Creative Fundraising Ideas for Clubs & Organizations

TL;DR: Fundraising Ideas for Clubs & Organizations

Big goals require more than passion; they require the right fundraising plan. This guide helps you choose the right fundraising ideas so your organization can raise money with confidence and consistency.

Key takeaways in this guide:

– Fundraising ideas for sports clubs
– Fundraising ideas for school clubs
– Fundraising ideas for college clubs
– Fundraising ideas for youth clubs and organizations
– Fundraising ideas for nonprofit clubs and community organizations
– Proven fundraising models that actually work
– Practical tools to help you collect donations and payments more efficiently

This guide also explains what club fundraising really means, breaks down the fundraising models that actually work to raise funds for your clubs and organizations.

Your organization has big plans.

A tournament to attend. A program to launch. An event to host. Equipment to upgrade. 

But the budget doesn’t always go in favour.

​​Few things are more frustrating than scaling back plans, not because of a lack of effort or passion, but because the funds just aren’t there. You’ve seen it happen, a promising season cut short. A trip was postponed or a great idea shelved “for next year.”

The problem is not that fundraising ideas don’t work. It’s because the ideas being implemented don’t align with the organization’s audience, capacity, or goals.

If you run a youth sports team, a college organization, a school club, or a community nonprofit, you don’t need more random ideas. You need the right ones and a clear way to execute them.

In this guide, we’ll share the most profitable fundraising ideas for clubs that actually work for any type of organization.

Let’s get into it.

What is club fundraising?

Club fundraising is the process of collecting money to support a group’s activities, goals, or mission. It involves organized efforts by club members to generate funds through donations, sales, events, or services. Unlike large-scale nonprofit fundraising, club fundraising focuses on practical and achievable methods that work within limited time and resources.

Most clubs operate without steady income streams or institutional backing. Membership dues rarely cover all expenses, including equipment, travel, event costs, and supplies. Fundraising bridges that gap, turning ideas into reality and keeping clubs running year after year.

Most club fundraising ideas fall into a few categories:

• Product sales – Selling items (merchandise, food, tickets)
• Service-based – Offering labor or skills in exchange for donations
• Events – Hosting activities that people pay to attend or participate in
• Direct donations – Asking people to contribute without getting something in return
• Peer-to-peer – Members recruit their own networks to donate

The best approach depends on your club type, member count, and how much effort you can realistically put in.

Club fundraising models that actually work

Before jumping into specific fundraising ideas for clubs, it helps to understand the main fundraising models available to clubs. Each has different effort levels, earning potential, and ideal use cases.

Product sales

Clubs sell physical goods, either branded merchandise, consumables (food, candles, gift wrap), or third-party products. This is one of the oldest and most reliable models. Profit margins vary widely depending on the product, but the model works well for clubs with a motivated sales team and an established audience.

Best for: School clubs, sports teams, youth organizations 
Effort level: Medium-High (requires inventory management and distribution) 
Earning potential: Medium to high

Event-based fundraising

The club hosts a ticketed event such as a gala, tournament, trivia night, car wash, or auction. Where revenue comes from ticket sales, entry fees, or donations made during the event. Events double as community-building opportunities, which makes them especially valuable for newer clubs trying to grow their supporter base.

Best for: All club types 
Effort level: High (requires planning, promotion, and staffing) 
Earning potential: High (when executed well)

Online fundraising

The club creates a campaign on a fundraising platform like Paymattic and shares it with their network. Donors contribute directly, often in exchange for nothing more than the good feeling of supporting a cause. Online campaigns are low-overhead and scalable, especially when shared on social media.

Best for: College clubs, nonprofit organizations, cause-driven campaigns 
Effort level: Low-medium (mostly marketing effort) 
Earning potential: Low to high (depends entirely on network size and sharing)

Recurring membership programs

Clubs invite supporters to give on a regular basis, such as monthly or annually, in exchange for recognition, perks, or simply the satisfaction of being a sustaining member. This model creates a predictable income and reduces the pressure to run constant one-off fundraisers.

