12 Charity Fundraising Ideas You Hadn't Thought of

Trying new types of fundraisers matters now more than ever. Most nonprofits rely on the same handful of fundraisers year after year: bake sales, car washes, raffles, silent auctions, and other time-tested events. And while these staples can certainly bring in money, they’re not always the most profitable, inclusive, or easy to run.

To keep potential donors motivated, engaged, and giving, it’s important to break the mold. That’s why this list goes beyond the obvious. Below are some fresh, creative, and underused fundraising ideas, each with actionable steps, realistic expectations, and built-in flexibility.

Whether you’re a school, sports team, church, or community group, these ideas will help you raise more money without draining your volunteers or reinventing the wheel.

12 Creative Fundraising Ideas You Haven’t Tried Yet

Trying new types of fundraisers is more than just a fun experiment in raising money. It can be a strategic way to boost participation and maximize revenue. Traditional approaches, like bake sales and standard raffles, can work well, but supporters often respond most enthusiastically to events that feel fresh, engaging, and meaningful. Creative fundraisers capture attention, generate excitement, and can motivate donors to give more generously.

When choosing a fundraiser, consider your audience and mission. What types of activities are most likely to resonate with your supporters? Which events are best aligned with your organization’s values and goals? Crafting unique fundraisers that feel relevant and approachable will help ensure a strong turnout, sustained engagement, and ultimately, a greater overall impact for your cause.

1. Shoe Drive Fundraising

A shoe drive fundraiser is one of the best under-the-radar charity fundraising ideas, not to mention a win-win for organizations and communities.

Your group collects gently used, new, and gently worn shoes from supporters, neighbors, and local businesses. The shoes are then picked up by a shoe drive fundraising partner, such as Funds2Orgs, which weighs them and issues a fundraising check to your organization.

Here’s why it works:

• No money required to participate
• No selling products
• Huge community engagement potential
• Supports micro-enterprises around the world
• Environmentally friendly (keeps shoes out of landfills)
• A socially responsible fundraiser

Shoe drives are a great option for schools, sports teams, churches, nonprofits, and neighborhood groups alike looking for high-impact fundraisers.

Pro Tip: Ask local businesses to host shoe collection bins. Many will be happy to help, and you’ll draw in extra donations from foot traffic you’d never reach otherwise.

2. Mystery Donation Boxes

Mystery donation boxes give supporters a fun, surprise-driven alternative to traditional raffles or auctions. Set up boxes at different price points, say $5, $20, $50, or $100, each filled with donated products or gift cards from local businesses. The thrill of not knowing what’s inside drives participation, and businesses will often donate more generously when their products are packaged creatively.

You can sell the boxes at an in-person event or online, and including a single high-value “golden box” is a great way to boost excitement and sales.

3. Community Skill-Swap Night

A community skill-swap night turns local knowledge into your most profitable fundraising asset. Volunteers host short, engaging mini-classes on topics such as cooking, guitar basics, painting, gardening, budgeting, and photography.

Supporters can buy tickets for individual sessions, purchase an all-access pass, or even pay for recorded classes afterward. It’s accessible, educational, and fun. Additionally, if you offer a hybrid format, remote supporters can participate, expanding your reach and revenue potential.

4. Themed Fitness Challenges

Themed fitness challenges tap into routines people already maintain through apps and wearables. Whether it’s a “10,000 Steps for 10 Days” challenge, a multi-week running challenge, or a yoga-every-day commitment, participants raise money through pledges or flat donations tied to their progress.

These events work well because they promote health, create shareable social content, and are inclusive across ages and fitness levels, which is perfect for community-wide engagement!

5. “Rent-a-Volunteer” Day

A “Rent-a-Volunteer” day allows supporters to donate in exchange for practical help, ranging from yard work and tech assistance to holiday decorating, babysitting, or help with running errands.

This idea is ideal for youth groups, school clubs, and sports teams because volunteers can give their time in exchange for funds that support your cause.

Pro Tip: You can boost participation by selling specific time slots online, allowing donors to reserve the support they need in advance.

6. Reverse Raffle

A reverse raffle flips the traditional raffle format on its head. Instead of the first ticket drawn winning, the last ticket drawn takes home the grand prize. The suspense keeps attendees engaged throughout the event, making it perfect for banquets, community dinners, or school gatherings.

