8 Creative and Innovative Summer Fundraising Ideas

Planning summer fundraising ideas can pose a challenge, with families on break from school and most organized sports. While fundraising may be your focus, it's not top of mind for most of your participants. 

So, how can you sustain your fundraising momentum in the summer and continue driving funds, even during a slow season?

We're sharing eight enticing summer fundraising ideas that will encourage your supporters to come together, raise money, and still soak up their vacation time.

1. Sporting tournament

It doesn’t have to be a golf tournament—you could opt for kickball, cornhole, disc golf, tennis, or whatever sport has the best chance of capturing your members’ attention.

An outdoor sports tournament fundraiser can be targeted at adults or families. This summer fundraising idea is appealing because it encourages participants to spend time outdoors in warm weather. 

2. Geocaching 

Geocaching is an outdoor recreational activity in which participants use a GPS device or a mobile app to hide and seek containers, called "geocaches" or "caches," marked by coordinates at specific locations. 

A geocaching fundraiser is another way to attract support from individuals looking for ways to spend time outside during the summer. Teams can compete to be the first to return to base after collecting a sticker, code word, or other proof of visiting all geocached sites. 

3. RaiseRight 

RaiseRight is the perfect summer fundraiser—especially if your supporters are traveling or can’t gather in person.

You can easily raise money during summer (and throughout the year) 24/7, 365. Here's how it works: Simply buy gift cards, shop online, or dine at local restaurants through RaiseRight, and your organization will earn up to 20% back with every purchase. 

During summer, you can encourage your members to use RaiseRight for things like: 

• Travel costs—flights, hotels, ground transportation, and experiences or activities
• Grocery or department store shopping for barbecues, get-togethers, beach days, and more
• Gifting or celebrating occasions like graduations, Father's Day, or weddings
• Retail shopping, especially during big holiday sales (think Memorial Day or Fourth of July)
• Back-to-school needs like clothing, shoes, supplies, or college dorm essentials

With hundreds of brands to shop from, RaiseRight has something for everyone. Best of all, you can keep the earnings flowing—even without planning any summer fundraising events.

4. Festival 

A cookout, carnival, festival—no matter what you call it, summertime community gatherings are a fun way for organizations to combine multiple fundraising ideas within one day or weekend. For instance, you can charge separately for: 

• Food and beverages
• Competition entries (like a barbecue cookout)
• Raffles
• Bake sales or craft sales
• Water balloon target shooting or dunk tanks
• Carnival-style games and rides
• On-site scavenger hunt team registration

Bonus: You can increase your fundraiser earnings by using RaiseRight to purchase event supplies.

5. Invisible event 

One Redditor suggested holding an "invisible event"—a creative way to request donations.

Here’s how: Mail (or email) an invitation that breaks down the cost of attending a splashy fundraiser, such as a banquet or gala. For example: 

• Ticket: $50
• Black-tie outfit: $100
• Child care: $75
• Round-trip rideshare with tip: $60

However, the event isn’t real. Instead, you’re encouraging your supporters to donate what it would’ve cost them to attend your hypothetical event. The benefit? "In return, [supporters] get a free night [without] the hassle of a big event. You can also say that your organization is saving money by not renting a venue, spending manpower on event planning, etc."

6. Ice cream social 

An ice cream social can be a standalone fundraising event or another feature of a festival or tournament (remember that you can slice, dice, and combine multiple fundraising ideas based on your resources). 

This summer fundraising idea can be held at a park or a sponsoring business. If resources allow, include: 

• A lavish toppings bar
• Flavors beyond the vanilla, strawberry, and chocolate trio
• Non-dairy offerings

Don’t forget to use RaiseRight to shop online or buy gift cards for your ice cream social! 

7. Outdoor movie night 

Movie night fundraisers are community favorites for a reason. Watching a film under the stars is a memorable experience and an easy summer fundraising idea. 

Be sure to include licensing and toilet facilities on your planning list, and consider the following: 

• Selling concessions, bug spray, and add-ons like picnic blankets in addition to tickets
• Hosting family-friendly showings as soon as the sun goes down
• Creative planning for teens and adults, such as horror films shown in spooky locations

8. Restaurant night 

Restaurant night fundraisers are perfect for summer—they require minimal effort, are easy to repeat, and make a great excuse to gather indoors and cool off. 

You can negotiate with a local restaurant or bar for a slice of the profits for one day or evening in exchange for promoting the opportunity to your audience. Typically, organizations earn anywhere from 5 to 25% of proceeds during the event.

Be prepared to market the fundraiser through: 

• Emails to your mailing list
• Social media promotion
• Announcements at gatherings or events
• Ads in newsletters, programs, and websites

Alternatively, you and your supporters can earn 5% for your organization—tax and tip included—when dining at a participating local restaurant through RaiseRight. Learn more here.

Fuel summer fundraising with RaiseRight 

What summer slump? With RaiseRight, summer fundraising doesn’t have to be slow or stressful. Families can still enjoy their break while earning on everyday shopping and dining. In turn, partner brands contribute up to 20% to your organization or your families! It's that easy.