents, plant children’: A seedling sale
Fundraising potential: 🌟🌟
Overhead cost: 💸
Event complexity: 💪
Money is no object to a parent regarding their human children — the same goes for their plant children, too.
Set up a plant sale where local green thumbs can sell cuttings from their favorite plants to raise money for your chosen charity group.
To reduce plastic use, encourage attendees to bring their seedling pots or repurpose yogurt cups, soda cans, and folded newsprints.
17. ‘That’s not junk, you fool!’: A hidden treasure garage sale
Fundraising potential: 🌟🌟
Overhead cost: 💸💸
Event complexity: 💪
Help community members declutter and support a worthy cause by donating to a yard sale, with the proceeds going to nonprofit organizations.
This is one of the easiest ways to get rid of unnecessary junk while doing something helpful for others.
Sport and outdoor fundraising event ideas
Sports are a great way to unite people for a fundraising day. A recent study found that 79% of participants entering mass events in 2023 were doing so to raise money for charity.
Sports and outdoor fundraising ideas appeal to first-time attendees and recurring community members, as they promote physical activity and help unite like-minded individuals within their community.
Plus, you’re sure to have plenty of eager attendees who are happy to play their favorite game while helping others.
18. ‘Are you tougher than mud?’: A mud-filled obstacle course
Fundraising potential: 🌟🌟🌟
Overhead cost: 💸💸💸
Event complexity: 💪💪💪
You can create your version of Tough Mudder by reserving a field for the day and assembling an obstacle course.
@toughmudder Quite the story of resilience 😤💪Could you conquer Everest? 👀🔥Sign up for your next event today 🔗Link in Bio🔗#toughmudder #obstacles #challenge #fearless #training #everest #endurance ♬ original sound – Tough Mudder
Since part of the appeal of an obstacle course is challenging oneself physically, set yours at a time of the year when the weather is particularly gruesome, like in the heart of winter or the middle of summer.
Allow attendees to buy team event tickets or ‘tough it out’ alone. You can even encourage them to bring their sponsors on the day to cheer them on for a discounted flat ‘cheerleader rate’ ticket price.
19. ‘Holey sh*t!’: A dress-up golf tournament for all ages
Fundraising potential: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Overhead cost: 💸💸💸
Event complexity: 💪💪💪
Build an 18-hole PGA-style tournament with some friendly competition, or simply make it a ‘putting tournament’ to make it less daunting for beginners.
Set your day on the greens in spring or summer on your municipal course, or partner with a country club for access to additional classes (and benefactors).
To boost your fundraising campaign, create pricing-tier packages for attendees at event registration. For instance, Karbach Brewing Co. hosts a golf tournament with different sponsor offers, such as their ‘gold sponsor’ package, which includes promo gift bags and an all-inclusive meal deal.
You can also turn the fundraising event into a kid-friendly affair by including a miniature golf tournament where parents are banned.
Remember that rain can delay or even prevent your tournament from finishing, so pay attention to the latest reports. Make sure registrants provide contact information in case you need to inform them of any scheduling changes.
20. ‘You’re my ride or die’: A bike ridin’ event
Fundraising potential: 🌟🌟
Overhead cost: 💸💸💸
Event complexity: 💪💪💪
Organize a group bike ride and ask participants to collect pledges from their friends and family.
You can also charge an entry fee or have attendees pay for their own food and supplies.
Any local bike trail would work, or even a track if one is available.
Make sure to plan ahead for the route, parking, rest stops, and other details. Larger events may require official permits and even escorts from municipal authorities.
20. ‘You’re so high above me’: Kite flying festival
Fundraising potential: 🌟🌟
Overhead cost: 💸
Event complexity: 💪
Organize a kite flying festival and invite participants of all ages to celebrate the joys of flight. Host the festival in a picturesque location, such as by a river or lake, and provide ample space for kite enthusiasts to enjoy the event — without getting their kites tangled!
Then, offer prizes for the most creative designs and longest flights.
