Top 5 Fundraising Event Themes for Your Next Event

Fundraising events can sometimes feel predictable—same setup, same routine, same ask. But what if your event could be something people actually talk about? Fundraising event themes do more than decorate a room; they create an experience. 

They give your supporters a reason to show up excited and leave feeling connected to your cause. A well-planned theme makes fundraising feel natural, bringing people together in a way that feels less like an obligation and more like a celebration. 

If you want your next event to be a hit, here are five themes that can make it something worth remembering.

1. Eco-Friendly Festival

Some fundraising event themes bring people together for fun, while others make a real impact. An eco-friendly festival does both. 

It’s all about creating an experience that leaves the planet a little better than before.

Activities That Go Beyond the Usual

Most eco-events focus on recycling bins and reusable straws, but let’s push the concept further.

• Swap & Shop: Instead of traditional vendor booths, set up a swap market. Attendees bring gently used clothes, books, or household items and trade them. No cash—just community giving.
• Bike-Powered Fun: Use stationary bikes to power a smoothie station or a sound system. It’s interactive, sustainable, and keeps people engaged.
• Trash to Art: Gather discarded materials and let local artists create live sculptures or murals. At the end of the event, auction the pieces off to raise funds.
• Plant & Pledge: Give attendees tree saplings to take home, but with a twist—they sign a pledge to plant and care for them, creating a lasting impact.
• Nature’s Menu: Instead of just offering “organic” food, highlight truly sustainable meals with local, plant-based ingredients. Bonus: Use leaves or edible cups instead of plastic plates.

Benefits That Go Beyond Fundraising

• Builds real engagement by letting people take action, not just attend.
• Supports local sustainability efforts beyond just “going green” for a day.
• Encourages creative thinking about waste, energy, and conservation.
• Gives sponsors an opportunity to align with meaningful event themes.
• Leaves a visible, lasting effect—like trees planted or art created.

Considerations to Keep It Real

• Skip the generic "eco-friendly" swag—people don’t need another tote bag.
• Ensure accessibility so all community members can participate.
• Work with vendors who practice what they preach (no greenwashing).
• Promote public transport or biking to the venue as part of the event strategies.

An eco-friendly festival doesn’t have to be about doing less harm—it can be about doing more good. Make it memorable, hands-on, and a celebration of sustainability that lasts far beyond a single event.

2. Decades Party

Some event themes get people excited before they even arrive. A decade party does just that. 

It gives supporters a chance to relive their favorite era—the roaring ‘20s, the disco-fueled ‘70s, or the neon-packed ‘90s. This fundraising event creates nostalgia, sparks conversations, and makes giving back feel like a celebration.

Activities That Keep People Engaged

• Time-Travel Dress Code: Encourage guests to dress in outfits from their chosen decade. Offer prizes for the best-dressed to add an extra layer of fun.
• Era-Specific Music and Dance: Hire a band or DJ to play hits from different decades. You could even bring in dance instructors to teach moves from each era.
• Decades-Themed Trivia: Set up a trivia contest with pop culture, history, and fun facts from the past.
• Retro Photo Booth: Create a backdrop with props from different time periods so guests can snap and share their best vintage looks.
• Throwback Snacks and Drinks: Work with vendors to serve era-specific treats, like ‘50s milkshakes, ‘80s arcade-style candy, or ‘90s-themed cocktails.

Benefits That Go Beyond Just Fundraising

• Appeals to a wide audience, as everyone has a favorite decade.
• Encourages participation and engagement with the theme.
• Offers creative sponsorship opportunities (local businesses can sponsor specific decade-themed sections).
• Provides a fun, low-pressure way for attendees to connect and support your cause
• Easily fits into different event strategies, whether it's a gala, dance party, or casual gathering.

Considerations to Keep It Smooth

• Make sure the venue fits the theme—decor goes a long way in setting the mood.
• Keep the music and activities balanced so all guests feel included.
• Encourage sustainability by using digital tickets and reusable decorations.

A decades party is about bringing people together in a fun way that supports your mission. When done right, it turns nostalgia into a powerful fundraising tool.

3. Carnival Fundraiser

A carnival fundraiser keeps the participants engaged from start to finish. It’s not just about tossing rings or winning prizes—it’s about creating event strategies where giving back feels like play. 

The right mix of nostalgia, competition, and surprises can turn a simple event into something people talk about long after it’s over.

Activities That Break the Mold

A standard carnival has cotton candy and dunk tanks. That’s fun, but a fundraiser must do more than entertain.

• Mission-Tied Games: Instead of generic booths, connect each game to your cause. Raising money for a food bank? A game where players “shop” for groceries with points can highlight real community needs. Supporting a school? Have a spelling bee-style challenge where every correct word adds funds to a classroom goal.
• Golden Ticket Challenge: Hide a few golden tickets inside snack bags, raffle entries, or game booths. Winners get a special prize—maybe a behind-the-scenes tour of your nonprofit or a chance to create something lasting, like planting a tree in their name.
• Impact Tokens: Skip cash transactions at booths and let people purchase “impact tokens.” Each token represents a direct contribution—one meal donated, one school supply funded, or one shelter night covered. It turns spending into something meaningful.
• Surprise Pop-Ups: Every hour, launch a surprise activity—flash mobs, speed challenges, or mini-auctions—so guests always have something new to look forward to.
• Story Walk: Set up an interactive walk-through experience with stops along the way that tell real stories from the community you serve. Let people step into the mission while they move through the event.

