18 Big Money Fundraising Ideas for Your Nonprofit

by Kristin Chute on Mar 17, 2021 10:48:59 PM

Does your nonprofit need to raise a substantial amount of money? If your organization is like most, you’re probably constantly looking out for big money fundraising ideas. It can be tough to come up with fresh, low-cost ideas to keep your donors engaged! Repeating the same fundraisers and events can get stale — that’s why we’ve put together a comprehensive list of fundraising ideas that can seriously boost your revenue!

 

Online Fundraising

Online fundraising methods can be incredibly successful because they quickly expand your audience of donors. Besides increasing your reach, online fundraising methods are typically able to provide better data for assessing your successes and can be total timesavers by automating functions otherwise handled by staff or volunteers. 

 

Online Auctions

Online auctions can generate excitement fast! With some big-ticket auction items, you can raise serious funds. If you have a younger audience, consider putting together an all-inclusive pub crawl prize, asking local businesses if they would be willing to participate, and definitely include transportation. For a more artsy crowd, consider auctioning art by a local artist. 

 

T-Shirt Sales

Branded merchandise is always a hit, especially if you have a more recognizable brand. With several platforms available to help run your merchandise campaign, it’s easy to get set up online with little more effort than uploading your logo. Donors can complete their merchandise purchase online and the platform you select can handle payments, inventory, and shipping. Like most online fundraisers, your merchandise campaign can thrive on likes and shares on social media. Share your campaign frequently and be sure to interact with donors who mention your campaign to increase engagement!

 

Crowdfunding

With the right content, a crowdfunding campaign can go viral and raise some serious cash — fast! Showcase your organization’s mission through photos and stories that explain what you are trying to raise money for. With so many platforms available, all you need to do is choose a crowdfunding platform, load your campaign details, and start sharing with your network!

 

Peer Fundraising

Peer-to-peer fundraising campaigns are an efficient way to increase your donor acquisition while raising money! A peer-to-peer campaign relies on your supporters creating fundraising pages of their own that they can easily share with their network. When you expand your network, you can also expect to increase your funds raised while helping increase awareness of your campaign.

 

Online Painting or Cooking Classes

If you have an artsy crowd of supporters or a following of foodies, consider holding an online instructional class! You can precharge “admission” and provide either a list of supplies for attendees to purchase in advance or create packages of supplies that attendees can pick up before your livestream. Reach out to local artists or restaurants to see if they would be willing to instruct your virtual class as a way to promote themselves to your donors.

 

Virtual Concerts

Virtual fundraising events can actually be even more successful than a traditional event. Because they are generally less expensive to put on and can attract a larger crowd with wider accessibility, you can be sure to hit your fundraising goals. Ask local talent if they’ll perform to foster a community spirit. Use a platform like Givebutter to effectively promote and stream your online fundraising event.

 

Fundraising Event Ideas

big money fundraising ideas: group of people stacking their hands

While putting together an event-style fundraiser can be a lot of work, the benefits are priceless. Fundraising events can create awareness of your nonprofit’s brand image and help you build new relationships and deeper roots in your community. Enlist a fundraising event committee to ensure your events are executed as efficiently as possible.

 

Casino Night

Casino night events can be tremendous fundraising events when planned strategically. Be sure to price your tickets high enough to cover all expenses and include bonus add-ons for additional revenue-generating activity, like raffle ticket packages, an open bar pass, or gift card drawings. You can even partner with a local restaurant to provide a catered dinner option for attendees.

 

Walk-a-Thon

Walk-a-thons are notable because of their minimal overhead and appeal to a more active crowd — especially if you time your event with ideal weather. Walk-a-thons are easy to customize to any type of organization. Use a fundraising platform like ThankGiving to make your campaign goal easy to support and share for maximum participation. 

 

Movie Night

With the right movie and venue, a movie night is sure to attract a crowd of supporters. Assign different ticket levels for increased participation. You can sell a basic entry fee that admits attendance to your movie and build more all-inclusive packages such as a refreshments package or VIP seating options. For added revenue, hold a 50/50 raffle, where the winner keeps 50% of the raffle proceeds and your organization keeps the other 50%. You can announce a winner at intermission. 