To ensure the event is as profitable as possible, consider offering additional experiences, such as a kite-making class before the festival or face-painting stalls (for an added fee).
21. ‘That’s headed right down the middle’: A bowling tournament
Fundraising potential: 🌟🌟🌟
Overhead cost: 💸💸
Event complexity: 💪💪
Invite teams of bowlers to compete against each other and ask them to collect pledges or pay an entry fee. Have fun prizes for the team with the highest score and the best-dressed bowlers.
This one needs to be at a bowling alley, so you’ll need to liaise with the venue. Why not have them in on the fundraising and pledge to donate a percentage of the revenue from the bar to your cause — in exchange for some kickass promotion through your event!
Need help promoting your event?
22. ‘Snow in summer? How strange’: A powder play event
Fundraising potential: 🌟🌟
Overhead cost: 💸💸💸
Event complexity: 💪💪
Embracing the ‘winter flurries’ in the middle of summer is one of the most creative fundraising ideas we’ve seen.
Here’s how you set it up.
Hire a fake snow machine and book a venue with a high ceiling, such as a storage garage. Have the sound of sleigh bells and wind gusts blaring from overhead speakers to create the illusion that attendees are in the dead of winter.
This one’s strictly an only-enter-if-you’re-appropriately-dressed event, so encourage attendees to bring a heavy jacket and gloves.
To bring in more cash, host a snowball fight and a snowman-making contest, charge an entry fee, and let everyone enjoy!
23. ‘Look and you shall find’: A scavenger hunt
Fundraising potential: 🌟🌟
Overhead cost: 💸💸
Event complexity: 💪💪💪
Use an app like Actionbound to set up a scavenger hunt that combines an IRL (in real life) experience with augmented reality. Set up a small fee as an optional donation and let everyone know it’s for a good cause.
Choose a place with plenty of features that can help conceal your treasures. Hold it outdoors in good weather or — if rain, snow, or cold threaten — rent out an indoor playground or similar facility for more comfortable hunting.
Some less tech-savvy guests may be inexperienced with augmented reality features, so be ready to assist with virtual fundraising ideas like this.
24. ‘I’ll always run home for you’: A softball home run competition
Fundraising potential: 🌟🌟
Overhead cost: 💸💸
Event complexity: 💪💪💪
Invite local sluggers to see who can hit the most home runs. Ask participants to obtain pledges for the number of home runs they hit. You can also charge a small admission fee for spectators.
Baseball season starts in spring and continues through the summer into early fall. So, reserve a community baseball field through your city or county, or set up a makeshift fence in a field with home plate at an appropriate distance.
Be sure to bring extra gloves, bats, and balls in case attendees forget to bring their own.
25. ‘Dodge this!’: A high-intensity dodgeball tournament
Fundraising potential: 🌟🌟
Overhead cost: 💸
Event complexity: 💪💪
Organize a dodgeball tournament and invite participants of all skill levels to compete against each other. Ask them to collect pledges or pay an entry fee, with the proceeds going to your chosen charity.
Offer prizes for the team with the highest score and best strategies.
Host the event at a gymnasium at a local school or community center would work best with this.
Just be sure to make the teams balanced–you don’t want little kids going up against adults.
Food and drink fundraising event ideas
Our 2022 trend report found that over 830,000 attendees gathered at food festivals and other food-related events.
So, we think delving into the food and drink sphere with unique fundraising ideas could be a wise move for a talented event organizer like yourself.
Here are a few ideas that are ‘finger-lickin good’.
26. ‘It’ll blow your socks off’: A chili cook-off
Fundraising potential: 🌟🌟🌟
Overhead cost: 💸
Event complexity: 💪💪
Nothing says the ‘fun has been raised’ like a good ol’ chili sauce cook-off.
Set up a stage with kitchenettes to excite participants about showcasing their culinary skills, giving attendees a sneak peek into how the sauces are prepared.
Then, encourage attendees to gather everyone they know, including their friends, neighbors, or even strangers on the street, and head to a public park to see whose Texas Red or Chile Verde takes the prize.
