50 Creative Fundraising Ideas for Charities and Places of Worship

April 2025

Discover 50 fundraising ideas to help you design inspiring, community-focused campaigns that build engagement and increase donations — both online and in person.

Creative community fundraising event ideas

Inspiring your community to engage with your mission is a crucial part of successful fundraising.

At Dona, we empower charitable organisations to get creative with their digital donation terminals through a range of useful tools and fundraising features, including:

Create up to 20 different funds or campaigns
Share different funds on different donation machines, and on your free donation webpage
Toggle Gift Aid on and for different funds
Add up to 5 screensavers to showcase your campaigns
Use “Tap & Go” for faster set-amount donations – perfect for ticketing at events
Leave a message with online donations – ideal for Mass intentions or more personal donations.

Explore the full range of Dona features here.

Once you’ve got to grips with all the things you can do with your donation terminals, the next step is to set up your fundraising events and initiatives.

Here are 50 fundraising ideas to help you design inspiring, community-focused campaigns that build engagement and increase donations — both online and in person.

Community Events

Charity Fun Day – Host a community fair with games, stalls, raffles, and food. Invite local businesses to sponsor or donate prizes.
Open Mic Night – Encourage local talent to perform and charge an entry fee or donations at the door.
Cultural Food Festival – Celebrate your community’s diversity by hosting an international cuisine night.
Car Boot or Table-Top Sale – Great for spring cleaning and fundraising at the same time.
Charity Quiz Night – Hold a pub-style quiz at your hall or community centre with small entry fees and prizes.
Auction Evening – Ask supporters and businesses to donate items or experiences for a live or silent auction.
Talent Show – Showcase your community’s singers, comedians, and performers.
Seasonal Market – Organise a Christmas, Easter, or harvest market with handmade crafts and goods.
Community Concert – Feature local choirs, bands, or youth groups in a ticketed concert.
Film Night – Screen a family-friendly film with popcorn and refreshments for sale.

Food and Hospitality Fundraisers

Bake Sale – A classic that always works; involve your congregation or community groups.
Community Breakfast or Brunch – Offer a hearty morning meal with a suggested donation.
Charity Dinner or Banquet – A formal evening with entertainment, raffles, and guest speakers.
“Taste the World” Evening – Showcase dishes from around the globe prepared by volunteers.
Coffee Morning – Partner with local cafés or host your own regular gathering.
Soup & Song Night – Combine a simple shared meal with music or storytelling.
Cooking Class Fundraiser – Invite a local chef to host a class and donate proceeds.
The Great Charity Bake-Off – Run a friendly baking competition and sell the entries.
Ice Cream Sunday (or Sundae!) – A summer treat that families love.
Barbecue & Picnic in the Park – Outdoor fun with donations encouraged per plate.

Creative & Interactive Ideas

Art Exhibition or Sale – Display local artists’ work and share profits from sales.
Photography Competition – Charge a small entry fee and exhibit the finalists.
Craft Workshop – Host a session on pottery, painting, or card-making with donation-based tickets.
Charity Calendar – Feature local landmarks, people, or pets, and sell copies.
Themed Costume Day – Fun for schools or offices: pay to dress up or dress down.
Build-a-Brick Wall – Supporters “buy” a brick (physical or digital) to help fund a project.
Message Wall or Prayer Tree – Donors contribute a small amount to leave a personal note or prayer.
Art Auction – Sell donated artworks or community-made pieces.
Community Quilt or Mosaic – Each donor funds a tile or patch; display the finished piece proudly.
Photography Day – Offer mini photo sessions with proceeds going to your cause.

Mission-Driven and Themed Campaigns

Adopt-a-Project Scheme – Let supporters sponsor specific projects (e.g. feeding a family, restoring a roof, etc.).
“Give It Up” Challenge – Participants give up a luxury (coffee, sweets, social media) and donate the savings.
Charity Livestream – Run an online event, from music to gaming marathons, with live donations via contactless or QR.
Matching Gift Week – Partner with a local business to match donations for a limited time.
Green Fundraiser – Tree planting, recycling drives, or eco-market days.
Legacy Giving Campaign – Educate supporters about leaving gifts in wills.
Pet Blessing & Fundraiser – Combine a light-hearted event with community giving.
Birthday Fundraisers – Encourage supporters to create personal donation pages for their birthdays.
Digital Giving Day – Use QR codes, donation machines, and social media to power one big giving day.
Thankfulness Wall – Invite people to donate in honour of something or someone they’re thankful for.

Tips for Making Fundraising More Effective

Use multiple giving channels: Combine contactless donations, QR codes, and online giving to make it easy for everyone to give.
Tell stories: Share who benefits from each campaign — real stories drive real impact.
Keep it simple: The best events are easy to understand and easy to join.
Encourage repeat giving: Follow up with updates and gratitude to turn one-time donors into long-term supporters.
Empower your branches: If you’re a multi-site charity, use centralised tools (like Dona’s Parent Account) to track data, forecast success, and celebrate what’s working across your network.