12 Fundraising Event Ideas to Upscale Your Nonprofit Organization

📝Key Takeaways:

• Nonprofit organizations can create successful fundraising events by leveraging social media and online tools to expand their reach.
• Hosting unique and engaging events, such as charity walks and auctions, can increase participation and donations from supporters.
• Partnering with local businesses and sponsors can provide additional funding and resources for fundraising events.
• Regularly showing appreciation and recognition for donors and volunteers can help build a loyal and dedicated community around the organization.

Organizing an event may be a fun and exciting way to engage your community while raising money for your cause. The appropriate event may create attention, draw in new supporters, and have a long-lasting effect on the financial health of your organization.

Are you a nonprofit organization looking for innovative ideas to raise money? Look no further when you have the best fundraising event ideas at your table. Choosing the best ideas for your local businesses in order to raise funds might be difficult given the variety of possibilities available.

Should you host a gala dinner or run a fashion show? A silent auction or a charity walk? There are countless options, so it’s crucial to pick one that supports the beliefs and objectives of your company.

We’ll look at 12 fundraising event concepts that have worked well for nonprofits of all sizes and cause in this blog post. We’ll offer pointers and tactics for making your event successful, from golf outings to virtual fundraising events. Have a coffee, relax, and get ready to get motivated by these innovative fundraising event suggestions!

12 Fundraising Events to Raise Money for Nonprofits

Before we dive into our list of fundraising ideas, it’s important to remember that each fundraising event should be tailored to your organization’s unique mission and goals. When planning your event, consider your audience, obstacle course, budget, and desired outcomes. What type of fundraising strategy will resonate with your donors and supporters? How much can you realistically spend on the event? What is your fundraising goal, and how will you measure success?

By answering these questions, you can create an event that is not only fun and engaging but also effective in generating funds for your cause. With that in mind, let’s explore our great fundraising event ideas for nonprofits!

Section A: Fundraising event ideas that require little to no budget

1. Fun way run or a walking marathon

A walking marathon or a run is a popular fundraising event that involves participants gathering pledges or donations for a certain distance they will walk or run. This event can be organized by nonprofit organizations of any size, and it’s a great way to involve the community in raising funds for a cause.

For example, the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life is a 24-hour walk-a-thon that raises money for cancer research, education, and patient services. Participants form a fundraising team and walk around a track overnight, taking turns to ensure that at least one person from each team is walking at all times. Participants gather pledges or donations from friends, family, and coworkers, and the event also includes food, games, and entertainment to keep participants motivated.

To make a walking marathon or a run more fun, organizers can add any obstacle course or challenges along the route. For instance, the Color Run is a 5K fun run that involves participants getting doused in colorful powder at each kilometer. This event has gained popularity around the world for its fun and unique twist on a traditional fun run.

Pro tip: Encourage participants to create teams and set fundraising goals. Provide incentives, t-shirts, or rewards for the teams that raise the most funds.

2. Charity auction

The next fundraising event idea on our list is a Charity Auction. This event involves auctioning off donated items or experiences to raise funds for your nonprofit organization. Charity auctions can be done online or in person, and they are a great way to involve local businesses and community members in supporting your cause.

For instance, the Make-A-Wish Foundation hosts an annual gala auction that includes both silent and live auctions to raise funds for granting wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses. The auction features unique and high-value items donated by local businesses, celebrities, and individuals, and it also includes dinner, entertainment, and other fun activities to get more money.

Pro tip: Hosting a successful charity auction is to leverage social media and online tools to reach a broader audience. You can promote the auction on your organization’s website, social media channels, and email lists, and you can also partner with local business auction platforms like eBay for Charity or Bidding for Good to expand your reach.

Another tip is to involve local businesses and community members in the auction by asking them to donate items or experiences. You can also offer sponsorship opportunities to businesses that donate high-value items or services, which can increase their exposure and help build relationships with potential customers.

Overall, a Charity Auction fundraising page is a versatile and effective fundraising event idea that can generate significant funds for your organization while also building relationships with local businesses and community members.

3. Bake sale

The third fundraising event idea on our list is a Bake Sale. This classic and simple peer-to-peer fundraising idea involves selling baked goods to raise funds for your nonprofit organization. Bake sales can be organized by individuals, schools, community organizations, and more for raising funds.

For example, the Girl Scouts of the USA are known for their annual cookie sales, which help raise funds for the organization and teach girls valuable entrepreneurial skills. The sales generate millions of dollars each year and are eagerly anticipated by cookie lovers everywhere.

To make a Bake Sale more exciting and unique, organizers can hold a baking competition or offer specialty items. For instance, you could hold a contest for the best pie, cake, or cookies, with local celebrity judges and prizes for the winners. You could also offer specialty items like gluten-free or vegan baked goods to appeal to a wider audience.

Pro tip: Hosting a successful Bake Sale is to ensure that your baked goods are of high quality and appealing to a broad range of tastes. Make sure to label each item clearly and include information about any allergens or special ingredients. You can also promote the event through social media, flyers, and local media outlets to generate more interest and increase sales.

