Finding the right fundraising idea for your club doesn't have to be a challenge. A little creativity goes a long way, whether you're hosting an event, selling products and services, or creating a unique adventure. Achieving success with each fundraising idea requires careful planning and active engagement from club members and the community.
Our top fundraising ideas for clubs
- Tech Repair
- Custom Songwriting
- Tech Recycling Drive
- Self-Defense Workshop
- Fitness Challenge
- Dog Washing Station
- Themed Dinner Party
- Music Concert Series
- Fashion Challenge
- Trivia Night
- Cook-off Competition
- Food Truck Festival
- Bike-a-thon
- Dance-a-thon
- Sports Tournaments
- Food Subscription Service
- Thrift Store Pop-Up
- Coffee Cart
- Community Cookbook
- Personalized Plant Pots
- Henna Tattoo Booth
- Photo Booth
- DIY Home Decor Workshops
- Photo Scavenger Hunt
- Adventure Trips
- Virtual Gaming Tournament
- Cardboard Cup Regalia
What are the best ways to raise funds for a club?
Student and community clubs can raise funds in various ways, but choosing fundraising activities that match your donor base is critical. Selling products and holding fundraising events are widespread and time-honored fundraising ideas, but technological advances have made other fundraising efforts equally successful. Alternatively, check out our effective fundraiser ideas for college clubs.
Sell services and items
Product and service sales are simple, affordable fundraising ideas for club members. Your club can sell concessions at a sporting event, donate services like tutoring or yard work, and more.
Host an event
Event fundraising is a popular choice because it's a fun way to collect donations. Fundraising events are everywhere, so you'll want your concert, party, or activity to stand out. Get Creative!
Crowdfunding campaigns
Student groups and clubs can add a crowdfunding campaign to almost any fundraiser. Whether hosting an a-thon event (such as a read-a-thon) or a virtual challenge, crowdfunding campaigns can be an excellent way to reach more people on social media platforms and raise more money.
Membership fees
Membership fees are standard for groups like the Chamber of Commerce or PTO/PTA. School clubs rarely think of this as a potential fundraising idea, but with a bit of creativity, you can come up with fun and unique ways to encourage people to donate monthly.
Service Club Fundraising Ideas
Many school and college clubs are based on service. Finding ways to use club members' skills and talents to support the community is a lovely way to raise funds for your club.
1. Tech Repair
Are you a tech club, or do you have club members with impressive technology skills? A tech repair fundraiser can be a free way to raise money from people in your community who need computer or tech help. Charge a few dollars for your services and share with donors how their payment will be used to help your club.
2. Custom Songwriting
Members with artistic talents can turn a public service into a fundraiser for your club. One way to do this is by offering customized songs for people's birthdays and anniversaries for a small fee.
3. Tech Recycling Drive
Your neighbors hate recycling technology tools like old laptops, DVD players, streaming sticks, etc. A simple fundraising idea for clubs is to offer to pick up and drop off old items for disposal. You can contact your local municipality for a list of recyclable items. Put the list on your website or social media page and encourage donors to give or charge a small fee for this service.
4. Self-Defense Workshop
Young women are aware of how dangerous life can be, but few have the self-defense skills to protect themselves. Another way your service club can provide community service is by teaching a self-defense workshop online or in-person to community members. Contact your local community center to see if you can use the location for free or at a discount, and promote the event through word-of-mouth, emails, or social media posts.
5. Fitness Challenge
A fitness challenge for the community can support your neighbors while raising funds for your club. Come up with a fitness challenge that anyone can do, create a donation page online, and produce an inspirational video or story to get people excited about your fundraising campaign.
Charge an entry fee for participation and offer prizes to the winners. Another way to increase your fundraiser's revenue is with a crowdfunding campaign. Encourage all participants to create their own fundraising page and collect donations from supportive friends and family.
6. Dog Washing Station
A dog is man's best friend, but keeping them clean can be a bother. Student clubs can handle this problem by setting up a table to wash community dogs for a few hours. All you need is a parking lot or park, water hoses, buckets, dog shampoo, towels, and a few tasty treats. Promote the dog wash online and with colorful signs posted around the community. Set up a donation box to accept donations from thankful dog owners.
Fundraising Events for Clubs
An event can be a fun way to raise hundreds or thousands of dollars. In a crowded fundraising field, you must develop event ideas that match your club's mission and stand out from other fundraisers near you.
