From scrappy to strategic: Low-lift fundraising ideas during tough times

You're not alone if you're trying to raise money with little time, money, or people. Many nonprofits are in the same spot, doing more with less. 

Tight budgets can feel like a setback, but they can also push you to get creative and think smarter about how you fundraise. You don’t always need big events or long campaigns to bring in support. Small, simple actions can still make a big impact. 

In this blog, you'll find 80 low-cost fundraising ideas for nonprofit organizations that are easy to run, quick to launch, and won’t drain your team or your wallet.

Section 1: Easy Events That Cost Almost Nothing

1. Community Yard Sale

Ask your supporters to donate lightly used or unused items, then set up a yard sale in a high-traffic spot like a school parking lot or church lawn. You don’t need much, just a few folding tables, price tags, and volunteers to help out. 

Most of the cost goes into simple signage and maybe a permit if your city requires one. It's one of the easiest low-cost fundraising ideas for nonprofit organizations.

2. Free Entry Movie Night (Donations Welcome)

Use a public park or a large indoor space like a community center. Project a family-friendly movie using a borrowed or low-cost projector. 

Let people in for free and invite donations instead. If you have access to blankets, popcorn, and drinks, you can offer them for a small fee. If you borrow equipment, the total cost could be under $100.

3. Backyard Concert with Local Talent

Do you have musically inclined supporters, or do you know local bands that want to perform for free? Set up a backyard or small outdoor space with simple seating like picnic blankets or folding chairs. 

If available, use a basic speaker setup. Ask for a small entry donation or offer snacks for sale. Depending on what you already have on hand, the event can cost under $100.

4. Park Picnic with Games

Invite families to a local park and organize some simple games like tug-of-war, sack races, or water balloon tosses. Encourage guests to bring their snacks or pack a lunch. You can ask for donations to join the games or sell low-cost treats. 

This works great for team-building and community engagement. Most parks are free to use, making this one of the top inexpensive fundraising ideas.

5. DIY Open Mic Night

Host a casual open mic at a school gym, café, or donated indoor space. Let community members sign up to perform—anything from singing to poetry to stand-up. 

Set up a tip jar or request a small suggested donation at the door. Your cost might be close to zero if you already have a mic and speaker. Just promote it well and get a few volunteers to help.

6. Talent Show with Local Acts

Reach out to students, musicians, dancers, and performers in your community who want a stage to share their skills. Use a school gym or community hall if available. Charge a small ticket price or ask for donations at the door. 

Keep costs low by using existing sound equipment or asking local businesses to donate snacks or prizes. 

7. Community Potluck Dinner

Invite your supporters to bring a dish to share and enjoy a night of good food and conversation. Use a school cafeteria, park shelter, or someone’s backyard for the setup. 

You can ask for a small donation at the door or place a donation jar on the food table. Besides a few supplies like plates and utensils, there’s little to no cost involved, making this a low-cost fundraising idea that’s easy to plan.

8. Volunteer Car Wash

Get your team or student volunteers together and offer car washes for donations. A school parking lot or church driveway works well. Use your own supplies, buckets, soap, and sponges, or ask a local business to donate them. 

Promote it on social media and with neighborhood flyers. You’ll spend under $30 and can raise much more in just one afternoon.

9. Bake Sale

Ask your volunteers or community members to bake simple treats like cookies, cupcakes, or brownies. Set up a table outside a school, church, or during a local event. Label everything clearly and price items low so more people can pitch in. 

You might only need to spend on napkins, packaging, and maybe a sign or two. Let folks know that all the money raised goes directly to your charity work. 

10. Storytelling or Poetry Evening

Set up a cozy night where people can read their original stories or favorite poems. A library room, café, or even a backyard can work for the setting. Light snacks or drinks can be offered for a small fee. Ask for a donation to attend or perform. 

The event can be done on a shoestring budget if you already have a speaker and a mic. A good fit for a low-cost fundraiser for nonprofit organizations that want to highlight creativity.

Section 2: Online-Only Fundraising Ideas

11. Facebook Birthday Fundraisers

Supporters can use their birthday to raise money for your cause on Facebook. They just set up a fundraiser, pick your nonprofit, and invite friends to donate instead of giving gifts. 

There’s no setup cost, and Facebook sends the money directly to you. It’s one of the low-cost fundraising ideas for nonprofit organizations that runs itself once people get involved.

12. Virtual Trivia Night

Host a trivia night using Zoom or another video platform. Use free online trivia tools or make your own questions. Ask for a small donation to join or offer prizes for the top scorers. 

All you need is a stable internet connection and someone to host the game. If you use tools you already have, you'll likely spend $0.

13. Email Campaign with a Donation Match

Send out a short email asking for donations, but include a twist—tell donors their gift will be matched dollar for dollar. A board member or local business can agree to match the donations up to a certain amount. 

