Verdict: Community fundraising is the highest-leverage channel for small, volunteer-led nonprofits — relationships and proximity do the heavy lifting that paid reach can't.
What works: Low-overhead formats (bake sales, restaurant nights, peer-to-peer campaigns) that convert existing relationships into dollars fast; free tools that let you keep 100% of what you raise.
What doesn't: High-platform-fee ticketing and payment processors that skim 3–10% off every $5 ticket and $20 raffle book.
Best for: Volunteer-led nonprofits, PTAs, neighborhood associations, and small community foundations ready to run their first — or fiftieth — fundraiser.
Worth considering if: You want to move beyond one-off events and build a recurring fundraising calendar anchored in community relationships.
Table of contents
Community fundraising is the one channel where small, volunteer-led nonprofits have a structural edge. Relationships and proximity, not reach, drive the dollars at a neighborhood block party or a Friday-night reverse raffle. But that edge gets eaten the moment a platform skims 3-10% off every $5 ticket and $20 raffle book. The ideas below are sized for that reality: 75+ relationship-first community fundraisers grouped by effort, season, and format, each paired with the free Zeffy tool that runs it for $0. Multiply your fundraisers. Not your fees.
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Quick-Win Community Fundraisers (Under $100 to Start)
These are the ideas a solo founder or volunteer parent can execute this weekend. Low setup, high familiarity, and you keep every dollar when you collect with Zeffy.
1. Classic bake sale
Set up a folding table outside a busy local business with baked goods donated by volunteers. Price items at $2-$5 to keep impulse buys flowing. Run a simple "round up for the cause" prompt at checkout. You can take card payments at your bake sale straight from a volunteer's phone, so the cash-only crowd doesn't walk away.
2. Community car wash
Partner with a gas station, church, or school parking lot. Charge $10 per car and offer a $15 "deluxe" with interior vacuum. Most volunteer teams can wash 40-60 cars in a four-hour Saturday.
3. Donation jars at local businesses
Branded jars on counters at the coffee shop, dry cleaner, hardware store, and pizza place. Pair each jar with a one-page sign showing exactly what $1, $5, and $20 fund. Rotate jars monthly to keep them visible.
4. Community yard sale
Collect donated items from supporters and run a multi-family yard sale on a single lot. Charge sellers a small table fee or ask for a percentage of proceeds. Easy to repeat seasonally.
5. Penny drive (or spare change collection)
Classroom, office, or congregation competition: whichever group fills their jug highest wins a pizza party. Coinstar conversion makes the count painless.
6. Dress-down day
Schools and workplaces pay $5 to wear jeans, jerseys, or pajamas on a designated Friday. Zero overhead, instantly recurring.
7. Local business matching challenge
Ask a single neighborhood business to match the first $500-$1,000 raised in a week. The match urgency does the marketing for you.
8. Lemonade stand network
Recruit five to ten kid-led stands across the neighborhood on the same Saturday. Supply each with cups, a sign, and a QR code that drops donors into your Zeffy donation form.
9. Pop-up flower sale
Buy wholesale stems Friday, bunch them Saturday morning, sell them outside a farmer's market by noon. Margins clear $200-$400 on a $75 buy.
10. Coffee and donuts morning
Saturday morning at a community center or park entrance. Donated donuts from a local bakery, $3 coffee, $5 combo. Volunteers chat with neighbors about the mission while pouring.
11. Plant cutting and seedling swap
Ask gardeners in your network to pot cuttings from their houseplants. Sell each for $3-$8 at a one-afternoon swap. Pairs beautifully with a quick member sign-up table.
12. Book swap with a donation door
Free book swap, suggested $5 donation at the door. Low pressure, high foot traffic, easy to host at a library or church hall.
13. Birthday-month fundraiser
Invite supporters to ask their friends for $25 donations in lieu of birthday gifts. Provide a one-click setup link so they spend less than three minutes launching their page.
Food and Dining Fundraisers
Food fundraisers convert because everyone needs dinner anyway. Lean on local restaurants and home cooks to keep your overhead near zero, and sell tickets to your gala or festival for free on Zeffy so the full ticket price lands in your account.