 

Karaoke

With little more needed than a simple karaoke machine and a suitable venue, karaoke fundraisers can be a lot of fun while really promoting supporter engagement! You can charge admission to attend or add fun twists like charging a small fee for an “I don’t have to sing” card. Allow supporters to “buy” someone else the opportunity to sing to create some excitement. Set up a refreshments table and add a raffle of your choosing to ensure a comprehensive and profitable fundraiser.

 

Golf Tournament

Golf tournaments provide endless opportunities for acing your fundraising efforts. Your dedicated golfers will spend more than four hours if you plan an 18 hole tournament, giving you tons of opportunities to sell drink tickets or raffle tickets. Elevate your fundraising potential by adding optional caddie services for purchase, and consider selling branded golf merchandise.   

 

Trivia Night

Trivia night fundraisers can be both fun and low budget, which is a recipe for success as far as your fundraiser’s ROI. You can sell tickets in advance and plan to have raffles or drawings during the event to boost your revenue. Choose trivia categories sure to interest and appeal to your supporters and promote your events publicly to ensure they are well attended and profitable. 

 

Easy Fundraising Ideas

bricks engraved with names and date

It’s always a good idea to have some more straightforward fundraising ideas in your back pocket for times when staffing and time are short. Don’t underestimate the money-raising potential behind some of these classics, even though they’re categorized as easy. With little upfront cost or labor involved, the end result can be a more significant ROI than you’d think!

 

Engraved Bricks

If your organization is embarking on a new building or reconstruction project, an engraved brick sale can gain some excitement and raise funds fast. Your supporters can buy bricks that have their names etched onto them, so they truly become part of your mission’s legacy. You’ll be surprised at how much your stakeholders will be willing to pay to see their name on your new structure.

 

Challenge Grants

Challenge grants are a great way to energize your fundraising efforts and increase your revenue fast. This type of grant is a donation made to your nonprofit by a grant-making organization after you have successfully met pre-set goals, typically financial. Challenge grants are generally linked to a high-dollar goal that is predetermined and needs to be met to qualify. This makes for an excellent opportunity to get your board members involved for an all-hands-on-deck approach! Share prospect lists with your board so they can make personal asks through calls or in-person visits.

 

Pledge Drives

Pledge drives ask your supporters to commit to a specified amount of money throughout the course of a year or other designated amount of time. This means you can tap into a segment of your stakeholders that may not have been able to commit to a one-time amount of the same size upfront. You can create a dedicated donation page that lets your supporters easily set up for their future gifts. 

 

Sweet Treat Socials

Ice cream socials are not just an excellent opportunity to raise big money for your organization, but they can also be a great way to get community members involved. You can reach out to your local grocery store to see if they would be interested in making small donations of ice cream and toppings to minimize overhead costs. Set up stations with board games so supporters can engage in some friendly competition while they enjoy their treats.

 

Bake Sales

Bake sales have long been a popular and effective method of raising funds. Because the baked goods sold are typically donated by supporters, this type of fundraiser can be a big moneymaker. Boost your profits by adding fun twists such as gluten-free or sugar-free baked goods. Choose your location wisely, and opt for somewhere visible like a local park to encourage attendance and purchases for a good cause! 

 

Personalized, Individual Asks

Last but not least, one of the most effective ways to fundraise is just to ask. Take the time to ensure your donation requests are more than just a cookie-cutter template you send out a few times a year. Reach out with a personalized video asking for their support with ThankView. This appeal from Glacier Symphony shows you just how fun and unique this method can be.

 

Elevate Your Fundraising Revenue Today

Aside from maximizing your fundraising revenue, you can build a strong foundation for new relationships in your community with these big-money fundraising ideas.

If your organization needs to take your invites, thank yous, and event communications to the next level with personalized videos, reach out to our team for a demo!