How to Find the Best Fundraiser for Your Group

Fundraiser comparison chart: effort, reach, and return

The chart shows that every fundraiser has a tradeoff. Some options are easy to start but limited by local turnout. Others can raise more money, but they also require more planning, volunteers, and logistics. The biggest gap is usually not interest or effort, but is whether the return is worth the work required to run the fundraiser.

How the most popular fundraisers really compare

The chart can help you narrow options quickly. Next, let’s look at each option more closely so you can see where each fundraiser works well, where it gets harder, and what your group should consider before choosing your event.

Restaurant fundraisers

Restaurant fundraisers are a popular choice because they are usually simple to set up and do not require much upfront work from your group. Once the date is scheduled, most of the effort comes from promoting the event and encouraging supporters to show up. 

The limitation is that your results are tied to one location and one specific window of time. Supporters have to live nearby, be available that day, and spend enough for the earnings to add up. That can make restaurant nights a good community-building fundraiser, but may not be the best option if your goal is to raise money for a sports season, trip, or other major program cost.

Bake sales 

Bake sales can work well when your group needs something familiar and easy to organize. They usually have low upfront costs and supporters generally understand how to participate without explanation.

The challenge is that the earning potential is often limited. Even when volunteers put in a lot of time baking, setting up, and staffing the table, the total amount raised may stay relatively small. Bake sales can be useful for a quick funds boost or if you want to add a fundraising table to an event that’s already happening. They are usually not the strongest option when your group has a larger fundraising goal.

Traditional product fundraisers 

Traditional product fundraisers can work because supporters understand the exchange. A seller goes door to door, asking neighbors, family, and friends to buy something, and part of each sale supports the group. For many organizations, that can feel more comfortable than asking for a direct donation because supporters are getting something in return. 

The hard part is the work behind the sale. Many of these fundraisers require order forms, payment tracking, inventory management, and order delivery. If your group has a strong volunteer base, those logistics may be manageable. If the same few people handle everything, the workload can build quickly. 

Fun runs and event-based fundraisers

Fun runs and event-based fundraisers can produce strong results, especially for larger groups. The community can get involved, and the fundraiser can feel like a shared experience instead of a simple ask for money. 

They also take real planning. Someone has to coordinate the location, organize the schedule, recruit volunteers, promote the event, and manage the day-of details. If there are shirts, prizes, snacks, permits, or outside vendors involved, the workload grows. For groups with enough support, that effort can be worth it. But if your team is already stretched thin, an event-based fundraiser may create more work than your organizers can realistically take on.

Raffles and auctions

Raffles and auctions can raise strong totals when your group has access to appealing prizes or donated items. They can also create excitement because supporters feel like they have a chance to win something valuable.

Here, the setup can be a barrier. Your group needs to source prizes, communicate with donors, manage ticket sales or bidding, and follow up with winners. If the raffle or auction is hosted live, then location coordination becomes a factor; if it is online, research is needed to choose a reputable platform. Depending on where you live, raffle rules may apply, so your group should check local requirements before starting. Results can be unpredictable because they depend heavily on the quality of the prizes and how many people participate.

Donation-based fundraisers 

Donation-based fundraisers are often one of the easiest options to start because there is no product to sell or event to organize. Your group can create a donation page and directly share  why you are raising money.

Where it gets more difficult is in keeping people motivated to give. Without a product or event attached, the fundraiser depends heavily on the strength of the story and the urgency of the need. It can be a strong fit for emergencies or personal causes, but for schools or teams it can become hard to repeat often without supporters feeling like they are being asked to give again and again. 

Online fundraising with Double Good

Online fundraisers can help schools, teams, and organizations reach beyond the people who can show up in person. That matters when your supporters include grandparents, friends, or alumni who live outside your area.

Double Good gives groups a way to run an online product fundraiser without the usual logistics. Each seller gets a Pop-Up Store^® link to share by text, email, or social media. Supporters order online, and Double Good ships the popcorn directly to them. Your group doesn’t have to collect cash, manage inventory, or coordinate delivery. 

This option is built to move quickly. Groups can run a short 4- or 7-day fundraiser, which creates urgency and gives supporters a clear window in which to take action. There are no fees, minimums, or upfront costs, and groups keep 50% of every dollar sold. That makes Double Good a strong fit for groups that want online reach, strong earning potential, and less work for organizers. See how one school used Double Good to raise over $62,000 for school enrichment programs.

How to choose the right fundraiser (quick decision guide)

The best fundraiser depends on your goal and how much work your group can realistically take on. Use this quick guide to narrow down the right option.

If you need something fast and easy

Choose a fundraiser with a short setup time and few moving parts. Donation-based fundraisers and online fundraisers are usually easiest to start quickly because they don’t require a large event.

If your team or organization is raising toward a goal, Double Good is often the stronger fit because supporters get a product and your group keeps 50% of every dollar sold. If you are raising money for an emergency, accident, or personal hardship, a donation-based fundraiser may make more sense because people can give directly to the cause. For more options that are simple to start, explore these quick fundraising ideas.

If you want a community-building event

Select a fun run or restaurant night. These fundraisers can bring people together and create energy around your cause. Just keep in mind that they depend on local participation, so timing is important to ensure your community can show up in person.

If you want to reach beyond your local community

For broader reach, opt for a fundraiser people can support online. A Double Good virtual fundraiser works well for groups because supporters can order from anywhere, which helps you reach people outside your immediate community.

If you have limited volunteers

Choose a fundraiser with fewer moving parts. A donation page can be a good fit when you have a clear cause and need a simple way for people to give. If you choose a product fundraiser, look for one that does not require your group to manage orders or coordinate delivery.

If you have access to prizes or sponsors

Choose a raffle or auction. It’s possible to raise strong totals when the items are appealing, especially if your group can get prizes donated. These fundraisers do take more planning, so they are usually a better fit if you have months to organize them.

If you need something easy to repeat

Opt for a fundraiser that gives supporters a clear reason to participate again. This is where donation-based fundraisers can become hard to repeat. Even with a strong cause, families and friends may start to feel like they are being asked for money repeatedly, especially if your group needs to fundraise more than once a year. 

For many teams, a product-based fundraiser can make repeat fundraising feel more natural because supporters get something in return. This matters for organizations who may have needs across the year.

The bottom line on high-return fundraising

The best fundraiser is the one your group can actually run well. Whether you choose a local event, donation page, auction, or virtual fundraiser, focus on the option that gives you the strongest return without creating more work than your organizers can manage.

If your group wants an online fundraiser that is simple to launch and easy to repeat, Double Good is built for that. Groups keep 50% of every dollar sold, with no fees or upfront costs. Supporters order online, Double Good ships every order directly, and your group can raise money without managing inventory or delivery.