Best fundraising ideas for kids: 12 creative ways to raise money for your nonprofit

Fundraising from an early age builds social-impact awareness, teaches financial literacy, and strengthens community ties. Most of all, it helps kids develop the habit of philanthropy from a young age, setting them up to become lifelong supporters of the causes they care about most.

These activities also help introduce your cause to young families and their networks, building meaningful connections that have the potential to scale over time.

The challenge is to design fundraising experiences for kids that interest and engage them. While children tend to make everything more fun, tailoring your activities to an audience of all ages, skills, and interests requires creativity.

Below, we’ve pulled together 12 easy fundraising ideas for kids that parents are sure to enjoy, too.

The 12 best fundraising ideas for kids

Dive into this list of fun and fresh fundraising ideas for kids, from digital campaigns and creative activities to classic events and seasonal fundraisers.

1. Social media challenges

About 18% of tweens and 62% of teens use platforms like Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, Discord, and Reddit every day, making social media a natural entry point for younger generations to participate in your cause.

Launching a social media challenge reinforces the community fundraising principle of meeting supporters where they are and building pathways for them to engage with your nonprofit.

Some of the best social media activations include participating in branded hashtag challenges on TikTok, Instagram photo contests, and viral fundraising trends. Once you understand how these activations typically operate, it’s easy to brainstorm ways to make them kid-friendly.

How it works:

Once you establish a challenge and announce it on your social media channel of choice, tag a handful of highly involved supporters to help build momentum. When they post, ask them to tag 1–2 friends or family members to complete the challenge next.

To increase the impact of your challenge, repost participants’ content on your channels. Tag them in your caption to celebrate their involvement.

Keep in mind that parental approval is typically required for kids under 13, so be sure to check all privacy settings and that participants won’t share any personal information when they promote your challenge.

Try this:

Create a TikTok challenge with a branded hashtag like #RaiseForOurCause. Have kids film 15-to-20-second videos explaining why they care about your mission and ask their networks to participate by making a donation.

There’s something uniquely powerful about hearing a cause described through a child’s eyes. When adults see kids speak with genuine passion about an issue they believe in, it’s much more impactful than polished messaging. That raw authenticity makes a child’s perspective one of the most compelling ways to communicate a nonprofit’s mission and the real value of its work.

2. Talent shows and video voting contests

Kids love to perform. Here are two ways to help them show off their skills for a good cause.

In-person talent show with live donations

Give kids and community members the opportunity to show off their skills at a local venue, school, community center, or place of worship.

How it works:

Participants can set up a peer-to-peer campaign to raise money and spread the word about the show or contest. Spectators can donate whatever amount they feel comfortable with as a nominal ticket price to attend. They can also donate additional funds at the event via a QR code for an easy, seamless giving experience.

Set up a concession stand to sell drinks and snacks, appoint judges to choose your winners, and then have fun watching participants’ captivating performances.

Video voting contest

Ask children to record a short video of their talent—like singing, dancing, or magic—and upload it to a dedicated webpage or social media channel.

How it works:

Supporters can make a small donation per vote, and the performance that raises the most wins a prize. This version requires no live coordination and scales easily beyond the local community.

When filming and uploading a video, make sure to tell participants to check for a stable internet connection, good lighting, clear audio, and a simple backdrop.

Try this:

Launch a two-week “Kids Got Talent” video contest. Each child uploads a 60-second clip to your fundraising page. Supporters donate via a simple “vote for this performance” button.

Promote the show on social media and in parent newsletters, then announce the winner with a celebratory post on your various channels. Aside from establishing clear logistics for collecting donations and spreading the word, this option has low overhead and low maintenance, and every vote is a donation.

3. Online gaming (esports) tournaments

Kids are digital natives, and this means they often get their fun and games online. Organized online gaming competitions, known as esports, are typically structured around the most popular video games, such as Fortnite, Minecraft, Among Us, and Mario Kart. These tournaments can be a natural way to engage kids in fundraising by doing what they love.

How it works:

Once you select which game you’ll rally participants around, decide which online gaming platform you’ll use to organize the logistics. Battlefy is one option, which lets you set up brackets, document participants, and keep track of player advancement.

