7 Fundraising Ideas for LGBTQ+ Nonprofits to Celebrate Pride Month and Beyond

1. Host a Pride-Themed Walk or Race  

An active, inclusive event, such as a walk, race, or community Pride march, is a great way to bring people together in celebration and solidarity. These events celebrate LGBTQ+ identity and equality, making them accessible to all ages and fitness levels, and ideal for families, friend groups, and community partners. 

They also offer an opening to reach new supporters who might be looking for local races or movement-based events that align with their values. Encourage participants to show their spirit with bold outfits, creative signs, or full Pride Month flair—it all adds to the energy.

To boost visibility and help offset event costs, consider partnering with LGBTQ+-friendly sponsors and local businesses to provide in-kind support, host a booth, or make donations. It’s also an opportunity for these businesses to connect with the community, build goodwill, and align their brand with a cause that matters.

With Pledge It, you can easily add and manage sponsorship packages right in your campaign, making it simple to highlight sponsor contributions and keep everything organized in one place.

Why this works: 

• Builds real-world connections in a fun, low-pressure setting
• Welcomes a wide range of participants
• Creates great moments for sharing, visibility, and media coverage 
• Offers sponsorship opportunities that align with values

2. Plan a Drag Brunch or Game Night 

Not every Pride fundraising event needs to involve miles or marathons. A night of laughter and connection is just as meaningful. Hosting a drag brunch, karaoke night, bingo, or trivia gives supporters—including allies—a chance to unwind and participate in a more relaxed setting.

These gatherings are a chance to feature local performers, support LGBTQ+ friendly venues, and create a space where everyone feels involved and celebrated. They invite guests to step out of their comfort zones, build community, and make lasting memories.

To elevate your event during Pride Month, you can add a themed raffle, silent auction, or a live fundraising moment. These elements not only boost energy and participation, but they also deepen community members' connection to your cause. With an event platform built to support moments like these, you can bring it all to life without added complexity.

Why this works: 

• Brings people together in a casual, fun environment
• Supports and showcases local LGBTQ+ talent
• Creates memorable, shareable moments that build community loyalty
• Offers fundraising flexibility
• Accessible to supporters who may not be able to participate in athletic or outdoor events

3. Launch a Peer-to-Peer Campaign During Pride Month

One of the most engaging ways to expand your reach during Pride Month is by empowering LGBTQ+ community members and allies to advocate on your behalf. Peer-to-peer campaigns invite individuals to share their own Pride journeys, honor someone they love, or express why they give, helping your message reach new circles while spreading awareness, promoting equal rights, and amplifying your initiatives in a deeply personal way.

You can try themes like “Why I Give,” “Proud to Support,” or even honor someone in the community. These campaigns work especially well for birthdays, personal milestones, or a “30 Days of Pride” challenge. Supporters can easily start their own fundraisers when you provide brand assets, sample messaging, and customizable fundraising pages they can tailor to their journey. 

The potential is huge: According to Peer-to-Peer Forum, the top 30 peer-to-peer fundraising programs raised over $1 billion in 2024 alone. Pledge It makes it easy to bring these campaigns to life—with customizable fundraising pages, built-in storytelling prompts, and user-friendly tools that empower your supporters to share their “why” and raise money on your behalf. You can set goals, track progress, and even showcase top fundraisers, so every participant feels supported.

Why this works:

• Puts your mission in the hands of trusted voices: supporters’ personal networks.
• Builds deep emotional connection through storytelling and lived experience.
• Extends reach without stretching your team’s capacity.
• Encourages year-round giving, not just during Pride Month.
• Gives supporters ownership and pride in advocating for your cause.

4. Put on an Art Show for the LGBTQ+ Community

Showcase the creativity and stories of LGBTQ+ artists and makers by putting on an art show that doubles as both a fundraiser and a celebration of identity, freedom, and expression. Community art shows are a transformative way to commemorate LGBTQ+ history, highlight lived experiences, and create an inclusive space for connection, culture, and visibility—all while supporting your mission.

