27 Nov 6 Fundraising Ideas For Small Groups That Work In 2021

No matter the size of your nonprofit, group, or organization, fundraising is for everybody. Even the smallest of groups can make a huge difference with a fundraiser as long as they have enthusiasm and passion for the cause they are raising money for.

With that, here are 6 great fundraising ideas for small groups.

Bake Sale

Ah yes, the tried-and-true bake sale. Sure, the bake sale may seem like a generic fundraising option, but that’s because it works so well. People love homemade baked goods, especially when it’s for a good cause. Have members of your group or nonprofit sign-up for a specific dish to make sure there is a good amount of variety. Spread the word about the bake sale through word of mouth, advertisements in local newspapers, or posters. Overall, bake sales are a great way to fundraise.

Car Wash

Car washes are another common type of fundraiser and work particularly well for high school teams or other kid-centric groups. Obviously, this one should be reserved for the summer or spring months. You’ll also have to invest some money in some car washing supplies, though parents may be able to supply their own car sponges, buckets, soap, and other car washing tools. This one won’t take much effort in terms of marketing beforehand, as placing signs that point towards the car wash location the day of will usually be enough to convince folks to stop by for a quick cleaning. Make sure to include what the car wash is for and where the money is going towards on the signs.

Yard Sale

Think about how large a yard sale can be for a single home. Now, consider how much you could raise by pooling together the total sales for 10-15 yard sales. Everyone has some old belongings in their home that they simply don’t use anymore. And, as they say, one person’s junk is another person’s treasure. Once again, this is something that placing a small ad in a local newspaper can help get the word out early. Hosting the yard sale on multiple weekends gives more people the opportunity to come by as well.

Golf Tournament

While charity golf tournaments are typically thought of being associated with large scale fundraisers, they can be just as effective for small groups too! Try and get local community leaders involved who don’t mind putting their golf game up for scrutiny to increase the profile of your golf tournament. Many people enjoy golfing, and it shouldn’t be too difficult to drum up interest. If the golf course you’re teaming up with has a limit on how many golfers they can host, that’s just fine. Creating a cap for how many participants can golf in your tournament can help get people to sign up earlier and can lead to a full field of golfers.

Peer to Peer Fundraising

Peer to peer fundraising is a fundraising technique that is utilized by small groups all the time. It’s also a very versatile way of fundraising. While you can always just have your nonprofit group members ask their network for donations, you can also work with an outside organization to sell products on their behalf. For example, a high school sports team may sell cookies, magazines, pizzas, gift cards, and many, many other items to local community members. Peer to peer fundraising will always be an easy and effective fundraising option for small groups.

Host a Fundraising Banquet

Similar to a golf tournament, a banquet is often thought to be only for large nonprofits. But, small nonprofits can also raise money through banquets too. For small groups that may not have a ton of money to put into the event, look for a local restaurant that is interested in catering for free or at a discounted price. Including a raffle, guest speakers, entertainers, and more can help make even a smaller, more intimate event feel big.

Any of these 6 ideas will work great for your small group or nonprofit! Just make sure to plan ahead so that everything goes off without a hitch.

Happy fundraising!