Charge admission at the door and allow attendees to taste each chili sauce at an additional cost. You can encourage attendees to make and sell a bottle of their chili on the day and donate a percentage to your nonprofit.
To make your event more inclusive, consider taking the Compassionate Action For Animals approach and having contestants make a vegan alternative to their favorite recipe.
27: ‘Sip’n all night long’: A charitable wine tasting
Fundraising potential: 🌟🌟🌟
Overhead cost: 💸💸
Event complexity: 💪💪
Invite participants to a wine-tasting event and charge an entry fee. Offer samples of different types of wines, from white and red to sparkling and rosé.
Research local vineyards, wineries, and breweries to see if they offer venue rentals — you can even host an online wine-tasting event.
But you might want to do it on a weekend when people don’t have to wake up too early the next day!
When it comes to food events, it’s important to keep food safety in mind. Check with local authorities about what regulations are in effect and inquire with your attendees about any allergies they may have at event registration.
28: ‘Willy, this chocolate is Wonka’s!’: A chocolate tasting
Fundraising potential: 🌟🌟
Overhead cost: 💸💸
Event complexity: 💪💪
Invite participants to a chocolate-tasting event and charge an entry fee, or ask them to collect pledges from their friends and family. Offer samples of different chocolates, including white, dark, and milk chocolate.
The great thing is that you can host this anywhere! A fancy restaurant, someone’s dining room or kitchen, or any space with enough seating will work.
See if local chocolate makers will give you a discount or a donation for the event — or if they would consider sponsoring it.
29. ‘It’s just around the block’: A neighborhood food truck rally party
Fundraising potential: 🌟🌟
Overhead cost: 💸💸
Event complexity: 💪
Put a creative spin on a classic fundraising neighborhood block party. Instead of hiring professional equipment or seating areas, have neighbors loan out lawn chairs.
You can even invite food truck vendors to join in a rally and have them collect pledges or pay an entry fee, with the proceeds going to your chosen charity. Offer prizes for the most creative dishes, best presentation, and more.
Don’t be afraid to introduce some wacky elements to your block party to help it stand out and add different revenue streams to your event. For example, at Bear Foot Sports St Patrick’s Day block party, they host a ‘dog costume contest’ in their beer garden.
Hold the event in a popular neighborhood park or set it up on front yards and driveways. Remember, the more neighbors who participate, the more fun your event will be.
30. ‘Your eyes are bigger than your stomach’: An eating challenge
Fundraising potential: 🌟🌟
Overhead cost: 💸💸
Event complexity: 💪💪💪
Give those hardy souls who are always willing to try adventurous foods the chance to test their limits.
Instead of haggis or sautéed snails, challenge your contestants to eat “interesting” foods that they can find at home. For example, they could try hot dog smoothies or chocolate and cheese pizza.
To take the fundraising event to the next level, live stream it on Facebook stories and include a donation link so at-home attendees can place bets on their favorite ‘big eater’. You can even ask your virtual crowd to eat the next strange food combination on the list and conduct a home challenge of their own.
31. ‘Tonight, we eat like kings!’: A potluck dinner event
Fundraising potential: 🌟🌟
Overhead cost: 💸
Event complexity: 💪
Organize a potluck dinner and ask participants to bring a dish to share. Collect donations or charge an entry fee, with the proceeds going to your chosen charity.
Make sure people know what kinds of food others are bringing — you don’t want everyone bringing dessert!
Family-friendly fundraising event ideas
In 2022, 4.2 billion people worldwide donated their money or time to a cause or to help someone they didn’t know. By focusing on fundraising event ideas that resonate with families and younger audiences, organizers can capture the next generation’s hearts from an early age.
32. ‘Now, you’re trapped!’: An escape room challenge
Fundraising potential: 🌟🌟🌟
Overhead cost: 💸
Event complexity: 💪💪💪
Invite teams of participants to compete in an escape room challenge with their friends and family. Offer prizes, such as gift cards or gift baskets, for the team with the most creative solution and fastest completion time.
