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Popular Types of Fundraisers
The table below shows some of the most common types of fundraisers, the best uses for each, and well-known examples.
Fundraiser |
Best Uses |
Example(s) |
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Auctions |
As an add-on to a fundraising event, silent auctions create an opportunity to get additional funds from a receptive audience. If you have access to highly coveted and scarce items, an auction can generate significant revenue as a stand-alone event. |
Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, Biennial Art Auction |
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Meal events |
Breakfasts, lunches, and dinners can help you
raise funds, deliver a
message to a wide audience in person, and
garner media attention. |
New York
Women’s
Foundation’s “Celebrating Women” Breakfast |
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Canvassing |
Door-to-door solicitations are best for membership organizations that have a substantial volunteer base. If volunteers can cope with rejections, the effort can raise an organization’s
visibility and forge
new memberships. |
Sierra Club |
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Concerts or cultural events |
A big-name performer (or even a popular local artist) headlining a show can reach a wide audience and attract publicity. |
Live Aid,
Farm Aid |
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Food sales |
Selling food products is a great way to reach a wide array of contributors. |
Girl Scout
Cookies |
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Direct mail |
Mass mailings have
become increasingly popular since World War II and remain effective when coupled with other awareness-raising techniques. |
American Heart
Association, Operation Smile |
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Licensed product sales |
Selling licensed apparel and products through an organization’s website or gift shop is a great idea for nonprofits with a large base of supporters. |
National
Audubon
Society |
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Relays, races, and walks |
Relays, races, and walks are especially appropriate if your fundraiser is health-or fitness-related. |
AIDS Walk, Avon Walk for Breast Cancer |
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Sports events |
Golf tournaments, celebrity basketball games, and other sports-themed events are increasingly popular and offer an active alternative to staid luncheons. |
BMW Charity Pro-Am golf tournament |
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Telemarketing and telethons |
The internet hasn’t made phone fundraising obsolete. Telemarketing and telethons work well alongside strategically timed promotions delivered through other media. |
Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon |
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Home and garden tours |
A curious public is often willing to pay an entrance fee for access to private luxury homes/gardens. |
Chicago Luxury Home Tour (for American Public Media) |
Where to Find More Fundraising Ideas
The previous table is just a sampling of popular fundraisers. For more ideas, try the following.
Local Newspapers and Magazines
Browsing through your local papers and magazines can reveal a wealth of fundraising ideas.
- Local headlines—from “Cookie Queen’s Recipe Makes It into Charity Cookbook” to “Lifeguards Go to Sea for Fundraising Event”—can offer unexpected ideas.
- Check the society pages, which often show photos from black-tie fundraising galas and ladies’ luncheons.
Mailings from Other Organizations
Rather than throw out nonprofit mailings you receive as “junk mail,” take time to consider the mailings’ wording, design, presentation, and other characteristics to find inspiration for your own organization’s mailings.
- What shape, color, and texture of paper does the mailing use? Pay attention to fonts and use of photos.
- Who signed the letter—a leader of the organization or someone from the community?
- Were you asked for a one-time donation or monthly recurring donations?
- Did the organization send a calendar, personalized address labels, or other item to entice you into giving in return for the “gift” they’ve provided?
Publications and Websites
The websites and publications of professional fundraising organizations (see Ethical Issues in Fundraising) are helpful resources for staying on top of fundraising trends.
| Acknowledgments & Disclaimer |
