Every cause is different—and so is every fundraiser. Whether you’re part of a non-profit, school, church, or community group, this roundup of fundraising ideas offers fresh ways to connect with supporters. You’ll also find plenty of inspiration for virtual fundraisers and smaller organisations. If you’re planning an event, explore our online fundraising tools.
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Seasonal Fundraising Ideas
Holidays and seasonal events are a great way to bring people together while raising funds. Whether you’re marking a holiday, celebrating a change of season, or hosting an annual tradition, these seasonal fundraising ideas can inspire giving and strengthen community connections.
Spring Fundraising Ideas
Easter Community Events
Transform Easter’s message of renewal into powerful fundraising through reverse Lent challenges, Easter basket raffles, and spring plant sales. These events work especially well for faith-based organisations but can be adapted for any non-profit focused on growth and new beginnings. Read our Easter fundraising guide for ideas.
St. Patrick's Day
Create luck-themed events that bring communities together while raising funds. Think green-themed challenges, Irish cultural celebrations, and community-building activities that appeal to broad audiences. Get inspired with our St. Patrick’s Day ideas.
Mother's Day Community Events
Honor mothers and maternal figures while raising funds through appreciation events, family-focused activities, and community celebrations that naturally bring people together for a meaningful cause. Check out our Mother’s Day events for community-building inspiration.
Spring Equinox Events
Celebrate balance, renewal, and new beginnings with fundraising events that capture the optimism of spring’s arrival. From plant sales and spring fitness challenges to yoga sessions and pet photo contests, these events align with nature’s themes of growth and rejuvenation. Discover spring equinox fundraising ideas that inspire fresh engagement.
Summer Fundraising Ideas
Summer Solstice Celebrations
Harness the longest day of the year with sunrise yoga sessions, community picnics, and sun-themed runs. These events tap into themes of renewal and abundance while creating memorable experiences. Consider sunflower planting parties that extend engagement all season long. See our summer solstice fundraising guide for warm-weather ideas.
Summer A-Thon Events
Get supporters moving with outdoor peer-to-peer challenges perfect for warm weather. From virtual swim-a-thons to hybrid dog walk events, these activities combine fitness fun with fundraising power. The key is offering both in-person and virtual options to maximise participation. Check out our complete summer a-thon ideas for details.
Winter Fundraising Ideas
Winter Peer-to-Peer Campaigns
Cold weather doesn’t have to freeze your fundraising efforts. Indoor challenges, winter sports events, and cosy community gatherings can generate significant support when designed thoughtfully. Explore our winter fundraising strategies for cold-weather campaigns.
Winter Solstice Celebrations
Embrace the longest night of the year with reflection, gratitude, and community warmth. From open house events and winter wellness workshops to virtual auctions and peer-to-peer challenges, winter solstice fundraising creates meaningful connections during the darkest time of year. Explore winter solstice fundraising ideas that bring light to your cause.
Fall Fundraising Ideas
Autumn Equinox Events
Embrace the balance and transition of fall with harvest dinners, guided nature walks, and equinox ceremonies. These events tap into themes of gratitude, reflection, and community connection while celebrating seasonal abundance. See our autumn equinox ideas for fall inspiration.
Sports & Activity Fundraising
Youth Sports Fundraising
Sports teams need sustainable fundraising that doesn’t burden families while building team spirit. Peer-to-peer campaigns work especially well when combined with team-building elements. Discover youth sports fundraising that builds community.
Multi-Sport Fundraising Ideas
Empower athletes across all sports with fundraising strategies that build confidence, teamwork, and financial support. These approaches work for any sport and focus on athlete development alongside fundraising goals. Explore sports fundraising ideas.
Football Team Fundraising
From peer-to-peer “sponsor a player” campaigns to skills challenge events and team merchandise sales, football teams have unique opportunities to engage supporters through the sport itself. Learn proven football fundraising strategies that score big.