Best for: Nonprofits, community clubs, arts organizations 
Effort level: Low (once set up) 
Earning potential: Medium (but highly reliable)

Sponsorships and partnerships

Local businesses or larger brands pay for visibility. Their logo on your jersey, a banner at your event, a mention in your newsletter, matters to them. This is less “fundraising” in the traditional sense and more a value exchange between your club’s audience and a business looking to reach them.

Best for: Sports clubs, large school clubs, community organizations 
Effort level: Medium (requires outreach and relationship management) 
Earning potential: High (individual deals can be substantial)

Service-based fundraising

Club members provide a service like lawn care, car washing, tutoring, babysitting, event setup, and charge for it. The club keeps the proceeds. This model is especially good for youth and school clubs because it builds real-world skills alongside funds.

Best for: Youth clubs, school groups, community service organizations 
Effort level: Medium (labor-intensive but low overhead) 
Earning potential: Low to medium.

Fundraising ideas for clubs of different types

The most successful fundraisers match the club’s audience, size, and goals before executing any fundraising ideas. Explore fundraising ideas for clubs, organized by different types of clubs, and find the right approach for yours.

Fundraising ideas for sports clubs

Sports clubs have natural advantages: an enthusiastic fan base, regular event schedules, and visible branding opportunities. The challenge is converting that enthusiasm into consistent revenue. There are the following ways to raise funds for sports clubs:

Tournament days with entry fees

Host a mini-tournament or skills competition open to the public or other local clubs. Charge entry fees, run a concession stand, and sell raffle tickets during breaks. A one-day event can generate $1,000–$5,000 depending on turnout.

Jersey sponsorships

Approach local businesses about sponsoring your team’s jerseys for the season. In exchange, their logo appears on your kit. Price sponsorship tiers based on visibility, front of jersey commands more than a sleeve patch.

Branded merchandise store

Set up an online print-on-demand store for selling club-branded t-shirts, hats, water bottles, and bags. No upfront inventory cost, and supporters can buy year-round.

“Sponsor a Player” campaigns

Ask supporters to sponsor individual players’ registration fees, equipment costs, or travel expenses. This works especially well for youth sports clubs where parents and family networks are highly engaged.

Sports clinic for kids

Club members (especially in high school or college sports clubs) run a half-day skills clinic for younger kids. Parents pay a registration fee. It’s community-building, skill-sharing, and fundraising rolled into one.

Fan night/watch party

For clubs associated with a professional team or league, organize a watch party at a local venue. Sell tickets, run a raffle, and partner with the venue for a revenue share on food and drinks.

Click here to discover more fundraising ideas for sports clubs

Fundraising ideas for school clubs

School clubs operate within unique constraints like limited time, school policies, and largely student-led teams. But they also have a major advantage: a built-in, supportive community of students, parents, and faculty. When fundraisers are aligned with school culture and schedules, they can generate strong participation and consistent results.

Bake sale with a twist

The classic bake sale still works, but add a competitive element: host a “Best Bake” competition where judges award prizes, and charge a small entry fee for bakers. Charge attendees to taste and vote. The event-ification of a simple sale dramatically increases engagement and revenue.

School carnival or fun fair

Work with the school administration to host a Saturday event with game booths, food vendors, a dunk tank, and music. Charge entry and per-activity fees. Larger schools can clear $3,000–$10,000 from a single well-organized carnival.

Used book or clothing drive

Collect donated items from students and families, then sell them at a pop-up market. Zero inventory cost. Consider partnering with a local consignment shop for items you can’t sell directly.

Read-a-thon or trivia-a-thon

Students collect pledges from family and friends based on how many books they read (or questions they answer correctly) over a set period. This format is especially popular with academic clubs, book clubs, and honor societies.

Talent show

If your club has performing arts skills or connections to students who do, a ticketed talent show or dinner theater event is a high-engagement fundraiser that often sells out quickly in school communities.

Online donation drive with a countdown

Set up a crowdfunding page with a specific fundraising goal and deadline, share it through school communications and social media, and give daily updates on progress. The transparency and urgency drive donations from parents and community members who can’t attend physical events.