1. Restaurant percentage night
Pick a Tuesday or Wednesday (slow nights restaurants want to fill) and partner with a local spot that donates 15-25% of the evening's sales. Promote it to your list and ask supporters to bring three friends. Most restaurants ask for a four-week lead time and a one-page printed flyer at the door.
2. Community potluck dinner
Charge $15-$25 per family for a shared meal where every household brings a dish. Adds cultural depth when neighbors share recipes and stories tied to each plate. Sell recipe books at the end for an extra revenue stream.
3. Food truck rally
Invite four to eight food trucks to a parking lot for a Saturday afternoon. Charge trucks a flat $100-$200 booth fee. Add a beer garden if your jurisdiction allows.
4. Chili cook-off
$10 entry to compete, $5 entry to taste and vote. Local restaurants compete against community home cooks. Trophy for "People's Choice" generates social media every time.
5. Pancake breakfast
Saturday morning at a community hall or firehouse. Volunteer-cooked, $8-$12 per plate. Pairs with a silent auction in the same room.
6. Pie auction
Volunteer bakers donate pies. Auction them off live at a community event with a fast-talking auctioneer (or a community pillar willing to ham it up). Average pie clears $40-$80.
7. Coffee tasting with a local roaster
Partner with a neighborhood roaster for a $25 ticket cupping. They donate the coffee; you provide the room and the audience. Beans for sale at the door split proceeds.
8. Progressive dinner
Appetizers at one supporter's home, entre at the next, dessert at the third. Charge $50-$75 per seat. Hosts cover the food as in-kind giving; tickets are pure margin.
9. Taco or pizza throwdown
Local restaurants compete in one category. Attendees buy $1 tasting tickets and vote with their tongues. Easy on the volunteer team, big on attendance.
10. Community brunch
Sunday brunch with mimosas and a guest speaker tied to your mission. $35-$50 per ticket. Pairs well with a paddle raise.
11. Soup and bread night
Buy a handmade pottery bowl ($15) and a soup-and-bread dinner is included. Bowls double as the keepsake. Local potters often donate to the cause.
12. Dessert auction
Volunteers contribute showstopper desserts. Auction each cake or pie tray live. Combine with a sit-down dinner for the full evening.
Community Events and Festivals
Festivals scale your reach by inviting the whole neighborhood at once. Plan four to six months out, recruit ten to twenty volunteers, and sell tickets to your gala or festival for free on Zeffy.
1. Community carnival
Classic ring toss, balloon darts, duck pond, face painting, mini sports games. Charge $1-$3 per game or sell a $15 wristband for unlimited play. Local businesses sponsor individual booths. Plan for 200-600 attendees over a Saturday afternoon.
2. Block party
Close one street with a city permit, bring grills, a bounce house, and a stage. Free entry, donation jars at every station. Best for 150-300 attendees. Eight to twelve weeks lead time.
3. Seasonal festival (spring fling, fall harvest, winter market)
Anchor on a season. Vendor booths charged at $50-$150, ticketed entry at $5-$10, food and drink margin on top.
4. Movie night in the park
Rent an inflatable screen ($400-$700) or borrow from a local theater. Free entry, $5 popcorn, $3 soda, blanket-and-chair donations welcomed. 100-400 attendees on a warm Friday.
5. Community picnic
Ticketed family picnic at a park. $10 adults, $5 kids, under 5 free. Games, lawn sports, a single food truck. Profit margin sits in the food and merch.
6. Heritage celebration
Spotlight one community's culture: food, music, dance, craft demos. Strong fit for organizations serving specific cultural groups. 300-800 attendees over a weekend afternoon.
7. Neighborhood Olympics
Team-based field games (tug of war, relay races, three-legged race). Teams of six pay $60-$120 entry. Trophy and bragging rights to the winners.
8. Kite festival
Open-field event with kite-building stations ($10 per kit), competitions, and food vendors. Visually spectacular for social media.
9. Lantern walk
Evening procession through a park or neighborhood, paper lanterns sold at $10-$15 each. Quiet, beautiful, family-friendly.
10. Touch-a-Truck
Borrow a fire truck, dump truck, police cruiser, and tractor. $5 entry per child. Big draw for families with kids under 10.
11. Neighborhood garage sale day
Coordinate dozens of supporter households to hold yard sales the same Saturday. Sell a $20 map of participating addresses. Generates foot traffic and turns supporters into hosts.