Email tools like Mailchimp offer free plans, keeping costs low. This works great for attracting more support without a big budget.

14. Peer-to-Peer Fundraising Pages

Let your supporters create their own fundraising pages tied to your campaign. They can share it with friends and family, helping you reach new donors. 

BetterWorld’s Peer-to-Peer Fundraising can do it for Free. It’s one of those inexpensive fundraising ideas where your community does the outreach for you.

15. Zoom Workshops with Suggested Donation

Offer a basic workshop like yoga, cooking, or any skill your team or volunteers can teach. Host it over Zoom and ask attendees to give what they can. 

Most of the time, you won’t need to pay for anything if someone volunteers to lead it. A good way to raise funds while sharing something useful.

16. Online Art or Craft Auction

Ask local artists or crafty volunteers to donate their work. List the items online using BetterWorld’s Free Online Auction Software. Let people bid and pay online. 

The only cost might be delivery or packaging, but you can ask the winners to cover shipping if needed. It’s a smart pick for low-cost fundraising ideas for nonprofit organizations that want something creative and easy to run from home.

17. Social Media Giving Challenge

Start a challenge that’s easy to join, like sharing a photo with a donation link or tagging friends to give $5 and pass it on. Use your own social pages to get it rolling. 

There is no cost unless you want to boost the post a bit, but that’s optional. These low-cost fundraisers work best when your followers are active and ready to share.

18. Virtual Raffle with Donated Prizes

Collect small prizes, such as gift cards, baskets, or handmade items, from local businesses or community members. Use our Free Raffle and Giveaway Software. 

No printing or venue needed. Be clear about the rules and drawing date. With donated items, your total cost could be close to zero, and you’ll still raise a good amount.

19. Crowdfunding for a Specific Need

Set up a campaign for one clear goal, like new supplies, a broken van, or helping a family. Use Free Crowdfunding Tools For Nonprofits. Tell the story in simple words and share it through your network. 

People like to give when they know exactly what their money is helping. It’s an inexpensive fundraising idea that works best with a personal touch.

20. Livestream Ask Me Anything (AMA) or Q&A

Host a live video where your team or a celebrity talks about your work, answers questions, or shares updates. Go live on Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube. 

Ask for donations during the stream. You won’t need any special tools, just a phone and a good internet connection. Free to run and a great way to connect directly with supporters.

Section 3: Donation-Free Fundraising (No Money Asked Directly)

21. Amazon Wishlist Drives

Set up an Amazon wishlist with items your nonprofit needs, such as school supplies, hygiene kits, and office materials. Share the link with your supporters so they can buy and ship directly to you. 

No fundraising platform is needed, and there's no cost to you. This works well for low-cost fundraising ideas for nonprofit organizations that want to collect items without holding a physical drive.

22. In-Kind Goods Drive

Ask your community to donate physical items like food, clothing, or blankets. You can place a box at a school, church, or local store and promote it through flyers or social media. 

It costs nothing to run unless you print materials, and even then, it’s minimal. These inexpensive fundraising ideas are helpful when people want to give but can’t donate money.

23. Partner with Local Restaurants for Percent Nights

Reach out to local restaurants and ask if they’ll host a “percent night,” where a portion of sales will be given back to your nonprofit on a specific day. 

You promote the event; they handle the rest. It costs nothing, but you’ll need to get the word out. It’s a simple way to raise funds and support local businesses at the same time.

24. Use Affiliate Links for Donations

Sign up for affiliate programs with online stores that let you earn a small percentage of every sale. 

Share those links in your newsletter or social media; each purchase made through your link sends a bit back to you. It costs nothing to set up and runs in the background as people shop.

25. Sell Donated Gift Cards

Sometimes people get gift cards they won’t use. Ask your supporters to donate them, then resell them online or use them as raffle prizes. You can use platforms that don’t charge fees or sell them directly through your website or social channels. 

This is a good low-cost fundraiser if you want something simple to manage and easy to promote.

Section 4: Social Media-Driven Fundraisers

26. Hashtag Fundraising Campaign

Pick a short and clear hashtag tied to your cause. Ask your community to use it when posting about their donations, support, or stories related to your nonprofit. 

Collect Donations for Free with BetterWorld’s Donation Forms. The campaign spreads as people share. It costs nothing to run and works well if you have an active online audience. 

27. “One Day, One Ask” Campaigns

Choose one day to make a single, simple ask, like “Help us raise $500 today for school kits.” Post about it across all your channels. Keep the message short and direct. 

This works best when it’s focused on one need and one goal. You don’t need any tools beyond what you already use to communicate with supporters. It's another low-cost fundraising ideas for nonprofit organizations.

28. Donor Appreciation Wall on Facebook

Create a post or album thanking donors by name. You can add photos, quotes, or short notes. Let people know they’ll be added when they donate. 

