Fundraising Ideas That Don't Feel Like You're Begging for Spare Change
Okay, so you're in charge of fundraising for your org or club. First of all, congrats!! Being trusted with fundraising is huge. You're literally the bridge between "we want to do this" and "we can actually afford to do this." Second, let me save you from what I've seen happen too many times: sad bake sales that barely break even, raffles nobody enters, and events that people don’t care about.
Here's the thing—fall semester is actually your best shot at raising real money. Everyone's back on campus, there's energy in the air, and people are in the mood to show up to stuff. But you can't just throw spaghetti at the wall. You need to pick one solid idea and actually commit to it.
Also, quick reality check: GoFundMePro stresses how Gen Z donates and shows support a lot differently. We care about the actual cause, not just the org name. We want to Venmo in three seconds, not write a check. And we definitely want to know where our $5 is actually going. So your fundraiser needs to feel worth joining, not just another thing cluttering people’s time and inboxes.
So here are five strategies you can pick from depending on what fits your goal, your timeline, and honestly…your org's energy level.
How do you raise funds for causes people already care about?
A common practice is to attach a fundraiser to something students are already talking about on campus. Mental health. Sustainability. Social justice. Whatever the reality is at your school. What matters most is YOU genuinely care about the cause as well. Don’t do anything just for show!
When you do this the right way, your fundraiser stops feeling like "we really need money" and starts feeling like “we want to support this, but we need your help too.” And when you partner with a club or org that's already doing work in that space, you can piggyback on their credibility and their crowd.
Steps to plan a cause-based fundraiser
Let's say you’re a STEM org. You reach out to your campus mental health club and co-host a “Stress in STEM” open mic night, or maybe a “STEM & Self” panel during Mental Health Awareness Week.. People share their stories, you create space for real conversation, and at the end there's a donation opprtunity—QR code on the screen, pledge wall, live donation counter, etc.
You brand everything with both orgs’ logos. You tease it on social with speaker bios, quote cards, “why this matters” posts. It doesn't feel like a fundraiser. It feels like an event people want to be part of.
What you need to do behind the scenes:
- Actually research what causes your campus cares about (check what's being talked about on your school's social pages, what clubs are packed, what petitions are going around)
- Hit up partner orgs early—like, weeks or months before
- Divide responsibilities clearly: who's handling venue, who's posting, who's running the donation tech
- Make teaser content that actually makes people curious and aware of what advocacy you’re representing/supporting
- Have your donation opportunity planned and smooth—don't just awkwardly pass around a jar
- Follow up afterward with results: “Because of your support, we raised $X, here's what that means, here's what we’ll do with it”
Things that will tank this:
- Trying to support five causes at once and confusing everyone
- Picking a cause your org doesn't genuinely care about—people can smell performative from a mile away
- Assuming the partner org will do all the promotion (they won't)
- Not having a backup plan if turnout is weak (virtual option, alternate activity)
What are the best fundraising ideas for Game Days?
You set up at tailgates or outside the stadium and sell stuff people actually want at that moment.
Game Days are packed. There's foot traffic, there's energy, and there's most likely already a party happening somewhere. Instead of making people come to your event, plug into the crowd that's already there. This will feel way more natural than a formal fundraiser.
Game Day fundraising booths to try
Picture your school’s big Saturday game. You've got a booth set up somewhere high-traffic—near the entrance, by the tailgate area, wherever people are walking.
Face paint or temp tattoos: Get safe face paint or order custom temporary tattoos with your org logo or something clever. Charge $3-5. Make sure your volunteers are wearing matching shirts so the whole booth still represents your org’s brand and people notice.
DIY photo booth: Set up a simple backdrop (printed tarp or fabric with your org branding), grab props and cardboard cutouts, and have a club member be the photographer. Bring a laptop and portable printer so people get prints on the spot (charge $5-8 per photo or photostrip). People love having a physical souvenir, and they’ll likely post it on their IG stories!
Tailgate snack packs: Presell bundles with chips, candy, a koozie, maybe a small branded item. Promote them all week in group chats and Instagram stories. People pick them up at your booth pregame.
Partner with other Greek orgs or sports clubs: Split the booth, split the work, split the profit (or they get promo, you get funds - up to y’all to negotiate). They bring their crowd, you bring yours.
Quick games during downtime: Set up a mini basketball hoop, a “guess the final score” board, or a spin-the-wheel thing. Charge $2-3 to play. Show your fundraising progress live on your story as you go.
Why this actually works better than you'd think:
If your booth looks good - like, colorful banner, decent lighting, fun energy - people will take pictures with it. That's free marketing. And honestly, the vibe matters more than the product. If your volunteers are hype and having fun, people will stop. If they're standing there like 🧍♀️, no one's gonna want to interact.
What you need to plan for:
- Weather (have a tent, have a rain plan)
- Campus permissions (check with athletics or rec about booth policies)
- Pricing that's impulse-buy friendly (no one's pulling out $20 for a temporary tattoo)
- Not overordering supplies
- Volunteer shifts so people don't burn out standing there for six hours
How do you run passive fundraisers that actually bring in money?
You set up something people can donate to on their own time without you having to run a whole event.
Your org can't throw a massive fundraiser every week—you've got classes and like, lives (hopefully). Passive fundraisers let money trickle in while you're doing other stuff. And honestly, there are actually people who’d prefer to send $3-10 if it takes two seconds and they don't have to show up anywhere.
Examples of passive fundraising ideas for student orgs
Venmo bingo or donation grids: Make a grid where each square costs a small amount and ties to something fun (like “$5 =we'll recreate your favorite TikTok trend,” “$20 = 2 coffee deliveries during finals week”). People Venmo and claim their square via a Google Form. You promote it in stories, group chats, class GroupMes, wherever.