Build momentum for the show by selling tickets ahead of time, or you can do a “pay what you can” admission at the door. To encourage giving, set up a donation station and ask vendors to donate a portion of their sales. 

Want to leave guests with something to remember? Use Pledge It’s merchandise tools to create and sell event-branded swag, like tote bags, pins, or limited-edition prints, to raise extra funds and boost your brand long after the event ends.

Why this works:

• Builds relationships with local artists, vendors, and attendees 
• Fosters visibility and celebration of LGBTQ+ voices 
• Offers multiple giving opportunities in one feel-good event 
• Creates a lasting impression through art, storytelling, and shared experience

5. Create a Challenge That Gets People Moving 

Regardless of whether it’s sports, fitness, or gaming, activity-based challenges are a fun and energizing way to bring LGBTQ+ community members and allies together while raising funds for a good cause. These campaigns let supporters take action by doing something they love, while leading conversations, deepening understanding, and joining the fight for equality.

It’s a perfect fit for teams, clubs, workplaces, or partner organizations that want to show visible support during Pride Month. A great example of this is Athlete Ally’s Playing for Pride 2025, which invites teams and individuals to raise awareness and funds by dedicating games, practices, or workouts to LGBTQ+ inclusion in sports.

With Pledge It’s flexible event and ticketing platform, you can easily launch a challenge campaign, track activity, and give participants the tools they need to get involved, fundraise, and invite others to join.

Why this works:

• Taps into existing communities and shared interests
• Builds energy and visibility during Pride Month
• Encourages friendly competition and team spirit
• Makes fundraising feel active, empowering, and fun

6. Organize a Monthly Giving Challenge 

While many campaigns focus on one-time gifts, monthly giving is one of the most effective ways to build long-term support and deepen donor engagement. Pride Month is a great time to invite your community to commit to your cause beyond June by becoming monthly donors who help provide support for your work all year.

Make it fun and rewarding by offering perks for different recurring donor levels. For example, $5/month donors get a sticker, $10/month donors get a social media shoutout, and $20/month donors receive a limited-edition pin or digital download. Work with your team members to decide what perks make sense for your audience. You can even set a public goal, such as 50 new monthly donors, and track progress online to keep up the energy. A fundraising platform with built-in recurring donation tools makes it easy to launch, manage, and grow your monthly giving program without adding extra work.

Why this works:

• Builds predictable, sustainable funding
• Gives supporters an easy way to stay involved beyond Pride Month
• Encourages commitment with low-barrier, high-reward giving
• Makes donors feel like valued, ongoing partners in your mission

7. Spotlight LGTBQ+ Voices Through a Speaker Series

One of the most genuine ways to build connection and awareness is by centering the voices of LGBTQ+ leaders, creators, and community members. A speaker series gives you a focused and joyful platform to do just that—through live storytelling, panel discussions, or creative performances that spark dialogue and inspire action.

Invite guests to share their personal experiences or insights on topics that matter to your community. Either in person or virtual, these events offer an opportunity to showcase diverse voices, engage volunteer hosts and moderators, and foster important conversations.

Be sure to record the event so you can repurpose it into evergreen content, such as blog posts, short videos, or quote graphics, to maintain its impact long after the event ends.

Why this works:

• Spotlights real stories that build empathy and drive action
• Appeals to supporters who want to learn, listen, and give back
• Creates content you can share throughout the year to deepen engagement

Turning Pride Month Into Year-Round Support

Pride Month offers a substantive opportunity to educate, engage, and build lasting connections within the LGBTQ+ community—but it’s just one piece of a larger, ongoing commitment to inclusion. Whether you host a walk, launch a peer-to-peer campaign, or organize a speaker series, the key is to show up with intention and consistency.

Think about how your nonprofit can be a trusted voice and a welcoming space for LGBTQ+ conversations—not just in June, but throughout the year. These ideas are just a starting point, and with the right tools and resources, they’re easier to bring to life.