Coming up with unique fundraising ideas can be challenging for smaller groups, but there are many great ideas out there that can lead to a successful fundraising campaign. Once you’ve determined your budget and what size event or campaign you’d like to have, you can narrow down which fundraising idea will best suit your group’s needs. From bake sales to silent auctions, trivia night to restaurant partnerships, there’s sure to be a fundraising idea that will help your organization raise the money it needs.
1. Local Restaurant Fundraiser
If your organization is looking for a simple and easy way to raise money, partnering with a local restaurant for a night is a great way to do just that. Some restaurants offer organizations the chance to take a certain percentage of their profits for a night and donate to their organization. Partnering with a local restaurant to raise funds is an excellent idea for small groups because all it requires is for you to spread the word about the event and make sure people show up to eat!
2. Bake Sale
A tried and true fundraising tactic, bake sales are the perfect opportunity for small businesses to raise money. Thankfully they don’t require a whole lot of effort or money either, considering people from your group and other volunteers can do the baking. All you will need to figure out is a venue for the bake sale and an easy way to collect donations at the sale.
3. Fundraising Letters
If your organization already has a mailing list, it might be a good idea to try sending out fundraising letters as a way to raise money for your latest campaign. This is another unique fundraising idea that doesn’t require a lot of work for your organization, just paper, envelopes, and stamps. Posting a QR code for your online fundraising campaign is one easy way for donors to donate directly from your fundraising letter.
4. Coupon Books
Just like bake sales and fundraising letters, coupon books have been used for years as an easy way for smaller organizations to raise money. It’s a perfect way to support your local community, too, by encouraging shopping in your area with the coupons from the book.
5. Poster Campaign
Another easy way to raise funds for small groups is by creating a poster campaign. By placing a QR code that links to your organization’s donation page, you will reach donors in a whole new way. Place the posters in local coffee shops and community centers to spread the word about your organization and encourage seamless giving from mobile devices.
6. Garage Sale
A garage sale or flea market is a fun idea to raise donations without spending too much money. Your organization can ask for donations of items people no longer need, which is a win-win because people will be happy to get rid of stuff for a good cause. Then, you can raise essential funds from the sale without spending any money at all (maybe just a few dollars to advertise the sale).
7. Community Classes
Much like partnering with a restaurant, workout studios and other establishments that hold classes can sometimes offer donation-based classes that will help your group raise money. Having a community class is a unique fundraising idea that people will love because there’s an activity to participate in while raising money for something beneficial.
8. Silent Auction
If you’re wondering how to enhance small group fundraising, another idea is to hold a silent auction. Asking your friends and family or local restaurants and shops for donations that will be attractive to bidders means a silent auction comes at a low cost to your organization. Even smaller organizations can raise a lot of money, including faith-based organizations looking for an effective fundraising idea.
9. Crowdfunding
For a low-cost solution to your fundraising needs, try crowdfunding. Most people are familiar with how crowdfunding works. Essentially all you have to do is put out a call for donations, which is always more effective with a compelling story about your organization, and then wait for the contributions to come through.
10. Merchandise Sale
Many organizations, even small ones, find success with selling merchandise to raise funds. Whether you want to sell t-shirts, coffee mugs, posters, or some other kind of merchandise, you’ll be sure to raise some money and spread the word about your organization. This way, merchandise sales act as a marketing tool and a fundraiser.
11. Trivia Night
For a fun, interactive fundraising idea, your organization could try a trivia night. Players have to buy their entry into the trivia game, and then whoever wins trivia could take home a prize. Trivia night could be virtual or in-person if you have a venue for it. Small organizations can make a lot of money with this fundraising idea because of its low cost.
12. Golf Tournament
Finally, golf tournaments are a unique fundraising idea for small groups that can also bring in a large amount of fundraising dollars. Hosting a golf tournament is a little more time-consuming and expensive than the other fundraising ideas, but it could be a worthwhile trade-off when you consider how much your group will make in donations.
Fundraising Ideas for Small Groups
Whether you are fundraising for a charity, political organization, or faith-based group, there are plenty of creative fundraising ideas that will serve your small group well. These twelve ideas vary in cost and effort but will all bring you a lot of fundraising dollars that are crucial to your organization’s success. Ensuring you have enough funding to operate is essential to every small organization trying to make a difference in the world.