Create a central communication hub, such as the Discord voice and text chat app, for team coordination among parents and players. A livestreaming platform, like Twitch or YouTube, can then help broadcast gameplay and foster connection among participants.

Teams register by donating a small entry fee and compete in brackets based on their age and ability. Winners receive prizes, and spectators can donate as they cheer on their favorite players.

GoFundMe’s live fundraising tools can help you run the fundraising side of your gaming event with ease, offering donation overlays, real-time totals, and a landing page that streamers can share with their audience during the match.

Try this:

Launch a video game-based fundraising challenge around Giving Tuesday powered by Fortnite Creative, a digital sandbox where users develop their own games using the tools provided.

Gamers within your community can test them out to decide which is their favorite, then participate in a tournament to put the winner to the test. Players donate a small entry fee to reserve their spot in the tournament and announce their participation on social media to encourage friends and family to tune in and potentially donate while cheering them on.

4. Virtual escape rooms and online puzzles

One of the most creative fundraising ideas for kids is a virtual escape room. This is an online puzzle experience where participants use video conferencing platforms, like Zoom or Microsoft Teams, to solve clues and “escape” from a situation, usually within a preset time limit.

How it works:

Once you create your own virtual escape rooms for kids using Google Forms, turn it into a fundraising moment by asking each team to donate a small entry fee. The game can consist of multiple rounds, and winners can receive small prizes for accomplishing tasks. Use Zoom breakout rooms during the escapes to create interactive experiences among players and parents.

Try this:

Design a 30-minute escape room based on the Super Mario Bros. video game, in which players have to rescue Princess Peach from a castle. Create five puzzle levels and invite participants to make a small donation to join. Host it on Zoom with a facilitator guiding teams. Use this tutorial to get you started.

5. Arts and crafts fundraising

There’s nothing like some good, old-fashioned arts and crafts to get kids away from their screens and channel their creativity to benefit your organization. Some ideas include slime-making workshops, fidget clicker toy customization, eco-friendly craft projects, and jewelry making.

How it works:

You can charge for attendance at a live workshop, where kids get to make their favorite items and take them home. Alternatively, the workshop can be free, and kids can sell their items at a future event or gathering to raise money for your cause.

Source bulk supplies from craft stores, shop at eco-friendly materials suppliers, and track trending items through resources, such as Barley & Birch. Try to negotiate a discount or get them to donate the materials for your fundraiser.

Try this:

Host a slime-making workshop to benefit your nonprofit, where kids make a fun creation to give to a friend or sibling. Promote your workshop on social media to reach more participants and consider holding recurring workshops for different projects to further promote community.

6. STEM and educational fundraising

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) programs are on the rise, which presents a great opportunity to leverage some “smart” fundraising opportunities. Examples include science experiment demonstrations, coding workshops, robotics competitions, and STEM challenge events.

How it works:

Once you find a local teacher or STEM expert to volunteer to host a learning workshop for school-aged children and their families, attendees donate whatever amount they feel comfortable to reserve their spot. Additional donations can be made at the event via a QR code.

Parents value educational activities, and kids enjoy hands-on learning, so STEM fundraising is a great way to combine community giving with skill-building.

Try this:

Host a coding workshop teaching kids how to build simple games. Ask participants for a small donation, with laptops and step-by-step instructions included. Promote to schools and community centers, with the proceeds benefiting your organization.

7. Treasure hunt events

These elaborate scavenger hunts start with hidden items that participants search for using a list of clues and puzzles. The first team to find everything wins. You can plan the hunt for local families or school groups to support your cause.

How it works:

Come up with a list of items to hide in a designated area, such as a park for outdoor fun, or a school gym or a community center for a rainy day. Each participating team or family pays an admission fee, with proceeds going to your organization.

Pick a theme that reflects your mission. For example, you may invite participants to find a number of unique rocks and flowers to support Earth Day.

Try this:

Use these tips from cityHUNT to design a neighborhood treasure hunt that reflects your organization’s mission. Come up with 10 clues leading to hidden items. Promote to local families through schools, places of worship, print ads in local papers, and digital ads on popular local websites.

