Looking to heat up your fundraising this summer? From entertaining events to exciting outings, we’ve got 14 summer fundraiser ideas sure to spark your creativity.
Is Summer Fundraising a Good Fit for My Nonprofit?
You may have heard of the nonprofit summer slump – most nonprofits see giving slow down during the summer months. With many people filling their summers with vacations, kids’ activities, pool days, and more, a lot of donors are pretty busy, afterall!
The thing is, you can still fundraise in the summer. While you will be up against packed schedules, you won’t be competing with as many nonprofits as you might be during other times of the year (like the year-end giving season).
Summer fundraising may be a good fit for your nonprofit if:
- Your services are utilized throughout the summer and require ongoing support.
- An urgent need arises and you need to quickly raise funds to meet it.
- You have a creative idea that will stand out as a must-do on your donors’ calendars.
Keep reading for summer fundraising ideas and inspiration!
14 Summer Fundraiser Ideas for Nonprofit Organizations
Take advantage of longer days and warmer nights with these fun and unique summer fundraiser ideas.
Summer Fundraising Events
The secret to getting donors to attend your summer fundraising events? Plan something they’ll want to check off their summer bucket list.
1. Summer Kick-Off
Celebrate the start of summer with a bang!
Go big with a carnival – complete with rides, food, and games – or a dinner under the stars with summer-themed food and drinks. Or, keep it small with an ice cream social or barbecue in the park.
Collect an entrance fee or charge per ride, game, or meal.
2. Concert Series
Connect with your community by hosting a free summer concert series featuring local bands. Hold it at your own facility (if you have the space) or look into booking a local park, town square, or amphitheater.
Raise funds by selling concessions during each concert. You can also make a quick appeal during intermission – provide a text-to-give number or QR code to scan for easy access to your giving form.
3. Outdoor Movie Screening
Summer nights are perfect for movies under the stars! If you have a local drive-in, see if you can partner up for an evening, with a portion of proceeds benefiting your nonprofit.
Or, grab an outdoor screen, a projector, and a popular movie (with proper licensing), and encourage people to bring blankets or lawn chairs. Charge a small fee for general admission and offer VIP packages that include snacks, drinks, and a reserved seating area.
4. Food Truck Fair
Book several food trucks to come out for the day and encourage people to experience a variety of snacks, meals, and desserts.
Ask that each participating food truck donate a portion of their sales for the day in lieu of a fee. You can also place giving kiosks or QR codes around the venue for donations from attendees.
Summer Fundraiser Ideas for Outings & Experiences
Many of your donors are looking for fun things to do during the summer. Plan some outings and experiences that they’ll want to add to their calendars using these summer fundraiser ideas!
5. Youth Fishing Day
Host a youth fishing day at a local body of water to promote conservation and getting outside. For a small fee, young anglers learn various fishing tips and techniques, from baiting a hook to casting a line, while enjoying time outdoors.
Allow young anglers to bring their own gear and bait, or offer basic supplies for purchase. You can take it one step further and award prizes for the largest and most fish caught!
6. Day at the Ballgame
Baseball is often synonymous with summer. Why not plan a day at the ballpark for your donors?
Book a section of seats (many teams offer group discounts) and provide transportation to and from the game. Charge attendees the standard ticket price, with proceeds going towards your mission. Your donors will love having the chance to enjoy a game with friends while supporting your nonprofit!
7. Camp Experience
Does your nonprofit offer a summer camp program? Invite donors out to experience a day at camp!
Set up a variety of camp activities, from making crafts to playing outdoor games to singing silly songs. Offer camp-themed foods like hot dogs and s’mores (bonus points if donors can cook them over a bonfire). Giving donors a first-hand glimpse at the fun and nurturing you provide campers will show them the impact their donations will have.
We suggest making this a free event for a select group of supporters, with an ask made during the event.
8. Nature Scavenger Hunt
Take your standard nature walk to the next level with a nature scavenger hunt. Perfect for nonprofits with outdoor property or grounds of their own (think parks, camps, conservation land, zoos, and more), this outing allows you to showcase your facilities.