Remember that escape rooms can be in any building or even outdoors, so research to get inspired. Take Historic Camden, for instance. They host a ‘code-breaker’ escape room challenge where participants must get a message to General Greene to try to change the outcome of the Revolutionary War.
Don’t be afraid to inject your escape room with meaningful content. Incorporate hard-hitting facts about your nonprofit or charity, highlighting why continued support is essential for attendees.
This approach means the experience is not only entertaining but also educational.
33. ‘Popcorn and starlight’: A moonlight movie night
Fundraising potential: 🌟🌟
Overhead cost: 💸
Event complexity: 💪
Screen a movie, but instead of hosting it in a local cinema, invite families to come armed with a picnic rug and blankets and watch it under the stars.
Rent a projector and put up a white sheet in a public park, or simply host it at the back of an indie movie theatre. Choose a family-friendly movie popular with younger children, such as The Little Mermaid. Then, go the extra mile and lay sand and shells on the venue’s floor, creating a ‘5D’ sensory experience by squirting water on the audience when a wave comes or putting on a fan when Ariel’s hair blows in the wind. You’ll have them squealing!
You can also sell popcorn, candy, soft drinks, and beer bundles to generate additional revenue on the night.
Now that’s cinema.
34. ‘Round and round, the merry-go-round’: A children’s carnival
Fundraising potential: 🌟🌟🌟
Overhead cost: 💸💸💸
Event complexity: 💪💪💪💪
Carnivals are already a great fundraising idea for the whole community, but we think you can make them even better with a few tweaks.
Skip the outdated carousels and offer booths with homemade offerings, such as popcorn carts and local artwork. Instead of spending money on new costumes from your carnival acts, like stilt walkers, invest in some pre-loved costumes from local charity shops to create a more eco-friendly and personalized event experience.
We recommend inviting food and drink trucks down to your venue as well, so ensure there’s a wide variety of vendors to offer your crowd, and you know what that means — even higher ticket sales.
Want to sell more tickets to your event?
35. ‘What’s the answer Mr Know-it-all?’: A family trivia night
Fundraising potential: 🌟🌟
Overhead cost: 💸💸
Event complexity: 💪💪
Host a trivia night and ask teams to raise funds to enter the competition. You can set a minimum they have to reach to ensure the event raises the necessary funds. Of course, people can donate from their own pockets to enter too.
Break people into teams and offer prizes for the top-performing team. Make sure some questions are specific to your cause so that everyone is educated while they’re having fun.
Local bars, restaurants, or cafés are great for this type of event.
36. ‘Today, it’s all about the fun’: A family fun day
Fundraising potential: 🌟🌟
Overhead cost: 💸
Event complexity: 💪
Organize a family fun day with activities like face painting, arts and crafts, and balloon animals. Ask participants to collect pledges or pay an entry fee.
A family fun day is best in a large, open space. A big parking lot, behind a school, or a public park could work.
This is a complicated event to organize, so be sure to lean on your event team and community. You’ll also need to organize a team of volunteers, get your budget straight, and find people with the skills to run those programs.
37. ‘Let the games begin’: A tabletop gaming night
Fundraising potential: 🌟🌟
Overhead cost: 💸
Event complexity: 💪💪
Hold a tabletop gaming night and have participants collect pledges or pay an entry fee to play some great board games. Offer prizes for the best plays, winners of challenging games, and more.
Local gaming stores have the experience to help you host a board game tournament, but you could do it anywhere with enough space.
To make the night more interesting, have a wide variety of games, and make sure there’s a good mix of experienced players and newbies.
38. ‘Leave it all on the table’: A game show night
Fundraising potential: 🌟🌟🌟
Overhead cost: 💸💸
Event complexity: 💪💪💪
Organize an evening of classic game shows and have participants collect pledges or pay an entry fee. Offer prizes for the team with the highest score on each show.
This works best if you can have a large audience, so hosting it at a park or a large private space would be ideal.
Some game shows require elaborate props, so be sure you’re equipped with whatever you need to make the games happen.
