Fundraising Ideas for Veterans and Military Families

Support those who serve by turning your next event into a meaningful fundraiser. Whether you’re honoring active-duty members, veterans, or military families, these ideas can help raise funds and build community pride.

Quick Summary

• Choose a cause that connects personally — whether it’s housing, healthcare, or family support for veterans.
• Start small with approachable ideas like potlucks, t-shirt sales, or crowdfunding campaigns.
• Keep expenses low by using donated goods, volunteer help, and community spaces.
• Share your fundraiser through local media, social posts, and word of mouth to build momentum.
• Keep it all organized through one online platform like SignUpGenius

👉 Get started on your fundraising campaign now!

1. Host a Community Fundraiser

Gather your neighbors for a patriotic barbecue, potluck, or chili cook-off. Use SignUpGenius to coordinate dishes, decorations, and volunteers. Encourage guests to donate what they can to support local veterans’ programs or family assistance funds.

🧠 Genius Tip: Add a donations tab to your sign up to collect funds online with SignUpGenius Payments.

2. Raise Funds Through a Giving Campaign

If you or someone you know is facing medical costs, housing challenges, or the transition back to civilian life, crowdfunding can make a big difference. Share personal stories, add photos, and invite your network to give and share your campaign.

🇺🇸 More than 32,000 U.S. veterans experience homelessness on any given night, and many others struggle to cover medical bills, relocation costs, and family expenses after service¹. These fundraising campaigns can help you rally your community to provide real support.

3. Support Service Animals for Veterans

Trained service dogs provide vital companionship and assistance, but they’re expensive to raise and train. Organize a fundraising walk or 5K event, and use SignUpGenius to manage registration, volunteers, and sponsor outreach.

4. Create and Sell Patriotic Merchandise

Design t-shirts, mugs, or tote bags celebrating military pride. Choose red, white, and blue designs and include messaging about your cause. Promote your items through social media or local events, and set up a sign up to manage orders or pickup times.

5. Organize a Veterans’ Benefit Concert

Music brings people together — and a benefit concert can raise significant donations. Partner with local musicians, sell tickets through a sign up, and include a donation option for those who can’t attend. Offer themed concessions and showcase stories of veterans your event supports.

🧠 Genius Tip: Tickets can be sold and managed right alongside your sign ups and fundraising campaigns. SEE HOW IT WORKS

6. Try a Volunteer or Matching Gift Drive

Encourage supporters to log volunteer hours or check with employers about matching gift programs. Many companies will match their employees’ donations to veteran organizations, effectively doubling the impact.

7. Host a Quilt or Craft Auction

Handmade quilts, flags, and crafts make meaningful fundraising items. Set up a silent auction with SignUpGenius to schedule drop-offs, organize volunteers, and track bids. Include stories about each piece to connect donors with your mission.

8. Plan a Walkathon or Fitness Challenge

Honor service members with an active event that brings people outdoors. Use SignUpGenius to schedule participants, collect pledges, and organize route support. Add friendly competition with prizes for top fundraisers or best patriotic outfits.

🇺🇸 Military families move every two to three years, which can make it hard to stay financially and emotionally stable². Fundraisers that bring communities together help provide a much-needed sense of belonging and relief.

9. Share Meals and Stories

Food brings comfort and connection. Organize a community dinner, backyard barbecue, or Thanksgiving meal for veterans and their families. Ask attendees to bring dishes, desserts, or drinks using an online sign up to simplify coordination.

10. Fundraise Creatively

Smaller gestures can go a long way:

• Hug-a-grams: Sell tokens of appreciation with messages of gratitude.
• Beard challenge: Get participants to grow (or shave!) beards for donations.
• Flag subscription: Hang holiday flags for supporters who donate monthly.

These fun ideas can spark conversation and build ongoing community support.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What are the easiest military fundraising ideas to start with?
A: Potlucks, t-shirt sales, and online crowdfunding are simple to launch and easy to share.

Q: How can I involve my community or local businesses?
A: Ask for event sponsorships, donated goods, or corporate matching gifts to expand your reach.

Q: What types of causes can these fundraisers support?
A: Veteran housing, medical care, mental health support, service animal training, and family travel expenses.

Q: Can I collect donations directly through SignUpGenius?
A: Yes! Add the payments feature to your sign up to accept contributions online safely and easily.

Support Military and Veteran Causes with Ease

Whether you’re honoring loved ones in service or supporting veterans in need, SignUpGenius makes it simple to organize fundraisers, volunteers, and donations — all in one place.

Start your military fundraiser today and make a lasting difference.

¹ U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. “Veterans homelessness reaches record low, decreasing by 7.5% since 2023.

² Blue Star Families. “Military Family Lifestyle Survey (2024).