12. Outdoor concert series
Three-evening concert series in a community space. Local bands play for free. $10 entry, beer garden margin, merch booth.
13. Pet parade
Costume contest for dogs (and the occasional brave cat). $15 entry per pet, $3 spectator donation. Pet-supply businesses are eager sponsors.
14. Community trivia night
Teams of six at $90 per table. Run it at a brewery or community hall. The pub trivia format is plug-and-play.
15. Stargazing night
Partner with a local astronomy club to bring telescopes. $10 entry, hot chocolate sales. Best in fall and winter for early sunset.
Sports and Active Fundraisers
Athletic events recruit fundraisers as well as donors, which is why peer-to-peer is the right engine here. Launch a peer-to-peer walk-a-thon on Zeffy and every participant becomes their own fundraiser.
1. Fun run or 5K
$25-$40 per registration, ask each runner to raise an additional $100 from their personal network. T-shirts and race bibs included. Eight to twelve weeks lead time. Strong fit for almost any nonprofit.
2. Bike-a-thon
Per-mile pledges from each rider's network. 25-50 mile routes for serious riders, 5-10 mile family routes. Local bike shops sponsor SAG stops.
3. Golf tournament
Foursome entries at $400-$800 per team. Hole sponsorships at $100-$500. Add a silent auction and dinner for the full revenue stack. Six-month lead time, ideal for community foundations and Rotary partnerships.
4. Obstacle course team challenge
Tire runs, rope climbs, crawl tunnels. Teams of 4-5 pay $80-$150. Prizes for fastest team, best costume, and best team spirit keep it inclusive.
5. Sports tournament (basketball, volleyball, pickleball)
$200-$400 entry per team. Pickleball is a particular goldmine right now. Run at a school gym or community park.
6. Dance-a-thon
Six-hour dance marathon. Participants raise pledges per hour danced. Great fit for youth-serving organizations and student groups.
7. Swim-a-thon
Pool-based pledge fundraiser. Swimmers collect per-lap pledges. Partner with a community pool or YMCA. Strong with aquatic clubs and swim teams.
8. Yoga in the park
$15-$25 per mat. Local instructor donates time. Pairs with a healthy-snack booth and merch sales.
9. Hiking challenge
Distance-pledge format on a local trail. Participants log miles over a month and collect from sponsors. Low-cost, broad appeal.
10. Field day for adults
Kickball, sack races, water-balloon toss for grown-ups. $30 entry per person, BYOB if allowed. Picks up Gen X and millennial donors who don't show at galas.
11. Rowing or kayak-a-thon
Pledge-per-mile rowing event on a lake or river. Great for waterway-adjacent organizations and watershed groups.
12. CrossFit "hero WOD"
Partner with a local CrossFit box. Participants pay $30 entry, raise pledges. The community there is already trained on charity events.
Arts, Culture, and Entertainment Fundraisers
1. Community talent show
Open mic for singers, dancers, comedians, magicians. Charge performers a $10 entry and audience $15-$20. Categories for family acts, friend groups, and teens vs. adults keep it lively. Sell tickets to your gala or festival for free on Zeffy.
2. Art auction
Local artists donate one piece each. Run as a silent or live auction at a gallery or community space. Average donated piece clears $150-$500.
3. Gallery walk
Coordinate with multiple galleries or studios for a single evening. Ticketed entry at $20-$30 includes wine and small bites at each venue. Galleries benefit from foot traffic; you benefit from the ticket margin.
4. Concert series
Three-band evening at a community venue. $15-$25 entry. Local bands play for the cause. Beer garden margin on top.
5. Theater performance
Partner with a community theater for a benefit night. They donate ticket proceeds or a percentage. Two- to three-month lead time.
6. Poetry slam
$10 entry to compete, $10 to attend. Cash prize for the winner, larger margin to the cause. Best in coffee shops and small bars.
7. Craft fair
Local artisans rent booths at $50-$100 each. Free entry for shoppers. Add a food truck and a kids' craft corner to extend dwell time.
8. Photography exhibition
Local photographers donate prints in a themed exhibition. Silent-auction the prints or sell at fixed prices. Beautiful for a single-evening reception.
9. Film screening
Partner with an indie theater for a benefit screening of a mission-aligned film. $15-$25 tickets, Q&A with the director or a local expert.