Virtual fundraising event ideas
You might think that hosting virtual fundraising events limits your ability to think outside the box, but in reality, they can achieve just the opposite. Some of the most inspiring event themes we’ve seen have been 100% virtual.
This is because virtual events provide the opportunity to innovate and generate creative fundraising ideas for charity without the logistical constraints of traditional in-person events.
Virtual events are also especially effective for charities targeting younger audiences. In 2023, 60% of millennials donate to charity through online platforms, so embracing virtual fundraising event ideas will allow you to leverage this trend and engage with a tech-savvy demographic.
39. ‘Of course, it’s me singing, mum. Who else would it be?’: A lip sync battle
Fundraising potential: 🌟🌟
Overhead cost: 💸
Event complexity: 💪💪💪
Host virtual lip-sync battles like no other by allowing your attendees to have their time in the spotlight while performing in hilarious costumes and mouthing their favorite songs.
For example, Princess Theatre hosts a lip sync battle on its stage, filling its auditorium with a live audience.
To make life easy, create a Facebook live event and live stream it so your attendees can jump on in between practicing for their performance.
When holding the lip sync battle, ask participants to collect pledges for each song they lip sync. Have prizes for the most creative performance, the funniest rendition, and more.
It’ll be the online, lighthearted version of ‘American Idol’ where everyone can participate and have fun — without being criticized by Simon Cowell.
40. ‘I’ve been up all night gaming’: An online gaming tournament
Fundraising potential: 🌟🌟🌟
Overhead cost: 💸
Event complexity: 💪💪
Grab some retro consoles, borrow some TVs, and you’ve got yourself a gaming event. Host it online on TwitchGo, and you’ve got yourself a gaming marathon.
This fundraising event is great for families, but it’s also a fantastic option for event organizers looking for an easy fundraising idea appropriate for all ages.
To ensure your virtual event goes smoothly, we recommend testing your A/V equipment and internet connections in advance so you don’t experience technical problems mid-event.
41. ‘It’s a gift really’: A not-so-talented, talent show
Fundraising potential: 🌟🌟
Overhead cost: 💸
Event complexity: 💪💪💪
Sure, talent shows filled with incredibly skilled people are entertaining. But how much would you pay to watch a bunch of strangers fail miserably on stage?
Rather than asking participants to compete for prizes by showcasing their best skills, invite them to ‘do their worst’ — attempt a skill they have absolutely no talent in. For example, a doctor might decide that this event is the perfect opportunity to try line dancing for the first time, or a dancer might attempt to sing opera.
The idea is to create a space where people can laugh at themselves and try something new without the pressure to be perfect.
If you’re a nonprofit, such as The Center For Health Care Services Foundation, that focuses on mental health and well-being, hosting an event like this could be a great way to bring a community of attendees together and prove that no matter what, you’re never alone.
Quick and easy fundraiser ideas
Do you want your fundraising event to stand out from the crowd but don’t want to spend hours or countless dollars organizing it? Well, you’re not alone.
In the US, 43.37% of nonprofits believe the rising cost of operating expenses is the biggest challenge to success. Therefore, in 2024, it’s time to invest in fun fundraising ideas that don’t cost the earth or take hours to prepare.
The good news is that unique fundraising ideas are enough to catch attendees’ attention and create lasting memories, on top of raising money for a good cause.
42. ‘Ballin’ at the beach’: A beach volleyball tournament
Fundraising potential: 🌟🌟
Overhead cost: 💸💸
Event complexity: 💪💪💪
Team up in twos for fun in the sun and sand. Invite registrants to sign up as teams or put teams together by picking names randomly.
For example, the Players Sport and Social Group hosts a ‘Beach Slap’ event with a DJ, drink stalls, and fun beach games, like life-size beer pong and giant Jenga.
To allow people to watch the competition live, consider setting up folding beach chairs for a summer feel or renting grandstands if your budget allows.
This is a quick fundraising idea that the whole family will love!
