Ideas for fundraising events

[Laura @ Altius Group]

Hi All,

My company are raising money for the Children's charity Rays of Sunshine, and we need to come up with 3 different fundraisers (one for each of our different offices) - harder than it sounds!

So far we've thought about having a day where we all dress up in Halloween costumes for work and go trick or treating to other businesses (one of our offices is on Bolton high street so there's lots of places we could go!) to try and raise money. We also thought about doing a sponsored walk, possibly along Blackpool iluminations in costume - but I wanted something a bit more original that's going to make people take note and want to donate!

Do any of you have any suggestions, or know of any fundraisers that have worked well in the past?

Thanks in advance!

Laura

 

[marketingquotes]

Hi Laura,

What about doing a sponsored bikeride (this was done by a charity and is an annual event).

Regards,

Marketing Quotes Support

 

[Foxxylox]

Hi Laura

What about fundraising at your local supermarkets or a teddy tombola, they've been great fundraisers for me.

Hope its of some help

Sam

 

[Laura @ Altius Group]

Thanks for your suggestions! I'll put these to the office

 

[HFE Signs]

We can help with the promotion, see our post for free banners..!

 

[Laura @ Altius Group]

We can help with the promotion, see our post for free banners..!

Could I send you a message about this? We aren't actually the registered charity, we're a company raising money on behalf of them (we do this for a different charity each year). Are we still eligible?

 

[HFE Signs]

Could I send you a message about this? We aren't actually the registered charity, we're a company raising money on behalf of them (we do this for a different charity each year). Are we still eligible?

Hi Laura, Thats fine, if you have a website and are able to add a link to us as explained here www.hfe-signs.co.uk/charity.php then you are eligible for a FREE banner.. contact [email protected] once the link is in place and our design / sales team will send your proof by email, once you're happy with the proof, we'll make it and post it to you..

 

[Laura @ Altius Group]

Would that be the fundraising website or the business website?

 

[HFE Signs]

Would that be the fundraising website or the business website?

either, as long as its on the home page and the link is live for 12 months, it can be small text in the bottom corner..

 

[td2011]

What about putting on an event like a market or boot sale? You could run a raffle prize. With the season changing though this should be done in the next few weeks.

 

[Neill Wilkins]

Using a theme / hook can really add to a fundraising event and take it out of that "we're having a car boot / quiz night" rut.

It doesn't really matter what the event is. Just try to give it a lift with a theme

ie Hawaiin Barbecue, Wild West Fundraising Fete, Glam Rock Sponsored Walk


Stuff like that can really capture people's imagination.

Lots more ideas on our website

Best

Neill

 

[Antony Warnes]

Using a theme / hook can really add to a fundraising event and take it out of that "we're having a car boot / quiz night" rut.

It doesn't really matter what the event is. Just try to give it a lift with a theme

ie Hawaiin Barbecue, Wild West Fundraising Fete, Glam Rock Sponsored Walk


Stuff like that can really capture people's imagination.

Lots more ideas on our website

Best

Neill

I really agree with this. It would seem with charity events scale & spectacle are a big thing.

I produced a promotional video for a charity event held by a hospice which was on a huge scale, it was a black tie affair at an upmarket restaurant with a musicals tribute act performing, local businesses had paid for a table at the event and there were some pretty impressive prizes raffled.

The event might have cost a few thousand to put on but raised in excess of £35,000 in one night.

I also work with a company which puts on family based wrestling events which has provided a show to raise money for the Help for Heroes charity in the past and there are a lot of other music & entertainment types who have special rates for charities. I know most of the people who worked the wrestling events were happy to forgo their usual fees and asked only expenses or worked for free.

Obviously wrestling isn't for everyone but something like this does just what Neill above says.

 

[Neill Wilkins]

I wouldn't want people to think that it is only by putting on large scale events that they will succeed in raising money.

Even the simplest thing can be given a real lift with a theme and a bit of dressing up (venue and volunteers).

For instance we have had volunteers dressed as cowboys, witches, surf dudes, superheroes at very normal events such as charity sales.

It just attracts attention and adds a little bit of fun into the proceedings.

Neill

 

[Laura @ Altius Group]

At the minute we have a charity walk of the Blackpool Illuminations planned - dressed up as Disney characters (as one of the children's wishes is to go to Disney Land) so hopefully we should be able to get some sponsorship for that.

Thank you for all the help / suggestions!

 

[adam]

It is true that Every Little Helps. At one of the fundraising cafes my organisation runs we held a members meal. It raised £100 or so but cost virtually nothing, was great fun and provided a social event for members too.

