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Fundraising events are vital to the life and longevity of nonprofit organizations, schools, and communities. Fundraisers are necessary to pool money for food, supplies, and manpower for worthy causes. However, unique and creative fundraising event ideas are hard to come by, especially those that inspire donors to contribute to the organization's aims.
In this blog, we compiled a list of 26 fundraising event ideas to drive donations and engage supporters. From crowdfunding campaigns to charity art auctions, themed costume parties, and online gaming tournaments, there's something for every cause and organization. Let's explore each one and unleash the power of collective giving!
26 Fundraising Event Ideas That Inspire Donations
There's never a shortage of creativity in fundraisers. Most organizers would encourage you to think outside the box to grab attention, but have you considered reinventing the classics instead? Take what's already working and add your own creative spin to it.
We have gathered various fundraising event ideas, each more unique than the last. Whether you're organizing a fundraising event for a school, sports club, non-profit organization, or any community cause, these ideas will help inspire donations, engage participants, and leave a lasting impact.
Crowdfunding is a method for raising money through your direct social network and the Internet. It opens your initiative to as many interested people, strangers or not, and allows them to contribute any amount.
The strength of crowdfunding lies in its numbers. Modest donations from a high volume of global donors move you closer to your goal, and it's now made easier with crowdfunding platforms, designed to reach a large audience and cater to a wide range of payment methods.
Best practices for a successful crowdfunding campaign:
Crowdfunding can also be a personal initiative. It's common practice for people to start fundraisers during their birthdays. Instead of asking for gifts from friends and family, you can redirect monetary presents to a cause close to your heart.
Like any auction, this fundraising event aims to sell artwork to the higher bidders. A charity art auction is a great way to gather art lovers and collectors. It's like playing matchmaker for enthusiasts looking to grow their collection and thriving artists against the backdrop of a fundraiser. You deal with high-value items and possibly even higher-value donations at auctions, so handle it with extra care.
Best practices for a successful charity art auction:
A themed costume party is a fundraising campaign perfect for your fantasy freaks and spectacle-loving peers. Hosted in the name of a good cause, you'll easily invite an enthusiastic crowd for a night of magic and mayhem.
Best practices for a successful themed costume party:
Sports clubs have the unique opportunity to combine their sporting events with fundraising efforts. Engaging supporters in friendly competition while raising funds for a good cause can be incredibly impactful. Let's explore some fundraising event ideas specifically tailored for sports clubs and enthusiasts.
Organizing a charity sports match is a perfect way to unite sports enthusiasts for a good cause. Like football legend, Ronaldhino's star-studded charity match, you can create space for friendly competition and charitable giving. Make the match even more memorable by hosting it during a sentimental moment in sports history, for instance, the retirement of a sports icon or the founding day of a popular sports organization.
Best practices for a successful charity sports match:
Channel the spirit of physical fitness into fundraising by organizing an athletic race or marathon. Engaging in athletic events, such as obstacle courses, races, or marathons, can foster community, promote healthy lifestyles, and ignite passion among participants.
Best practices for a successful athletic race fundraiser:
This fundraising event idea leaves the most impact on health-related causes. Cancer awareness campaigns and fundraisers supporting cancer research are top beneficiaries of marathon fundraisers. You choose a similar cause.
What's the next best thing to meeting your sporting heroes? It's owning their stuff. Auctioning sports equipment is a creative way to engage supporters with sporting interests while raising funds for your sports club. It allows donors to acquire unique items in exchange for their support. As there is a tangible item with history and sentimental value that donors take home with them, auctions have an appeal that ordinary goodwill events don't.
Best practices for a successful equipment auction:
Planning school fundraising events can be an exciting way to unite the community behind a single cause. Students, staff, and family are the lifeblood of these events, so you can relax into your classic fundraising event ideas without sacrificing the fun element. You have numerous fundraising options for every grade level, from talent shows and bake sales to treasure hunts with clues and riddles. School fundraisers are a great time for students to showcase their skills and build new ones while providing an entertaining experience for the audience.
