Hosting fundraising events is often an essential part of many organisations fundraising plans. There's a range of different types of fundraising events that organisations and individuals can put on to raise money for a cause or charity. It's about finding the one that works best for them.
What is the purpose of fundraising?
The purpose of fundraising is to raise money for a specific cause or organisation. Fundraising is an essential activity for many non-profit organisations and charities that rely on donations from individuals, corporations, and other organisations to support their activities and achieve their goals.
The money raised through fundraising activities can be used to fund research, support charitable causes, promote awareness, and help non-profit organisations achieve their objectives. Fundraising also helps to build relationships between organisations and their donors/supporters, and it can be an effective way to engage people in a cause or issue.
What are the benefits of fundraising?
Fundraising provides organisations and charities several benefits. The most obvious benefit of fundraising is that it allows organisations to raise money to support their mission and goals. As well as raising money, fundraising events and campaigns can help raise awareness for an organisation and its cause. The increased exposure can help attract new supporters and volunteers.
Fundraising can also be a great opportunity to build relationships with donors and supporters. By communicating with them regularly and showing appreciation for their contributions, organisations can foster long-term relationships and potentially secure future donations. By sharing the results of their fundraising efforts and the impact of their programs, organisations can show donors and supporters how their contributions are making a difference, encouraging continued support.
EMMAs Top 10 Spring Fundraising Ideas:
#1: Golf Day/Golf Tournament
There is a range of ways you can run a fundraising golf day. You could host a full 18-hole PGA-style tournament, or simply make it a putting tournament which may be a little more inclusive for everyone.
Golf days are a popular way to raise money for charities or not-for-profit organisations for several reasons. Golf is a popular sport that attracts a broad range of participants, making it an attractive fundraising event for many people.
Golf days are also great for fundraising as they can generate income from multiple different sources, such as registration fees, sponsorships, auctions, and raffles. When it comes to sponsorships, golf days often offer businesses and organisations the opportunity to sponsor the event as a whole or individual holes, providing a way for them to support the cause while also getting visibility.
Another benefit to hosting a golf day is that they can be tailored to fit different budgets and goals, making it a versatile fundraising event that can work for organisations of various sizes.
#2: 5k Race/Marathon
Grab your trainers, get active, and raise some money for a cause you care about. From 5k to 26.2 miles, how far can you go? Running races and marathons are excellent fundraising events for several reasons. Running is a popular activity that appeals to a wide range of people, making it an attractive fundraising event for many individuals and organisations.
Marathons and running races also provide great opportunities for businesses to sponsor the event, either through monetary contributions or in-kind donations, which can provide valuable visibility and exposure for their brand. Marathons and running races can also provide multiple revenue streams, in addition to participant registration fees, they can generate income from pledges, donations, and even merchandise.
#3. Spring Garden/Tea Party
Host a garden party or a tea party with a spring theme, complete with floral decorations and fresh, seasonal food. Some of the reasons why a spring garden/tea party is a good idea are because spring is a popular time for people to get outside and enjoy the warmer weather. This can make a spring garden party an attractive event for potential donors.
Compared to other fundraising events, spring garden/tea parties can be relatively low-cost to organise. This can help maximise the funds raised for your cause. Garden/tea parties can also offer a range of fundraising activities for during the garden/tea party such as raffles, auctions, and games, which can help engage guests and encourage them to donate.
#4: Walkathon/10,000 Step Challenge
All you need for a walkathon is yourself, one day, and 26 miles. Pick a route and get walking! Ask your friends and family to sponsor you per mile. Another option is to set yourself the challenge to take 10,000 steps every day for 30 days. Use your smartphone or watch to keep an eye on your progress and ask your family and friends to sponsor your efforts.
A walkathon/10,000 step challenge is a great fundraising idea as walking is an activity that most people can participate in regardless of age, fitness level, or ability. This makes it an inclusive activity that can involve a wide range of participants.
Another reason why walkathons/10,000 step challenges are great fundraising activities is because they can be tailored to fit different budgets and goals, making it a versatile fundraising event that can work for individuals and organisations of various sizes.
Finally, compared to other fundraising events, organising a walkathon or 10,000 step challenge can be relatively simple. Participants can use online fundraising tools such as EMMA Live’s individual giving to collect donations, and the event can be held outdoors or even virtually, which can help reduce costs and logistical challenges.