The final result and the event you run depends on the charity or cause generally and the supporters. We can do an event 3 or 4 times per year alongside the big fundraising events but if you have public figures and an appeal across the whole community you can put a very simple dinner on and make £20k without even having to think about it!

 

[Laura @ Altius Group]

I didn't even think of Facebook - thanks!

 

[Bambooshoot]

Once upon a time I was one of those terrible street fundraisers :redface:
The good days were when the Sky reps were close by, because we'd make everyone feel guilty by assuring them if you can afford sky you can afford to save the billions of starving children.

Maybe you could just be on the high street (hope there are some fundraisers there) and say "we also help charity, but don't want your bank details."

They'll take it in good humour. I would have, anyway

 

[td2011]

Once upon a time I was one of those terrible street fundraisers :redface:
The good days were when the Sky reps were close by, because we'd make everyone feel guilty by assuring them if you can afford sky you can afford to save the billions of starving children.

Maybe you could just be on the high street (hope there are some fundraisers there) and say "we also help charity, but don't want your bank details."

They'll take it in good humour. I would have, anyway

I agree, you should take it in good humour but the last thing you want when you're stressed out getting a few minutes out of work is a guilt trip. And no people shouldn't be signing up to sky television, can't believe they're on the streets as if they don't have enough business.

 

[Ryan Junghenn]

The following is a successful fundraising event that my partner and I recently organised was with a local dance school.
Normally the Dance school teacher only runs one big production each year, which she organises and choreographs. Due to her time constraints we decided that we could run a dance competition where her students would choreograph their own acts, make their own costumes and seek out their own music. The event was a great success, lots of donations and extra publicity for the dance school.

Perhaps you could run a 'X Factor' type event where each business is competing against each other, it would be a lot of fun and the contestants could show off their skills. Your main challenge would be getting a venue and due to there being very low costs involve for the venue provider (as long as it is not already going to be used by others) I have found it easy to have the venue donated.

Hope this helps.

Regards,
Ryan Junghenn

 

[Laura @ Altius Group]

I love the X Factor idea - thank you!

 

[Gary the Lyoness Man]

Hi all

An idea for fundraising, how about offering people the ability to get cash back through their shopping and the money they have to spend every single day. Please note i am not talking about a small 1-2% percent here.

I am sure you will agree that the money most people spend is considered dead money. What I mean by this is that it only goes towards buying a product or service and that it is.
There is another way where you can shop and have your shopping generate money as a result of shopping.

Everybody and every business buys products and services, shop wisely and you can make money, simple right.

The Company Lyoness whom I work with (not for), is a such a company.
Think of the fundraising members doing the fundraising over a year and you could be creating a lot of benefit, not only for the charity but you get to help the people as well, the more people helping out the better it is for the charity.

Just a thought, message me if you would like some more information

Gary

 

[Helpinghand81]

If you need cash, you can compete for money at bublaa.com/bubblerace

You compete by creating a new community, a bubble, around your topic of interest. Then you grow your bubble by getting people to join it. Looks fun. The three biggest bubbles win money.

- The winner gets $6,000
- The second runner-up gets $3,000
- The third runner-up gets $1,000

You have time until January 21st 2012, but you should definitely start off early. It seems that charitywater.org has already joined the competition.

 

[Ryan Junghenn]

I just had an Idea and thought your opinions would be helpful in discussing it. Instead of Chuggers, what if there were entertainers and buskers who were giving you a pleasant experience. They could have a sign which said something like "Supporting xxx charity, through my love of music. Please support xxx charity with your love"
Well positioned entertainers can make goo money, there was a 12yo at a market who would make $300 a day just doing Michael Jackson dances.
Not only that but if they really wanted to push the point the charities could push the point and run Press releases saying, "Which would you prefer, chuggers or entertainers? please support local tallent who are helping the planet."

I'm sure with a bit of time the signs and things could be better, but I know I would prefer to be entertained rather than husseled.

Ryan Junghenn

 

[YankeeCyclist]

You should do bake sale. Don't price anything but rather just take donations of at least X

 

[ZoeRPM]

I've always had good results with fundraising dances. I am happy to send guidelines to anyone who emails me with 'Fundraising Dances' in the Subject field. Different kinds of events suit different times of year, though, either because of the weather being too hot or because if you want the support of a local dance club or class you need to bear in mind that most beginners' courses start in September, so putting on a dance in October means that, no matter how much fun guests have, they can't join a class for another 11 months.
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