Interest remains high, as eliminated participants can often re-enter the game with a small donation, creating an additional revenue stream.

7. Expert Ask-Me-Anything (AMA) Night

An AMA night with local experts or community leaders offers incredible value to supporters while raising meaningful funds. For a donation, attendees can participate in a live Q&A session with experts on a given subject, such as financial literacy, wellness, parenting, nutrition, college prep, or local history.

This type of event can also be hosted in person or virtually, with the option to record and monetize the video for future fundraising.

8. Community Scavenger Hunt Fundraiser

A city-wide scavenger hunt is a high-energy, family-friendly fundraiser that brings the entire community together. Teams pay to participate and race to solve clues, complete challenges, and visit local businesses.

This kind of activity generates buzz, drives foot traffic to sponsors, and results in plenty of photos and social media excitement. Using QR codes keeps the event modern and easy to manage, especially if clues or locations need to be updated on the fly.

9. Creative Arts Auction (With a Twist)

A creative arts auction puts an imaginative spin on the classic auction format by offering unconventional, memorable items. Instead of the usual gift baskets or donated goods, feature collaborative pieces like a community-painted mural, personalized poems crafted on the spot, upcycled art made from repurposed materials, or mystery bundles from local artists.

Pro Tip: Showcasing items online in advance can help generate early bids and expand your potential audience.

10. Eco-Challenge Fundraiser

An eco-challenge fundraiser engages supporters who care deeply about sustainability. Participants commit to environmentally friendly habits for a set period, such as a plastic-free week, a zero-waste challenge, car-free commute days, or daily recycling goals, and raise money through pledges tied to their progress.

These challenges are easy to personalize, inspiring, and often enthusiastically supported by local environmental groups, which may help promote or co-sponsor the event.

11. Community Cookbook 2.0

A digital community cookbook modernizes a classic fundraiser by eliminating printing costs and increasing profit margins. Collect recipes and photos from families, supporters, or local businesses, compile them into a (thoughtfully designed) PDF, and sell the cookbook online for instant access.

Digital editions enable seasonal updates, themed versions, and easy distribution, making this a fundraiser that can continue generating revenue long after launch.

12. “Adopt-a-Day” Fundraiser

The “Adopt-a-Day” fundraiser gives supporters a meaningful, personalized way to contribute. Donors choose a date, such as a birthday, anniversary, holiday, or milestone, and sponsor it with a contribution to your organization. In return, they receive public recognition on your website or social media, along with a personalized thank-you message.

This idea is simple, memorable, and fun, and people love supporting causes on days that matter to them.

Why Shoe Drive Fundraising Is One of the Highest-Impact Options Today

Shoe drive fundraisers stand out from the crowd because they have no upfront costs, can engage the community at scale, and don’t rely on your organization selling products or asking supporters to open their wallets.

Instead, donors give something they already have: gently worn, used, and new shoes. Those shoes are then repurposed through micro-enterprise programs around the world, which not only prevent waste but also support small business owners and earn your organization a check.

It’s simple, sustainable, and effective, making it one of the most accessible fundraisers for organizations of any size.

Your Most Successful Fundraiser Yet Starts Here

Innovation in fundraising isn’t just about being different; it’s about creating experiences that engage your supporters, drive higher contributions, and strengthen your community. If you’re ready to bring fresh energy into your fundraising strategy and raise more money with less hassle, start by choosing a stand-out idea from this list.

However, if you want a community-driven, sustainable, easy-to-organize, and proven-to-work year after year fundraiser, a shoe drive fundraiser is your best next step!

Funds2Orgs provides all the materials, coaching, and pickup logistics you need to run a successful, zero-cost shoe drive from start to finish. Whether you’re a school, nonprofit, church, or team, this is one of the simplest and most impactful ways to raise money and do good at the same time.

Check out other proven charity fundraisers that drive results.

Author Bio

Clay Boggess has been designing fundraising programs for schools and various nonprofit organizations throughout the US since 1999. He's helped administrators, teachers, and outside support entities such as PTAs and PTOs raise millions of dollars. Clay is an owner and partner at Big Fundraising Ideas.