Amazon wishlist for supplies: If your org does service work, make a public wishlist of items you need—hygiene kits, school supplies, whatever. Instead of asking for cash, you're asking people to “buy an item and drop it off.” It feels more tangible and less like a donation.
Digital raffles: Pick a good prize (gift card, care package, branded bundle). Charge $5 to enter. Use a Google Form + payment link to collect entries. Announce the winner live on your story or at a meeting to build hype.
Peer-to-peer mini campaigns: Let each org member run their own tiny fundraiser with their own link and goal. They hit up their friends, family, roommates—people outside your usual circle. You track everyone's progress together and celebrate wins. Turns one fundraiser into 20 micro-fundraisers.
What makes these work (or flop):
- The donation process has to be really easy. If it takes more than three taps, people will bail.
- Promote it constantly. Saying it once in a meeting isn't enough. Stories, posts, reminders, countdowns.
- Frame every ask with what the money actually does (“$5 = one meal kit for a family,” “$3 = hygiene kit for a shelter”)
- Be realistic about goals. Small wins add up faster than one giant goal nobody believes you'll hit.
What are good fundraising challenge ideas for college students?
You create something people can do—a dare, a TikTok challenge, a multi-day thing—that gets them involved and sharing.
People engage way more when there's action involved, not just "send money pls." Challenges tap into FOMO, social proof (if my friend did it, I want to), and that "I need to post this" instinct we all have. The key is making it spread naturally.
Fun fundraising challenges that work
Threshold dares: “If we hit $300, our VP will dye her hair blue. If we hit $700, our president will get a pie in the face.” You set tiers, show a live progress bar, and when you hit a milestone, you film the dare and post it immediately. The anticipation keeps people donating.
TikTok or Reels challenge: Create a short, repeatable challenge tied to your cause or org. Could be a dance, a pose, a lip sync, whatever. People film it, tag your org, donate, and challenge their friends to do it next. You repost the best ones and keep it rolling.
Multi-day themed challenges: Five days, each with a mini theme (wear all red, answer trivia, post a throwback pic, whatever). People pay a small entry fee, post each day, and vote on winners. You track standings publicly and make it competitive in a fun way.
Mystery reveal challenge: For every $25 raised, you reveal part of a hidden image or announcement. Could be your new merch design, next philanthropy event, a secret guest—anything. People donate to unlock pieces until the full thing is revealed on the last day.
Stamp rally: Set up multiple booths around campus or at one event, each with a small challenge (trivia question, mini game, photo op, quick task). People pay one entry fee upfront to get a stamp card, then go booth to booth completing challenges and collecting stamps. Once they finish all the stamps, they get a prize at the end—could be merch, a raffle entry, or food.
Stamp rallies are great because people get immediate engagement and a clear payoff, plus the booth-hopping creates movement and energy that draws more people in!
What you absolutely need to avoid:
- Challenges that are unsafe, exclusionary, tone-deaf, or feel mandatory
- Also don’t do anything that can single out or embarrass members without their clear consent (even if something seems "harmless," it can be genuinely upsetting if someone gets uncomfortable)
- Starting without content already prepped (templates, example videos, graphics ready to go)
- Letting the challenge drag on too long: five to seven days max, or people lose interest
- Making it feel like a random stunt with no connection to your actual mission
- Not monitoring comments or questions—if people are confused, jump in and clarify
How can I raise money by selling org merch?
Use a Group Order tool (like what Fresh Prints offers) to drop limited-edition merch that people actually want to wear. The ordering process becomes super simple, and a portion of your sales go to your org.
Good merch does three things: raises money, gets your org’s name around campus (free advertising when people wear it), and builds identity. Bad merch sits in a dusty closet for three years. The difference is design, timing, and how easy you make it to buy.
How can I sell org merch online to raise funds?
Fresh Prints’ Group Order Tool lets you share a link where people pick their item, size, and pay—all in one place. No spreadsheets, no Venmo requests, no "wait did you want a medium or large?"
The link has a countdown timer (usually 1-7 days) and a minimum order number to hit. Everyone's payment goes on hold. If you hit the minimum, charges go through, and production starts. If you don't, nobody gets charged and the order doesn’t push through—so there’s no risk of being stuck with 50 shirts nobody claims.
You can see orders in real time, which is huge for promoting (you can send regular updates like “we're 10 away from unlocking the next price tier!”). And you choose shipping: either everything ships to one place in ~14 days, or directly to each buyer in ~21 days.
How to actually make it work:
- Drop 2-3 design previews early and let people vote or react to options
- Request a physical sample and bring it to a meeting or event so people can see quality and fit in person
- Post daily reminders with urgency (“2 days left!” “We're 5 orders away from hitting the goal!”)
- Bundle merch with other stuff: “buy a hoodie, get a free raffle entry" or “merch + event ticket combo”
- Keep the order window short (within a week). Short deadlines push urgency way better than “order anytime!”
- If you're just barely under the minimum when time's up, talk to your Campus Manager about a short extension—but don't drag it out or people lose interest
Final Tip for a Successful Fundraiser
Pick one. Seriously, just one.
Don't try to do a challenge and a merch drop and a Game Day booth all in the same month. You'll burn out your org members, and none of it will be good.
Pick the one that matches what org’s known for, and what you know your members are capable of. If you've got people who love social media and making content, do a challenge. If you've got a big Game Day culture at your school, set up a booth. If you're not trying to plan a whole thing, go passive or do merch.
Fall semester is short, but if you pick the right move and actually commit, you can raise real money and build momentum that carries into spring. And honestly, that beats running on fumes and hoping for the best.
Part of a sorority or fraternity and need more tips for Philanthropy Week? We have more tips for you in these blogs: