Fundraising Ideas – 23 That Make the Most Money
Below is a list of top fundraising ideas for your shopping comparison. There are a numerous similar list, but this one shows the resources and an estimate of the money you can make.
Once the ideas were compiled, the team located specialized fundraising sources and used their estimates for how much you could earn.
If the source numbers were unavailable, we created a mini-project list, estimating the number of volunteers needed, and then calculated the numbers to estimate the average cost, money raised, and profit.
Go & Give is in a unique position. We don’t compete with these other fundraisers since they are all “short-term” fundraisers. They provide fast cash, but they also require a lot of planning and manpower.
In contrast, Go & Give introduces a unique type of fundraising called, “Forever Funding™” where you can earn money year-long, perpetually, without “begging for money,” with very little effort. The last fundraising idea on this list explains how this works.
Fundraising Index
We hinted at Forever Funding above. HERE is a link for in-depth details, but we also cover some of the specifics below (in the last section).
Our list is divided into categories (click to jump to section):
Group Effort Fundraising Ideas
In the first fundraiser idea, we are going to roll the numbers to give a detailed example of how you might calculate the ROI for the fundraiser. Others will have estimated final amounts—but not as much detail. We may add more detail later.
1) Car Wash Fundraiser
- Projected Cost: Less than $100 (8 buckets/$10 each, plus dish soap)
- Volunteers Needed: 10-12 per 3 hour shift, 3 shifts/day (30 volunteers each day)
- Average Money Raised: $600 a day
- Profit: $500
Project Details
You can rough it out, but following are items to consider:
- Car Wash Sign
- 2 Saturdays
- Held at a Gas Station with a parking lot and hose (the key is location, location, location). The station contribution is the water and good will (you help drive more to their gas station)
- 2 lanes for washing. The car is divided into 6 parts (corner panels with wheel, hood and back/top) with 6 people (so it is fast)
- 12 people total – 9 am until 8 pm (3 hour shifts) – 48 people per day
- Team Guidelines (clothes are fun but modest), how many buckets, how many rags to wash, how many rags to dry, who does the outside & inside
- You can charge for just the outside, or both outside and inside
- Need electricity and 4 shop vacs
- How much lead time (to get supplies and recruit students)
- How much to charge ($10 is a good target—cheaper that auto-wash)
- Accept tips (big tip jar) for our fundraiser
- Estimate how many cars per hour (high/low)
This fundraising idea is perfect for the summer when it’s hot and only requires a place to set up, soap, water, and sponges. It is quick to create (a matter of a few weeks compared to other fundraisers) and you can charge a $10 fee per car and include a tip jar! Your group can make it fun by playing music and dressing up, providing a fun experience for the customers.
2) Concession Stand
- Projected Cost: Have to check on inventory – often supplied by the school, and you share the profits.
- Volunteers Needed: 5-10 per shift
- Average Money Raised & Profit: $300-$500
Project Details
School and community events typically have existing inventory, and allow different groups to handle their concession setups and take a percentage for their fundraising needs. This can be done by signing up your team or group for a high school game during their off-season or a special event. You can even create a sign that says “Proceeds help support [your group name]”.
3) Trash Cleanup
- Projected Cost: Less than $100 (plastic bags, big trash can, gloves)
- Volunteers Needed: 25
- Average Money Raised: $3,750 based on contributions per hour
- Profit: $3,650
Project Details
Make this competitive for your group by including sponsored pledges for each member who cleans for a certain amount of time. Sponsors can contribute a $1 or more for 15 minutes and then continue to add until the member(s) finish picking up trash.
Your organization can ask friends, family, local businesses, and neighbors to be sponsors. Rough ROI: 25 people. Each get 25 sponsors @ $1 per hour x 6 hours = $3,750
4) Talent Show
- Projected Cost: $200 ($60 for trophy & ribbons) (also for stage decor and flyers to promote the talent show) – volunteer location
- Volunteers Needed: 50 (20 are the talent (3-5 min each))
- Average Money Raised: $1,000
- Profit: $800
Project Details
Your group can send flyers to the local middle and high school, list on the Nextdoor app, post at the local mailbox, within your club, etc.
