Consider the people you are targeting and ask yourself what events or activities might appeal to them. For example, an activity-based fundraiser like a hike-a-thon might attract younger generations, such as Gen Z. Be sure to ask for input from your team, including volunteers—you might be surprised by the creative suggestions that come up when you get everyone involved.

Our marketing director, Ron, likes to think of the brainstorming process as a matrix: [fundraising event type] x [theme]. Imagine you want to use knitting as the theme. Then, think of the different types of fundraising events you might create. Perhaps you could organize a peer-to-peer knit-a-thon, an auction of hand-made knitted items, a sale of knitted products and knitting supplies (you could partner up with a local yarn producer!), or raffle off a knitting-themed basket that includes a knitting class and supplies. Of course, not everything you come up with will be a good idea, but Ron’s approach is a helpful way to approach the process.

One way to do this is to prioritize ideas that are authentic and aligned with your organization’s mission and values. This will help you create a more compelling and meaningful fundraising campaign. However, if there’s a fundraising method you like but isn’t directly connected to what you do, brainstorm how you can create a connection. (Check out the book club fundraiser idea below!)

Try out different types of fundraising events to see which ones generate the most interest and support. Success can often be found in mixing and matching fundraising campaign types in unconventional ways (such as combining a knit-a-thon with an auction as in our ideas below).

Another way to expand on a nearly-there fundraising strategy is to conduct some informal market research. Reach out to a handful of your supporters and ask why they did or did not participate. If they did participate, inquire about what they liked; if they didn’t, ask how you could improve. Then, incorporate those findings into your next fundraiser.

Younger generations continue to embrace all things handmade (here’s another article about that). Participants can raise funds by the number of hours (or minutes) they create. You can then offer up the made items in an auction benefitting your cause! This fundraiser combines two powerful fundraiser types that have historically had success with all ages. The fact that it is also a peer-to-peer fundraiser gives it the potential to extend your org’s reach.

While this idea doesn’t seem so outside of the box, it was for one of our customers! They had hosted an annual golf tournament benefitting their cause for years. While it was successful, they spent a lot of time dealing with caterers, the venue, and organizing all the elements. Additionally, they felt that the tournament was so specific that it inhibited building awareness and attracting new supporters and potential donors. By asking other nonprofits and looking into past successes, they determined that a hybrid raffle (combing online and in-person aspects) was the way to go. They went big with their prize (a brand-new pick-up truck!) and are well on their way to meeting the funds raised by their golf event.