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50 Fundraising Ideas to Help Bring Light, Hope, and Energy to Communities in Need

  • Doggie Crumbs
  • Nov 22, 2023
  • 3 min read

Updated: May 12


50 Unique and Exciting Fundraising Ideas to Energize Your Nonprofit's Mission

At Lights Back On, we believe everyone deserves access to safe, reliable light. Every fundraising effort fuels our mission — helping families living without electricity feel seen, supported, and empowered.


If you're passionate about making a difference, here are 50 unique and exciting fundraising ideas to energize your impact. Whether you’re hosting an event, launching a campaign, or rallying your community, you can help us bring light where it’s needed most.


👉 Before you dive in, would you consider making a donation today? Donate Now ➔Even $10 can provide a solar-powered light to a family living in darkness.


Classic Fundraising Events (Easy and Proven)


Charity Run/Walk:

Gather pledges per mile to power hope.


A group of people signing up to participate in a charity run or walk fundraising event


Silent Auction:

Auction off donated goods — every winning bid fuels new beginnings.

A woman participating in a silent auction fundraising event, holding up a numbered paddle.


Themed Gala:

Celebrate with elegance while bringing light to those in need.


A silver masquerade mask sits on top of a table at a themed fundraiser event


Bake Sale:

Sweet treats with a meaningful purpose.


A bake sale fundraising event, featuring a box of cookies on a table with a sign.


Car Wash:

Every wash brings us closer to lighting up lives.


A man is participating in a car wash fundraising event, diligently washing a car with a sponge.


Dance-a-thon:

Dance the night away for a brighter tomorrow.


A group of people participating in a dance-a-thon fundraising event in front of a blue wall.


Art Show:

Support local artists and our global cause.

A painting of a countryside road, created by a local artist for an art show fundraising event.


Trivia Night:

Bring your brainpower and shine a light on change.


A person writing the word "trivia" on a piece of paper for a trivia night fundraising event.

Garage Sale:

Declutter your life, illuminate someone else's.


A garage sale

Community Potluck:

Break bread, build hope.


People participating in a community potluck fundraising event, each holding a plate of food.

Virtual Fundraising Ideas


Online Auction:

Bid online for brighter futures.


An older couple participating in an online auction to help raise funds for a cause

Virtual Talent Show:

Showcase skills, spark change.


A man participating in a virtual talent show fundraising event holds a sign: 'Show Your Talent

Zoom Workout Classes:

Move your body, move mountains.


A woman on a yoga mat, uses a laptop, participates in Zoom workout class to raise funds for a cause.

Online Art Workshop:

Create beauty and ignite hope.


A woman with a camera participates in an online art workshop to help raise funds for a cause.

Virtual 5K:

Race to bring light — wherever you are!


A woman participates in a virtual 5k event on a treadmill to help raise funds for a cause.

Livestream Gaming Event:

Level up for a cause that matters.


A man participates in a livestream gaming event to help raise funds for a cause.

Digital Cookbook:

Share recipes, share hope.


A woman holding an iPad showcasing a digital cookbook fundraiser to raise funds for a worthy cause.

Virtual Wine Tasting:

Sip, savor, and support.


A person participating in a virtual wine-tasting event to help raise funds for a cause.

Zoom Book Club:

Turn the page toward progress.


A man holding a book in front of his laptop participating in a virtual book club meeting

Online Photography Contest:

Capture moments. Illuminate missions.


A dog is participating in an online photography event to help raise funds for a cause.


Unique and Creative Fundraising Ideas


Escape Room Challenge:

Solve puzzles, light up lives.


A group of people participating in an escape room challenge to help raise funds for a cause.

Pet Photo Calendar:

Furry friends helping families.


A pet calendar with a picture of a cat, available for sale to help raise funds for a nonprofit.

Balloon Pop Fundraiser:

Popping with purpose!


A balloon-popping event to help raise funds for a nonprofit.

Mystery Dinner Party:

Dinner, drama, and doing good.


A book featuring a mystery dinner party event to help raise funds for a nonprofit.

Plant Sale:

Grow a garden, grow hope.


A plant sale event with a variety of plants for sale to help raise funds for a nonprofit.

Rent-A-Student:

Helping hands, heartfelt impact.


A student being tutored by another student

Letter Writing Campaign:

Words that warm hearts.


A pen writing "dear" on paper, letter-writing campaign event to help raise funds for a nonprofit.

Themed Costume Party:

Party with a purpose.


A themed costume party event with a woman in Christmas clothes to help raise funds for a nonprofit.

DIY Craft Kits:

Creativity for a cause.

DIY craft kits for sale to help raise funds for a nonprofit.

Treasure Hunt:

Adventure toward action.


A group of people participating in a treasure hunt to help raise funds for a nonprofit.

Matching Gift and Double-the-Donation Ideas

Corporate Matching Program:

Get your employer to double your donation!


A group of people participating in a corporate matching program to help raise funds for a nonprofit.

Employee Payroll Deductions:

Small monthly gifts = BIG impact.


Hands with a pen participating in employee payroll deduction to help raise funds for a nonprofit.

Matching Gift Challenge:

Double the light, double the love.


Hands holding up the word pledge during a matching gift challenge to help get funds for a nonprofit.

Donation Matching Day:

One day, twice the impact.


Volunteers participating in a Donation Matching Day event to help raise funds for a nonprofit.

Sponsor-a-thon:

Corporate sponsors supercharge giving.


Encourage businesses to participate in a sponsor-a-thon event to help raise funds for a nonprofit.

Matching Gift Gala:

Celebrate generosity.


A decorated table with a wine bottle and people sitting at tables at the gala

Double-the-Donation Drive:

Multiply miracles.


Double-the Donation Thanksgiving Food Drive orange can says your donation helps families in need

Matching Gift Mondays:

Start the week strong!


Someone holding a pen writing on a pad that says "Dear Monday, Let's do this!"

Matching Donation Challenge:

Rise to the challenge!


Hands giving matching donations

Matched Social Media Campaign:

Spread the word — and the light.


A social media influencer promoting a campaign for matching donations

Community Engagement Fundraising Ideas


Neighborhood Block Party:

Gather, give, glow.


A mixed group of people participating in a neighborhood block party

Community Mural Project:

Paint the town with purpose.


A man walking past another man on the sidewalk painting a mural on a building

Senior Prom for a Cause:

Dancing under the stars for brighter futures.


A senior prom with girls and boys dancing fundraising for a cause

Fitness Challenge:

Healthy body, healthy world.


3 men and 2 women waiting for the fitness challenge

Local Celebrity Auction:

Meet your heroes, be a hero.


A local celebrity couple smiling while participating in the local celebrity auction

Storytelling Night:

Share stories, spark support.


A cup of coffee and a napkin beside it that says "We are made of stories"

Scavenger Hunt:

Find fun — and funding.


Elders on a scavenger hunt

Subscription Boxes:

Monthly surprises, endless support.


A donation box with clothes inside of it

Crowdfunding Campaigns:

Small gifts, massive change.


People crowding a stack of coins

Peer-to-Peer Fundraising:

Empower your network to energize ours.


A hand with the peer-to-peer symbol on top of it

💡 Ready to Brighten Lives?

Every effort counts — whether you host a bake sale, launch a virtual race, or simply spread the word. Together, we can light up lives, restore hope, and build stronger, more connected communities.


🌟 Make a Donation ➔🌟 Join Our Newsletter ➔ (Get inspiring stories, updates, and ways to help delivered to your inbox.)


Thank you for being a part of the movement to turn lights back on — one family, one community, one act of kindness at a time.

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