Fundraising is an important part of running any club, and fortunately, there are more fun and creative money-raising ideas for clubs than ever. Whether you’re running a small book club, a large youth sports club, a country club, or something else, getting creative and having some fun is crucial to meeting your fundraising goals.
At Bid Beacon, we’ve been helping clubs raise the funds they need for years and have hosted online silent auctions as part of some incredible fundraisers.
Here are a few of our favorite money-raising ideas for clubs.
25 Amazing Money Raising Ideas for Clubs
1. Host an Online Silent Auction
Silent auctions are one of the best money-raising ideas for clubs for many reasons.
First of all, they allow participants to bid on items they really want and decide how much they’re willing to bid. With Bid Beacon, participants can place bids directly from their phones, and it’s easy to look at what’s available before you decide to bid. Bidders will even receive notifications when someone outbids them.
Silent auctions can be easily integrated with other fundraising ideas, too, whether that’s at a dinner, art show, or any of the other money-raising ideas for clubs we’ve listed here. Other advantages include:
- Participation isn’t limited to people who attend your event, unless you want it to be.
- Online silent auctions allow remote donors to participate.
- Online bidding gets the competitive juices flowing, which results in higher bidding activity and more revenue.
- A more engaging experience that allows bidders to stay actively involved until the auction closes.
Best for: All types of clubs
2. Trivia Night
Nothing gets the competitive juices going like a trivia night. Whether it’s a themed evening or general knowledge, breaking up into teams and trying to prove who knows best is a great way to bring people together for some low-stakes, lighthearted fun.
It can take some effort to come up with the right questions and find prizes, but what makes trivia one of the best money-raising ideas for clubs is how it brings people together and rewards their intelligence.
Best for: Clubs big and small, including Sports Clubs, Country Clubs, Boys and Girls Clubs, and Rotary Clubs.
3. Community Scavenger Hunt
Scavenger hunts aren’t just for kids. They’re a good fundraiser idea for clubs because they get participants out in their community and test their problem-solving skills alongside their knowledge of local landmarks. Make a map, distribute clues, and have a central meeting place for everyone who participates to meet before they’re off to the races.
Encourage costumes or team uniforms to add to the fun. This has the bonus of attracting attention from people passing by as teams race around finding clues, which can get them curious about your club.
Best for: Rotary Clubs, Country Clubs, and Booster Clubs.
4. 50/50 Draw
A 50/50 draw is as simple as it gets. Sell tickets and draw a winner. They receive 50% of the total funds raised through ticket sales, with your club taking home the remaining 50%. Using Raffle Rocket makes the entire process easy, as you get a personalized landing page and can sell tickets online, allowing anyone to see the pot grow in real-time.
When it comes to money-raising ideas for clubs, it doesn’t get much simpler or effective than hosting a 50/50 draw.
Best for: All types of clubs.
5. Karaoke
A karaoke night is one of the most fun and engaging money-raising ideas for clubs. People young and old love getting on stage and showing off their hidden singing talent, and karaoke gives them that opportunity in front of a supportive audience.
You can raise money through tickets for the event, food and drink sales, and even by requesting a small donation for every song that’s performed.
Best for: Arts Clubs, Sports Clubs, and Book Clubs.
6. Lip-Sync Battle
As much as a karaoke night might be fun, some people might not be comfortable getting on stage and singing. A lip-sync battle is a perfect solution and one of the best fundraising ideas for clubs because it allows everyone to get on stage and showcase their performing talents, even if they might not have a voice that captivates the room.
Best for: Youth and Athletic Clubs.
7. Golf Tournament
Golf tournaments are extremely popular fundraisers because they not only get people out on the links, but they also provide lots of opportunities for raising money. You can charge for mulligans, get hole sponsorships, host hole-in-one contests, and even host silent auctions or raffles throughout the event.
Best for: Country Clubs, Rotary Clubs, and Booster Clubs.
8. Talent Shows
Whether it’s dancing, magic, or playing music, talent shows bring out the best in your community and are one of the best money-raising ideas for clubs. Select a venue, send out a call for performers, and then watch as they line up for the opportunity to showcase their hidden talents.
