15 Alumni Giving Events for Your Nonprofit

Alumni giving events are more than just opportunities to raise funds—they're a chance to bring people together, foster community, and celebrate the places that shaped their lives. You want to create events that make your alumni feel valued and excited to participate.

In this blog, we'll discuss some ideas to get your alumni excited to give back. Ready to dive in? Let’s get started!

1. Mystery Dinner Theater

Host a mystery dinner theater where alumni can enjoy a delicious meal while solving a thrilling whodunit. It’s a fun way to bring people together, spark conversations, and create lasting memories.  Choose a story that resonates with your alumni and reflects the spirit of your organization.

Fundraising options:

• Sell tickets at various price tiers with added perks, like front-row seating or a meet-and-greet with the cast.
• Host a “Suspect Auction” where guests can bid to play a role in the mystery.
• Include a raffle for themed prizes, like a murder mystery book collection.
• Set up a donation station where guests can contribute to “uncover clues” that help solve the mystery.

2. Escape Room Challenge

Organize an escape room challenge where alumni team up to solve puzzles and escape before time runs out. It’s a high-energy, collaborative experience that fosters teamwork and quick thinking. 

It’s an exciting activity that will keep everyone on their toes. Plus, it’s an activity that can easily be customized to reflect your organization’s history or mission.

Fundraising options:

• Charge an entry fee per team, with a prize for the fastest escape.
• Sell “hint cards” to help teams move through the game.
• Sell themed merchandise like T-shirts or hats tied to the escape room’s theme. 

3. Pet Parade

Organize a pet parade where alumni can show off their furry friends in a fun, community-centered event. Whether it’s dogs, cats, or even more exotic pets, everyone loves a parade of adorable animals. 

It’s a lighthearted way to unite people and have fun with pets while supporting your cause.

Fundraising options:

• Charge an entry fee for each pet participating in the parade.
• Hold a “Best in Show” contest with donation-based voting.
• Set up a pet-themed photo booth where attendees can snap pictures with their pets for a small fee.
• Sell pet-themed merchandise like bandanas, toys, or custom collars.
• Partner with local pet businesses for sponsorships or product donations.

Read more: How To Increase Alumni Donations To Your Fundraiser

4. Trivia Night

You want something that gets people talking, laughing, and maybe even showing off a little. Then you need to host a trivia night! 

Tailor the questions to your alumni’s shared experiences to make it personal and engaging.

Fundraising options:

• Charge an entry fee per team and make the prize worth competing for.
• Introduce bonus rounds where teams can buy extra points—because who doesn’t love a little advantage?
• Sell snacks and drinks with proceeds going to your cause.
• Add a “trivia booster” pack with hints or second chances for purchase. It’s a win-win: more fun for them, more funds for you.

5. Art Auction

Host an art auction featuring pieces created by fellow alumni or local artists. Whether you keep it casual or upscale, it’s a great way to appreciate unique art and support your nonprofits.

If you are considering an auction you need to check out BetterWorld - it’s a free fundraising software that offers features like popcorn bidding, which keeps the excitement going by extending the bidding time when someone places a bid at the last second. 

Through BetterWorld you can send text message notifications to keep your bidders in the loop. Donors can upload items directly to your auction page, making it super easy to manage everything in one place.

Fundraising options:

• Charge a small fee to attend the auction.
• Take a percentage of each sale from the artwork.
• Offer a “buy-it-now” option for certain pieces at a higher price.
• Sell raffle tickets for a special piece of art.
• Partner with local businesses for event sponsorships.

6. Themed Fun Run

Shake up the traditional charity run with a themed fun run. Think costumes, colors, or even a crazy obstacle course. Alumni love a good excuse to get active, especially when they can do it for a cause they care about. And the best part? You can tailor the theme to fit your organization’s history or mission.

Fundraising options:

• Charge an entry fee and offer an option for “VIP” registration that includes extra perks like a special shirt.
• Sell themed merchandise like hats, water bottles, or medals.
• Set up donation stations along the course, where participants can donate to unlock fun surprises.
• Create a “sponsor a runner” program where alumni pledge donations based on distance covered. 
• Host a post-run party with paid entry, food trucks, and live music.

7. Cooking Class

Host a cooking class where alumni can come together to learn, laugh, and maybe discover a new favorite dish. YFocus  on recipes that have a special meaning to your organization or tap into  popular cuisines. Everyone leaves with a full belly, new skills, and a stronger connection to your cause.

Fundraising options:

• Charge a fee for participation, with an option for a premium package that includes a personalized apron or cooking tools.
• Sell recipe books featuring the dishes from the class, with alumni contributing their own favorites.
• Offer a virtual cooking class option for alumni who can’t attend in person, with a donation link for participation. 

