Fundraising ideas for your charity and not-for-profit
03/15/2023
Fundraising is important for charities and not-for-profit organisations, providing support and donations and allowing groups to carry out charitable activities.
Raising funds can take many forms, from traditional donations and fundraising to more innovative methods such as virtual activities and crowd funding. Here, we explore some effective fundraising activities that you may want to consider for your next fundraiser.
Virtual Interactions
There are many ways you can run fundraisers virtually. You could embrace your inner influencer and invite people to a virtual cook along. Whether you’re an experienced cook passing on knowledge, or a complete novice taking on a challenge, putting on a show could be a great way to engage with your audience and get people involved. It is also a great opportunity to talk about food waste, the impact on the environment and where our food comes from.
Not a fan of cooking? How about arts and crafts or DIY? Offering a service that people would want to use is a good way to show the activities you are doing, as well as giving back to the local community. Whether it’s art classes, or wood building techniques, embracing platforms such as Instagram Reels and TikTok could be another outlet of engaging with a wider audience.
Have you thought about holding a virtual movie night where participants pay an ‘entry fee’? With most streaming services offering a group watch service, all you would need to do is arrange the invites and select the movie. This would be dependent on the service you are using as they would all have their own terms and conditions that you would need to consider.
Make sure you consider a risk assessment for your event, even if it is virtual.
Environmental
Why not run an event that helps the environment too? One simple fundraising activity could involve a ‘bring and plant’ service. Whether you’re volunteering at an allotment or a town in bloom organisation, asking your volunteers to bring bulbs, seeds, plants from their own gardens that they no longer want is a good way to share expertise as well as reducing waste.
Charity Events
Traditional events such as bake sales and summer fetes are common feature. Try thinking of something that would get people involved in an activity rather than buying something. You could ask for a small donation to take part in an activity such as a treasure or scavenger hunt. Planning this in advance to take place during a school break could result in larger turnout than over a weekend. This would also be a great outdoor activity and gets the kids involved with knowing their area and landmarks.
If you’re planning an event, take a look at our article on Event risk management for your not for profit.
Crowdfunding
Crowdfunding has changed the world of charity fundraising, with websites such as GoFundMe or Just Giving allowing members of the public to donate to specific projects. Successful campaigns focus on creating compelling stories with good imagery, making use of different media formats, and engaging with potential supporters. To help encourage sharing, projects should have specific goals, milestones and end-dates, which also help with how much money could potentially be raised.
Partnerships or Sponsorship from local businesses or the government
Using partnerships with businesses can also help receive funds. Try and work with businesses that match or support your goals, this will create a mutually beneficial relationship where both you and the business receive value from the partnership. This value could come in the form of funding, promotion, or networking. Lastly, use government funding and grants to increase funds for your cause. This type of funding can sometimes require long-term commitments from you and will require a lengthy and thorough application process.