Pro tip: Event themes that carry "community service" and "field day" typically attract a wider audience and encourage support from local businesses and community members.
Showcase the wealth of talent in your school while raising funds for your cause with a talent show. Create talent segments so you can highlight diverse artistic expressions: musical, dance, poetry, and visual arts. This will also help your event appeal to a broader audience, generating more ticket sales. At the show's end, you can present awards to the best acts, honoring your finest talents while providing exposure to generous sponsors who can present the award on stage.
Best practices for a successful school talent show:
Bake sales are a classic fundraising idea for schools––a crowd favorite for its simplicity and nostalgia. Bake sales are a delight to sweet tooths everywhere, and it's an opportunity for students and staff to share and showcase age-old family recipes. What is more appealing about bake sales as a fundraising campaign is that it requires minimal upfront costs and logistical planning. Volunteers may contribute with their favorite homemade baked goods.
Bake sales evoke a warm and welcoming atmosphere, drawing in many enjoyers. Still, you can be more inclusive by providing vegan and gluten-free options for people with different dietary preferences. This promotes higher participation, which ultimately works for your one true aim: to generate significant proceeds for the high school.
Best practices for a successful bake sale:
Parent-teacher games are a fun way to boost community and camaraderie, making it perfect for gathering support for a worthy cause. As it involves physical activities and obstacle courses, the game evokes a natural participation among attendees that equals any live entertainment. Parent-teacher games also don't require the intensity athletic races do, so you can stick to what's familiar, like tug-of-war, relay games, and a trivia night. Ensure that the complexity of each game varies to account for some parents' advanced age and skill level. What's more important is that everyone has a fantastic time.
Pro tip: Charge a registration fee with proceeds directed towards the school and supplement these with other fundraisers such as food and refreshment stalls.
Best practices for a successful parent-teacher games:
Non-profit organizations depend on fundraising events to continue valuable work. As conversions drop year after year, event planners are becoming more creative and digital in their approach. Below, we explore the top fundraising event ideas to help non-profit organizations engage donors, raise funds, and create a lasting impact within their community.
Hosting a charity concert or performance is a fantastic way to attract a large audience. Performances by local artists foster pride and a sense of community through a shared appreciation for art. Highlight these strengths when raising funds through concert tickets and direct donations.
Best practices for a successful athletic race fundraiser:
Silent auctions are a classy way to open bidding on unique items anonymously, through writing or electronic means. This adds an air of mystery to each bidding, fueling a fiercer competition between interested individuals.
Best practices for a successful silent auction:
Yard sales are an opportune time for neighborhoods to clear their garage, repurpose used clothing, and find new homes for family treasures. Low-cost and an easy start, yard sales depend on products that you already own. Translating them into valuable donations to your chosen charity makes it an ingenious fundraiser.
Best practices for a successful yard sale:
Opening your fundraiser to the digital world comes with limitless possibilities. You can reach more people around the globe, chance upon celebrities and influencers, and reach generous souls. The beauty of online fundraisers is their inclusivity. Anyone can join, however modest the contribution. Similarly, anyone can advocate for your cause. New supporters can make a world of difference with a single social share. Let's look at some online fundraising event ideas.
Remember the ice bucket challenge in 2014? The humble home video became so viral that even celebrities like Oprah and Lebron James joined. The virtual challenge was an awareness and fundraising campaign for the neurological disorder known as Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or ALS. It became extremely successful that the ALS Association reported increasing its annual research funding by 187%!
Virtual challenges inspire widespread participation, regardless of geographical location. You can do it too.
Best practices for a successful virtual marathon:
Online gaming tournaments engage the younger population, so if you're fundraising for a cause that the youth must care about (e.g., cyberbullying, safe internet use), this is an excellent event to host.
Best practices for a successful virtual marathon:
Inspire donations through the power of knowledge-sharing by hosting a workshop. Choose a host of industry experts to frontline your event. This builds authority and invites their existing follower base to your fundraiser.