You can list some silly ideas to take the pressure off to encourage applicants, but may also snag some serious talent. Include a few judges and some trophy and ribbons for the participants—plus bragging rights.
Invite parents and community members to the evening event as a Club/School/Band, etc. fundraiser and charge a small fee for attending (typically $5.00 per person or family x 200 in audience = $1,000).
5) Volunteer-a-Thon
- Cost of Fundraising Idea: $0
- Volunteers Needed: 25
- Average Money Raised: $3,700
- Profit: $3,700
Project Details
Serving the community is a great way to fundraise. Your group can volunteer with www.volunteerathon.org to provide services like planting trees, picking up trash, and participating at food banks. Have your group collect pledges for the time they spend volunteering! It should raise a similar amount to the Trash Cleanup that is listed above.
Unique Fundraising Ideas
Unique fundraising ideas can foster a sense of excitement and creativity, encouraging broader community involvement and participation. Additionally, innovative approaches can reach new demographics and increase overall fundraising success by appealing to a wider audience.
6) Penny Drive
- Cost of Fundraising Idea: Can be $0 if you use items around your house to collect the pennies– gallon jugs, milk cartons, large snack containers, etc
- Volunteers Needed: An entire school, the entire 5th grade, your club members, etc. at least 75
- Average Money Raised and Profit: $4,000
Project Details
You can set up jars and containers at local stores, restaurants or schools. Just remember to ask permission from each teacher or restaurant owner and you can advertise it with flyers next to the jar!
If you have 75 people working 3 hours, collecting from homes (Avg 50 cents each house (not all pennies!) x 100 homes = $50 x 75 = $3,750). Plus, 25 businesses with containers for 1 week, $10/each = $250.
7) Shoe Drive
- Cost of Fundraising Idea: $0
- Volunteers Needed: 100
- Average Money Raised & Profit: $1,000
Project Details
Shoe drives are typically used for larger organizations and in schools. This fundraising idea is started by contacting a shoe drive fundraiser representative and following their steps and rules.
Here are a few shoe fundraising organizations to get started:
- Got Sneakers. Concentrate on shoe fundraisers.
- Funds2Orgs. Nice looking website, great ideas for school fundraisers.
- Clothing Drive Fundraiser. Has clothing drives, but also shoes.
8) Scavenger Hunt
- Projected Cost: $300 (x3 $25-$50 prizes, $50-$100 materials)
- Volunteers Needed: 20
- Average Money Raised: $1,000
- Profit: $700
Project Details
A scavenger hunt generally has about 80-100 participants. Your group should choose a fun theme, set location markers, and reward prizes to the top 3 winners. At the beginning of the scavenger hunt, your organization can charge $10 to compete and ask for more donations from spectators.
9) Photo Contest Fundraiser
- Projected Cost: $200
- Volunteers Needed: 15
- Average Money Raised: $1,000
- Profit: $800
Project Details
This type of fundraiser will get attention and can include different age groups and themes for anyone to enter! Your group can make it virtual or in-person.
Make sure to include a grand prize and a $15 entry fee (your group can also ask for more donations) for the fundraising idea. Winners can use “award-winning” in their portfolio if they consider photography a side hustle.
Theme Ideas:
- Sunsets
- Local Views
- Blurry aka “captured in the moment”
10) Lucky Rubber Duck
- Projected Cost: $300 (kiddie pools, rubber ducks in bulk, prizes)
- Volunteers Needed: 20
- Average Money Raised: $1,200
- Profit: $900
Project Details
This fundraising idea has a fun carnival twist. Your group sets up kiddy pools with water and marks random rubber ducks—you can include special ducks like green, gold, bigger, etc—and those that are marked have prizes associated with them.
Charge $2.50 for the regular ducks and $5 for the specialty ducks for a chance to win. This is often done during another event (school carnival, club party, etc.)
Easy Fundraising Ideas
11) Crowdfunding
- Projected Cost: $0 for social media or $1,350 for crowdfunding platforms
- Volunteers Needed: 5 people to run the campaign
- Average Money Raised: $9,000
- Profit: 9,000
Project Details
Crowdfunding is the sit-back-and-relax kind of fundraiser once you get it set up—however, it is a beg-for-money approach. Create your fundraiser on a social media platform (Facebook or Instagram as examples) or with a company like GoFundMe.
