20+ Creative Halloween Fundraising Ideas for Nonprofit

Most nonprofits struggle with fundraising all year, but October is different. People are already in spending mode, communities are hosting events everywhere, and everyone’s looking for fun ways to celebrate Halloween. Targeting this high-picky season for fundraising is a brilliant way for nonprofits to increase their funds.

With Halloween just around the corner, we have listed 20+ creative fundraising ideas to help your nonprofit increase funds in this giving season.

Ready to turn Halloween from a fun distraction into your secret fundraising weapon? Let’s dive in.

Halloween fundraising ideas that actually work

Halloween is the perfect time to mix festive fun with meaningful giving. Here, we’ve listed over 20+ Halloween fundraising ideas to help your nonprofit make the most of this spooky season. We categorized ideas into three categories: explore and choose any that seem fit to you.

• Online fundraising ideas
• Community engagement ideas
• Quick win fundraising ideas

Online Halloween fundraising ideas 

Almost 67% of nonprofits accept donations online, which means there’s a huge opportunity to raise funds through creative digital campaign. With that in mind, we listed some fun and effective online Halloween fundraising ideas. Let’s explore them. 

Virtual pumpkin carving contest

People love showing off their skills. Hosting a virtual pumpkin carving contest may work great if you have a decent social media following. Host a pumpkin carving contest where people submit photos of their creations for a $10-25 entry fee. Create different categories like “Most Creative,” “Funniest,” and “Best Kids Design.”

Get local businesses to sponsor prizes. You can target restaurants; they love donating gift cards for this kind of exposure. Run the contest over a weekend and announce winners on Monday. Here, the plus point is that participants’ submitted photos can also be great content for your social media.

• Budget needed: Under $100 
• Time investment: 1 person, 10 hours over 2 weeks
• Expected return: $5,00-$2,000

Halloween recipe exchange fundraiser

Create a digital cookbook featuring Halloween-themed recipes from your community. Ask supporters, volunteers, and local chefs to contribute their favorite spooky treats, fall dishes, or party recipes. Sell the cookbook for $12-20 as a PDF download or print copies for $25.

The trick is making it feel special. Include photos of the recipes, stories behind family traditions, and tips from contributors. You can even create themed sections like “Witch’s Brew Drinks” or “Monster Munchies for Kids.”

• Budget needed: Under $200 for design and printing 
• Time investment: 2 people, 20 hours over 4 weeks 
• Expected return: $1,000-$3,000.

Story-sharing video contest

Host a contest on your nonprofit website, inviting people to submit 2-minute spooky story videos for a $15 entry fee. Create categories like “Scariest,” “Funniest,” and “Best Kid’s Story.” Get local businesses to donate prizes, target coffee shops and bookstores, because they love this kind of community involvement.

The beauty is in the simplicity. Post submission guidelines on social media, set a deadline, and let people’s creativity do the work. 

• Budget needed: Under $100 for prizes and promotion 
• Time investment: 2 people, 8 hours over 3 weeks
• Expected return: $1,200-$2,500

Costume fashion show

Set up video calls where people model their costumes in different categories. Let participants vote for winners and add business sponsorships for prizes. The social aspect is what makes this work; people love showing off and seeing what others have created.

Charging an entry fee of $20 per household gets you access to multiple categories. Add a few local business sponsorships, and you’re looking at solid returns for minimal effort.

• Budget needed: Under $150 for platform and prizes
• Time investment: 2 people, 10 hours over 2 weeks 
• Expected return: $1,500-$3,200

Virtual movie night

Host a spooky movie night online! Stream movies simultaneously while participants chat and interact virtually. Sell tickets for $12-20 per household and offer themed snack boxes as a reward for completing a fun quiz based on the movie. Get local restaurants to sponsor the snack boxes.

The key is picking the right movies for your audience. Family-friendly spooky films work great for afternoon sessions, while classic horror draws adult evening crowds.

• Budget needed: $100-300 for streaming licenses
• Time investment: 3 people, 18 hours over 3 weeks
• Expected return: $2,500-$5,200

Halloween-themed quiz contest

Arrange a week-long Halloween quiz contest, featuring a new theme each day. Day 1: Horror Movies, Day 2: Local Ghost Stories, Day 3: Halloween Traditions, Day 4: Your Cause + Spooky Themes. Charge $25 for the full week instead of just one night.

Send daily quiz links by email and display the winner’s name on the leaderboard on your website each day. The week-long format keeps people engaged longer than single events. Ask small businesses to sponsor the prizes.

• Budget needed: $100-$400 for quiz platform 
• Time investment: 2 people, 18 hours over 4 weeks 
• Expected return: $1,000-$2,000

Halloween bake sale

Bake Halloween-themed cakes and cookies, and sell them online. While planning on a theme, think spider cupcakes, pumpkin cookies, and witches’ brew hot chocolate mixes. 

Your sales mostly depend on the presentation of your cake. Use Halloween-focused decorations on your table, create fun name cards for everything (“Zombie Brain Muffins” sounds way better than “blueberry muffins”).

