All nonprofits, no matter their size, rely on donations to fund their operations. Whether you’re a national charity or a small neighborhood association, you need to raise money to keep your organization going. The trick? Creative fundraising ideas!
If you’re new to fundraising, you may find it a little overwhelming. And even if you’re a seasoned fundraiser, constantly coming up with fresh ideas for fundraising can be a challenge.
That’s why we’ve put together 136 creative ideas for fundraisers for nonprofits and membership organizations!
We’ve got a big list of Creative Fundraising Ideas —but believe it or not, there are even MORE out there! Each fundraiser has a different purpose and goal, so it’s important to find the ones that are right for you.
In this article, our specialized ideas included:
- Ongoing ways to raise money
- Raffle fundraising ideas
- Contest fundraising ideas
- Fundraising challenges
- Online fundraisers
- Fundraising events
- Fundraising sales
- Ideas for kids
If you’re looking for the ideas that are the most profitable, check out this post. And if you just want some easy fundraising ideas? We’ve got you covered.
Finally, if you’re feeling like you want to review the basics of fundraising, here’s a special post on how to fundraise. With this info under your belt, all that’s left is to have fun planning!
While there are a lot of Creative Fundraising Ideas out there, many only last for a few weeks, or even a single day! Planning an ongoing fundraiser takes the pressure off of such a brief period, and lets you really troubleshoot what parts of your strategy are working best. Through the Google Ad Grants program, nonprofits are awarded up to $10,000 in ad credits, which can then be allocated to put their high-value pages at the top of search results pages. When you get strategic, you can effectively increase online conversions like donations, volunteer registrations and event signups.
Challenges to Consider:
You’ll need to spend time on keyword research that’ll reach your prospects, as well as on which pages will inspire Creative Fundraising Ideas to support your mission. Then, you’ll have to manage your account to make sure you’re staying in compliance with the program’s rules.
Many organizations outsource this work to dedicated Google Ad Grant agencies so they don’t have to worry about maintaining their accounts. Either way, this is a great fundraiser idea for any nonprofit so long as you allocate your funds strategically!
Companies won’t match donations to just any organization. They often have requirements regarding nonprofit eligibility, employee eligibility, minimum/maximum donation amounts and submission deadlines. Consider using an employer search tool to help find relevant guidelines and forms to ease your workload.