25 Fundraising Business Ideas You Can Start Today [2025]
Interested in starting a fundraising business in 2025?
We put together 23 of the best fundraising businesses you can start in today.
For each business idea, we’ll show you real-world examples of other fundraising businesses to help you see what it really takes.
Here's the full list:
1. Start a youtube channel
For anyone looking to start a successful YouTube channel, there are plenty of YouTube channel success stories that can be used as inspiration and encouragement. In addition, YouTube has an established monetization system and boasts incredible popularity, making it a potential platform for revenue generation.
In this article, we'll look at different approaches you can use to help promote your channel and grow your viewers. While there's no quick and easy way to success, you can take these tips to build your own YouTube Channel Success story. If you love content creation, you can capitalize on YouTube's popularity to earn extra income.
If you want to join the Youtube partner program to monetize your channel, you will need to reach a minimum of 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours in the previous 12 months.
How much you can make: $800 — $1,000,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $625 (?)
How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)
Time commitment per week: Min. 5 hours/week
Learn how this entrepreneurial couple made $5-7k a month by helping others find legitimate work from home jobs and creative ways to make money online through their blog and YouTube channel, as well as offering two flagship products designed to help beginner freelancers and new bloggers accelerate growth.
2. Start a fundraising consulting business
A fundraising consulting business helps organizations, non-profits, and individuals raise money for various causes or projects.
As a consultant, you would identify funding needs and develop and implement a strategy to meet them, including researching funding sources, writing grant proposals, organizing fundraising events, and managing donor relations.
To start this business, you will need a strong understanding of fundraising, a network of potential funding sources, and possibly licenses or certifications.
To be successful, you will need excellent communication and networking skills, the ability to think creatively and strategically, and an understanding of industry trends and best practices. You will also need to manage your business finances, including setting service prices and tracking income and expenses.
How much you can make: $5,000 — $150,000/month
How long does it take to build: 300 days (?)
ConnectionPoint's founder and CEO, Daryl Hatton, shares his experience of launching an enterprise-class crowdfunding-as-a-service platform that has helped almost 200,000 projects in 40+ countries raise over $200 million, and offers valuable insights on taking a focused approach to growth and pivoting the business to solve customer problems.
3. Start a podcasting business
Podcasting businesses often start as a hobby. You publish a few episodes and posts, and soon you will start getting engagements from interested parties.
However, to earn money from your podcasting business, you need to put a lot of effort and time into producing quality shows that address your audience's concerns.
To grow your podcast business, ensure regular publishing, which brings better growth, more listeners to your channel, and a higher income.
Here is a list of steps to help you transition the podcast from a hobby to a full-time podcast business:
- Ensure a focused effort and adjust the tone of each podcast episode
- Make podcasting your priority
- Focus on building
- Grow a mailing list
- Aim at building a trusted brand
- Develop a long-term growth and marketing plan
How much you can make: $5,000 — $375,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $500 (?)
How long does it take to build: 22 days (?)
Empire Flippers is a thought leader in brokering online business deals, having brokered over $50 million worth of deals and grown their pool of potential buyers by hundreds every month through a focus on content marketing and middle-of-funnel content.
4. Start a game development
A game development business involves creating and developing video games for various platforms such as PC, consoles, and mobile devices. This business involves a team of game designers, programmers, artists, and sound engineers working together to bring a game concept to life.
To start a game development business, it is essential to have a solid understanding of the game development process and be skilled in one or more areas, such as programming, art, or design. It is also essential to have strong business acumen and understand how to market and sell your games.
Some tips for running a successful game development business include:
Focus on a specific niche or genre of games to stand out in a crowded market.
Build a strong team of talented and passionate individuals who share your vision for the company.
Stay up to date on the latest trends and technologies in the gaming industry.
Build a strong online presence through social media and a website to market and sell your games.
Focus on building a loyal customer base by releasing regular updates and engaging with your community.
Don't be afraid to seek partnerships or sponsorships to help fund your projects.
Always be open to learning and improving your skills and processes to stay competitive.
How much you can make: $200 — $1,725,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $3,700 (?)
How long does it take to build: 150 days (?)
How one founder turned a successful Kickstarter campaign into a $40 million tabletop game company with a focus on crafting a few special products each year and using social media to build community and relationships with customers.
5. Start a social media marketing service
Looking to leverage the immense power of social media for business growth? Consider starting a social media marketing service.
In simple terms, this business involves helping companies enhance their online presence, attract more followers, and drive engagement using platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. You'll create and manage content, analyze engagement metrics, and fine-tune strategies to boost client success.
A strong understanding of social media trends and marketing best practices is essential. This business allows you to work flexible hours and can scale up as you gain more clients.
Investing in this business idea lets you become an indispensable asset to other businesses. Establishing your expertise can lead to recurring revenue, offering both stability and growth.
How much you can make: $333 — $1,783,333/month
How much does it cost to start: $1,260 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
MeetEdgar, a bootstrapped social media automation tool founded in 2014 by Laura Roeder, has grown to $4 million in annual recurring revenue and more than 5,000 customers, with a team size of two dozen, achieved through content marketing, social media marketing, and organic search.