Webinars and workshops are most suitable for creative and professional settings, as these markets view learning as an investment. Pairing this educational rendezvous with a noble cause only improves its appeal.
Best practices for a successful webinar or workshop:
Looking for a way to make your next fundraiser stand out? Check out these cool fundraising event ideas to grab attention and inspire donations. From dark diners to surprise dance numbers and karaoke belters, the unconventional route takes you to memorable places while raising money for charity.
The concept is simple. Guests are guided through an entire meal without them seeing their food. Removing people's vision enhances their other senses which in turn allows them to enjoy their food more.
Dining in the dark, however, is also an immersion into the struggle of visual impairment, making it an impactful way to raise awareness about the affected community. A gastronomic adventure combined with a noble cause is a genius way to leave a lasting impression on your audience.
Best practices for a successful 'dine in the dark' event:
Create a real-life musical with a flash mob at your nearest mall or local park. Hire a group of performers; if not, train your team of dancers with a choreography that's easy to groove to. Flash mobs grab attention and are engaging, making collecting donations at the end of your performance easier.
Best practices for a successful flash mob performance:
Hit the high note with a fundraising campaign that brings all the belters out. Put a karaoke set in the middle of the room and get supporters to sing for a good cause.
Best practices for a successful karaoke competition:
New seasons signal a fresh start. Whether it's a new milestone or a fundraiser goal for a charity you're passionate about, there is much to gain in tapping into the cheer and celebration. Here are some fundraising event ideas that blend seamlessly into the occasion while engaging donors to open their hearts (and wallets).
Offering a gift-wrapping service is a great way to raise funds during the festive season while providing a valuable service to busy shoppers. Simple as it may be, a gift-wrapping service takes off the mental load from donors during the holiday season while making their presents look extra special for their loved ones.
Best practices for a successful holiday gift-wrapping service as a fundraising event:
Provide gift-wrapping services from November to February so you can serve shoppers from Thanksgiving to Christmas and New Year until Valentine's Day.
The fall season isn't complete without a pumpkin carving event. And what's better than upholding tradition and raising money for charity simultaneously? Pumpkin carving is a family-friendly event you can host alongside other fall-appropriate activities like apple picking, corn mazes, and long walks in nature.
Best practices for a successful pumpkin-carving contest:
On the sunniest days, the inflatable pool and BBQ grill come out, along with families who are up for fun. But this is not just any BBQ party—it's a special one to help raise money for a great cause. BBQ is more than just a meal. Barbecue brings people together. Pair good food and fun activities in the warm summer air, and your fundraiser will be a delicious success your community will look forward to year after year.
Best practices for a successful summertime BBQ fundraiser:
Getting kids involved in fundraising events is a way to introduce them to care about others in need. It also teaches them valuable people- and entrepreneurial skills as kids must work in teams and be creative to reach their money goals. Fundraisers instill responsibility and involvement in the community from a young age. Children can derive a sense of accomplishment and an understanding that even the smallest efforts can make a big difference in the world.
A lemonade stand is a classic fundraising idea that allows kids to raise funds while learning money management and entrepreneurship. It's inexpensive to start, easy to learn, and most ingredients are readily accessible at home or your grocery shop.
Best practices for a successful lemonade stand fundraiser:
A petting zoo event is an immersive experience that introduces kids to gentle beasts and birds. The event makes the perfect fundraiser for animal-centered issues such as extinction and global warming. This fundraiser is a chance to raise money in partnership with wildlife organizations and engage the younger generation. It is the ultimate educational day trip.
Best practices for a successful petting zoo fundraiser:
Who doesn't love a good treasure hunt? Finding clues and traversing maps are an exciting way for kids to explore and raise money for a cause that matters to them. It also helps build problem-solving skills and collaboration, making it a good substitute for classroom learning.
Best practices for a successful treasure hunt fundraiser:
Working with local businesses for fundraising events is like teaming up with friends to do something awesome for your community. It's all about coming together, having fun, and making a big difference. Here are some cool fundraising event ideas you can do with the help of nearby shops and companies, making everyone in the neighborhood feel like a superhero team.
