Is there even such a thing as an "easy" way to raise money? We think so! Most of these easy fundraising ideas need one or two people and no money up front. Several can be organized in a day. Under each simple fundraiser you’ll see how many helpers it needs and how far ahead to start planning.
Everyone makes a small donation to wear their clothes inside out for a day. It suits schools and offices that already hold theme days. Announce the date a week ahead, then collect donations through an online page or at the door that morning. A small prize for the most creative inside-out outfit gets more people to join in. See how to set up an inside-out day fundraiser.
Staff or students donate for the chance to wear jeans or skip the uniform. Get approval from management or the school office first, then announce the date a week ahead along with the suggested donation. Collect through your online donation page or at the door that morning. A sticker or wristband shows who has paid.
Many workplaces and schools end up repeating this one monthly because it takes so little setup. A regular slot, such as the last Friday of the month, helps people plan for it. A theme such as sports jersey day or pajama day keeps interest up from one month to the next.
You’re probably already familiar with this one. A local restaurant donates a share of its sales from supporters who dine on a set night. The restaurant handles the food and the staffing. Your job is getting people through the door.
Many chains take applications for fundraiser nights on their websites. Independent restaurants will often agree if you ask the manager. Find out what share the restaurant donates and whether takeout or online orders count toward your total. Some require diners to show a flyer or enter a code, so confirm that too.
Most restaurants offer a weeknight, when they have more tables to fill. Send the details to your supporters a week ahead, then post a reminder that afternoon.
Set up a page on a platform such as GoFundMe, Givebutter, Zeffy or Donorbox, then share the link by email and social media. Fee structures differ between platforms, so compare them when you choose.
Count the candy as you fill the jar and keep the total private. Set the jar on a table at an event, or leave it at a front desk for a week, with entry slips beside it. Each guess costs a dollar, payable in cash or by QR code. Supporters can enter as many times as they like. The closest guess wins the jar. If two people tie, draw one of their slips to pick the winner.
Individually wrapped candy is the better choice, since the jar gets handled a lot and the winner will probably share it.
Send an invitation to a bake sale with no baking. Supporters skip the shopping and the oven, then donate what a batch of brownies would have cost them. Keep the invitation short and funny, since the joke is what gets people to give. Include your donation link or QR code, along with a closing date about a week out. When the sale ends, send a thank-you that shares the total raised.
Print a sign with a QR code that opens your online donation page, then post it at shop counters or event tables. Supporters scan it with a phone camera and give on the spot.
Please note that many donation platforms create a QR code for your page at no charge. If yours doesn’t, choose a free generator that makes static codes, such as the ones in Canva or Adobe Express. A static code holds your link directly and keeps working for as long as the page exists. Test the printed sign with two different phones when it comes off the printer.
A supporter asks friends and family to donate in place of birthday gifts. Start with your board members and regular volunteers, since they already know your cause well. Give each person a short message to copy, along with the link to your donation page. A goal tied to their age (40 dollars for a 40th birthday, say) gives friends a number to aim for. They share the message by email or social media a week or two ahead of the day, then post a thank-you with the total afterward.
Many employers match the donations their staff make to registered nonprofits. The donor submits a short request through their company’s giving portal or HR team. Your organization confirms the gift, then the employer sends a matching amount.
Add a reminder to your donation page and your thank-you email asking donors to check whether their employer offers a match. Include your tax ID number in that email, since most request forms ask for it. Some companies also donate for the hours their employees volunteer, so mention that to your regular helpers.
In locations with container deposits, your group collects empty bottles and cans from supporters, then returns them for the refund. Pick a drop-off spot such as a school parking lot and set a two-hour window on a Saturday morning. Ask supporters to rinse their containers ahead of the day. Your crew sorts everything by material, bags it, then takes the load to a redemption center.
Call the center a few days ahead, since many have a separate process for large returns. Some will set up an account in your group’s name, which lets supporters donate their refunds year-round.
Sell tickets at an event you are already holding. The winner takes half the pot. Your organization keeps the rest. Raffle rules differ by state, so check yours when you start planning. For the full steps, read our guide to running a 50-50 raffle.
Many commercial car washes run fundraising programs for local groups. Supporters buy wash tickets or digital vouchers through your organization and redeem them whenever they like. The car wash does the washing, then pays your group a share of every ticket sold. Call the locations near you to compare terms, since the share differs between programs.
