subject: Creative Fundraising Ideas [print this page] There are loads of different ways in which you can raise money for charity, using a huge range of equipment. You can cover everything from a huge event, to a garage sale, to a sponsored event, act or task. You may require portable staging, folding tables or just a sponsorship form.
A huge fundraising event could be something as a big as a talent show which involves the whole community. This could be hosted at a local school or community centre. Get the whole community involved by contacting all local schools, churches and other religious centres, community centres and youth clubs and local businesses. If you get enough interest why not run a children's show in the afternoon and an adult's show in the evening. In terms of equipment, all you need is some decent portable staging, stage lighting, a sound system and microphones. These may even be available from the venue. In terms of promoting the event if you can get the support of the local council and use the network of the charity you are raising money for you should be able to create a buzz. Social media campaigns can also be used to build awareness of the event and create a buzz. You raise the money by charging people a small fee to come and watch the show. You can tell each entrant that they need to sell as many tickets as they can and there will be an extra prize for the person who sold the most tickets. You can also sell drinks to raise more money. In terms of a prize for the winners, how about offering free sponsorship for a local business in exchange for a prize such as a restaurant giving a free meal for up to five people?
Smaller, but no less successful, fundraising events require a lot less organisation and investment. For a lot of them all you really need is a few folding tables and to let people know what is going on. A garage sale at the end of the summer is a prime way to raise money for a good cause. Clear out all those old winter clothes and accessories that you forgot you had put away at the end of last winter and have realised you don't actually like or use. Make space by getting rid of some of those summer impulse buys which you don't really need. Just let your friends and family know, maybe post it on your Facebook status and you should be able to have a quick and profitable clear out.
Alternatively, get sponsored to do something different, a bit extreme or completely out of character. For example, a retired RAF worker recently raised one thousand six hundred pounds for Help the Heroes by wearing shorts for a whole year. You could get your back waxed or go vegetarian or quit smoking all for charity.