10. Storytelling night
Older community members or local figures share stories tied to your neighborhood's history. $15 family entry, refreshments sold separately. Connects generations and surfaces stories worth preserving.
11. Open mic comedy night
Local comedians, $10-$15 entry. Best at breweries or comedy clubs willing to donate the room.
12. Battle of the bands
Four to six bands compete; audience votes with $1 ticket purchases per vote. The winning band gets a recording session or studio time donated by a local producer.
Auction and Raffle Fundraisers
Auctions and raffles still drive some of the highest dollar-per-attendee numbers in community fundraising. Run a silent or community auction on Zeffy and the platform fee is $0. For raffles, you can sell raffle tickets online — but check your state's gaming laws first, because raffle rules and licensing vary significantly state to state.
1. Silent auction
Solicit 30-100 items from local businesses and supporters. Display items on tables with bid sheets, or run digital bidding so attendees bid from their phones during a gala or dinner.
2. Live auction
Five to ten high-value items auctioned live by a charismatic auctioneer or community member. Pairs with a paddle raise where attendees pledge specific dollar amounts to a focused appeal.
3. Reverse raffle
Sell a fixed number of tickets (100-500). Draw losing numbers until one remains. Add buy-back options at $20 per ticket and mini-prizes every 25 eliminations. The final five can split the prize or play on.
4. Online auction
Run the auction entirely online over a one- to two-week window. Expands your bidder pool beyond who can show up Saturday night.
5. Experience auction
Auction donated experiences: a private dinner with a local chef, a day on a supporter's boat, a backstage tour. Experiences often outperform physical goods.
6. Service auction
Lawyers, accountants, photographers, contractors, and graphic designers donate hours of service. Strong with professional networks and chambers of commerce.
7. Mystery box auction
Wrapped boxes containing donated items of varied value. Bidders gamble on what's inside. Adds entertainment to a long evening.
8. 50/50 raffle
Tickets sold throughout an event. Half the pot goes to the winner, half to the cause. Simple, recurring, no inventory required. Confirm your state allows 50/50 raffles before promoting.
9. Themed basket raffle
Volunteers assemble themed baskets (date night, family game night, spa day). Sell individual raffle tickets per basket so guests target the prize they want.
10. Calendar raffle
Daily drawings for a full month. $20-$25 per ticket buys one entry in all 30 drawings. Donors stay engaged the entire month.
Educational Workshops and Classes
1. Cooking class
Local chef teaches a two-hour class. $40-$60 per seat, ingredients included. Recurring monthly works well.
2. Gardening workshop
Master gardener leads a hands-on session on container gardening, native plants, or composting. $25-$40 per attendee.
3. Repair cafe
Skilled volunteers help neighbors fix electronics, furniture, clothes, and bikes. Pay-what-you-can starting at $10 per item. Recurring monthly with a built-in supporter community.
4. Financial literacy session
Local CPA or financial planner leads a free or low-cost session on budgeting, taxes, or first-time home buying. Suggested $20 donation at the door.
5. Craft class (knitting, pottery, calligraphy)
Two-hour skills class led by a local artisan. $30-$50 per seat, materials included. Strong with library and community center partnerships.
6. Photography workshop
Half-day workshop on iPhone photography, portrait basics, or landscape composition. $50-$100 per attendee.
7. Tech help session for seniors
Volunteers help older neighbors with smartphones, email, video calls. Suggested $15 donation, often paid by family members. Builds intergenerational ties and goodwill.
8. Language exchange
Pair native speakers with learners. $10 entry, refreshments at a coffee shop. Recurring weekly or monthly turns into a community fixture.
9. Historical walking tour
Local historian leads a walking tour of significant neighborhood sites. $20-$30 per ticket. Pairs well with a partnership with the local historical society.
10. Home maintenance basics
Local contractor teaches a session on minor plumbing, drywall patching, or seasonal furnace prep. $25-$40 per seat. Practical, well-attended.
Seasonal and Holiday Fundraisers
Anchoring an event to a season makes the promotion easier: everyone already has the holiday on their calendar. Use Zeffy's online store for event merch to sell branded items year-round.
