Lions Club International (LCI) is at the heart of service in communities worldwide. With a mission to empower volunteers to serve, support health initiatives, and improve lives, fundraising is crucial to sustaining that mission. Whether you’re supporting vision programs, youth services, or disaster relief, having a steady stream of creative fundraising ideas can help your Lions Club make a lasting impact.
If you’re looking for fresh, effective, and even fun ways to raise money, this list of 12 fundraising ideas for Lions Clubs includes in-person events, product sales, and virtual opportunities to help you reach your goals.
What We’ll Cover
- 1. Host a Gourmet Pancake Breakfast
- 2. Run a Charity Golf Tournament
- 3. Sell Holiday Items
- 4. Organize a Community Fun Run or Walk-a-Thon
- 5. Host a Trivia Night
- 6. Launch a Virtual Silent Auction
- 7. Host a Chili Cook-Off or BBQ Competition
- 8. Offer a Custom Apparel Fundraiser
- 9. Organize an Online Raffle
- 10. Host a Pet Photo Contest
- 11. Partner with a Local Restaurant for a Dine-to-Donate Night for the Lions Club
- 12. Host a Lions Community Yard Sale
- Best Practices for a Successful Lions Club Fundraiser
- Final Thoughts on Lions Club Fundraising
1. Host a Gourmet Pancake Breakfast
A pancake breakfast fundraiser is a time-tested community favorite. Lions Clubs can partner with a local school, church, or event hall to host the breakfast. Sell tickets online in advance and at the door. Keep costs low by asking local grocers or restaurants to donate food supplies. Add a raffle or silent auction to increase proceeds.
2. Run a Charity Golf Tournament
A golf tournament fundraiser is an ideal way to raise significant funds while building relationships with local businesses. Offer sponsorships for holes, contests like longest drive or closest-to-the-pin, and raffle prizes.
Utilize our golf tournament platform to manage registration, teams, and donations efficiently.
3. Sell Holiday Items
Holiday product sales are a reliable seasonal fundraiser. Lions Clubs can work with wholesalers to sell fresh wreaths, garlands, or poinsettias to community members. Offer online ordering and delivery or pickup options to make the process easy for everyone involved.
This fundraiser works especially well when promoted by club members through word-of-mouth and social media.
4. Organize a Community Fun Run or Walk-a-Thon
A community fun run or walk-a-thon fundraiser promotes health and community while raising money via peer-to-peer fundraising pages and sponsorships. Make it family-friendly with face painting, music, and food vendors. Offer t-shirts or medals for participants to increase excitement and encourage repeat participation year after year.
Utilize our free fundraising platform to track donations and provide peer-to-peer fundraising tools, enabling participants to raise money from their network of friends and family.
5. Host a Trivia Night
A Lions trivia night fundraiser can be held at a local restaurant, bar, or community center. Select themes such as general knowledge, local history, sports, or pop culture to appeal to a diverse audience.
Charge an entry fee for teams to participate and include additional fundraising elements, such as a 50/50 raffle, silent auction, or themed drinks, to further support the cause. Trivia nights are easy to organize and promote, and can be run regularly if you find that you can recruit fans.
6. Launch a Virtual Silent Auction
Online auctions are flexible and can run for several days or weeks, increasing participation and bids. Use items donated by local businesses, artists, or club members, such as gift baskets, event tickets, restaurant or hotel gift certificates. Or ask Lions to offer services like lawn care, tech help, cooking classes, or tutoring. It’s a great way to showcase members’ skills while raising money and building connections within the community.
Promote your auction via email, social media, and your club’s website.
7. Host a Chili Cook-Off or BBQ Competition
Tap into local culinary talent by organizing a chili cook-off or BBQ competition. Charge an entry fee for contestants and a tasting fee for attendees, who vote on their favorites. This fundraising event fosters a sense of community spirit and can attract a diverse demographic, especially when paired with live music and family-friendly activities.
8. Offer a Custom Apparel Fundraiser
Design custom Lions Club t-shirts, hoodies, and baseball hats and sell them online to raise money and promote club pride. This low-maintenance fundraiser can run year-round and be promoted at events, meetings, and through members’ social networks.
If you don’t want to deal with inventory, you can use a print-on-demand service like Printify, which handles inventory, printing, and shipping for you. Just keep in mind that you won’t make as much money when using print-on-demand as you can when buying in bulk and distributing merchandise.
9. Organize an Online Raffle
An online raffle fundraiser is a simple and effective way to raise money. Secure raffle prizes such as gift cards, electronics, or unique experiences. Then sell tickets in person at events and online. You can decide to hold a live or virtual drawing to announce the winners, and DoJiggy’s raffle platform does all of the work for you..
Ensure compliance with local regulations for charitable raffles and promote the event through social media and your club’s mailing list.
10. Host a Pet Photo Contest
A virtual pet photo contest is a creative way to raise funds for Lions Clubs. Charge a small fee to enter, then encourage participants to share their entries and collect votes (i.e., online donations). Offer fun prizes for categories like cutest pet, funniest pet, and best costume, as well as the top fundraisers.
This online fundraiser can be especially effective when promoted through social media, generating significant interaction and visibility for your club.
11. Partner with a Local Restaurant for a Dine-to-Donate Night for the Lions Club
Many restaurants offer dine-to-donate programs, where a portion of the night’s sales is donated to your club. Schedule these fundraisers for a slower night at the restaurant and promote them heavily to ensure a good turnout. This no-cost option is ideal for clubs seeking a straightforward, easy fundraising method.
12. Host a Lions Community Yard Sale
Organize a large-scale yard sale where Lions can donate gently used items such as furniture, clothing, and household goods. Everyone will love the chance to clean out their closets and search for a new bargain! Promote the community yard sale through local advertising, social media, and flyers.
Boost revenue at the sale by offering ancillary events such as:
- Baked goods and coffee, or sandwiches and drinks for sale
- Raffle tickets for big-ticket items
- Food trucks that donate a percentage of sales to the club
Best Practices for a Successful Lions Club Fundraiser
Regardless of which fundraising ideas your organization chooses, keep these best practices in mind:
- Set clear objectives and goals for your campaigns.
- Use social media and email marketing to promote your events and campaigns.
- Get online with DoJiggy for registrations and sponsorship promotion.
- Create an online donation option for those who can’t attend but still want to make a donation.
- Recruit business sponsorships to help fund your events.
- Track your fundraising goals and results to improve future efforts.
- Acknowledge and thank donors, sponsors, and participants publicly and promptly.
Final Thoughts on Lions Club Fundraising
Lions Clubs thrive on service, connection, and action. With a mix of traditional and online fundraising strategies, your club can generate the resources needed to support the causes that matter. Whether you’re planning a Lions Club golf tournament, a virtual auction, or a community pancake breakfast, these fundraising ideas offer something for every team.
Looking for an easy-to-use platform to manage your fundraising events and donations? DoJiggy offers specialized tools for Lions Clubs that streamline the process and help you raise more with less hassle. Let’s make your next fundraiser your most successful yet!
Images from Lions International
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