Service Dog Fundraising Ideas

Participants pledge to do a chose activity (dance, read, bake, etc.) for 24 hours, or as long as they can, in order to raise money and win prizes.

Enlist the help of local artists and bands to determine the line-up. Set a date and time, sell tickets at the door, offer concessions for a small price, and set up a donation table to accept contributions throughout the night.

Plan this event for a warm and sunny day and advertise by hanging up flyers and posting on social media. Charge a fee, but also put out a donation jar to encourage more donations.

Host a workshop that teaches a skill (cooking, painting, etc.) and charge an entrance fee. You can also turn this into a virtual event by hosting your class over Zoom.

Partner with a local gym to dedicate a class to your fundraiser. Charge a small fee to participate.

Partner with a local bar to donate the venue and charge admission to the participants, as well as friends and family who attend. 

Offer to take care of the kids for the evening. Gather a group of responsible volunteers and secure a location for this event. You'll also need to provide snacks and activities/games to entertain the kids. Charge per hour of choose a flat rate donation.

Invite your friends and family for a fun-raising potluck. Attendees can bring along tasty dishes and a donation to your fundraiser.

Charge addmission at the door. Attendees that dress in the themed costume pay a small fee while those in “normal” clothes can pay a little bit more.

Get creative with the confections you create. Place a tip or donation jar on the table for customers who feel extra generous.

Fundraise by selling admission tickets, concessions, products (if you have them), and encouraging additional contributions during the event. 

Partner with a local comedy venue to put on a charity comedy night featuring local comedians. Raise funds through ticket sales, merchandise, and encouraging additional contributions throughout the evening.

Host a virtual pet contest and let your audience decide who's pet is cutest! Supporters submit their best photos with a brief description (pet name, age, breed, favorite activities, etc.) and you feature them on your social media page for voting purposes. You can either charge a small fee for submitting a photo.

Charge an admission fee and sell merchandise such as t-shirts, water bottles, and hats along the walkathon route.

Organize a movie viewing at an outdoor location or team up with your local cinema to get a special rate for supporters to attend a new release.

Partner with your local vetrinarian to offer a community class for pet owners (Basic Dog Care, Pet First Aid & CPR, etc.). Raise money by charging a small fee of $10 or $20. Promote the event online and drop off flyers at local pet stores, shelters, and vet clinics.

Partner with a national chain or local restaurant that will donate a portion of their sales during the event to your fundraiser.

Make it a community event by inviting your friends and family to join in selling their stuff to benefit your fundraiser, too.

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Check out Good Dog's Yard Sale Toolkit to get started with done-for-you templates and planning checklist.

Host a backyard barbecue.You can charge a fee for your barbecue or simply set up a donation table with a jar for change.

Ask a local celebrity (Mayor, Police Chief, Firefighters, actor, school principal, etc.) to host a pancake breakfast. Sell tickets for admission. 

Determine your theme dish (ie: chili) and charge participants a fee to enter their best dish. Event guests can judge entries by making a donation.

Just like a car wash, but for dogs. Make sure that you explain where the funds are going during the event to encourage more donations.

These 24-hour fundraising campaigns are effective because they leverage a sense of urgency that makes donors more likely to donate, doing social good for a united goal. Giving Days can be centered around birthdays, holidays, awareness months, etc. Check out Good Dog's giving day done-for-you campaigns to get started.

Partner with a local sip and paint company willing to donate a percentage of the proceeds to your fundraiser. Or create it yourself by securing a location and asking a local artist or volunteer to teach the class.

Ask a photographer to donate their time and location. Charge a fee, or sell packages and/or merchandise with the pet pictures on them.

Teams sign up and pay a registration fee. Then, create a course and hide items around your community. The winners can even receive a small prize.

Partner with a bar or restaurant for a pet-friendly event. Charge an admission price and ask attendees to make donations during the event.