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| Spring | Plant and seedling sale | April-May, before Mother's Day |
| Spring | Easter egg hunt with ticketed entry | Saturday before Easter |
| Spring | Mother's Day brunch | Sunday morning, second week of May |
| Summer | Ice cream social | Late June through August evenings |
| Summer | Outdoor movie night | July-August Fridays |
| Summer | Fourth of July pancake breakfast | Morning of July 4 |
| Fall | Pumpkin patch and corn maze | Weekends in October |
| Fall | Harvest festival | Mid-October Saturday |
| Fall | Trunk-or-treat | Weekend before Halloween |
| Winter | Holiday market and craft fair | First two weekends of December |
| Winter | Tree lighting ceremony | First Friday of December |
| Winter | Ugly sweater party | Mid-December Friday or Saturday |
Online and Hybrid Community Fundraisers
Virtual and hybrid events keep your geographic community connected to supporters who moved away — and pull in donors who can't show up in person.
1. Virtual gala
Live-streamed program with paddle raise and online auction. $25-$75 virtual tickets, donor packages mailed in advance for the at-home experience.
2. Online auction
One- to two-week bidding window, broader reach than a one-night event. Pair with social media countdowns.
3. Live-streamed talent show
Performers contribute video segments or perform live. Audience donates throughout via a pinned link.
4. Virtual trivia night
Teams join from their living rooms via Zoom. $60-$90 per team registration. Easy to host, no venue costs.
5. Online cooking class
Chef leads a live cooking demo. Attendees prep ingredients at home. $25-$40 per household, ingredients list sent with confirmation.
6. Hybrid gala (in-person + livestream)
Anchor event in-person, livestream for remote supporters. Sells two ticket tiers and doubles your potential audience.
7. Virtual fitness challenge
Participants log miles, workouts, or yoga sessions over a month. Per-activity pledges from their networks.
8. Online giving day
24-hour focused fundraising push with hourly matching gifts from local business sponsors. Pairs naturally with social media ambassadors. For more depth on the virtual format, see our guide to online fundraising.
Peer-to-Peer Community Campaigns
Peer-to-peer turns your supporters into your fundraisers. The average personal fundraising page raises three to five times more than the same donor would give directly. Launch a peer-to-peer walk-a-thon or any of the campaigns below on Zeffy.
1. Birthday fundraiser
Supporters ask their networks to donate $25 in lieu of birthday gifts. Provide a one-click setup link.
2. Memorial campaign
Families create pages in memory of a loved one. Often tied to a specific cause the person cared about. Handle with care and clear communication.
3. Team challenge
Friend groups, coworkers, or sports teams compete for top fundraiser. Public leaderboard drives the friendly rivalry.
4. Ambassador program
Recruit 20-50 supporters to each raise $500 over a quarter. Provide them with talking points, social copy, and weekly check-ins.
5. Social media challenge
Anchor on a viral hook (ice bucket-style, push-up count, mileage). Participants donate to enter and nominate three friends.
6. Giving circle
Ten to fifty donors each contribute $100-$1,000 annually. The group meets quarterly to decide together where the pooled funds go. Builds long-term loyalty.
7. Anniversary fundraiser
Supporters fundraise around personal milestones — wedding anniversaries, sobriety milestones, business anniversaries. Authentic and emotionally resonant.
8. Monthly mission challenge
Supporters commit to a personal challenge for a month (running daily, no-spend, vegetarian) and raise pledges per day completed.
What makes community fundraising different
Community fundraising is the work of bringing neighbors, local businesses, and supporters together in person to raise money for a local cause. It's defined less by the revenue model than by the relationships: the donor often knows the volunteer who organized it, the business that sponsored it, and the person the funds will help.
The benefit isn't just the dollars. Local connections built through community events turn one-time givers into recurring supporters and build the foundation for everything you'll fundraise next year.
Real nonprofits using these ideas
Black Entrepreneurs of the Flint Hills — annual community gala
The Black Entrepreneurs of the Flint Hills celebrate and support Black-owned businesses across the Flint Hills region of Kansas. For their annual Circle of Community Gala and Awards, they sell tickets on Zeffy Ticketing so every dollar lands in their entrepreneurship programs instead of being skimmed off by platform and processing fees.
