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The #1 Element in a successful Fundraiser


Even if you sell the best product in the world at the best price, you may not be successful!...
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fundraising story
Why Is Fundraising So hard & How To Make It Easy


Parents are gathered in a room at the start of the season and it’s time to decide who will be in charge of the fundraiser this year...
READ MORE

fundraising story
5 Mistakes to avoid in Fundraising


Fundraising can have a bad rap. Unfortunately, when you mention the word fundraising, negative images pop up in some people’s minds...
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fundraising story
Charity Auctions: A Step-by-Step Guide for Any Cause


Charity auctions are an effective choice for all kinds of fundraising organizations like schools and nonprofits. Learn more with this step-by-step guide...
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Youth Fundraising Trends: 5 Engaging Strategies


Our youth is one of the most philanthropic generations. When you’re brainstorming ideas, think about these top youth fundraising trends and how to engage them...
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Katydids - The Candy You Can't Forget


In the ever-evolving landscape of American indulgences, hundreds of candy options have come and gone, but Katydids has remained just as beloved as it was in the beginning...
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How to Tell A Persuasive Fundraising Story


Good fundraising has to do with good storytelling. If you can't tell a persuasive fundraising story, then you will have trouble meeting your goals...
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How to Deliver a Great Fundraising Pitch


No matter what kind of a fundraiser you're planning, you need to have a persuasive pitch prepared. You should be able to explain in under a minute...
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fundraising story
Go Green: 9 Sustainable Nonprofit Fundraising Ideas


With several ecological threats looming over society, eco-friendly efforts are more critical than ever. We all need to do our part in saving the environment....
READ MORE

fundraising story
Face to Face Fundraisers


Even though online methods are popular today, face-to-face fundraising is as effective as it's ever been. In-person fundraising might even be the only...
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Canadian Fundraisers


This one is for our friends in Canada. There are certain things that appeal to a distinctive sense of Canadian-ness, and some of these things can be...
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15 School Fundraisers


At schools across the country fundraising is often used to generate the money needed to pay for all sorts of things from new textbooks...
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fundraising story
106 Fundraising Ideas


There is virtually no limit to the number of things you can do as a fundraiser. From competitions to raffles to games, the only limit is your imagination....
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How to Go From Order Taker to Order Maker


There are two types of sales people in this world: order takers, and order makers. It might not be immediately...
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A TO Z Fundraising Ideas


A is for All You Can Eat Who doesn't like to eat? More than that, who can resist the chance to eat all they can cram into their stomachs for a low price?...
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Monthly Fundraising Ideas


No matter the season we've got loads of great fundraising ideas that are sure to be fun and get people engaged in your charitable cause...
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Popular Fundraising Products


Lollipops are so easy to sell that even a small group can make a big profit. Here's an idea to boost your profits: Tie 3 lollipops together with colorful...
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Unique Fundraising Ideas


Looking for ideas to make your next fundraiser fun, exciting and profitable? Look no further! Here are some great ideas for...
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How Can Surveys Help Your Fundraiser?


A well crafted and delivered survey can do a lot to improve your fundraising efforts. If you target the right...
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Non-Profit Fundraising


If you're fundraising for a specific non-profit organization, either in your area or for a national cause, we've got some great non-profit fundraising...
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Fundraisers for Kids


Getting kids involved with fundraising is a great way to teach them the value of getting involved with the community and making a difference. When it...
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Ideas for College Fundraising


When it comes to fundraisers for college students, the possibilities are virtually endless. If you're going to do this, you'll first have to organize a committee and assign each member specific tasks...
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5 Movember Fundraising Ideas


In the month of November many men grow mustaches for the cause of "Movember." In case you haven't heard of it, it's a men's health awareness campaign...
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Consejos de marketing para su recaudación de fondos


El marketing es un elemento esencial de la recaudación de fondos con el que algunas personas podrían tener problemas...
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Una forma clara de duplicar las ganancias


Las recaudaciones de fondo de lavado de autos dependen de los clientes que hacen fila para que le limpien su vehículo, pero ¿existe otra forma...
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The 4 P's of Fundraising


You need to love and believe in the product you decide to raise funds with. It can be anything...
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3 Elements of Good School Branding


Even though online methods are popular today, face-to-face fundraising is as effective as it's ever been. In-person fundraising...
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3 Ways to Get Teachers Involved


Teachers are the life blood of any school, so getting them involved in your school fundraiser is essential for success...
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Church Giving: 4 Ways to Re-Engage Your Congregation


Has your congregation decreased their giving to your church? These 4 tips will help you identify why and re-inspire them to reinstate their donations...
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5 Donor Appreciation Strategies for Retention


Saying “thank you” can go a long way towards retaining your donors. Learn how to connect with your donors and show your appreciation with these strategies...
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Hosting Virtual School Fundraisers


If your school is raising money in a virtual setting, there are some crucial tips you should consider before your event. Refer to our guide for best practices...
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The Pacesetter and Game changer in Raising Funds


Why donation platforms might not be the best way for your group to go fundraising?...
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Top 5 Peanut-Free and Gluten-Free Fundraising Ideas


If your child has a peanut allergy, or if you are gluten-free, you know how difficult it can be to find safe food for school or social events...
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The #1 Element in a successful Fundraiser

Even if you sell the best product in the world at the best price, you may not be successful! The program you decide to run as your fundraiser is not the most important thing, contrary to what many people think!