“Click here to discover more school fundraising ideas“

Fundraising ideas for college clubs

College clubs often have access to institutional resources (meeting rooms, equipment, campus communication channels) but limited direct access to big donor networks. The key is leveraging student creativity and social reach.

Campus-wide trivia night

Trivia nights are enormously popular on college campuses. Charge teams a registration fee ($5–$10 per person), partner with the student union, and offer prizes for winners. Well-promoted events regularly draw 20–40 teams.

Crowdfunding for specific projects

College students respond well to cause-driven, specific campaigns: “Help us send our debate team to nationals,” or “We need $800 for audio equipment for our podcast club.” For succed you need proper advertisements, share aggressively through student group chats, social media, and email lists.

Merchandise drops

Design limited-edition club merch with a culturally relevant design or slogan and promote it as a “drop” available for a limited time only. The scarcity creates urgency. Use print-on-demand so you’re not stuck with unsold inventory.

Alumni outreach campaign

Many universities have alumni directories or LinkedIn networks. A well-crafted email to alumni asking for small donations (even $10–$25 each) can add up quickly, especially for established clubs with long histories. Frame the ask around specific impact: “Your donation helps us fund one student’s conference registration.”

Pop-up food or drink sales

Partner with a local food vendor or set up your own table near a high-traffic campus area, selling coffee, breakfast items, or snacks during morning classes. Margins on food sales are strong, and the setup can be as simple as a table, a cash box, and a friendly face.

Skill-share workshops

Members of academically or professionally focused clubs can monetize their expertise. A finance club running a “Personal Budgeting 101” workshop, a photography club hosting a beginner shoot, or a coding club offering a “Build Your First Website” session charge $10–$25 per attendee for a 90-minute session.

Fundraising ideas for youth clubs and organizations

Youth clubs, scouting groups, community youth centers, and after-school programs serve young people and rely heavily on parent and community involvement. Fundraisers need to be accessible, safe, and family-friendly.

Product fundraising campaigns

Cookie dough, candles, gift wrap, and branded snacks remain the workhorses of youth fundraising for a reason: kids sell to family and neighbors who genuinely want to support them, and the products are tangible. Use a reputable supplier with good margins (at least 40–50% to the club).

Community car wash

Set up at a local gas station or church parking lot, charge $5–$15 per car, and promote it the week before on social media and in community groups. A four-hour event with 10–15 volunteers can raise $500–$1,500.

Pledge walk or fun run

Youth members collect pledges from family and friends based on the number of laps walked or miles run at a hosted event. Low overhead, high community engagement, and a healthy physical activity built in. Many schools and parks allow these events at no cost.

Holiday wrapping service

Set up a gift-wrapping station at a local mall or shopping center during the holiday season. Charge $3–$10 per gift. Shoppers love the convenience, and it’s an easy, festive activity for young members.

Dine-to-donate restaurant nights

Partner with a local restaurant that offers a percentage (usually 15–20%) of sales back to your organization for a specific evening when supporters mention your club. Requires minimal effort from the club; just promote the night heavily to your network.

Silent auction

Solicit donated items from local businesses (gift cards, experiences, products) and host a silent auction at a community event or entirely online platforms. Auctions can be highly profitable when donated items have a low cost to the club.

Fundraising ideas for nonprofit clubs and community organizations

Nonprofits have the advantage of tax-exempt status (in most cases), which makes larger donations more attractive to donors. The challenge is building a sustainable fundraising infrastructure rather than relying on sporadic events.

Annual giving campaign

An organized, year-end appeal is typically sent via email and mail in November/December, asking your donor base for their annual gift. Include a specific story of impact, a clear ask amount, and a deadline. Many nonprofits generate 30–40% of their annual revenue from their year-end campaign alone.

Matching gift drives

Secure a commitment from one major donor to match all gifts up to a certain amount over a defined period. “Your donation will be doubled through December 31,” dramatically increases response rates. Research from Giving USA consistently shows that matching gifts increase both the number of donors and the average gift size.

Virtual gala or live-streamed event

A professional virtual fundraising event, complete with a program, speaker, live auction, and donation buttons, can reach supporters regardless of geography. Platforms like Zoom support large virtual events with payment integrations.