A talent show can be paired with other club fundraiser ideas, such as a dinner or silent auction, and can save clubs money since it doesn’t require paying for a professional performer to put on a show.
Best for: Youth and Athletic Clubs, Religious Clubs, and Rotary Clubs.
9. Cash-Prize Raffles
A cash-prize raffle is exactly what it sounds like. There’s a lump sum prize that’s available to the winner, and participants buy tickets for their chance to win it.
Unlike 50/50 draws, cash raffles don’t require that clubs give up half of the money they raise through ticket sales, but you do want to make sure you sell enough that you bring in more than the prize you’re giving out.
Hosting a cash-prize raffle with Raffle Rocket makes it easy, providing you with a dedicated landing page, easy-to-use communication tools and the ability to sell tickets online.
Best for: All types of clubs.
10. Club Merchandise
Selling club merchandise is one of the most lucrative money-raising ideas for clubs. Selling hats, t-shirts, or hooded sweatshirts with your club’s logo brings in revenue, and you then have people walking around town advertising your club for free. Collaborating with club members or their kids on designs can create limited-edition, branded items that get customers in your community excited.
Best for: Youth Sports Clubs, Arts Clubs, and Athletic Clubs.
11. Curling Night
If you’ve a local curling club in town, they are often available for rent, and you can host events there, offering some great ways to fundraise for the club. Nobody needs to be an expert; a fun tournament is a great way to get people active and learning a new skill, and you can even include lessons in your fundraising plan.
Best for: Country Clubs and Rotary Clubs.
12. Host a Walk-a-Thon
Whether it’s a one-day group walk or a walk-a-thon that takes place over a month and encourages participants to walk as many kilometers or miles as possible every day, a walk-a-thon gets people active. Anyone participating can seek out sponsors who donate a small amount as their total distance accumulates. That money can add up quickly the further they walk.
Best for: All clubs, big or small, who are looking to get active.
13. Calendar Sales
Everyone needs a calendar, right? Create a custom calendar with local photography or themed months that remind people of what your club is all about, and then sell them late in the year for holiday fundraisers. Creating calendars can be a low-cost endeavor, and they are genuinely something that everybody can use, making them one of the best money-raising ideas for clubs.
Best for: Rotary Clubs, Youth Sports, and Arts Clubs.
14. Lego Challenge
If your club is for kids or has members with kids, a Lego challenge is a great way to encourage them to use their creative muscles and create something amazing. All you need is a supply of Lego, a timer, and a few judges to reward whoever comes up with the best Lego creation.
Best for: School Clubs, Youth Sports and Arts Clubs, and Clubs with parents of young children.
15. Fishing Competition
You don’t need to book a lake or a river to host a fishing competition. Participants just need to sign up and head out on their own, and take pictures of their catches. Whether it’s the biggest fish or the person who catches the most fish, have prizes for the winner, and be sure to share on social media.
Everyone pays to enter, and part of what makes fishing competitions among the best money-raising ideas for clubs is that they encourage a sense of competition for people who love to fish.
Best for: Rotary Clubs.
16. Non-Cash Prize Raffle
Depending on the size of your club, you could have a non-cash prize that’s as big or as small as you want it to be. People buy tickets for the chance to win; it’s as simple as that. With Raffle Rocket, you can raffle up to five prizes, and both early-bird and grand prizes are supported.
A non-cash prize raffle can be hosted in conjunction with any of the other money-raising ideas for clubs listed here.
Best for: All types of clubs.
17. Online Gaming Tournament
Video games are incredibly popular, especially with young people, so if you’re looking for good fundraising ideas for clubs where your target audience skews a little younger, consider hosting an online gaming tournament where participants can play from anywhere. Each participant pays to enter, and a prize is awarded to the winner at the end.
Best for: Youth Clubs.
18. Cooking Competition
This doesn’t need to be all that competitive. The point is that everyone gets to show off their best effort at a specific type of food. That could be chili, burgers, lasagna, or anything, really. People can pay to participate or just show up and test out what’s been cooked up.