What determines the success of a fundraiser is the person organizing it! The chances of success are far greater if the group fundraising is motivated and well-organized.

Now the question is, how do you get your group motivated, and what does it mean to be well organized?

Don't worry, we have the answers for you. First, how do you motivate your group?

To motivate your group, you must make sure they understand exactly what the fundraiser will serve and how exactly it will benefit them. The more details the better! Saying "We are raising as much money as possible for our school" is NOT enough.

Share details. Explain what the situation is now and how things will improve. If you can share pictures so people can visualize what the money will be used for, that's even better! If you are raising money to renovate the gym, try to show what it will look like after the renovations. Share stories about how things will be better... People need to imagine the final result.

If you can do this in person and not just by email, motivation and participation will be higher. Nothing like a good old face to face, right?

Once everyone agrees the objective is worthwhile and they understand the benefits, motivation to participate will follow.

Next, you need to be well organized!

Again, for this, it does not matter which program you choose as your fundraiser. You need a start date, a pre-determined end date, a group goal AND most importantly, individual goals for each student. The ultimate objective is not a dollar amount, it's what you will do with the money you raise! So, for example, the goal is not to raise $10K, the goal is to renovate the gym! That is what you must repeatedly communicate with the group.

Of course, to renovate the gym, you need $10K, so you also need to keep that front and center. You can create a large thermometer that is visible to the entire school. To keep the spirits high, It's important to update that thermometer regularly as you make progress.

For individual student goals, it can be a specific dollar amount, or we recommend focusing primarily on participation. For example, you can say each student should sell $20+ OR you can say, each student should sell at least 1 item! If participation is high, your fundraiser will be a success!

Prize programs are not necessary, especially with a well-motivated group. However, they sure can increase participation.

Your fundraiser should not last more than 15 days; this allows you to keep a sense of urgency. Midway through the fundraiser, it's important to update everyone about the stage of your goal. How much has been raised, what is the percentage of participation? Everyone needs to realize that results and participation are being monitored closely.

In the final days, make sure to let everyone know how much is missing to hit the target; let them know that not hitting the target is simply NOT an option.

In summary, make sure everyone knows exactly what the fundraiser is for and how it will benefit them; set a clear financial goal with a clear start and end date; set individual goals and make sure everyone participates! If you can reach 100% participation, you can organize an event like a pizza party.

Follow these steps and work with a reputable fundraising company and you are sure to succeed!


Why Is Fundraising So hard & How To Make It Easy

Parents are gathered in a room at the start of the season and it's time to decide who will be in charge of the fundraiser this year. Mary has been handling this for the past 2 years but now her son has graduated and so she is stepping down

The chair of the meeting asks if anyone wants to volunteer to take her place. Mary has done a fabulous job the past 2 years and will be a tough act to follow, so everybody is making sure to keep their heads down...

You start to feel people in the room staring at you so you do your best not to look up. But after a while the silence starts to be uncomfortable, so you take a peek. You were right, half of the people are looking down and the other half are staring right at you!

With two kids attending the school, you realize you have the best chance of succeeding, so you accept the challenge.

That night when you get home the first thing you do is get on your computer to search for fundraising ideas. Instantly, dozens of fundraising websites appear. Some look professional; some look like they were done by a five-year-old! You find articles with literally hundreds of fundraising ideas! Overwhelmed, you shut down your computer!

The next morning, after making a list of things you feel are important, you are ready to begin your search! Your list looks like this:

  • You don't want to ask parents and supporters to give money without giving anything in return
  • You want to offer something that people will appreciate at a reasonable price
  • You want a program that is simple and won't require the help of many volunteers
  • You want to raise as much money as possible
  • You want to work with a company that has a lot of experience to avoid mistakes

Now you are ready to go online again! But there are soooooo many options! So you close your computer again and call your friend Mary. She has experience in fundraising after all, maybe she can help you narrow down the options. Mary tells you that she's worked with EZfund.com and Fundraising.com and had very positive experiences with both companies.

So now you know where to go! Browsing the websites you find cookie dough, popcorn, chocolate bars, lollipops, Ship to home programs, Oh no! What program to choose?!

You decide to call fundraising.com, Mary said that they offer superior customer service, so maybe they can help you choose a fundraiser that works for you.