43. ‘Paws and claws’: A doggy day spa
Fundraising potential: 🌟🌟
Overhead cost: 💸💸
Event complexity: 💪💪
We always knew that there’s no greater bond than the one between a human and their dog, but now we have the stats to prove it. In 2023, American pet owners spent $90.5 million on additional services and treats for their dogs. That’s right, that doesn’t even include food or vet visits.
So, for your next event, invite pet owners to give their dogs some much-needed R+R time. For a set amount of donation money, offer dog-spa services that will send dog parents into overdrive, like the ‘doggy medi, ped treatment.’
To make the day even cuter, why not partner with local animal shelters for this and host it on National Dog Day?
Make sure you choose an appropriate venue, like a garage or yard, where making a mess and getting dirty is perfectly accessible, and always require proof of vaccination before they’re allowed to enter the premises.
44. ‘Just a tad chilly…’ A cold plunge dip
Fundraising potential: 🌟🌟🌟
Overhead cost: 💸
Event complexity: 💪💪
Organize your fundraiser around a polar bear plunge in a chilly lake or ocean in your local area.
Offer prizes for people who swim a certain distance or stay in for an extended (but safe!) amount of time.
Try to rally a large group of people around the event by using social media marketing to promote your fundraiser as an ‘epic health challenge.’ From here, you can charge a small fee for participants and offer additional items for purchase on the day, like heated towels, shower caps, or snacks.
For example, Wellness Warrior Collective hosts cold plunge events where attendees get a hot cup of cocoa after the challenge.
Just remember that safety is always a concern when dealing with the elements, especially in cold weather.
To ensure participants feel safe and comfortable at your fundraising event, bring life jackets for those who need them, and consider hiring medics to be on hand in an emergency.
46. ‘We’re just horsin’ around’: A H-O-R-S-E competition event
Fundraising potential: 🌟🌟
Overhead cost: 💸💸
Event complexity: 💪💪
Challenge participants to this classic game, where two or more participants must match each other’s basketball shots from wherever on the court they decide to shoot. Ask for donations per shot made.
You can hold this event throughout the year, either at an outdoor basketball court at a park or, if the weather’s adverse, head indoors at a high school or city court.
Be sure to inform your players of the rules beforehand so everyone is on the same page. Consider including a referee to make rulings on any questions of fair play.
47. ‘Scrubba’ dub dub’: A car wash event
Fundraising potential: 🌟🌟
Overhead cost: 💸
Event complexity: 💪💪
This classic isn’t just for high school sports teams. Have the higher-ups in your organization wash the cars to increase visibility in your community.
Set up anywhere with access to a hose and spigot — and a lot of traffic.
Just keep in mind that some automobile paints are sensitive to certain soaps, so be careful to use only approved suds.
48. ‘Drop it and die’: A competitive egg-drop event
Fundraising potential: 🌟🌟
Overhead cost: 💸
Event complexity: 💪💪
Invite teams of participants to engineer a container that can safely carry an egg from the top of a building. Ask them to collect pledges or pay an entry fee, and offer prizes for the team with the most creative design and the best-performing egg protector.
Buildings, cliffs, and other tall locations all make great places for this. It’s best done outdoors, so try to do it on a sunny day that isn’t very windy.
People who don’t successfully protect their eggs will make quite a mess, so be ready for some cleanup!
49. ‘We saw a jigsaw’: A jigsaw puzzle challenge
Fundraising potential: 🌟🌟
Overhead cost: 💸
Event complexity: 💪💪
Invite participants to complete jigsaw puzzles as quickly as they can. Have them collect pledges or pay an entry fee, with the proceeds going to your chosen charity. Offer prizes for the first to finish.
Make sure you have enough tables, and don’t let people bump into others’ tables and ruin their progress — leave plenty of space for attendees to move around in.
Get started on your next fundraiser
With over 230 new and exciting fundraising ideas provided by experts, what will you plan for your next fundraiser?
No matter what you decide to do, Eventbrite’s platform puts a host of intuitive tools and leading-edge technology at your fingertips. Take a quick look to see how Eventbrite can help you communicate event information, sell event tickets, and let more people know about your fundraiser.