Then, set a target, and share about your organization to spread the word. Invite social media friends to share your links to hit your target goal!
12) Raffle
- Projected Cost: $100
- Volunteers Needed: 10
- Average Money Raised: $1500
- Profit: $1400
Project Details
Following are a few popular raffle ideas:
- 80/20 Raffle. Instead of giving away a luxury prize for participants’ donations, you can give a portion of the money raised to the raffle winner.
- Reverse Raffle.This type of raffle fundraiser builds up anticipation instead of announcing a winner so quickly. You can draw out 10-15 raffles for a few sets and transfer them to the grand prize drawing.
- Local Businesses’ Grand Basket. Your group can ask for donations from 5-10 businesses in the community. Once the gifts are retrieved, place them in a basket to show-off at a school or community event. Participants can buy single or bundle raffle tickets to increase their chance to win.
13) Coupon Books
- Projected Cost: $1,875 (50% of profit)
- Volunteers Needed: your entire group
- Average Money Raised: $3,750
- Profit: $1,875
Project Details
Coupon Books are popular and often support local business. You can design your own or use a coupon book fundraising company–which reduces the work. Then, your group can sell them in their neighborhoods and businesses.
Check out more information on coupon books: https://www.lovetoknow.com/life/lifestyle/coupon-book-fundraising
14) Products for Sale
- Projected Cost: $2,205 (your group generally keeps 30%)
- Volunteers Needed: 55
- Average Money Raised: $3,150
- Profit: $945
Project Details
This fundraising idea is one of the most common fundraiser used by many groups—even though the profit may be underwhelming. Your organization will often sell popcorn, cookie dough, or travel mugs–often with the help of a product fundraising company.
They provide the product to members of your group to sell to family and friends, with a part of the profit for your group. 50 people selling 3 tubs of cookie dough each = 150 sold = $3,150 total.
Sports Fundraisers
Sports fundraisers like youth sports-thons, the “best seat in the house” raffle, and roller skating events are great ways to combine fitness and fun while raising money. These activities not only promote a healthy lifestyle but also create an exciting, community-driven atmosphere where everyone can participate and support a common goal.
15) Youth Sports-a-Thon
- Projected Cost: $0 (ask a sponsor to donate t-shirts with their logo)
- Volunteers Needed: 20 (10 kids per team)
- Average Money Raised: $3,000
- Profit: $3,000
Project Details
Is your group a high school sports team? Get your team involved in mentoring local youth! If football, they can teach passing, receiving, kicking, running, conditioning, etc.
Create a weekend tournament and have each team player can work with players in different age groups, or different skills. Charge a $15 sign-up fee. Not only does this raise money for your group, but it provides great leadership skills for your team!
Check out this cool approach to get more donations while doing a sports-a-thon: Hour A Thon – Compete Fundraising
16) Best Seat in the House
- Projected Cost: Less than $50 for a roll of tickets
- Volunteers Needed: 10
- Average Money Raised: $1,000 (based on 200 tickets at $5 per raffle/ticket)
- Profit: $950
Project Details
This is a raffle fundraiser for a special seat or seats for the game. You can earmark an existing seat (football stadium), or bring a set of comfy chairs closest to the game (soccer, tennis, etc.). Your group can sell the tickets or raffle for a bundle price to raise more funds and increase participants’ chances of getting the best seat.
17) Rollerblading to the Finish Line
Projected Cost: $250 (insurance and waivers)
Volunteers Needed: 30
Average Money Raised: $1,250 (based off 250 participants)
Profit: $1,000
Project Details
This fundraiser is a great option for a warm spring or summer day—in a part of the country with a lot of rollerblading. Your group can mark a church parking lot, school track, or any other roadway that you’re given permission to use.
Make sure to determine the length of the race. Charge a $5 entry fee and include a couple of prizes for the winners—split into age groups for more fun and a longer fundraiser.
You can also partner with a local rink for those who don’t own skates and the skating rink can be the co-sponsor of the event.
18) Custom Designed T-shirt
- Projected Cost: $600
- Volunteers Needed: 15, split up between events/shifts
- Average Money Raised: $3,839 (250 shirts at $20 per shirt)
- Profit: $3,239
Project Details
Making a t-shirt design is easier than you think with Amazon and Canva and it can be use for your sports team or an upcoming event. This also can double as a marketing strategy for more reach and could increase your team’s donors and future fundraisers.