Some well-loved fundraisers can be made easier with a bigger crew and a set event day. Short on time? See our fast fundraising ideas.
One of the oldest and simplest fundraising ideas ever is undoubtedly the quick and easy, yet wonderfully profitable, bake sale.
Home-made goodies are always more delicious than anything that is mass produced! And, because they are tastier, people are often willing to pay more for these treats than for the ho-hum, store-bought variety.
Ask all the members of your organization, volunteers, friends, family and neighbors to whip up a plate of freshly made cookies or any other baked treats. Have each baker wrap their items individually and add a label listing the ingredients, with common allergens such as nuts clearly marked.
Variety is definitely the spice of life when it comes to organizing a profitable bake sale fundraiser. Ask your bakers to get really creative and serve up some goodies that are unique and beyond the ordinary. Include a few gluten-free, vegan and nut-free options so every customer finds something to buy.
Rather than selling only cookies and cakes, ask your volunteers for pies, cupcakes, muffins, tarts and loaves. The greater the variety, the higher the profits.
Stick to treats that keep at room temperature. Save cream-filled or custard desserts for events with refrigeration. Most areas allow charity sales of home-baked goods, so a quick check of your local rules is all the paperwork you should need.
Set up a QR code or a card reader at the table alongside the cash box, since many shoppers no longer carry cash.
There are very few foods or snacks that are easier to make than popcorn! This simple fundraising idea requires very little in terms of organization or up-front costs. All you need is one or more pots or popcorn poppers, oil, salt, popcorn and bags to sell the popcorn in. For a bigger event, you can rent a popcorn machine for the day.
Of course you can always add butter, caramel, or any other spices and flavorings to this yummy and healthy treat. Seasonings such as ranch, cheddar or cinnamon sugar give customers a reason to buy a second bag. Label each flavor with its ingredients so people with allergies know what they are getting.
Sell your popcorn wherever a crowd is already gathered, such as a school sports game or a movie night. Accept payment by QR code or card reader as well as cash.
Popcorn is, and will always be, a profitable, quick and simple fundraising idea.
Ask your volunteers to make a selection of tasty sandwiches on different types of bread for this simple fundraiser. Take pre-orders through a free online form so you know how many of each to make.
It is best to offer a large variety of sandwiches to suit all budgets and dietary preferences. The larger your community, the greater the variety and number of specialty sandwiches you can sell.
Think outside the regular sandwich box and you can delight your customers with a choice of gourmet delights:
Label every sandwich with its ingredients and mark common allergens clearly.
Make the sandwiches on the day of the sale and keep them chilled in coolers until they are sold. Sandwich fillings need refrigeration, so this sale takes one more planning step than a bake sale. Many areas offer a simple temporary permit for charity food events. Your local health department can tell you what applies, and a church or school kitchen makes a good prep space.
Want to raise even more funds at your sandwich sale? Make it a meal by including a bottle of water, a soda or a juice, as well as a side of fruit, salad, or a bag of chips. Accept payment by QR code or card reader as well as cash.
This simple fundraiser is easy to organize and even helps members of your community to do some necessary de-cluttering.
Solicit everyone on your mailing list and in your community to donate a selection of used books to your cause. Start collecting three to four weeks ahead, with a drop-off bin at one fixed location. Ask for donations of book shelves too as they are extremely handy for displaying and categorizing books. An added bonus of having these handy shelves is that book sales tend to increase when books are well organized.
Sort the books into broad categories such as children’s, fiction, cookbooks and nonfiction so shoppers can browse quickly. Keep pricing simple with one flat price for paperbacks and another for hardcovers. A fill-a-bag deal in the last hour clears the tables.
Accept payment by QR code or card reader as well as cash. Arrange a home for any leftover books ahead of the sale, such as a thrift store, a school library or a neighborhood book box.
You can also sell the book shelves at the end of your book sale fundraising event for some added profits.
Invite local recruiters and professional resume writers to volunteer for an afternoon. Attendees pay an entrance fee and bring their resumes for one-on-one feedback. A library or community center with tables and Wi-Fi makes a good venue, since most people will work on a laptop.
You can raise more by offering LinkedIn profile reviews for an added fee. The volunteers meet prospective clients at the event, which makes the request easy for them to accept. Here’s how to host a resume writing workshop fundraiser.
Run one of these ideas this month, then try another next season. Most can be repeated every year with the same helpers and almost no new planning. You might be surprised by how many donations you recieve.