#5. Silent auction
Silent auctions are always a popular activity when it comes to fundraising. Silent auctions are a great fundraising event for several reasons. Silent auctions often have a high-profit margin since donated items or experiences can be obtained at little or no cost, allowing organisations to keep most of the funds raised.
Compared to other types of fundraisers, such as galas or charity events, silent auctions can be relatively easy to organise. They require fewer volunteers and logistical planning, making them an attractive fundraising option for organisations with limited resources.
Silent auctions also create a fun and engaging atmosphere, allowing attendees to bid on items they are interested in and fostering a sense of community among donors and supporters. Silent auctions also appeal to a wide range of individuals and encourage participation from both donors and attendees, which can increase the chances of generating more bids and, therefore, raising more funds.
#6. Car wash
This classic fundraising idea is not limited to teen dramas and romcoms. Why not have the senior members of your organisation wash the cars to appeal to the community. For example a car wash is a great fundraising idea because compared to other fundraising events, organising a car wash can be relatively straightforward. All you need is a location, some volunteers, and some basic equipment like hoses, sponges, and soap.
Running a car wash can also be incredibly low cost. You can keep the costs of organising a car wash low by using donated or borrowed equipment, and by asking volunteers to provide their supplies like towels and buckets. This can help ensure that more of the funds raised go directly to your cause.
Car washes also appeal to a large range of people. Almost everyone needs to get their car washed at some point, so a car wash fundraiser can appeal to a wide range of people. This can help you reach a larger audience and raise more funds for your cause.
#7: Charity swim
Organise a charity swim in a chilly lake or the sea and see how much money you can raise for your chosen charity. A charity swim can be a great fundraising idea for many reasons. For example a charity swim is relatively low cost to organise, so the majority of the funds raised can go directly to your cause.
A charity swim is not something that people do every day, so it can make a lasting impression on participants and donors. The uniqueness can help draw attention to the cause and increase awareness for your charity. As well as all this a charity swim in relatively easy to plan, with just a little bit of planning needed a charity swim can be a great way to raise money for your cause.
#8: A muddy obstacle run
Enter a Tough Mudder and fundraise for a charity of your choice or why not create your own version of Tough Mudder! All you need to do is reserve a field for the day and putting together an obstacle course. People can enter as teams or individually. You can raise funds by asking participants to pay to enter and also by participants asking for sponsorship from friends and family.
A muddy obstacle run can be a great fundraising idea as compared to many other fundraising events a muddy obstacle run is pretty unique and is often seen as an exciting challenge. The uniqueness can attract participants and donors who may be looking for something different to support.
A muddy obstacle course is also a great way to raise awareness for your cause. By getting people talking about the event and sharing on social media, you can help spread the word about the issue you’re raising money for.
Like running races, a muddy obstacle course also offers the opportunity for multiple revenue streams, in addition to participant registration fees, they can generate income from pledges, donations, and merchandise.
#9: Bake-Off
If you are looking for a low cost and fun fundraising idea then a bake-off could be the one for you. All you need to do is gather a group of friends or colleges together at a community hall, church or rented space and set a challenge to see who can bake the best brownies or victoria sponge cake.
A bake off is a great fundraising idea for lots of reason. Organising a bake-off can be relatively inexpensive, as participant will generally provide their own ingredients. This means that more of the money raised can go directly to the cause. A bake-off can also raise a significant amount of money, not only can participants be charged an entry free but attendees can also be encouraged to make donations and purchase baked goods.
Finally, a bake-off is a great way to bring people together and create a sense of community around a shared love of baking. Participants and attendees can all enjoy sampling and judging the various baked good on offer.
#10: Open Mic Night
Let guests and donors explore their hidden talents from singing to stand-up comedy with an open mic night. An open mic night can be a hugely successful fundraising idea as they are a great way to bring people together for a night of entertainment and fun.
Open mic nights can also help you raise a significant amount of money for your cause as you can charge an entry fee for both participants and attendees, you can also encourage donations throughout the event.
There we have it... 10 fun Spring fundraising ideas. If you’re looking to run a fundraising event take a look at all our features and see how we might be able to help you maximise your fundraising efforts.
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