Best for: Religious Clubs, Rotary Clubs, and Boys and Girls Clubs.
19. Cookbook Compilation
Every family has a few special recipes that have been passed down through generations. Compiling all of those recipes together from members of your club and selling the resulting cookbook is one of the most creative and fun money-raising ideas for clubs and can genuinely result in a great collection of one-of-a-kind recipes.
Best for: Religious Clubs, Rotary Clubs, and Boys and Girls Clubs.
20. Themed Dinners or Lunches
Whether it’s a Taco Tuesday night or a Pancake breakfast, people love themed meals where they can sit and enjoy a meal together. Combining a dinner with a silent auction or raffle can help drive additional revenue.
Best for: All types of clubs.
21. Photo Booths
Setting up a photo booth at your club’s event is a great way of providing an opportunity for guests to take home lasting memories from their time at your fundraiser. You can charge a small fee for the photos to be taken, and having props and costumes gives guests the chance to show off their goofy side.
Best for: Clubs hosting events where photo booths can be easily set up.
22. Bouncy Castle Day
Kids love bouncy castles. Renting a few and setting them up in a schoolyard or park will get every family in your neighborhood excited and is a great way to connect your club with the community. Having a barbecue or running a raffle at the same time will increase the amount of money you raise.
Best for: Booster Clubs, Rotary Clubs, and School Clubs.
23. Fundraising Bingo Card
The idea here is simple. Distribute Bingo cards among your club members, their families, and friends. Each square represents a specific donation amount they need to get, and the winner is the first person—or first couple of people—who fill in all the squares. This encourages everybody to rush out and try to get as many donations as possible, making it one of the more competitive fundraising ideas for clubs.
Best for: Boys and Girls Clubs, Youth Sports or Athletic Clubs, and Book Clubs.
24. Themed Dances
Most of us don’t get to attend dances after high school, so why not give people the opportunity to relive their youth? Your theme can be anything, whether that’s an 80s Prom or a Halloween Dance. Guests pay to get in, and you can host a silent auction, raffle, or 50/50 draw to make sure you’re raising as much as possible.
Best for: Rotary Clubs, Country Clubs, and Community Clubs.
25. Pet Parade
Everyone loves showing off their pet, so organize a small parade where people in your community can dress up their dog, cat, or bunny and march them down the street or through a park. It’s sure to be a fun day, and people can donate to your club or pay to enter their pet.
Best for: Rotary Clubs, Community Clubs, and Youth Sports or Athletic Clubs.
Bid Beacon Amplifies Your Fundraising Goals
Hosting a silent auction is a great way to help your club meet its fundraising goals, and Bid Beacon takes the stress out of planning and running a fundraiser. Our online platform makes it easy for participants to access all the information about available items and place their own bids. They’ll even receive notifications about the status of their bid, so they don’t need to wait around a table to make sure they can quickly increase it if someone bids higher.
Hosting an auction can function as the entirety of your fundraiser or as part of another event.
Over the years, clubs have seen incredible success with using silent auctions to fundraise. Since 2020, Bid Beacon has helped clubs around the world raise over $1.2 million dollars!
Your Fundraising Target, Achieved
There are so many great money-raising ideas for clubs these days that allow you and your members to have fun while bringing in the revenue you need. Bid Beacon’s mobile bidding platform can be easily integrated into other fundraising efforts or used independently.
Sign up to get one step closer to reaching your fundraising target.
FAQ
Why do online auctions help raise more money?
Online auctions encourage increased participation, as people can place bids from anywhere, while also providing easy access to information about items and simplifying the bidding process. In turn, those features can lead to fun and friendly bidding wars between people who really, really want an item.
When should I host a fundraiser?
This depends entirely on what type of fundraiser you’re looking to host. If it will cater to families, it might be best not to host a mid-week fundraiser. On weekends and during the school year is often best. For calendar sales, you’d want to try for the end of the year, and you need to consider the weather for any outdoor fundraiser.
