Easy fundraising ideas
Raising money for your organization can feel overwhelming, especially when fundraising is just one task on a very long to-do list. These simple fundraiser ideas are quick to pull together and easy to execute, so you can spread the word and collect donations for your cause.
From favorites like board game nights and baked goods sales to donation pages and photo contests, the easiest fundraising ideas will help you hit your goal fast—without burning out your team.
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Cornhole tournament









Sell merch
Branded t-shirts, hoodies, totes, or water bottles are a tried-and-true way to raise money and spread the word about your organization. Set up an online store and sell merch at community events to increase visibility and donations.









Cutest pet contest









Bake to give raffle
To add some extra excitement, sell raffle tickets and offer baked goods as delicious prizes.









Shoot-a-thon
In this basketball fundraiser, each contestant pays a small entry fee to see how many baskets they can make in a short amount of time.









Car wash
Gather volunteers, soap, and plenty of rags to wash cars in exchange for donations. Easily accept onsite payments with a scan-to-donate QR code featuring Venmo and other modern methods.
Give this classic fundraiser a fresh twist by adding a theme! Encourage volunteers to dress up as ‘80s icons, classic Disney characters, superheroes—you name it.









Social media challenge
Choose a theme and hashtag, then encourage supporters to post a video or photo, tag others to join in, and donate!
Explore more social media fundraising tips to take your efforts to the next level.









Coach or teacher dare
Challenge a coach or teacher to do something wild (like shaving their head!) if your team reaches its fundraising goal. Build anticipation by letting supporters track your progress in real time with a fundraising page that features a live goal bar.









VIP cushioned seats sale
Sell VIP event tickets that offer access to front-row, cushioned seats—and maybe some team swag—at your next home game. Give your biggest fans an unforgettable experience while raising funds for your cause.









Jeans day
Sell passes for a day out of uniform or a day in jeans. You can even turn it into a friendly competition to see which grade has the highest participation. For easy payments, use scan-to-donate, Venmo, or other convenient methods.









Storybook Character Dress-Up Day









Principal for the day
Auction off the chance for a student to be school principal for the day! The lucky student will get to greet classmates as they arrive, make morning announcements, visit classrooms, and enjoy a special lunch with the principal.









Virtual movie night
Host a virtual family movie night using Teleparty (formerly Netflix Party) on your favorite streaming platform. Collect donations before or during your fundraising event, and make it more interactive and fun with movie trivia questions throughout the evening.









Pay you not to ask me again
Give your supporters a way to opt out of all your upcoming donation requests during a big fundraising effort. If they contribute via your donation form before a certain date, you’ll take them off your email and call list for the whole campaign! Then, you can easily segment your email list with your built-in CRM and marketing tools.









Fitness class
Ask local instructors to donate a virtual or in-person class for your cause. Sell tickets and boost revenue on the day of by offering snacks, drinks, or branded merch.









Water balloons & sponge toss









Bake sale
Everyone loves sweet treats! Whip up some cookies, cakes, or donuts and host a bake sale to raise funds for your good cause.
Supporters don’t have cash? No problem! With Givebutter, you can accept mobile payments through a range of modern methods, including Venmo.









High five booth
Brighten up someone’s day and raise money for a good cause. Set up a booth where passersby can make a donation and receive a high-five in return.
Make the giving process as quick and easy as the high-five itself with scan-to-donate.









The guessing game
Fill a jar with candy at your next event and invite people to guess how many pieces are inside for a small donation. The closest guess wins all the candy!
Use scan-to-donate for quick, on-the-spot giving—just print the QR code on a poster or display it at your stand.









Donate or dare
Pledge to do something wild, exciting, or newsworthy if your campaign hits its goal. Shaving your head is a classic option for this fundraising idea!
Share regular updates on your fundraising page and add a goal bar to keep the momentum going and drive more donations.









Caroling
Embrace the holiday spirit and spread joy by going caroling around town or at a seasonal event. Pass the hat for cash donations and display a large QR code or text-to-donate number for easy mobile giving.









Birthday fundraiser
Instead of birthday gifts, ask friends and family to make a donation to your nonprofit cause!
Givebutter’s fundraising pages make it easy to share your story, upload photos and videos, and let supporters leave comments as they give.









Give it up challenge
Ask supporters to “give up” a small indulgence—like their morning coffee—for a set amount of time and donate those funds to your campaign instead.
Create a fundraising page to share challenge ideas, set suggested donation amounts, and post updates or donor shout-outs to keep momentum going.









Face painting
Set up a booth where passersby can get their face painted by volunteers from your group in exchange for a small donation.
Make it easy for people to give with scan-to-donate. All they need to do is scan the QR code and they’ll land on your donation page in seconds.









Yard sale
Turn old treasures into new funds for your good cause! Ask community members to host individual garage sales and donate their proceeds to your campaign—or host one large community yard sale using donated goods.
Create a fundraising page for your event, post campaign updates to keep people engaged, and update the fundraising total as donations come in.









Frequently asked questions
How can I raise money fast for my nonprofit?
To raise funds for your cause quickly, look through super-easy fundraising ideas featured on this page to find one (or a few!) right for you. Then, check out our step-by-step guide on how to raise $1K in 30 days for a smoother journey toward your fundraising goal.
What are the benefits of running an easy fundraiser?
The best thing about these fast fundraising ideas for nonprofit organizations is that they don’t require expert knowledge, extensive planning, or a lot of upfront cost. Instead, these fundraising efforts only need a few materials and plenty of enthusiasm—perfect for teams with limited resources.
What makes something an easy or simple fundraising idea?
We’ve designed this list to meet two criteria—that they’re fast to plan and simple to execute. Each of these can be planned with little effort, making them ideal for anyone on a tight budget or in need of last-minute fundraising ideas.
What is the easiest fundraiser?
Bake sales, read-a-thons, car washes, and scavenger hunts in a local park or partnering with a local restaurant are some of the best quick fundraising ideas. Other great examples include text-to-donate, matching gifts, and online fundraising campaigns.
What are the easiest fundraisers for small teams?
If your nonprofit team is small (but mighty!), focus on nonprofit fundraisers that don’t require too much setup effort. Raffles, car washes, and yard sales will raise funds for your cause without requiring a huge lift. Virtual fundraising events—like fun runs, concerts, or movie nights are also great options for small teams because they are low-cost and can bring in significant revenue through charging an entry fee.
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