Tracy picks up the phone. She is polite and professional and has been helping groups like yours raise money for 20+ years! Wow, what a relief!

She recommends one of their cookie dough programs and helps you with the logistics. In less than 2 weeks, your school has raised $10,545 without a single complaint!

A great success! Fundraising is not so hard after all! When you have the right help, of course.

Call us now at 1.800.443.5353, Tracy and the rest of the team will be happy to help with your next fundraiser!


5 Mistakes to avoid in Fundraising

Fundraising can have a bad rap. Unfortunately, when you mention the word fundraising, negative images pop up in some people's minds. That's because there's no shortage of fundraisers going wrong!

But don't worry, with our 30+ years of experience in fundraising, we prepared a list of things that can go wrong and how to avoid them. Read on and you will not have those negative images in your head, but most importantly, you'll raise funds like a pro.

Here are the top 5 things that CAN go wrong!
  1. You choose a product that is over-priced; your supporters don't want to buy it or they do, but then complain about it.
  2. You choose a Frozen Food program without knowing it's from an unreliable company; and you end up with a poorly planned delivery, and with the product's integrity compromised.
  3. You order products to sell, and your participants are unable to sell them all, leaving you with excess inventory.
  4. You run a program with a profit percentage that varies based on the volume of your sales, but you don't meet the minimum number of orders.
  5. You run an Order-Taker program and after completing your sale and collecting money from your supporters, you find out that some of the products are out of stock.

Here is how to avoid those things from happening!
  1. Check how much people are used to paying for the product you're selling and how much they're willing to pay. Make sure your fundraiser's product price is aligned with your supporters' expectations.
  2. Frozen Food fundraisers are very popular, but if you decide to run this type of fundraiser, you must make sure to deal with a company that has been in business for a long time and who has a proven track record! It is easy to present a program on a website and on info sheets, but it's another to have run a large enough volume of such campaigns to become good and effective at it.
  3. Ordering products to sell in advance has some advantages (see article on this topic here). Rule of thumb is 1 case of chocolate per participant or 2-3 items per participant for higher-priced items like Discount Cards for example. However, if this is the first fundraiser for your group and you are unsure what the participation level will be, you can order 50% of that quantity and re-order if you start to run out.
  4. Unless you have a large group of motivated people selling the fundraising product, you should stay away from programs that require a minimum. Whatever fundraiser you decide to run, make sure you understand exactly what will happen if you don't meet the minimum required. Is the program cancelled? Can you still get the products your supporters ordered and pay a penalty? Don't hesitate to ask all the questions you need to ensure that you don't find a roadblock.
  5. When fundraising, it is not unusual for supporters to order and pay for products that end up needing to be replaced because of inventory shortages. Before deciding on any program, make sure to ask if this can happen with the program of your choice. What are they usually replaced with? Do they offer any type of compensation? After, you can decide if that is a risk you are willing to take. Here again, working with an experienced and reliable company will help avoid this problem.
If you still have questions about how to run a successful fundraising campaign, contact our Fundraising Experts, just call 1.800.443.5353, we're happy to help!

Do you remember Katydids?

In today's world, there are thousands of candies and chocolates available to enjoy, from Hershey's to Reeses to Butterfinger...and many more. In the ever-evolving landscape of American indulgences, hundreds of candy options have come and gone, but Katydids has remained just as beloved as it was in the beginning. Not all chocolate is created equal, and Katydids is one of the best. Luscious flavors and textures and a mission to help change the world have made this candy what it is today.

Katydids Chocolate
Katydids candy isn't like every other chocolatey option out there. This chocolate cluster blends rich, buttery caramel and delicate, crispy pecans in a coating of melt-in-your-mouth chocolate. And Katydids doesn't just come in a typical package--instead, Katydids are stored in a classic tin reminiscent of the "good old days."

Katydids were created by Kathryn Beich in the 1950s when she became a part of the family business of selling candy and other delights. At the same time, Kathryn decided that this chocolate was too good to be used only for pleasure. She birthed the idea of connecting with nonprofits and churches to create fundraisers by selling the Beich candy.

Today, the same chocolate that Kathryn made so many years ago is here for you to enjoy! Think back to that feeling of delight when you opened that tin of candies and pulled out a burst of deliciousness. Remember that luscious chocolate decadence melting away to reveal creamy caramel and crispy pecans. You can enjoy that all again when we deliver a tin of Katydids clusters right to your doorstep.