Budget needed: Under $100 for decorations and supplies
Time investment: 8-10 volunteers, 12 hours over 1 weekend
Expected return: $1,500-$3,500

Social media campaign

Start posting daily Halloween content one month before October 31st. Share behind-the-scenes prep for your events, countdown posts, volunteer spotlights in costume, and sneak peeks of decorations or prizes.

Create engaging content that attracts your audience and explains the details of your events in the post. Use attractive subject lines and images in your content. Use hashtags that mix popular Halloween tags with your local community and cause-specific ones. Try posting stories and reels for better reach, and remember that behind-the-scenes content always performs well.

Budget needed: Under $200 for content creation tools and boosted posts
Time investment: 1 person, 2 hours per week for 4 weeks
Expected return: 40-80% increase in event attendance and donations

Community engagement ideas

Along with online fundraising methods, traditional fundraising is still a powerful way to bring in donations. Offline, community-based activities can create personal connections and make giving more fun. Here are some engaging ideas to help your nonprofit raise funds within the community. Let’s explore them!

Reverse Trick-or-Treating campaign

One common Halloween scenario is kids going door-to-door to ask for candy. Now it’s your turn to make this idea work for you. Flip it around.

Send your volunteers to local businesses with Halloween treats and your organization’s story. Instead of asking for candy, you’re giving it away and asking for donations.

Here’s how it works: Train a small team of volunteers to visit businesses during lunch hours or slow periods in late October. Suggest volunteers create a small bag containing Halloween candy and a simple request for the owners. Most business owners are so surprised by the gesture that they’re happy to contribute.

• Budget needed: Under $200 for candy and materials 
• Time investment: 2-3 volunteers, 3-4 hours total 
• Expected return: $1,500-$4,000

Haunted office building tours

Give people a chance to discover haunted office spaces. Partner with businesses that have historic or uniquely designed buildings, and organize after-hours “haunted” tours. Blend intriguing local history with light scares for a fun, immersive experience.

Keep groups small, around 15–20 people, and charge $20–$35 per person. Share fascinating stories about the building’s past, the people who worked there, and quirky local legends to make the tour memorable.

Budget needed: $300-600 for props and marketing
Time investment: 6-8 volunteers, 25 hours total
Expected return: $1,000-$3,000

Pet costume parade & contest

Pet owners love to see their pets in different types of costumes, and Halloween gives them an excuse to buy theme-based costumes for their pets. Organize events where you will be selling Halloween costumes for pets, and also have arrangements of different types of activities for the pet and their owners.

Sell photo packages with professional photographers, and invite pet-related businesses to set up vendor booths for a fee. Create categories like “Best Dressed Duo” (pet and owner), “Funniest Costume,” and “Best Group Theme” for families with multiple pets. Charge entry fees ($15-25 per pet), and let one owner enter for free.

Budget needed: $400-800 for permits, awards, and setup
Time investment: 8-10 volunteers, 30 hours total
Expected return: $4,000-$9,000

Halloween costume drive & swap

Parents spend crazy on Halloween costumes that their kids just wear once. Create a costume collection and swap event where families can donate gently used costumes and “shop” for new ones with a suggested donation.

Set up collection boxes at schools, libraries, and community centres starting in early October. Then host a weekend event where families can browse through costumes organized by size and theme. Charge $5-15 per costume, depending on your community.

You can also sell adult costumes, accessories, and decorations that people donate. 

Budget needed: $100-300 for collection boxes and venue
Time investment: 4-6 volunteers over 3 weeks
Expected return: $2,000-$6,000

Spooky storytelling nights

People love being scared; they also love to have unique experiences. Host storytelling events where community members share ghost stories, local legends, or spooky experiences. You can do this virtually or in atmospheric venues like old buildings, libraries, or even outdoor spaces with fire pits.

To make this event accessible to all ages, you can host this program on multiple nights. Such as adults-only sessions can be legitimately scary, while family nights focus on fun, mild spooks. Serve themed snacks and hot drinks. Charge $15-30 per person to join the events.

Budget needed: $200-500, depending on venue and refreshments
Time investment: 3-4 volunteers, 15 hours total
Expected return: $1,500-$3,000

Halloween movie theatre

People love to spend quality time with their loved ones. Watching a movie together is one of the most preferred ways people like to spend time with family and friends.

You can set up an outdoor movie screening or rent a venue to host a movie night. Choose a mix of classic horror, family-friendly spooky films, or even comedy horror, depending on your audience. Sell tickets and make money on concessions.

You can offer single movies for $10-15 or all-night marathons for $35-50. Offer some snacks for free to the audience, as this will attract more people to buy tickets.

• Budget needed: $600-1,200 for licensing, venue, and equipment 
• Time investment: 6-8 volunteers, 25 hours total 
• Expected return: $3,500-$7,000

Halloween fun run

Organize a Halloween-themed fun run where participants dress in different costumes. Charge entry fees based on registration timing – $30 early bird, $40 regular, $50 day-of. Include a race t-shirt, finisher medal, and post-race treats. Create costume categories with prizes to encourage participation.