8. Virtual Game Night

Bring alumni together for a virtual game night featuring classic games or popular online games.  It’s a fun way to connect, no matter where everyone is located. 

With BetterWorld, you can take your virtual game night to the next level. It lets you design professional-looking landing pages to sell tickets and collect RSVPs, making your event look polished and put-together. 

You can also set up multi-tiered ticketing, offering different levels of access or perks, and easily manage offline and complimentary tickets. 

Fundraising options:

• Charge a small entry fee for each participant.
• Offer “power-ups” or extra game lives that players can purchase during the event.
• Host a mini-tournament with an additional entry fee and a prize for the winner. 
• Sell digital merchandise like themed avatars or backgrounds.

9. Book Swap 

Host a book swap event where alumni can exchange their favorite reads while supporting your cause. It’s a chance for people to share stories, discover new books, and connect over a shared love of reading. Fundraising options:

• Charge a small admission fee to participate in the book swap.
• Offer a “premium swap” option where participants can pay extra to choose from a selection of rare or signed books.
• Sell bookmarks, bookplates, or custom book totes featuring your nonprofit’s logo.

10. Photo Scavenger Hunt

Organize a photo scavenger hunt that gets alumni out and about, capturing memories while supporting your cause. 

Participants take quirky, meaningful, or nostalgic photographs of items or scenes all related to your organization’s history or mission. People can form teams or compete solo. Either way it's a fun way to engage your alumni. Fundraising options:

• Charge a participation fee for teams or individuals.
• Offer a “photo boost” package with extra hints or challenges for purchase.
• Sell printed photo albums featuring the best shots from the hunt.

11. Human Football Tournament

Host an alumni football tournament to let alumni relive their glory days on the field! 

 It’s a friendly competition with all proceeds going to improve your school’s sports facilities. Dust off those cleats and show the youngsters how it's done!

Fundraising options:

• Charge an entry fee for teams with a grand prize for the winning squad.
• Let spectators purchase “game-changer” options, like giving a team an extra shot on goal.
• Sell custom team shirts or hats with proceeds going directly to your nonprofit.

12. Outdoor Adventure Challenge

Who says fundraising has to stay on campus? Take your fundraising to the great outdoors with an adventure challenge that gets alumni out of their comfort zones and into the wild. Think of it as a mix of a scavenger hunt, obstacle course, and team-building exercise—all rolled into one. 

Fundraising options:

• Offer “challenge boosts” for purchase, like hints or obstacle skips.
• Sell adventure-themed gear like water bottles, bandanas, or backpacks with your nonprofit’s logo.
• Set up donation stations at checkpoints where participants can contribute to your cause to unlock special rewards.

13. Comedy Night 

Host a comedy night where alumni can enjoy some laughs while supporting a great cause. Whether you bring in professional comedians or let some brave alumni take the stage, it’s a fun, relaxed event.

Pass around a donation jar after a great set—because who can resist giving a little extra when they’re in a good mood?

Fundraising options:

• Let local businesses sponsor parts of the night and give them a shout-out during the show.
• Sell funny merchandise like T-shirts or mugs.
• Run a joke contest before the event, charge a small entry fee, and let the winner perform during the show.

14. Cultural Food Festival

If you want a real alumni engagement, then a cultural food festival is the answer. Alumni can showcase their favorite recipes from around the world, while attendees get to taste and vote for their favorites.

Alumni become food heroes, showcasing secret family recipes from around the globe. Students get to munch their way through history and geography, voting for their favorite dishes with spare change. 

Fundraising options:

• Sell tasting tickets for different dishes, with proceeds going to your cause.
• Host a cooking class where people can pay to learn how to make a special dish.
• Have a food competition where people vote for their favorite dish with a small donation.
• Team up with local restaurants to sponsor booths and donations. 

15. Virtual Reality Experience

What if you created a fundraiser where alumni stepped into a virtual reality version of their old school? 

You put on the headset, and bam! You're back in your old classroom, but it's got a crazy twist. Maybe you're solving math problems to escape a zombie teacher, or you're on a wild scavenger hunt through the halls that never seems to end. 

Fundraising options:

• Offer “VIP” experiences where people can get extra features or behind-the-scenes content.
• Sell digital souvenirs like virtual badges or themed avatars.
• Partner with a VR company to sponsor the event, with their brand featured during the experience.
• Set up a live stream for those who don’t have VR gear, where they can donate during the event to unlock extra content.

Final Thoughts

So, there you have it— fresh, engaging ideas to bring your alumni together and raise money for your cause. 

To make your fundraising even easier, check out BetterWorld. The platform offers a simple, powerful monthly giving solution that can put your fundraising on autopilot. You can also create separate landing pages for each class and visualize your goals in a way that’s clear and motivating for everyone involved. 

Check out BetterWorld and see how we can help you keep the momentum going month after month.