Your group can sell them during high school and community events or even on social media.
Here are three resources for t-shirt fundraising:
- FundraiserTee. How T-Shirt Fundraising Works. Make money.
- Custom Link. Offers free shipping and 100% customer satisfaction for t-shirt creations.
- Bonfie. Bring your community together with custom shirts.
Local Fundraising Ideas
Local fundraising ideas like potlucks, pancake breakfasts, and drive-ins are a wonderful way to bring the community together to support your organization.
These events are not only easy to organize but also create an inviting atmosphere where everyone can enjoy good food and fun activities.
19) Potluck in the Park
- Projected Cost: Less than $100 (plastic table clothes and serving supplies)
- Volunteers Needed: 25
- Average Money Raised: $2,000
- Profit: $1,900
Project Details
Nothing brings a community together like food and conversation. This fundraiser involves a little pre-planning and potluck sign-ups for dishes brought to the event. Contact your city hall or local park service about a time and date and round up chairs and tables if your park doesn’t have enough picnic tables.
Have a few group members welcome guests, organize the dishes, and ask for a $10 donation to join in to eat a good meal! This amount is based on 200 people. Remember to enlist a setup and cleanup crew and see if anyone has portable speakers for music.
20) Pancake Breakfast
- Projected Cost: $160 (pancake mix for 200 guests, $50-coffee, $28-single serving juice, $40 for plastic silverware, plates, and cups)
- Volunteers Needed: 50
- Average Money Raised: $2,000
- Profit: $1,840
Project Details
Your fundraising group can charge by family and/or an individual price for entrance. Also, your team can sell tickets door-to-door to build anticipation.
Choose a location that has power sources for grills or cookers for keeping warm (such as a park or community event venue), buy the easy pancake mix from Sam’s Club, bottles of syrup, and include a few types of beverages (make sure to include coffee) for participants to choose from.
Charge an admittance fee of $10 per individual or $20 per family.
21) Drive-in Movie
- Projected Cost: $75 for a portion of profit
- Volunteers Needed: At least 15 to help with advertising
- Average Money Raised: $500
- Profit: $425
Project Details
If you have a drive-in movie theater within your community, this is a great way to fundraise for your group. Partner with the movie theater for a special show that gives a portion to your group as visitors pay for their tickets at the theater.
Group members can advertise to friends, family, and neighbors about the exclusive event. Your group can also work the concession stand as another part of this fundraiser to raise even more more
22) Restaurant Takeover
- Projected Cost: $0, the restaurant gives 20% on average to your group
- Volunteers Needed: 10
- Average Money Raised & Profit: $800
Project Details
Check with your local restaurants and the chain restaurants to set up a fundraiser for your group. This kind of fundraiser hardly takes any effort for your organization, because restaurants like Panera Bread, etc. are equipped to do the hard part.
Your group just needs the thumbs-up from the restaurant(s), then set a time and date, and finally advertise to the community and earn a percentage of the profits.
Select the links below to learn more from these restaurants’ fundraising programs.
Forever Funding
- Projected Cost: $0
- Volunteers Needed: 2 fundraising contacts
- Average Money Raised & Profit: $7,680
Project Details
The group averages $24 per user per year. If your organization has 100 members, they may have 3 other family members per member, and an additional 20 extended family members – 320 individuals.
Most fundraisers have shortfalls (you can tell by the ROI listed above), and many sell products at inflated prices (i.e., popcorn). Instead, use typical “travel” as a fundraiser.
Book travel (flights, hotels, cars, or insurance), and part of the profits go directly to your sports team, alumni , band, cheerleading, scout fundraiser, or charity throughout the year = “Forever Funding™.”
You save an avg of 30% off the public pricing (because you get pre-negotiated GROUP discounts), and it pulls from the world’s largest travel sites.
Unlike many fundraisers that require a big group to organize and run, Go & Give only needs a few fundraising organizers. It takes minutes to sign up and run (not weeks).
Happy travels and cheers with Forever Funding! Set it up once and it continues from year to year with minimal effort.