6. Start a crowdfunding platform
Raising money for your project can be difficult. Crowdfunding is one way to get funding through a large number of smaller investments. If you have some expertise in a particular area that may be useful to other people, there's no better time to take action. The crowdfunding revolution is happening right at your fingertips.
Crowdfunding has exploded over the past year, and you need to be a part of it. The Worldwide crowdfunding market share is expected to increase by $240B from 2021 to 2026. Crowdfunding is one of the quickest ways to get funding and build your brand.
How much you can make: $5,000 — $400,000/month
How long does it take to build: 272 days (?)
DistantJob is a unique recruitment agency that specializes in finding full-time remote employees, and with $3 million in annual revenue, they offer small to medium-sized tech companies an edge over big competitors who are not willing to hire remotely.
7. Start a campaign promoting business
8. Start a trick-or-treating event hosting business
9. Start a gold exchange-traded funds business
10. Start a non-profit fundraiser
A nonprofit fundraiser is an ongoing process of soliciting donations or voluntary funds to help organizations grow and to meet the community's needs. The faith-based fundraiser focus on helping the members of the community. Within which the organization serves.
To start a not-for-profit fundraiser, you must register the nonprofit organization and show the causes you intend to support. Popular causes supported through nonprofit fundraisers include:
- Animals
- Children & Youth
- Cultural & Education
- Disabilities
- Disaster Relief
- Elderly
- Environment
- Global – Locale Based
How long does it take to build: 272 days (?)
11. Start a peer to peer lending business
12. Start a live contest hosting business
The thrill of competition is universal. Starting a live contest hosting business leverages this inherent excitement, bringing engaging events to life.
In this line of work, you'll organize and host live contests, showcasing talents, trivia, or any tailored theme. It involves meticulous planning, securing venues or online platforms, and seamlessly executing events to captivate both participants and audiences.
Your role as a live contest host is not just about the thrill but also about managing logistics, coordinating with vendors, and ensuring memorable experiences.
If you have a knack for event management and love creating dynamic environments, this business offers a unique blend of creativity and operational skill. The demand for interactive and entertaining events is growing, making this a promising venture for those ready to dive into the excitement of live contests.
How much you can make: $30,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $500 (?)
How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)
Case study on SEO consultancy and affiliate marketing business generating over $360k per year with over 700k monthly visitors, with insights on building valuable content, conducting extensive research, and working with a skilled and dedicated team.
13. Start a temporary help agency
14. Start a side-project business
Got a side hustle in mind but not sure how to bring it to life? A side-project business could be your answer.
At its core, this business model involves dedicating your free time to projects that interest you. Think of it as nurturing a hobby while earning extra income. Whether it's an Etsy shop featuring your handmade crafts or a blog generating ad revenue, the possibilities are extensive.
The appeal? You maintain your main job while exploring different ventures to see what sticks, giving you both security and flexibility. Starting small means lower risk and the opportunity to pivot if needed.
To get started, identify a passion, validate the idea, and commit a few hours a week to it. With the right focus and incremental effort, your side project could eventually grow into a full-time endeavor, offering both creative satisfaction and financial rewards.
How much you can make: $1,200 — $1,766,666/month
How much does it cost to start: $25 (?)
How long does it take to build: 3 days (?)
Empire Flippers is a thought leader in brokering online business deals, having brokered over $50 million worth of deals and grown their pool of potential buyers by hundreds every month through a focus on content marketing and middle-of-funnel content.
15. Start a donation business
16. Start a contest marketing business
17. Start a charity auction service business
18. Start a mutual fund investing business
19. Start a cause awareness raising podcast business
20. Start a real estate auctions business
Unlock the potential of the real estate market by venturing into the world of real estate auctions. This business involves orchestrating events where properties are sold to the highest bidder, often leading to quick and efficient sales.
By managing real estate auctions, you bring together sellers eager to offload their properties swiftly and buyers looking for competitive deals. Your role involves understanding property valuations, marketing auction events, and facilitating the auction process either in-person or online.
This business doesn’t require extensive capital investment to start but demands strong organizational skills and a knack for sales. Real estate auctions often attract motivated participants, making it a high-energy and dynamic field.
If you have an interest in real estate and enjoy fast-paced environments, this could be a compelling niche. It offers the chance to earn substantial commissions and build a reputation in a niche market with consistent demand.
How much you can make: $15,000 — $500,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $5,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)
This case study is about T. C. Lewis & Co, a real estate investment and management firm that successfully diversified their approach to include sales, development, remodeling, and construction, with property management being the key to investor doors and organic growth.
21. Start a car flipping business
22. Start a paid online surveys business
23. Start an apartment rental business
An apartment is a private residence divided into several separate dwellings. If you are interested in starting an accommodation and housing-related business, apartment rental can be a good fit. Your target customers can be business executives, dignitaries, travelers, etc.
To start your business, look for a strategic location and build or buy a ready property. When purchasing an apartment, you may need to renovate the property to be suitable for rental.
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
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Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