Set up the course through local parks or neighbourhoods with Halloween decorations. Volunteers in costume cheering runners on, and maybe some fog machines at key points. End with a festival area featuring local food trucks and live music.

Budget needed: $1,000-2,000 for permits, shirts, medals, and decorations
Time investment: 12-15 volunteers, 40 hours over 6 weeks
Expected return: $3,000-$4,000

Historical place volunteer clean-up

This might sound weird to you, but this actually works. Many historical places need maintenance help, and if they are well-maintained, they can be a great place to visit. 

First, ask for help from the local supporters to assist you in cleaning the place. After cleaning, consider offering historical place tours and hiring a guide to share the stories of the place with visitors.

Charge a small fee ($20-30) for each participant that covers supplies and supports your cause. After the work, offer tours sharing interesting stories about local history. People feel good about preserving history while getting a unique Halloween experience.

Budget needed: $300-500 for supplies and refreshments
Time investment: 4-5 volunteers, 20 hours over 2 weekends
Expected return: $1,000-$2,000

Arrange a game night

Plan a fun night that appeals to people of all generations. Arrange an event where people can enjoy fun games and spend time with friends and family. To target people of all ages, plan the program to think about all of them and offer different types of games for all of them.

Arrange multiple activities such as costume contests, pumpkin carving, Halloween charades, and other interactive games. Include food trucks or catered dinner options. Charge entry fees of $25-40 per person (with a reduced fee for children) and organize team competitions with prizes.

• Budget needed: $500-1,000 for venue, food, supplies, and prizes 
• Time investment: 8-10 volunteers, 35 hours total 
• Expected return: $2,000-$3,000

Midnight lantern memorial walk

This one is more effective, especially for nonprofits that want to offer something that is beneficial for health. Host a candlelit or lantern-lit walk on Halloween nights, where participants can honour loved ones they lost.

It’s not something scary; it’s a meaningful symbol of dedicating their precious time to the people who are not with them now. Participants make donations to join the walk and can purchase memorial lanterns with names or messages. End at a beautiful location where people can share stories or observe a moment of silence.

Budget needed: $500-1,000 for lanterns, permits, and refreshments
Time investment: 6-8 volunteers, 30 hours over 4 weeks
Expected return: $2,000-$3,000

Click here to discover 600 fun and spooky things to do this Halloween!

Bonus tips: Quick win Halloween fundraising ideas

Here are some quick-win Halloween fundraising ideas that can bring in support without a lot of time or resources.

Halloween candy gram sales

Sell Halloween candy grams that people can send to friends, family, or coworkers. Create packages with themed candy, a small Halloween decoration, and a personalized message card.

Offer different price tiers – $8 for basic candy mix, $15 for premium with full-size bars, $25 for deluxe with toys or gift cards. Set up online order forms on your websites. Schedule delivery dates for the week before Halloween, so people get maximum enjoyment from their treats.

Budget needed: $4-8 per candy gram for supplies
Time investment: 6-8 volunteers, 25 hours over 3 weeks
Expected return: $2,500-$5,500

Mystery box selling

Everyone loves surprises, and mystery boxes are the most curious things that people are attracted to buy. Create Halloween-themed mystery boxes filled with items like horror books, small household goods, craft items, treats, and gift cards from local businesses. Sell them for $25-50 without revealing contents.

The magic is in the curation. Create different themes like “Cozy Night In,” “Local Treasures,” or “Family Fun Pack.” As you are raising funds for your nonprofit, so try to manage the mystery boxes elements for free from local business owners.

Ask supporters and local businesses to donate items, then package them attractively with Halloween-themed wrapping.  People prefer not knowing what they’ll get, so there is a chance they’ll buy multiple boxes. 

Budget needed: $200-400 for packaging and materials.
Time investment: 5-6 volunteers, 20 hours over 2 weeks
Expected return: $2,000-$6,000

Peer-to-peer fundraising

People trust recommendations from friends way more than organizations asking directly. Your supporters become ambassadors who can reach networks you’d never access otherwise. Plus, it takes the fundraising pressure off your small team.

Set up personal fundraising pages for each participant and create friendly competition with prizes for top fundraisers. Offer different challenge levels – $500, $1,000, or $2,500 goals so everyone feels they can participate. Provide them with templates for social media posts, email messages to friends, and party planning guides.

Budget needed: $300-600 for toolkit materials and prizes
Time investment: 3 people, 20 hours over 4 weeks
Expected return: $5,000-$10,000

Wondering which fundraising method will bring better results, peer-to-peer or crowdfunding? Click to learn more.

Increase donations with Halloween fundraising ideas

Halloween isn’t just about fun and celebrations; it’s also a great time to build emotional connections with your community. You can raise meaningful support for your mission by tapping into the festive spirit

From selling Halloween candy to arranging peer-to-peer fundraising, there are plenty of ways to raise funds in this festive season. Hope these Halloween fundraising ideas may help you to increase funds for your nonprofits. 

Best of luck with your Halloween efforts.

Ciao!