8. Obstacle-course challenges

For an adventurous take on fundraising, challenge local youth groups or schools to participate in an obstacle course to raise money for your nonprofit. Charge a small fee for teams to participate or set a specific donation amount per person for each attempt.

How it works:

Once you build an elevated obstacle course in a large backyard or park with 8–10 obstacles—such as tires, rented gym equipment, traffic cones, balance beams, hurdles to jump, ropes to climb, and tunnels to crawl through—ask kids to help choose a name for the course.

Try this:

Use a mobile obstacle-course provider, such as NinjaNation, to rent your course for a large-scale event. Or, if you’re on a tight budget, try sourcing donated items to use instead, or partner with a local sponsor to host the event.

9. Modern bake sales

Bake sales are still a popular fundraising idea for kids, but with a modern twist. They can now accept online ordering and payments that make the process easier for everyone.

How it works:

Kids and parents bake treats and set up tables in a school, recreation center, shopping mall, or place of worship. Think cookies, gluten-free cupcakes, homemade pies, and vegan brownies.

Market your bake sale ahead of time via email, social media, and old-school flyers posted around local parks and malls. Encourage digital preorders via a QR code to build momentum and start collecting donations ahead of the event. And thanks to digital payment platforms like Square, you can easily accept credit card payments instead of relying exclusively on cash.

Try this:

Announce your bake sale ahead of Thanksgiving so customers can preorder their treats and serve them at their celebratory meal. Then, recruit students to help host your bake sale at their school on the last day before their Thanksgiving break.

10. Trivia game or quiz night championships

Quiz nights or trivia competitions can easily be tailored to a younger audience by orienting questions around topics they care about, in addition to questions for parents. This way, families can compete for prizes together as a team.

How it works:

Consider asking a local bar or restaurant, like those that already hold trivia nights, to host your event and help recruit teams. Ask for a suggested donation to secure team spots and offer prizes, like T-shirts or mugs, to the winning teams.

Questions can cover general knowledge, cause-related trivia, pop culture, music, school subjects, and kids’ entertainment. Allow spectators to make donations and have materials on hand to create awareness of your organization.

Try this:

Hold a movie trivia night timed with the release of a new summer blockbuster targeted to all ages. Create questions around movies past and present, with other categories to round out the fun and knowledge levels. Ask local cinemas to donate movie passes as prizes.

11. Sports tournament days

High school tournaments are always a cause for excitement. Build on the buzz by asking fans to pledge a dollar for each goal scored or basket made. You can also organize your own tournament by recruiting players from different schools for a one-night event to benefit your cause.

How it works:

Once you partner with a local high school, host a challenge in soccer, basketball, volleyball, flag football, tennis, or pickleball. The winning team gets the title, and your organization receives any proceeds earned at the event.

Try this:

Organize a “Kick for a Cause” event in conjunction with a high school that has its own football field. Request a donation per team entry and a contribution from spectators for each field goal scored.

12. Holiday-themed fundraising

Holidays offer the ideal opportunity for connection and community, from Halloween costume contests and Christmas ornament sales to Valentine’s Day photo booths. Practically any holiday can prompt simple fundraiser ideas for kids, so check the calendar and get creative.

How it works:

By tying an event to a holiday, you can sell seasonal items, with the proceeds going to your organization, hold a costume contest, organize a holiday-themed musical concert, and so much more.

Try this:

Host a Halloween costume contest promoted to families in your community, and ask for a small contribution per costume entry. Attendees vote for winners via a simple card or online platform. Award prizes for the scariest, funniest, and most creative costumes.

Launch your kids fundraising campaign today

These are just a few ways you can involve kids in your fundraising activities to help build awareness, engagement, and support for your organization. Remember, the activities you choose should reflect your brand, goals, and unique needs, so include your staff, board members, volunteers, and supporters of all ages in brainstorming the fun.

Learn how the leading technology, coaching, and fundraising expertise from GoFundMe Pro can help fuel your efforts, from peer-to-peer fundraising and donation pages to live events and crowdfunding, and so much more.

Copy editor: Ayanna Julien