5 Unique Fundraising Ideas for Small Groups

Posted by Danica Morgan on 7 August 2025

In recent years, the number of charitable donors has continued to decline, creating a growing challenge for small organizations and grassroots teams trying to raise funds. According to the Fundraising Effectiveness Project, the total number of donors plummeted by 4.5% in 2024, with micro and small donor segments, who together account for over 50% of all donors, dropping the most. Meanwhile, overall contributions rose by 3.5%, driven by just 3.1% of donors in the major and supersize categories. This widening gap between generosity and participation underscores a critical truth: fewer people are giving, but they’re giving more.

For small fundraising groups, this means it’s no longer enough to rely on bake sales and email blasts. Today’s campaigns must stand out, offer memorable experiences, and rebuild donor trust through creativity and connection. The good news? With a bit of imagination and some low-cost resources, small groups can launch innovative campaigns that draw people in, ignite community spirit, and raise meaningful funds. Here are five standout ideas worth exploring.

Brew Goodwill with a Pop-Up Charity Coffee Shop

Few things bring people together like coffee. Setting up a temporary or mobile charity coffee shop can serve as both a fundraiser and a social hub. Sacred Heart Academy in Kentucky created a student-run café that’s donated more than $4,000 to causes like hurricane relief and international housing initiatives. About 25% of its profits support charity, while the rest builds operational sustainability. This concept can thrive with just a handful of volunteers, who can build real-world skills while promoting community engagement. Creativity goes a long way; consider crafting themed drinks around local events or seasonal menus. Promote your shop on Instagram or other social platforms to drive traffic and keep regular customers coming back. With the right branding and social media push, even a weekend pop-up can deliver a powerful impact, especially when tied to specific, local causes.

Turn Gamers into Givers with a Charity Video Game Tournament

Online gaming is a goldmine for fundraising when organized thoughtfully. Hosting a charity video game tournament can energize both online and local communities. Platforms like Twitch now offer built-in charity streaming tools, enabling streamers to raise money directly through their channels with donations going to registered nonprofits via PayPal Giving Fund. Major events like Games Done Quick have raised over $30 million, while Extra Life has brought in more than $70 million for children’s hospitals. While these are large-scale examples, small groups can replicate the format on a local level. Choose popular games, charge entry fees, offer donated prizes, and livestream the action. Even a modest group of dedicated gamers can attract donations from enthusiastic viewers. Best of all, the digital nature of tournaments makes them easy to scale and share.

Launch a Textathon Takeover Campaign

While social media often dominates outreach strategies, texting remains a surprisingly personal and powerful way to connect. A “textathon takeover” assigns each volunteer a day to send personalized fundraising messages to their network. Their job: share stories, photos, and campaign updates with a direct ask for support. To keep costs low, consider using prepaid TracFone plans: affordable, no-contract phones that offer enough flexibility for short-term campaigns without long-term commitments. You can even encourage supporters to sign up by texting a keyword like TAKEOVER to a short code, making it easy to scale organically. This strategy works particularly well for organizations built on personal stories; think school groups, local sports teams, or medical fundraisers, where every text can be a compelling, heartfelt call to action.

Dare to Give with a Viral Challenge

If you’re ready to grab attention and spark donations, the “Donate and Dare” challenge is an exciting option. This approach lets volunteers commit to completing outrageous or meaningful dares if they hit specific fundraising milestones. Examples range from eating “fire” ramen to shaving their heads, whatever gets people talking and donating. Once the goal is reached, participants document the dare on video and share it across their networks. This not only drives initial interest but creates shareable content that fuels further donations. Use a live tracker or fundraising thermometer to add urgency and transparency to the campaign. The peer-to-peer nature of the challenge encourages viral growth, with each dare potentially inspiring a new round of givers and participants.

Share Flavor and Stories with a Community Cookbook

Food is a universal connector, and so is storytelling. Compiling a community cookbook filled with cherished recipes from local families, teachers, or club members is a heartfelt way to raise money while celebrating heritage and creativity. These grassroots cookbooks have been used for decades to fund everything from church repairs to school libraries. What makes them effective is the emotional bond they create: donors don’t just get a recipe; they get a piece of someone’s life. Include anecdotes, local histories, or cultural notes to make the book a keepsake. You can sell physical copies at local events or offer digital downloads through your fundraising site. Share sneak peeks on social media to build anticipation, and consider bundling cookbooks with holiday gift boxes or raffle entries for added value.

Power Your Fundraising with Smart Tools

Tools like Givergy make it simple to manage online donations, create branded fundraising pages, and host raffles or auctions. For small groups, automation and ease of use are critical. Givergy helps streamline communication, track donor activity, and accept a range of payment options. As donor participation trends continue to shift, embracing digital-first platforms can give small fundraisers the professional edge they need to compete and succeed.

In a climate where donor numbers are shrinking but the need for charitable giving continues to rise, small groups must think big. With the right tools and a touch of ingenuity, your next fundraising campaign could be the most impactful one yet.

Article contributed by Danica Morgan

Solely for givergy.com

Danica Morgan