October has arrived, which means Halloween is right around the corner. It’s the time of year to get creative, whether that be with your costume, your decorations or your fundraisers. According to The Balance, “Halloween retail spending was estimated at $9 billion in 2018.” Therefore it’s a fantastic time to fundraise. People tend to be in the spirit, excited for a night of sweet treats and fun friends. 

Stumped on creative inspiration? We’ve got you covered. Check out our list of Halloween fundraising ideas for your favorite nonprofit.

1. Pumpkin Carving Contest
There isn’t a Halloween tradition quite like carving jack-o-lanterns. It’s an activity that’s fun for all ages, and it can be as simple or intricate as you’d like. You’ll need to supply the pumpkins, carving tools and patterns. Try asking a local pumpkin patch if they’d like to be a sponsor and donate some pumpkins. Charge guests an entry fee that gets them one pumpkin per person, as well as refreshments, and you’ll be set for a successful event.

2. Halloween Facebook Auction
If you don’t have little ones to take trick-or-treating, spend your Halloween evening hosting a Facebook auction. People can bid on items like decorated gift baskets or event tickets while they wait for trick-or-treaters. Ask employees of your chosen nonprofit, as well as friends and family, for item donations. 

Facebook auctions are simple to set up. As the coordinator, all you need to do is post items with their minimum bid amounts, and set a time for it to begin and end. Then, spread the word! Bidders will send you a Facebook message of the item they’re interested and their maximum bid. Once it’s finished, you’ll let the winners know their prizes. 

3. Costume Contest
A costume contest is a great way to let others’ creativity shine. You can choose to make yours adults only or all ages. Designate prize categories like Best Couple's Costume or Most Accurate to a Character. You can find sponsors from local businesses to donate prizes for each category. To raise more than just entrance fees, consider adding an activity like a dance competition or a silent auction. 

4. Jar Guessing Game
Start by filling jars with items like candy corn or spooky bouncy balls, and place them inside your nonprofit or another local business. Charge people per their guesses of how many are in each jar. Winners can receive the jar’s contents or another prize of your choosing. Just make sure you get their contact information to notify them if they win!

Halloween is a wonderful time to raise money for a worthy cause. By choosing any of the above options, you can bring people together to celebrate the holiday and keep helping the cause you support.