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Top nonprofit fundraising ideas <\/h2>\n\n\n\n1. Peer-to-peer fundraising <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Fundraising potential: +++++<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0<\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n Cost: $$<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0<\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n Popularity: 5\/5<\/span><\/em><\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n Peer-to-peer fundraising is our favorite fundraising idea because it channels the energy of your most dedicated supporters into fundraising action. A peer-to-peer fundraiser<\/a> works like this: <\/p>\n\n\n\n Why do we love peer-to-peer fundraising? Not only is it a great way to galvanize your most dedicated supporters, but it also brings your cause to people who don\u2019t yet know who you are. This way, you\u2019re growing your community while reaching your fundraising goals! <\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s also relatively easy to turn your peer-to-peer event into a socially-distanced event. Ideas like game-a-thons can be held completely virtually in participants\u2019 homes, but even 5Ks, nature hikes, and scavenger hunt ideas can be safe with staggered start times that allow social distancing. <\/p>\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Fundraising potential: ++++<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0<\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n Cost: $<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0<\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n Popularity: 4\/5<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0<\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s no secret that effective donor communications are the heart of smart fundraising. With expert fundraising letter strategies, your team can take your donor communications to the next level. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Fundraising letters<\/a> are one of our favorite tried-and-true fundraising ideas because they can be tailored to any kind of donor, nonprofit, or campaign. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In fact, you can customize fundraising letters to encourage supporters to: <\/p>\n\n\n\n Remember, never take your supporters for granted (or let them think you do)! <\/p>\n\n\n\n Always begin any fundraising letter thanking them for their last gift and their continued support. Then you can launch into your solicitation, link out to your official fundraising page, or otherwise show them how to get involved. <\/p>\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Fundraising Ppotential: +++++<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0<\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n Cost: $$$<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0<\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n Popularity: 5\/5<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0<\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019ve been in the nonprofit world for any amount of time, you probably already know how effective walkathons<\/a> can be as fundraising events. <\/p>\n\n\n\n However, did you know that you can take your walkathon game to the next level with intelligent fundraising tech solutions? <\/p>\n\n\n\n Check out these ways to boost your next walkathon with digital fundraising tools: <\/p>\n\n\n\n We love walkathons because they\u2019re the perfect way to bring your online fundraising supporters and your in-person community members together. No matter your mission, consider hosting a walkathon for your next big fundraising event. <\/p>\n\n\n Check out this example of a stellar walkathon.<\/strong><\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Fundraising potential: ++++<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0<\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n Cost: $$<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0<\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n Popularity: 4\/5<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0<\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n Finding new ways to secure sponsorships from local businesses can be tough for nonprofits of all shapes and sizes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For your next sponsorship, give a restaurant night a try. <\/strong>For this fundraising idea to work, you\u2019ll need to find the right local restaurant<\/strong><\/a> to be your partner. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019ll work together to pick a night (or a recurring evening) that works for both of your teams. Then, on that evening the restaurant will provide a percentage of their profits to your cause.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n In return, your nonprofit will promote the restaurant night to your community. This way, you drum up business for them and they raise money for your nonprofit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Fundraising potential: +++++<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0<\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n Cost: $<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0<\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n Popularity: 5\/5<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0<\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n You might have heard of a matching gifts fundraiser, but did you know that some companies offer a similar corporate giving incentive for volunteers<\/a>? <\/p>\n\n\n\n A <\/strong>volunteer grant<\/a> essentially rewards your supporters for giving their time to your cause. <\/strong>Different companies offer different grants for varying numbers of volunteer hours. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Try promoting volunteer grants to supporters through educational marketing. Many people don\u2019t know these grants exist and might be more inspired to volunteer if they were aware. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Even better, <\/strong>volunteer grants are an excellent way for supporters to contribute<\/strong><\/a> even if they can\u2019t make a monetary gift at the moment.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you have a fundraising event coming up, try offering volunteer opportunities for the event (like setting up, counting tickets, etc.). <\/p>\n\n\n\n Then, once these individuals commit to volunteering, send them information on applying for their volunteer grant. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Fundraising potential: +++++<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0<\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n Cost: $$<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0<\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n Popularity: 5\/5<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0<\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n A giving day<\/a> is essentially just as it sounds, but there are so many ways to leverage this unique fundraising idea for your cause. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When your nonprofit holds a giving day, you can launch an event page for a specific date you\u2019ll use to heavily fundraise.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n This date might have significance to your cause or be a big fundraising day in general, like #GivingTuesday. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In the weeks leading up to your giving day, promote the event through your email channels and on social media. Always be sure to link to your event page or online fundraising form!