Why It Works Beyond Just Fundraising

• Creates an environment where people stay longer and interact more.
• Appeals to all ages, making it a great multi-generational event.
• Encourages deeper engagement by making the mission part of the experience.
• Provides unique sponsorship opportunities—local businesses can sponsor booths that align with their brand.
• Naturally, it builds a sense of community, making attendees more likely to return for future events.

Considerations to Keep It Running Smoothly

• Balance the number of game booths and engagement stations so there’s variety but not chaos.
• Offer a mix of free and paid activities so everyone can participate, no matter their budget.
• Use signage and announcements to remind people how their participation helps the cause.
• Keep accessibility in mind—make sure games and activities are fun for all abilities.

The right mix of competition and surprises can turn a simple event into something people talk about long after it’s over.

4. Community Concert

A concert doesn’t need to be about big names and flashy lights. Sometimes, the best fundraising event themes come from the heart of the community itself. 

A local concert gives musicians a stage, brings neighbors together, and turns music into a way to support a cause. It’s about blending rhythm with purpose and letting every note played contribute to something bigger.

Activities That Make It More Than Just a Show

• Neighborhood Sound Clash: Instead of booking artists, let different neighborhoods, schools, or community groups put together a small band. Let the audience vote on their favorite performance with donations.
• Busker’s Row: Set up different music zones throughout the venue where solo musicians play acoustic sets. Instead of a hat for tips, they collect donations for the cause.
• Collaborative Songwriting: Invite attendees to contribute lyrics to a song throughout the event. By night's end, a local band performs the completed piece.
• Silent Disco for a Cause: Offer noise-canceling headphones with different music channels. Each channel represents a different fundraising initiative—listeners "vote" with their chosen playlist.
• Record and Give: Have a station where guests can record short voice messages about why they support the cause. Mix them into a track that gets released as a fundraiser later.

Why It’s More Than Just Fundraising

• Makes attendees feel like part of the event, not just spectators.
• Gives local talent a space to connect with the community.
• Encourages creativity, making donations feel like an interactive experience.
• Works with different event strategies—could be a full-day festival or an intimate night of acoustic music.
• Builds a lasting connection between your nonprofit and local culture.

Considerations to Keep It Real

• Make sure sound equipment fits the venue—outdoor and indoor concerts need different setups.
• To keep funds flowing, offer multiple ways to donate—tickets, merchandise, and live donation challenges.
• Keep accessibility in mind—seating, sound levels, and entry points should be welcoming to all.
• Working with local businesses for food and drinks—supporting them strengthens community ties.

It’s a reminder that music has the power to bring people together in ways that words alone can’t. Every song played, every lyric sung, and every beat dropped becomes part of your nonprofit's impact.

5. Cultural Food Festival

Food has a way of bringing people together, no matter where they’re from. 

A cultural food festival takes that idea and turns it into a fundraising event where guests can explore different flavors while supporting a cause. It’s about sharing traditions, learning new things, and making giving back feel like a shared experience.

Activities That Go Beyond Just Eating

• Global Tasting Stations: Set up booths representing different cultures with signature dishes, each tied to a donation supporting your nonprofit’s mission.
• Live Cooking Demos: Invite chefs or home cooks from different backgrounds to prepare traditional meals while sharing their history.
• Flavor Passport: Give attendees a “passport” they can get stamped at each food station. Once they’ve visited a certain number of booths, they can trade it in for a prize or special recognition.
• Storytelling Through Food: Set up an area where community members share personal stories connected to the dishes they grew up with.
• Cook-Off Challenge: Organize a friendly competition in which participants prepare a dish from a culture other than their own. The dish will be judged by a panel of local chefs or community elders.

Why It Works Beyond Just Fundraising

• Celebrates diversity while bringing people together for a common cause
• Encourages participation beyond just donating—attendees engage with the event theme through food, conversation, and activities.
• Offers sponsorship opportunities for restaurants, grocery stores, and local food vendors.
• Works well with different event strategies, from small indoor tastings to large outdoor festivals.
• Provides an experience guests will remember, making them more likely to return in the future.

Considerations to Keep It Inclusive

• Make sure to offer vegetarian, vegan, and allergy-friendly options so everyone can participate.
• Keep ticketing simple—offer a pay-per-plate option or an all-access tasting pass.
• Have enough seating and shaded areas for guests to comfortably enjoy their meals.
• Partner with culturally knowledgeable chefs or community members to ensure authenticity.

When people sit down to share a meal, they also share stories, experiences, and a moment of community that makes supporting a cause feel natural.

Running a Fundraising Event? BetterWorld Gives You the Tools You Need

Planning a fundraising event involves many moving parts—ticketing, donations, engagement, and tracking contributions. BetterWorld helps simplify that process with free, easy-to-use software designed specifically for nonprofits. 

No hidden fees, no complicated setup—just a platform built to help you raise more while focusing on what matters.

Fundraising Software for In-Person Events

Bringing people together for a fundraising event means creating a seamless experience for both organizers and attendees. BetterWorld’s in-person event tools help you:

• Sell Tickets with Zero Fees
• Group Tickets
• Mobile Check-In
• Text Message Notifications & more

Free Donation Forms

BetterWorld’s free donation forms help capture support before, during, and after your event by:

• Customizing Forms for Your Cause
• Offering Multiple Payment Options 
• Add Donation Form to Your Website

Free Virtual Event Tools

If an in-person gathering isn’t an option, or if you want to expand your reach, BetterWorld’s virtual event tools help nonprofits host successful online fundraisers. With these tools, you can:

• Run Online Auctions 
• Host Live Streams 
• Raffles & Giveaways & more

No matter what kind of fundraising event you’re planning, BetterWorld’s free platform helps you handle the details, so you can focus on impact. Sign up today and start planning with ease!