Reading Challenge Fundraisers
Literary-themed fundraising events engage book lovers while promoting literacy and education. These challenges work great for schools, libraries, and education-focused nonprofits. Discover how to host reading challenges.
Walk-a-Thons
One of the most popular and effective challenge events, walk-a-thons engage participants of all ages while building community support. Proper planning is key to success. Get our complete walk-a-thon planning guide for step-by-step organisation.
Online & Social Media Fundraising
Peer-to-Peer Digital Campaigns
Empower supporters to become fundraisers themselves through personal fundraising pages, social sharing tools, and network-based giving. This approach multiplies your reach exponentially. Learn more about peer-to-peer fundraising or master it with our comprehensive peer-to-peer guide.
Hybrid Raffle Campaigns
Combine the best of in-person and online raffles to increase participation and reach. This dual approach lets supporters participate whether they attend your event or engage digitally. Learn how to combine online and traditional raffles for maximum impact.
Charity Sweepstakes vs. Raffles
Understanding the difference between nonprofit sweepstakes and raffles can help you choose the right approach for your audience and legal requirements. Each has unique advantages depending on your goals. Compare charity sweepstakes and raffles to pick the best option.
Health Awareness Campaigns
Fundraising for health causes requires sensitivity and authenticity. Hybrid events that combine education with fundraising create meaningful engagement while building long-term supporter relationships. See proven breast cancer fundraising ideas that work
Fundraising Merchandise
On-demand custom merchandise eliminates upfront costs while providing supporters with tangible ways to show their support. Custom apparel, accessories, and branded items can generate ongoing revenue streams. Learn to boost donations with merchandise effectively.
Community Events & Activities
Traditional Raffle Fundraising
Classic raffles remain one of the most effective fundraising methods when executed well. These events use custom raffle tickets sold to participants for a chance to win prizes. The key is selecting prizes that excite your audience and pricing tickets strategically for goal-reaching participation. Discover great raffle prize ideas that drive ticket sales.
50/50 Raffle Fundraising
These popular events split the total pot between the winner and your organisation, making them easy to promote since prize value grows with participation. No need to source prizes – the fundraising itself creates the reward. Learn how 50/50 raffles work and why they’re so effective.
Charity Concerts
Music brings people together and creates memorable fundraising experiences that can generate significant support while showcasing local talent. These events require careful coordination but offer high impact potential. Follow our charity concert planning guide for successful execution.
Food Fundraising Events
Makers Market Events
Host creative sale fundraisers that showcase local artisans and makers while raising funds. These community-focused events combine shopping with social impact, creating win-win opportunities for everyone involved. Learn how to run a makers market fundraiser in your community.
Quick Start Guide: Choosing Your Fundraising Idea
Consider Your Timeline
- 3+ months: Seasonal celebrations, major events, merchandise campaigns
- 4-8 weeks: Community events, a-thon fundraisers, awareness campaigns
- 1-2 weeks: Social media challenges, digital campaigns, last-minute drives
Match Your Audience
- Faith communities: Easter events, community service challenges
- Sports organisations: A-thon events, team-based peer-to-peer campaigns, football fundraising
- Health non-profits: Awareness month campaigns, education-focused events
- Emergency services: Community festivals, appreciation events
- Corporate teams: Virtual CSR campaigns, employee engagement events
- Schools & youth groups: Sports fundraising, seasonal events, peer-to-peer challenges
Budget Considerations:
- Low budget: Social media challenges, peer-to-peer campaigns, digital events
- Medium budget: Community events, merchandise, hybrid events
- Higher budget: Multi-day festivals, major seasonal celebrations
Ready to Launch Your Fundraiser?
The best fundraising idea is one that matches your organisation’s mission, engages your specific community, and fits your available resources. Whether you’re planning a major seasonal celebration or need a quick digital campaign, the key is choosing strategies that feel authentic to your cause.
Need help organising your fundraiser? Eventgroove’s non-profit fundraising platform provides everything you need—from peer-to-peer tools to raffle ticket printing and event materials to donation campaigns.
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