Fundraise
Community Fundraising Ideas That Actually Work
The best fundraiser is one your community actually enjoys, that your volunteers can run without burning out, and that brings in more than it costs.
Before you pick an idea
- How much do you need to raise, and by when?
- How many reliable volunteers do you have?
- What does your community already love doing?
- Will donors be giving to a qualified charity (so you'll need receipts)?
Simple (one or two organizers)
- A letter or email appeal to people who already care, with a specific goal.
- Matching challenge: ask a local business or a generous donor to match gifts up to an amount.
- Birthday or milestone fundraiser: ask friends to give instead of buying gifts.
- Change jars at businesses that agree to host them, emptied and counted by two people.
- Restaurant give-back night: many restaurants donate a share of sales.
- Online "giving day" push tied to a local or national giving day.
Medium (a small team)
- Bake sale or car wash: classic, visible, great for youth groups.
- Yard sale of donated items.
- Fun run or walk, with pledges per participant.
- Trivia night with team entry fees.
- Chili cook-off or fish fry, with tickets.
- Concert by local musicians or a church choir, with a free-will offering.
- Service-a-thon: volunteers do yard work or odd jobs for donations.
- Coat, school supply or food drive: raises goods, not cash, but builds goodwill.
Signature events (a committee and months of planning)
- Gala or banquet with a short program and one clear ask.
- Golf tournament with hole sponsors.
- Silent or live auction of donated items and experiences.
- Annual festival that becomes a community tradition.
Check the rules on games of chance. Raffles, bingo and "50/50" drawings are regulated as gambling in many states and often need a permit. Ask your state or local licensing office first.
Receipts at events
If a donor gets something in return, like a dinner, a T-shirt or an auction item, only the amount above its fair market value is a charitable contribution. When a charity receives a payment over $75 that's partly a donation and partly for goods or services, it must give the donor a written statement estimating the value of what they received. Auction items are generally not deductible unless the winning bid is more than the item's value. See Donation Receipts Explained.
Make sure it makes money
- Write a budget before you commit.
- Ask for donated food, venues, prizes and printing.
- Find sponsors to cover costs, so ticket money goes to the cause.
- Offer more than one way to give at the event: a simple "fund-a-need" moment often raises more than ticket sales.
Say thank you
Thank donors within a few days, tell them what the event raised, and later, tell them what the money did. The people you thank well are the people who come back next year.
Plan your giving year
Print the Annual Giving Plan to set goals for giving and fundraising.
Questions people ask
What is the easiest fundraiser to run?
A simple ask: a letter or message to people who already care, with a clear goal and an easy way to give. It costs almost nothing and often raises more than events.
Are raffles legal for nonprofits?
Raffles are treated as gambling in many states and often require a license or permit, and some states restrict who can hold them. Check your state's rules before selling tickets.
How do I make sure a fundraising event makes money?
Set a budget first, get key items donated or sponsored, keep costs below about a third of expected revenue, and give guests more than one way to give during the event.