This will help others see who’s involved and can encourage more giving. Posting on Facebook is free, and it only takes a bit of time to keep it updated.

29. Twitter Thread Campaign

Write a short thread that tells a story, a client’s journey, a success story, or how your team works behind the scenes. End with a donation link and a clear reason to give. 

Threads keep readers engaged, and you don’t need graphics or video to make them work. This is a smart move when looking for inexpensive fundraising ideas that connect with people emotionally.

30. User-Generated Content for Awareness + Giving

Ask your supporters to share their own photos, videos, or stories about why they support your mission. Feature their posts on your social pages and tag them. 

People love seeing their content shared, and it helps spread your message. It’s completely free and builds both awareness and trust without needing a formal campaign.

Section 5: Community-Driven Fundraisers

31. Spare Change Jars in Local Stores

Ask local store owners if you can place a donation jar near their checkout. Label it with your nonprofit’s name and a short message about what the money supports. 

People often drop in loose change without thinking twice. The cost is just the jar and a printed label. It’s one of the most basic low-cost fundraising ideas that adds up over time.

32. Restaurant Tip Jar Challenge

Partner with a few local cafes or food trucks. Ask if they’d host a tip jar labeled for your cause. You can turn it into a friendly competition between locations to see who collects more in a week. 

The only thing you’ll need is a clear sign for each jar. This idea is free to run and works well with businesses that already support local causes.

33. Partner with Local School Clubs

Reach out to student clubs looking for service hours or projects. With your support, they can help run mini fundraisers like bake sales, book drives, or small events. 

You won’t need much money, just some time to guide them. This is one of those low-cost fundraising ideas for nonprofit organizations that also helps young people get involved.

34. Ask Churches or Mosques for One-Day Fundraisers

Many faith-based groups are open to supporting community causes. Ask if you can speak briefly after service, or set up a small table to collect donations for one day. 

There’s no cost, and your message can reach a room full of potential donors who already care about helping others.

35. Talent Show

Plan a fun night where kids, teens, or adults show off their skills like singing, dancing, comedy, or anything else. Use a school auditorium or community center if possible. Charge a small ticket fee and offer snacks for sale. 

If volunteers run the show and the venue is donated, your total cost stays low. It’s a fun and inexpensive fundraising idea that brings the community together.

Section 6: Quick and Creative Fundraising Challenges

36. 5-Day Giving Challenge

Create a short campaign where you post a daily story, update, or ask for five days straight. Each day can highlight a different reason to give. 

Keep it simple and use your regular channels—email and social media. No tools needed, and there’s zero cost. This is one of those low-cost fundraising ideas that works best with strong storytelling and a clear goal.

37. “Give Up a Coffee, Give a Gift” Drive

Ask supporters to skip one coffee run and donate that money instead, usually around $5. Make the ask clear with a short post or email. 

Add a donation link and explain what $5 can help you do. No fancy setup is needed—just a clear message and an easy way to give. It’s a simple, inexpensive fundraising idea that anyone can join.

38. Daily Dare for Donations

Create a list of fun or silly dares, like posting a funny photo or doing a short dance. Supporters pick a dare and donate to complete it. 

To keep things active, you can post these challenges daily for a week. Use free social tools to promote and track them. No cost is involved unless you add small prizes, which can be donated, too.

39. 1-Week Sponsor-a-Service Challenge

Pick a specific service your nonprofit offers, such as meals, tutoring hours, or rides. Break it down by cost and ask people to sponsor one or more units for a week. Share updates showing how many services have been covered. 

`You can use your regular donation form. Just update the message to match the challenge. It’s an easy, low-cost fundraiser with a clear connection between the gift and the impact.

40. Pet Photo Contest Entry Fees

Ask people to send in their cutest or funniest pet pictures with a small entry fee, like $5. Post the photos online and let others vote. Offer a small prize or feature the winner on your website or social page. 

All you need is a way to collect the fee and a few volunteers to manage the posts. This is a fun, low-effort idea that draws in animal lovers.

Tips to Pick the Right Idea for Your Team

Start by looking at what you already have. Do you have an email list? A social media following? A group of reliable volunteers? Use those tools first. If your team is small, pick something that doesn’t require a lot of time or setup.

Don’t spend weeks planning. Pick one of the low-cost fundraising ideas and test it on a small scale. See how it goes, then decide if it’s worth doing again. You’ll save time and learn what works best for your audience.

Keep track of donations, feedback, and participation. Ask a few people what they liked or didn’t like. This helps you improve without guessing.

Also, you don’t need to stick to just one idea. You can combine a few small things, like a trivia night and a raffle, to make your fundraiser more fun. A mix of low-cost fundraising ideas for nonprofit organizations can often bring better results than one big plan.

Start simple, stay flexible, and build on what works.

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