Kick2Build — community summer camp
Kick2Build combines sports with cultural enrichment through their Sankofa soccer program. They use Zeffy's free ticketing for a tiered-price summer camp ($300-$495) that makes youth sports accessible while incorporating art and cultural elements.
Cardington-Lincoln Alumni Association — first-ever reverse raffle
The Cardington-Lincoln Alumni Association preserves local education heritage in their small Ohio town. They hosted their first-ever reverse raffle on Zeffy, selling tickets digitally to alumni who'd moved away as well as community members still in town.
Trinity Community Commons — holiday silent auction
Trinity Community Commons is turning an old church into a neighborhood gathering space. Their holiday auction partners with neighborhood shops for gift cards and specialty items — directly supporting both the community-building mission and the local businesses that sponsor the prizes.
How to plan your community fundraiser
Set a specific goal
"Raise $8,000 to fund 100 backpacks" outperforms "raise money for the program." A specific number with a specific outcome tied to it gives volunteers a story and donors a finish line.
Choose the right event for your community
Match the event to the audience you actually have. A neighborhood with lots of young families wants a Saturday-afternoon carnival, not a black-tie gala. An aging congregation wants a Sunday brunch, not a 5K. The right event is the one your existing supporters will actually show up to.
Recruit volunteers early
Start eight to twelve weeks out for a mid-size event. Define roles in writing (setup lead, registration, food, cleanup, photography), recognize contributions publicly, and follow up with a thank-you within 48 hours. For step-by-step tactics, see our guide on recruiting volunteers.
Promote locally first
Community bulletin boards, neighborhood Facebook groups, Nextdoor, the local paper, and ambassador supporters who share to their personal networks. Add a partnership with two or three local businesses willing to display flyers. For more channels, see our guide to promoting a fundraiser.
Day-of execution
Arrive two hours before doors open. Brief volunteers in a 10-minute standup. Assign one person to handle cash and card payments, one person to greet, one person to photograph. Keep a sign with your donation QR code at every station.
Follow up within a week
Personalized thank-yous to sponsors, volunteers, and major donors. Share photos and the total raised publicly. See our thank-you letter templates for ready-to-send copy. The follow-up is what turns a one-time event into an annual tradition.
What is community fundraising?
Community fundraising is event-based fundraising organized by and for a local community — neighbors, local businesses, congregations, schools, and supporters of a neighborhood cause. It's defined by relationships and proximity more than by reach: the donor often knows the organizer, and the funds benefit a cause they can see in their own neighborhood.
What are the best community fundraisers for small nonprofits?
For a volunteer-led nonprofit getting started, the highest-return formats are: a community bake sale or car wash (under $100 to start, can run this weekend), a restaurant percentage night (zero overhead, four-week lead time), and a peer-to-peer birthday or memorial campaign (no event logistics at all). Once you have a volunteer base, step up to a community carnival, reverse raffle, or silent auction.
How do I plan a small community fundraiser?
Pick a specific dollar goal tied to a specific outcome. Choose an event format that fits the supporters you actually have. Recruit a small core team of three to five volunteers eight weeks out. Promote through neighborhood channels — Facebook groups, Nextdoor, bulletin boards, and your existing email list. Use a platform like Zeffy so 100% of what you raise lands in your account.
How do I get local businesses to support a community fundraiser?
Ask in person, and ask for something specific. "Will you donate a $50 gift card for our silent auction?" works better than "Would you like to support our event?" Bring a one-page sheet that explains the cause, the event date, expected attendance, and the visibility the business will get. Follow up with photos and a public thank-you after the event.
Are raffles legal for community fundraisers?
Raffle rules vary significantly by state, and some states require nonprofits to register or get a gaming license before selling raffle tickets. Check your state's attorney general or gaming commission website before promoting a raffle, and consult an attorney if you're unsure about your jurisdiction's rules. Zeffy provides the raffle ticketing tool but does not issue gaming licenses or provide legal advice.
How much should a community fundraiser cost to run?
The leanest community fundraisers — bake sales, donation drives, percentage nights — run on volunteer time and donated supplies, so cash outlay is near zero. Mid-size events (carnivals, 5Ks, silent auctions) typically run on 10-20% of gross revenue when you partner with local businesses for in-kind sponsorship. The single biggest cost most nonprofits don't account for is platform and payment-processing fees — which is exactly why Zeffy exists.
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