If you're working on any sort of project, championing for a cause, or trying to get an invention patented, there is one thing you're absolutely going to need: money. If you don't have any savings to start with, or you need to make a decent amount of cash in a short period of time, you may be at a loss as to how to achieve your goal. Raising money is possible, but it may just take a little bit of creativity on your part. Check out some of these out-of-the-box ideas to quickly secure the funds your cause needs. 

1. Try Crowdfunding

Crowdfunding is a super popular way to raise money because of its ability to reach people anywhere in the world. Sites such as Venmo fundraising, GoFundMe, Patreon, and Kickstarter are set up to collect your donations for you, making the whole process a breeze. Social media is a great place to get the word out about your cause; it's basically free advertising! Put your needs out there on all of your social media platforms or put out an email with a link to your cause, and watch the donations roll in. 

2. Get Cooking

Every family has a beloved recipe that they want to (hopefully) share with the world! Perhaps your family members, friends, or coworkers have famous recipes they will be willing to share with you to assemble a recipe book! Collect these recipes and sell them as a collection to fund your project. Sharing tried and true family recipes with the community will surely add a nice personal touch to your fundraising efforts.

3. Create A Coffee Table Book

Maybe you love the recipe book idea, but your circle isn't necessarily talented in that department. You can take the recipe book idea and change it to feature any creative medium you like. Photography of the region (or anywhere, but if it features landmarks present in the area it may be more popular in your community), poetry, or even short stories are just a few possible ideas for your book's subject matter. 

4. Put On A Show

Do you have a unique talent you can show off? Or do you have friends or family members who've caught the performance bug? Ask them to donate their time and talents to your cause! Sell tickets to your variety or talent show featuring your gifted group. A show is actually an excellent opportunity to combine a few fundraising efforts together. For example, have a silent auction during the event, and sell refreshments to your guests. The community will appreciate a fun night out, and you'll be that much closer to achieving your goal. 

5. Write A Letter

When it comes to fundraising, sometimes a tried and true method is most effective. Writing a letter gives you a chance to explain a little bit about your cause or idea to your audience, hopefully resulting in donations. Get out that address book for holiday cards and use that as a basis to start your mailing list. It doesn't necessarily have to be a physical letter; emails are much faster and more convenient. Plus, you can adjust your settings to tell you if the email has been opened; this will give you a better idea of who you are reaching. 

Sometimes when you have a stellar idea and determination in spades, money is the only thing between you and your goal. Luckily, there are some relatively simple ways to raise the money you need for your project. Try out one of these ideas, or even combine a few of them; you'll be one step closer to funding your cause.