One of the keys to holding a successful fundraiser is hosting events that your supporters will find interesting and exciting. That means you need fresh, bold ideas. Coming up with new events, or even developing a unique approach for tried and true fundraising activities can be challenging. The next time that you’re stumped for ideas, consider using one from the following list.

Apple Day

Rather than a Fall Fling or other harvest festival, host an apple-themed baked sale. Offer fresh apples, along with other apple-based food items such as apple cider, fresh-baked apple pies, caramel and candy apples, applesauce cake and more! Line up volunteers to help with the baking, pricing and selling of items. Alternatively, contract with a local bakery or supplier to help provide baked goods, supplies and manpower to help during the event!

Board Gaming Competition

Not all gaming is high-tech. These days, traditional board games are seeing a resurgence in popularity, with several gaming conventions featuring competitive board game play. So why not host your own? Charge an entry fee and sell beverages and snacks to players. Contract with local businesses to provide space, tables and other equipment for your event, as well as provide top winners with prizes.

Croquet or Cricket Tournament

Contract with a third-party to cover the outdoor stadium and provide equipment and invite supporters to create their own amateur teams to compete in the event. You can charge an entry fee and sell concessions as well as ask for donations to raise funds during the event!

Dance-a-Thon

Play a mix of music genres as you challenge participants to dance as long as they can. Award prizes for the longest dancer, best-matched couple, and more!

Education-Based Events

Hold trivia challenges or host a scholar’s bowl and invite local school teams to compete in your event. Ask third-party sponsors to cover the prizes and related costs and sell tickets to raise awareness about your cause, along with increasing donations.

Fun Fundraising Festivals

The warm, summer months are the perfect time to sponsor carnival rides, music festivals and other similar, fun events. Sell tickets and refreshments in addition to setting up donation kiosks at these events.

Grill for a Good Cause

Host grill-themed cooking contests and invite supporters to prepare and bring their favourites to your event. Charge an entry fee and sell samples. Offer awards for each category of grilled foods and their sides. Ideas include grilled meats, such as beef kabobs, marinated and grilled steak and chicken strips, various types of barbeque and hamburgers. Sides could be coleslaws, chilis, baked beans and don’t forget to include desserts popular at cookouts!

Holiday Themed Swaps, Sales and Competitions

Swap Christmas cookies, or offer spooky, Halloween-themed face painting and award prizes for the best costume. Offer singing valentines in exchange for a donation, go Christmas carolling,  or host a Christmas concert.

Ice Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for Ice Cream!

Host an old-fashioned ice cream social. This is a fun idea for summer and will attract the old and young. Aim for creative flavours to draw the crowds. Who doesn’t like ice cream?

Jump Rope for Hope

Athletic competitions can be a fun way to raise funds for your NFP. Rather than a traditional race, have contestants compete to see how long, and high, they can jump.

Karaoke Challenge

Let your supporters take centre stage in this type of competition. Charge admission fees and either rent equipment and a soundstage or ask a local pub or other third party to provide the venue, music and prizes.

Lemonade Stand

Get back to basics with a simple lemonade stand. It’s a fun way to get the community involved, and you can make it as big or as small as you like. It is easy to set up and requires minimal ingredients. Pick a warm day, and you won’t have a problem of enticing your customers to line up for a drink.

Movie Night

Contract with a local movie theatre to donate a percentage of their ticket sales for a specific day or night to benefit your cause. Ask sponsors to hook you up with projectors, venue and film and show a family-friendly movie on site to raise awareness and funds. Sell both tickets and concessions to raise money for your NFP.

Network for Change

Many professional groups and trade associations host networking events to help those working in their industry to make new connections and learn more about the trends and thought leaders shaping the future. Why not ask one or more of these groups to partner with you to raise awareness about your cause and ask for contributions during their next social gathering?

Online Giving Campaigns

Your NFP’s next fundraiser doesn’t have to be an in-person event to be successful! Take advantage of #givingTuesday and similar occasions to draw attention to your cause and ask for donations online!

Potlucks and Picnics

Invite your entire community over for a crowd-pleasing lunch or dinner! Ask everyone to bring a covered dish or two to your meeting place. Host it on site to give your supporters an insider’s glimpse into your daily activities, and invite entertainers and speakers to increase awareness while making your event more fun and enjoyable. Close out the event with a request for contributions.

Queen or King for a Day Spa

Give your supporters the royal treatment, by turning your offices into a day spa for the event. Partner with local hairdressers, make-up artists, manicurists and massage therapists to pamper your guests to relaxing beauty treatments. Charge admission, serve detoxing, delicious refreshments, and do before and after photo shoots for a fun, stress-busting fundraiser! If you don’t have room on-site, ask local spas in your area to consider sponsoring and hosting the event for you, and donate a percentage of the proceeds!

Race for Change

From roller skating to cycling, running and walks, host a competitive athletic challenge to draw attention to your work and ask for gifts. Offer prizes donated by local businesses to your top finishers. Charge an entry fee or sell commemorative apparel and other swag to increase funds raised at the event.

Shoot for the Stars

Host a basketball throwing competition or similar event where contestants can “shoot” hoops or other targets, such as darts. It’s great for any age and is suitable for any skill level.

Teachers Go to Jail for a Good Cause

Children of all ages will enjoy sending their teacher to “time-out” or lockup in exchange for a small fee. Allow them to increase the time spent in “jail” by buying extra-time and allow others to donate to reduce their sentences. Teachers, coaches, area celebrities, board members, and even your local public officials make excellent choices for this type of event. Mix it up by switching out the punishment from jail to pie-throwing, water dousing or another silly, but mostly harmless, penalty!

Unlimited Goodness

Partner with area restaurants and bars to offer patrons a card or token that can be redeemed during the specified time period for unlimited refills on their choice of favourite beverage or appetiser in exchange for a donation to your cause.

Vehicle Shows, Races and Raffles

Hot rods, monster trucks and classic cars all have a certain appeal to their fans. Host a contest such as best in show, best DIY refurb, or hold a raffle to give entrants a chance to win a great car collectible to raise money for your club or increase interest in your work.

Water Challenges

Invite everyone over for a pool party and swimming competition. Ask supporters to douse themselves with a bucket of icy water, or take a dip in a cold lake, to raise money for your nonprofit.

X Marks the Spot Treasure Hunt

Give your contestants a list of items to bring back by a particular time and award a prize to the winners. Present participants with a list of clues or questions and challenge them to solve the riddle. Charge admission and serve concessions for a fee as well as ask for donations to your NFP.

Yodeling Contest

Sell tickets and offer a panelled jury to decide who has the loudest, or most melodious yell for your cause.

Zoo Night

Partner with a local zoo to take guests on a special, themed tour of the animal exhibits, with a portion of the admission sales donated to your NFP.