Overall, a Bake Sale is a simple and effective fundraising event idea that can be organized on a small or large scale. By offering high-quality baked goods and engaging the community with unique activities, you can raise funds while also building relationships with supporters and recruit volunteers.

4. Car wash

This event involves washing cars to raise funds for your nonprofit organization. It is a great way to involve local businesses and community members while also providing a valuable service to the community. To make it more fun, organizers can add music, refreshments, and other activities.

For example, the Boys & Girls Clubs of America have organized car washes as part of their fundraising efforts to support programs that help young people reach their full potential. These car washes are often held in partnership with local businesses, such as car dealerships or gas stations, to increase visibility and generate more donations.

One pro tip for hosting a successful car wash is to ensure that you have all the necessary supplies and equipment, including soap, sponges, hoses, and buckets. You can also promote the event through social media, flyers, and local media outlets to generate more interest and increase participation.

Section B: Fundraising event ideas that require a moderate budget

5. Benefit concert

This event involves organizing a concert featuring local artists to raise funds for your cause. It is a great way to involve the community, showcase local talent, and raise awareness for your organization. One pro tip for hosting a successful benefit concert is to secure a good venue and well-known local artists who are willing to perform for free or at a discounted rate.

For example, the American Red Cross has organized benefit concerts to raise funds for disaster relief efforts.

6. Gala dinner

This event involves organizing a formal dinner with an entrance fee to raise funds for your nonprofit organization. It is a great way to bring together donors and supporters for a night of fundraising and celebration at a local restaurant if you have a moderate budget. For example, the Make-A-Wish Foundation has organized gala dinners to raise funds for granting wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions.

Hosting a successful gala dinner is to ensure that the venue and menu are of high quality and aligned with the theme of your event. You can also secure celebrity or keynote speakers to attract more attendees and generate more donations.

7. Movie night

This event involves organizing a movie screening to raise funds for your nonprofit organization. It is a great way to involve families and children in supporting the cause. For example, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society has organized movie nights to raise funds for research and support programs.

A successful movie night is a great fundraising idea. Select a popular movie and promote it to your target audience through social media, flyers, and local media outlets. Offer online sell tickets and offer concessions to generate more revenue for your organization.

8. Art Show

This event involves organizing an art exhibit or sale to raise funds for your nonprofit organization. It is a great way to involve local artists and art enthusiasts in supporting the cause. For example, the American Cancer Society has organized art shows to raise funds for cancer research and support programs.

Pro tip: Hosting a successful art show is to curate a diverse selection of artwork and promote it to your target audience through social media, flyers, and local media outlets. You can also offer refreshments and hold a silent auction or raffle to generate more revenue for your organization.

9. Silent Auction

This event involves auctioning off donated items or experiences without the traditional auctioneer. It is a great way to involve local businesses and community members in supporting the cause.

For example, Habitat for Humanity has organized silent auctions to raise funds for building affordable homes for low-income families.

One pro tip for hosting a successful silent auction is to secure high-quality items and experiences for auction and promote them to your target audience through social media, flyers, and local media outlets. You can also hold the auction online to increase participation and generate more revenue for your organization.

Section C: Fundraising event ideas that require a high budget

10. Golf Tournament

This event involves organizing a golf tournament to raise funds. Participants can register and gather donations from friends and family. It is a great way to involve golf enthusiasts and local businesses in supporting the cause. To make it more exciting, organizers can add contests and prizes.

11. Golf Tournament

This event involves organizing a fashion show to raise funds. It is a great way to involve local fashion designers and boutiques in supporting the cause. The event can feature a runway show, silent auction, and raffle. To make it more exciting, organizers can offer VIP seating and a post-show reception.

Pro Tip: For high-budget events, it’s important to secure sponsors to offset the costs and maximize the fundraising potential. Look for companies or individuals who align with the mission of the organization and offer them valuable marketing exposure in exchange for their support.

12. Charity Ball

This event involves organizing a formal ball to raise funds. It is a high-end fundraising event that can attract high-level donors and supporters. The event can feature a cocktail hour, dinner, entertainment, and a live auction. To make it more exciting, organizers can offer unique experiences such as meet and greets with celebrities or exclusive travel packages.

Pro Tip: For high-budget events like a charity ball, it’s crucial to create an immersive experience for guests that showcases the organization’s impact and mission.

Conclusion

In conclusion, fundraising events are crucial for nonprofit organizations to raise funds and support their missions. These events not only generate much-needed financial resources but also help build awareness, engage supporters, and create a sense of community around the cause.

Throughout this blog, we have explored a range of fundraising event ideas, from simple and low-budget options to more elaborate and high-budget events. Each event idea offers its own unique advantages and can be tailored to fit the specific needs and goals of the organization.

By organizing successful fundraising events, nonprofit organizations can not only meet their financial targets but also strengthen relationships with supporters and create lasting impact in their communities.

We encourage readers to use these ideas and get creative to develop their own unique fundraising events. With careful planning, effective communication, and enthusiastic support from volunteers and donors, anything is possible.