Provide paying teams with a list of things to find, like flowers, animals, types of leaves, a specific location, and more. Give prizes to the first teams to grab photos of all the items listed!
9. Field Day
Who doesn’t love a day filled with classic games? Invite donors and their families (or make this adults-only event) to join in the fun with your own Field Day!
Plan a variety of games, races, and more to appeal to a wide audience. Think water balloon tosses, egg-and-spoon races, cornhole games, tug-of-war competitions, and obstacle courses. You can also add in a sports tournament, such as kickball or slowpitch softball, for those looking to get even more competitive.
Sell entries for groups or individuals that include team t-shirts, participation in all activities, and plenty of snacks and water.
Summer Holiday Celebrations
Many of your donors will be looking for ways to celebrate holidays throughout the summer. Why not plan a party for them with these summer fundraiser ideas?
10. Father’s Day BBQ
Invite the community to celebrate Father’s Day with you. Host a BBQ complete with delicious food and outdoor games the whole family can enjoy together.
To raise more donations and bring in more guests, consider adding in experiences like a beer (or bourbon) tasting or a crafting station where kids can make gifts for their dads.
11. Fourth of July Celebration
Team up with other nonprofits in the area to host one big party for our nation’s birthday! Fill the day with a bike parade, inflatable slides and bounce houses, yard games, bingo, and more. Offer tasty summer favorites throughout the event and bring in live music or a DJ to set the vibe. End the evening with an exciting fireworks display!
Instead of charging at the gate, consider making this a free community event. Raise funds by charging for various activities, selling food and drinks, and having themed merchandise available for purchase.
Tip from the Playbook: While we’ve only included two holidays with summer fundraiser ideas here, there are countless others you can celebrate with your donors! Check out this list of holidays and awareness days to discover more.
Virtual Summer Fundraiser Ideas
If planning an event, outing, or celebration isn’t in the cards this summer, consider hosting a virtual fundraiser. These summer fundraising ideas don’t have to require a huge investment of time or money, but they’ll still help you hit those goals!
12. Vacation Raffle
Most everyone has vacation on the brain this time of year. Raffle off a getaway to an exciting locale with a virtual giveaway. Supporters make a set donation for an entry into a drawing for the big prize. Offer extra entries for a slightly discounted rate (like $10 for one entry or $50 for six) to raise more.
Save money by partnering with various travel company sponsors to put together a prepaid package. Or, see if any of your supporters are willing to donate a few nights at their timeshare or vacation home.
If offering a vacation feels too daunting (or it’s out of the budget), put together a staycation package. Include tickets to various attractions around your area as well as coupons to local restaurants.
13. Day of Giving
Encourage your donors to step up with a 24-hour giving challenge. Promote the day well in advance, sharing impact stories and emphasizing what the funds raised will accomplish.
On the big day, it’s all hands on deck! Launch an omnichannel campaign that includes emails, social media posts, phone calls, media appearances, and paid ads. Use the same theme and messaging throughout, emphasizing the immediate impact donors will have by making a gift on this day.
Tip from the Playbook: To increase urgency, ask your major donors to provide a matching gift challenge that will only be available for this 24-hour period.
14. Crowdfunding Campaign
Looking to stretch your fundraising throughout the summer months? Or perhaps an urgent need has come up and you need to raise some emergency funds? Launch a crowdfunding campaign!
Crowdfunding will help you quickly get the word out and raise more funds by asking people to come together to have a big impact on a specific cause. Add a social media element (think ALS Ice Bucket Challenge) to your campaign to encourage more participation.
Get Ready for Summer Fundraising
Bring in more donations this summer and avoid the summer slump with these 14 creative summer fundraiser ideas! If you need more warm-weather inspo, many of these spring fundraiser ideas can be adapted for the summer months.
Looking for help executing your summer fundraising efforts? MVP Advisors is here for you! We’re an experienced group of nonprofit consultants ready to offer a hand in campaign planning, content development, donor prospect research, and more.
Book a call or email us today to see how we can work together.