7. Themed Dinner Party
Why not use your club members' acting skills to turn a fundraising dinner into a show? Host a murder mystery or write a custom show to make the night into a fundraising success. Connect with a local restaurant or cooking club to create a delicious meal for audience members and split the income evenly.
8. Music Concert Series
There are a few ways your club can do a music concert series. The traditional music concert series needs a coffee house or performance venue where local bands or musicians can play. Your club can promote the series on social media and with flyers and charge an entry fee to community members. You can also offer the series online and ask for donations or host a karaoke contest that your audience can join for a fee.
9. Fashion Challenge
A fashion challenge can be another way for artistic or eco-friendly clubs to raise funds. You can develop a list of outfit ideas with limitations, like you can only use garbage or used items. Charge participants a fee and raise extra money with a fashion show.
10. Trivia Night
Trivia nights are a common event idea for clubs, but you can turn it into a memorable evening with a crazy theme. Find a local bar or restaurant to hold your event. Include a silent auction and sell raffle tickets to raise money.
11. Cook-Off Competition
A bake sale or cook-off competition is a fun opportunity to raise money and show club members' culinary talents. Choose a theme like BBQ or Sweet Treats. Hold your event at a local park or local school for enough room for event participants and attendees. Set up a donation box and use an online platform to collect gifts from supporters through your club's website or via credit card.
12. Food Truck Festival
If you want to avoid cooking but want to provide good food, a food truck festival has become a trendy fundraising event idea. Contact local businesses and set up contracts that promise a large crowd in exchange for a percentage of the income. Your club is responsible for marketing the event; the food trucks do the rest. You can increase your club's fundraising efforts with raffle tickets and t-shirt sales.
13. Bike-a-thon
A bike-a-thon can be a family fun day or an athletic challenge. Your club must contact your municipality to access a local park or community street. Then, collect a signup fee from bikers and create an online donation form for donations. You can start a peer-to-peer fundraising campaign to raise more money and encourage participants to create an online donation page to raise funds from their supporters. Set up check-in and vendor tables for local businesses and sponsors to promote and sell their wares.
14. Dance-a-thon
A dance-a-thon is a different take on the traditional a-thon event. These became popular during the Great Depression and allowed people to win cash prizes if they danced the whole night. A modern version of this fundraising event will combine a dance with peer-to-peer fundraising where dancers can collect funds based on the hours they stay on the dance floor.
15. Sports Tournaments
Sports tournaments are another athletic challenge that can work for any sports organization. Set up a chart for teams to play each other to see who is best. Charge fees to team members or individuals and collect an entrance fee from the crowd. Sell drinks and concessions during the long day and sell t-shirts to help meet your fundraising goals.
Product Fundraisers for Clubs
The Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts have had the most success in product sales. Your club may not raise as much, but finding a unique product to promote your mission and raise funds can help raise money.
You can also check out our article on 95 profitable things to sell for school fundraisers.
16. Food Subscription Service
Food subscription services have become big business for many companies. If you're a cooking club, this is an excellent fundraising idea combining your talents and donors' needs. Create a list of recipes where you excel and create a sales page on your club's website with a monthly fee or individual prices for each meal.
17. Thrift Store Pop-Up
Thrift stores are extremely popular with younger generations. Names like Goodwill or Savers are well-known for affordable clothes and home goods. Your club can jump on the thrift store bandwagon and set up a thrift pop-up store. Collect used goods from club and community members, and contact a local business to set up your thrift store pop-up on their sidewalk or in a local park.
18. Coffee Cart
Most people have a favorite coffee drink. A coffee cart is another simple fundraising idea for your club. Choose a few favorites and sell them to club members during meetings. Or set up a coffee cart and sell drinks to passersby.
19. Community Cookbook
Another way to collect donations with product sales is a community cookbook. This can be a separate fundraiser or part of your club's community cook-off event. Ask club and community members for their favorite recipes and a picture of the result, or cook them yourself and take a picture. Sell the cookbook at your event or online.
20. Personalized Plant Pots
A unique product for eco-friendly clubs is a personalized plant pot. Your club can collect used pots from thrift stores and community members, decorate and design them with inspirational and environmental messages, and sell them to the public online.
Creative Fundraising Ideas for Clubs
Clubs for actors, designers, musicians, and artists have more fundraising options than most. Selling products, offering services, or hosting a fun event can help share your club's mission and raise money.