Imagine a big group of people walking together, enjoying the outdoors, and helping a good cause. That's what a sponsored walk-a-thon is all about. Like fun runs and athletic races, walk-a-thon promotes community health and wellness, aligning with health-based campaigns.
Best practices for a successful sponsored walk-a-thon fundraiser
A local business fair is like a big party where all the neighborhood shops come out to showcase their products and services. Turn it into a fundraiser event with live entertainment, and you can shine a light on your local craftsmen, bakers, and merchants while educating your community about your supported charity.
Best practices for a successful local business fair:
Creating partnerships with local businesses is crucial for successful fundraising efforts. Here are some tips for establishing partnerships with local businesses:
When choosing a fundraising event idea for your organization, consider your target audience, the resources available to you, and the goals you want to achieve. Choose an event that aligns with your cause and mission, appeals to your supporters, and has the potential to generate significant donations.
Organizing a successful fundraising event requires careful planning, promotion, and execution. You can also use this 17-step fundraising event checklist from Fundly to get your resources in order before diving in head first.
Recruit Volunteers: Engage passionate volunteers who can contribute their time, skills, and expertise to help organize and manage the event. Assign volunteers specific roles and responsibilities that align with their skills to ensure smooth event operations.
Craft a Fundraising Strategy: Set clear fundraising goals (e.g., how much do you want to raise during the event?). Develop a comprehensive fundraising strategy, identifying your key contributors and the best ways to reach them. Outline your activities from most to least revenue-generating and allocate resources as you see fit.
Understand your Donor Base. Being crystal clear with your audience allows you to tailor your language and message accordingly. Narrowing your fundraising event ideas will become easier when you know what appeals to your chosen audience.
Promote the Event: Use social media platforms to promote your event to reach a wider audience. You can also partner with local artists to create eye-catching promotional materials and collaborate with local media to explode your fundraiser's reach.
Collaborate with Partners: Establish partnerships with local businesses, community organizations, or influencers who share a common interest in your cause. Collaborative efforts increase event visibility and enhance fundraising outcomes through mutual support.
Ensure Smooth Event Operations: Have a solid logistical plan. Secure all necessary permits from your local government, and if you're having live entertainment, inform nearby houses about potential noise.h Secure all entrances and exit points at the venue. Then, instruct volunteers to keep a headcount to avoid crowding. Coordinate event schedules with vendors and volunteers and have contingency plans in case of any unforeseen circumstances.
Follow-Up Strategies: After the event, send thank-you notes or emails to show appreciation for participants, volunteers, donors, and sponsors. Share the event's success story, including how their donations have made a difference.
Big League Impact does a phenomenal job of documenting its fundraising successes. By adding a spotlight page of the charities they've supported throughout the years, sponsors can have a clearer picture of where their money goes.
As it's likely not your last fundraiser, stay in touch with donors and provide regular updates about the cause.
1. What is the most profitable fundraising event idea?
The most profitable fundraising event will depend on various factors, including your donor base, community, and fundraising goals. However, some fundraising events tend to attract major donors more effectively. These include:
Not every fundraiser has the capital for upscale events that draw donors with deeper pockets. Get Fully Funded provides an exhaustive list of fundraising event ideas that bring in the most money for smaller nonprofits.
2. How can I market my fundraising event to ensure maximum participation?
Marketing is crucial for the success of any fundraising event, ensuring maximum participation and donations. Here are some strategies to effectively market your fundraising event:
Fundraising events are a great way to inspire donations and support a cause. There are countless creative ideas to go around; just pick a fundraising event idea based on its relevance to your cause and target audience. The closer the event and its activities hit home, the more enjoyable the experience will be.
Remember that you don't have to plan fundraisers all by yourself. You can invite friends to join you or spread the word via their network or personal social media accounts. For a wider reach, consider partnerships with local businesses for added support. And when your event ends, don't forget to follow up with participants and express gratitude for their contributions. This will help you make lifelong supporters of your cause.
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