<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n For a peer-to-peer fundraising twist, you could even offer a reward to the individual who raises the most money on your giving day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Fundraising potential: +++++<\/strong>\u00a0<\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n Cost: $$$<\/strong>\u00a0<\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n Popularity: 5\/5<\/strong>\u00a0<\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n A fundraising gala<\/a> is a great opportunity to bring your major donors together to celebrate the accomplishments of your nonprofit and encourage them to support your nonprofit again with another major gift. Galas are great for fundraising for capital campaigns, but they can also be helpful for general fundraising as well.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fundraising potential: +++++<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0<\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n Cost: $<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0<\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n Popularity: 4\/5<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0<\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re looking for an easy-to-host, unique, profitable fundraising idea<\/a> that works for any cause, try a shoe drive fundraiser!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n To run a shoe drive fundraiser, follow these steps:<\/p>\n\n\n\n What\u2019s great about shoe drive fundraisers<\/a> is that your provider takes care of the heavy lifting, leaving your staff members free to handle their other responsibilities. Plus, this idea engages all age groups, from children to adults. Everyone has pairs of shoes they no longer wear. Why wouldn\u2019t they want to declutter their closets and donate them to a good cause?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Best of all, you can pair a shoe drive fundraiser with other traditional fundraising ideas, such as walkathons<\/a> or galas<\/strong>. Start spreading the word, and you\u2019ll rally support in no time!<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Fundraising potential: +++<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0<\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n Cost: $$<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0<\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n Popularity: 4\/5<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0<\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s face it: even if some of us might not admit it, we all miss having field day every year as kids. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Why should the fun stop just because we\u2019re all grown up? One of our favorite unique fundraising ideas is having a grownup field day!<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n This fundraising idea is exactly like it sounds. At these events, your nonprofit will set up fun outdoor games and challenges for adults to compete. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To raise money, your organization can charge for admission<\/strong>. Or, consider encouraging individuals to set up peer-to-peer fundraising pages<\/a> and raise money leading up to the event. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Another way to raise money with a grownup field day is to have local businesses sponsor the event as a team building exercise for their employees. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Not only does this benefit your nonprofit\u2019s fundraising goals, but it also offers these companies a way to give back to the community and strengthen their employee bonds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Fundraising potential: +++<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0<\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n Cost: $<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0<\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n Popularity: 5\/5<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0<\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n This one is another unique fundraising idea for adults. Have you ever heard of a paint and pour event? <\/p>\n\n\n\n At a paint and pour fundraising event, nonprofits open up an \u201cart studio\u201d at your headquarters and teach attendees how to paint a painting.<\/strong> Not only that, but you\u2019ll also provide wine to your (21 and older) guests! <\/p>\n\n\n\n Whether they\u2019re newcomers to your cause or long-time supporters, everyone will have a great time creating art and sipping on their favorite wine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Your team can sell tickets to these events as your main fundraising revenue source. Alternatively, the event could be \u201cdonated\u201d by a local paint and pour studio. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you go with the second option, you might accept gifts at the event or call on attendees to raise money through their peer-to-peer fundraising page before it starts.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n You could even have a peer-to-peer fundraising contest and offer a paint and pour party as a prize! Whoever raises the most funds for your campaign will be the lucky winner. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Fundraising potential: +++<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0<\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n Cost: $$<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0<\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n Popularity: 3\/5<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0<\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n Another great fundraising event idea that really stands out is holding a paddle race. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Your whole community can get in on the fun by volunteering to jockey a paddle boat across your local lake during the big paddle race. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For extra fun, add a unique twist to the event by using funky or eccentric boats.<\/strong> For example, Lakeland Volunteers in Medicine chose swan-shaped boats for their paddle race<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In the weeks leading up to the big day, your volunteers will raise money for your cause through peer-to-peer fundraising pages. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Fundraisers can even host micro-events <\/strong>(like training days and boat building events) as a way to keep up the excitement before the official race. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Fundraising potential: ++++<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0<\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n Cost: $$$<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0<\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n2. Fundraising letters <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n3. Walkathons <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n4. Restaurant night <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
5. Volunteer grants <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
6. Giving days <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
7. Fundraising gala<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
8. Shoe drive fundraiser\u00a0<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Favorite fundraising ideas <\/h2>\n\n\n
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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n9. Grownup field day\u00a0<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
10. Paint & pour\u00a0<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
11. Paddle race\u00a0<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
12. Chef\u2019s challenge\u00a0<\/h3>\n\n\n\n