21. Henna Tattoo Booth
Henna is a temporary option for people who have always wanted a tattoo but fear the permanence. Good henna artists are hard to find, so if you have a member or know of someone with these talents, a henna tattoo booth could be a unique raising money opportunity for your club.
22. Photo Booth
Photo booths don't have to cost a lot and are a creative way to excite supporters and raise money. Thankfully, everyone has a smartphone now, so you won't have to use your camera. Just set up a few rooms in a local school, create fun backgrounds, and offer costumes and props. Charge a fee to use the rooms and encourage visitors to share their pictures on social media.
23. DIY Home Decor Workshops
High school and college students love decorating their rooms to share their passions and personality. A DIY Home Decor Workshop held by your club can help them create custom picture frames, wall displays, comforters, and more to add to beautify their space. Hold the event online or in person, charge an entry fee, or collect donations.
Experience-Based Fundraisers for Clubs
Experience-based fundraisers offer participants a unique and memorable experience in exchange for their support. Instead of selling products and services, these fundraisers focus on enjoyable experiences.
24. Photo Scavenger Hunt
A photo scavenger hunt is an interactive activity for supporters to find a list of items, themes, or tasks and take pictures. Your club can hold this event entirely online. Choose a date and time for the event, set up a webpage with a list of items to find, and have people register to participate. As they take the picture, have them post on your social media platform with a #hashtag campaign. This event type can be a great way to raise money and promote your club.
25. Adventure Trips
An adventure trip can range from a white water rafting trip to a hiking tour led by your group. Your club's location will determine whether this is an option or not. Develop a plan for your adventure trip and promote it online and through word-of-mouth to excite supporters. Charge a reasonable fee to bring supporters on the adventure of their lives.
26. Virtual Gaming Tournament
Popular video games like Escape from Tarkov and Final Fantasy have a large crowd of followers. Your club can utilize the game's popularity and host a virtual gaming tournament fundraiser. Choose the game, date, and time, and select a platform. Create the tournament rules and promote your tournament online. Collect registration fees and donations from participants.
27.Cardboard Cup Regalia
This fun community event offers participants and spectators a unique and creative experience. People create a boat out of cardboard and enter the race to see who makes it to the finish line first and who sinks. Collect registration fees and sell tickets to watch the fun.
4 Best Tips to Make Your Club Fundraising a Success
Successful fundraisers combine compelling fundraising ideas with strategic planning. The following tips make planning and promotion easier and encourage long-term relationships with your club's supporters.
Engage Club Members
Involve club members in the planning and execution of your fundraiser. Encourage their ideas and ask them to volunteer their time and promote the event with their network. Fundraisers should never be a one-person job.
Create Exciting Marketing Materials
Develop eye-catching and persuasive marketing materials to promote your fundraiser. Posters, flyers, social media graphics, email newsletters, and press releases can be used to clearly communicate the purpose of your fundraiser and why people should participate.
Use Multiple Promotion Channels
Make sure you share marketing material on multiple channels. Social media posts, website event pages, email marketing, and word-of-mouth are a few of the many opportunities to share your upcoming fundraiser.
Follow up and Show Gratitude
Whether they bought a cup of coffee or donated thousands to your club, donors want to feel appreciated. After the fundraiser, follow up with participants to express gratitude for their involvement and contributions with thank-you letters. Share the fundraiser's impact on your club and highlight how their support made a difference. Continue to send updates on your club and invite them to more fundraising activities they may enjoy.
How Shrewsbury Elementary PTO Raised Almost $3,000 in Online Donations with Zeffy
Before 2023, Shrewsbury Elementary PTO only accepted cash and check donations from their members. That was until they found Zeffy's 100% free fundraising platform. Zeffy's online donation forms, e-commerce store, and Tap-to-play features have helped them raise almost $3,000 and save $147 in platform and credit card processing fees.
Start Your Club Fundraising With Zeffy
Club fundraisers can play a crucial role in the health and sustainability of your college club. Successful fundraisers provide financial support, community engagement, and mission advancement. The fundraising ideas and strategies we've listed in this article can enhance the success of your club's fundraising efforts and meaningfully impact the campus and your community.
Zeffy offers a host of fundraising tools to your club for free! Sign up and start selling products, raffle, and event tickets, collecting online donations, and running peer-to-peer fundraising campaigns to promote your club and raise funds.
