7 quick and easy fundraising ideas

If you don’t have a lot of spare time but still want to make a difference for the causes you love — like St. Jude — check out our list of easy fundraising ideas and start making an impact today!

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Patient Tam, with hair, posing with a framed picture of himself while being treated at St. Jude.

St. Jude patient Tam

 
 

Easy fundraiser ideas that work

 

1. Pledge challenges

Pledge fundraising is a quick and easy way to raise money for any cause. Reach out to your community, and ask potential donors to commit to donating a specific amount of money within a certain timeframe. Check out our pledge fundraising guide for more information.

 

2. Raffles

Running a charity raffle is a easy way to raise funds for St. Jude or another cause close to your heart. Participants can make a donation in exchange for a chance to win a small prize such as a gift-card or cause-related merchandise. Proceeds from the raffle can be donated directly to your cause. 

 

3. Restaurant fundraiser nights

For a restaurant fundraiser night, the restaurant owners or management agree to donate a portion of profits — for a full day or for a set time during the day — to your cause of choice. To get started, ask local restaurants to see which may want to participate, establish a date or time frame for the fundraiser, and spread the word!

 

4. Social media fundraisers

Social media fundraisers have become a tried and true form of fundraising that is also cost-effective and easy to set up. You can use platforms like Facebook, TikTok and Instagram to quickly raise money for the causes you care about. Check out our guide to social media fundraising for more information.

 

5. Spare change drives 

Just like restaurant fundraiser nights, a spare change drive involves asking local businesses to join in. This simple idea needs at least one local business, a jar and a little bit of signage. Once you have a business to help, drop off your jar and signs and wait for donations. Shoppers easily become donors by dropping in their spare change after a transaction. 

 

6. Text-to-give campaigns

Start a text-to-give campaign by creating a donation page and texting (or emailing) the link to your contact list. Tell your contacts who you're raising money for, why it’s important, how much you're looking to raise and in what time frame. Ask recipients to forward the message to their own contacts. 

 

7. Social gathering fundraisers

Whether it's a bowling party, a potluck dinner or any other social event, you can turn a fun night out into a fundraiser! Share or advertise your fundraising event idea on social media and/or with your personal communities, ask participants to donate toward the cause and make a night of it!

 
 

Looking for more information on fundraising?

Our fundraising guide is full of helpful tips and ideas to help get you started!

See Our Fundraising Guide

 
 
Patient Hayden and his family

St. Jude patient Hayden and his family

 

Fundraising helps patients like Hayden

In 2023, Hayden was diagnosed with retinoblastoma, a cancer of the retina. The diagnosis brought his mother, Terrian, to tears. But when her son was referred to St. Jude, she felt hope. At St. Jude, Hayden underwent surgery to remove his right eye and now wears a prosthetic. 

“St. Jude saved my son’s life,” Terrian said. “St. Jude has done a lot for me, and not just for me but for other families as well.” 

When you fundraise for St. Jude, you help families like Hayden's. 

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Why support St. Jude?

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Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food — so they can focus on helping their child live.

 
 
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St. Jude has helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20% in 1962 to 80% today. We won’t stop until no child dies from cancer.  

 
 
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Every child deserves a chance to live their best life and celebrate every moment. When you support St. Jude, you can help make cures possible for kids with cancer. Together, we can save more lives.

 
 
 
 

Make a positive impact on the children of St. Jude 

Because of your support, we can provide children cutting-edge treatments not covered by insurance, at no cost to families. Unlike other hospitals, the majority of funding for St. Jude comes from generous donors. Join us and be part of our mission to save more lives.

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St. Jude patient Maelin-Kate

St. Jude patient Maelin-Kate

 
 

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