Grant writing

For nonprofits, grants from foundations, government agencies, and corporate giving programs can be transformative. A single successful grant application can fund programs for a full year. The upfront investment is time (and sometimes a grant writer’s fee), but the return on investment can be exceptional.

Peer-to-peer fundraising

Empower your most passionate supporters to fundraise on your behalf. Set up personal fundraising pages for board members, volunteers, or event participants and ask them to share with their personal networks. This model multiplies your reach dramatically.

Share impact report

Publish an annual or quarterly impact report showing exactly what donor money accomplishes. Follow it with a direct donation ask. Donors who understand the impact of their gifts are dramatically more likely to give again and give more.

Best fundraising plugin to raise funds for your club

If your club already has a WordPress website, you don’t need another fundraising platform. You need a smarter way to collect payments and donations directly from your own site. That’s where Paymattic comes in.

Paymattic is a WordPress payment and donation plugin designed to help organizations collect money online. It allows organizations to collect donations, membership fees, event registrations, or payments for product sales.

For clubs, this is especially valuable. You can centralize everything: donations, ticket sales, recurring contributions in one system that lives inside your WordPress site.

Key features of Paymattic include:

• Supports both one-time and recurring payments.
• Offers a detailed customer dashboard to manage subscriptions.
• Offers a detailed report dashboard.
• 13+ global payment gateways covering the whole world.
• Supports 157+ currencies.
• Integrates with 15 major tools.
• Offers a smooth payment/donation form builder with 35+ custom input fields.
• PCI-DSS compliant and built with security best practices.
• Advanced fraud protection with Honeypot, ReCAPTCHA V2 and V3, and Cloudflare Turnstile.
• Offers webhooks, filters, and a REST API for custom development.

Many fundraising platforms charge platform fees, take a percentage of donations, or require you to host campaigns on their branded pages. Paymattic works differently. There’s no way to take a percentage of your funds. Donations are directly transferred from donors’ accounts to your club’s accounts.

Final thoughts

Fundraising success isn’t about running more events or constantly asking the same supporters for help. It’s about choosing the right fundraising ideas for clubs of different types, aligning them with your audience, and executing them with clarity.

Whether you run a school club, sports team, college organization, youth group, or nonprofit, the most effective fundraisers share three things in common:

• A clear financial goal
• A strategy that fits the club’s community
• A simple system for collecting payments and donations

The club fundraising ideas in this guide give you the strategy. But strategy alone isn’t enough. You also need a reliable way to collect funds without friction, confusion, or unnecessary fees.

That’s where Paymattic becomes a powerful advantage. You don’t need to take my word for it, try Paymattic yourself and be the judge.

Thanks for reading.

Frequently asked questions

Here are some frequently asked questions people often ask about “fundraising ideas for clubs.”

1. What are the most profitable fundraising ideas for clubs?

It depends on your club size and network. For most clubs, peer-to-peer campaigns and crowdfunding have the highest profit potential because they leverage everyone’s personal networks. In-person events, tournaments, and charity dinners tend to generate the most revenue.

2. How do I start fundraising for my club?

Start by defining a clear fundraising goal and identifying exactly what the money will support. Choose ideas that fit your club type and audience, set a realistic timeline, promote consistently, and use an easy online payment system to collect donations efficiently.

3. What are easy fundraiser ideas for small clubs?

Focus on high-impact, low-complexity ideas like crowdfunding campaigns, sponsorship outreach, social media donation drives, or hosting a single well-promoted fundraising event. Clear goals and strong promotion help small groups raise funds faster.

4. How long should a club fundraising campaign run?

Most club fundraising campaigns perform best within a focused 2–4 week window. A shorter timeline creates urgency, keeps promotion consistent, and prevents supporter fatigue while giving you enough time to market effectively.

5. Should clubs focus on online or offline fundraising?

The best results usually come from combining both. Offline events build community engagement, while online fundraising makes donating fast and convenient. Using digital payments alongside in-person efforts maximizes reach and overall contributions.