And this time, you can watch your kids enjoy it too! Is there any greater joy than watching your little ones cherish the things you loved so much when you were their age? It's time to bring back the joy and indulge in buying them a treat they'll love for as long as you have.

fundraising katydids
How To Buy Katydids Candy
If you're looking for a taste of that old sweet candy and the chance to enjoy something that has changed thousands of lives through fundraisers, you can find it right here. There are a few ways to buy Katydids:

  • First, buy 'em by the tin. Yes, if you're like us, you probably remember that adorable container. It still retains that classic look and is super handy for storing things when you've enjoyed every last candy. If you want just a little something sweet for yourself--shh, don't tell the kids!--this is the perfect option. You can even add an additional case or two to share with friends or family. No need to split your tin; you deserve a treat!
  • Second, create a fundraiser. Is there a cause you're passionate about? We are too! We want to help our customers change the world through our delicious treats. Our process is simple--we send you brochures, then you sell the products, collect and keep the money, and send us your orders. You can run a Katydids fundraiser with no upfront costs! Just take orders from friends and family (plus a couple for yourself) and your group gets to keep 40% of the profits.
  • Third, buy a case! 12 tins that youÂ’ll sell out in a heartbeat. Or, if you want those Katydids to last for a good long time (or at least a couple of months), you can also go ahead and order them for yourself!
Enjoy Katydids Today
The demand for Katydids has risen far and away above the numbers fundraisers can sell. That's why Katydids are now available for purchase by individuals. You can enjoy every bit of that delicious candy without having to wait for a fundraiser to come to your town. In this crazy age, take a chance and grab something to treat yourself. Everyone needs a pick me up, and Katydids just can't be beaten


Go Green: 9 Sustainable Nonprofit Fundraising Ideas

With several ecological threats looming over society, eco-friendly efforts are more critical than ever. Let's face it: we all need to do our part in saving the environment. Your supporters likely feel the same way, so harness this energy by hosting sustainable fundraisers

Even if your nonprofit doesn't have an environment-centric mission, your team can benefit from a green fundraiser. You'll enhance your public image with your current donors and volunteers. Plus, you'll likely catch the eye of some new supporters using your eco-conscious successful fundraising ideas.

When planning your next campaign, consider these eco-friendly ideas:
  1. Running Shoe Drive Fundraiser
  2. Candle Fundraiser
  3. Tree Planting
  4. Sustainable Pencils Fundraiser
  5. Eco-Friendly Color Run
  6. Rummage Sale
  7. Recycling Drive
  8. Plant Sale
  9. Organic Fair
Donors are becoming increasingly aware of their carbon footprint. Because of this, they're much more enthusiastic about participating in eco-friendly initiatives.
Ready to grow your supporter base, earn some revenue, and save the Earth all at once? Let's dive in!

1. Running Shoe Drive Fundraiser
Chances are, your donors will jump at the opportunity to clear out their closets while also supporting an eco-friendly cause.
There are a number of ways to repurpose running shoes, but an athletic shoe drive fundraiser can make the largest impact by getting everyone involved. Here's how it works:.

  • Step 1: Collect gently worn, used and new running shoes with your community.
  • Step 2: Fill the prepaid shipping bags provided by the fundraising coordinator.
  • Step 3: Ship the bags from the nearest UPS store.
  • Step 4: After they're processed, your check is mailed!
To take it a step further, turn it into a peer-to-peer fundraiser. Volunteers can collect the running shoes on your behalf, competing to gather the most sneakers and claim the top spot. Nothing sparks motivation quite like a friendly competition!

For more eco-friendly ideas for athletic shoes, explore Sneakers4Funds' guide on what to do with old running shoes.

2. Candle Fundraiser
Everyone loves a scented candle. They're great for any holiday, including Christmas, Valentine's Day, and Mother's Day, but they're likeable year round.

When choosing your Candle Fundraiser, make sure the wicks burn lead-free and come in jars that you can repurpose.

You can also buy Heritage candles online and coordinate a sale where you market them or have your volunteers sell them for you in a peer-to-peer campaign . For the best results, sell them during an upcoming holiday so that supporters can purchase their loved ones' favorite scented candles.

Also, make sure to order several different scents. That way, you'll appeal to more supporters and ensure everyone is happy.

3. Tree Planting
What better way is there to give back to the environment than planting trees? Coordinate your tree planting endeavor with Earth Day. Then, gather a team of volunteers and get to work.

Commit to planting a certain number of trees in coordination with a specific fundraising amount. For instance, commit to planting 10 trees for every $500 donated.

Chances are, volunteers or donors may be willing to lend their shovels for the occasion, so the only cost you'll need to worry about is transportation and the trees themselves.

Line up locations in the community to plant the trees, and invite all donors to take part in the day. Encourage everyone to get involved to fight deforestation!

4. Sustainable Pencils Fundraiser
Everyone uses writing utensils daily. Specifically, pens are one of the most popular options. Once they run out of ink, you toss them in recycling. However, recycling plastic pens isn't actually all that green. Plastic items give off toxic gasses. Even wooden pencils aren't entirely sustainable because of metal and other parts that slowly decompose.

Instead, go with an eco-friendly option and get your followers on board. For instance, Smencils are pencils made from recycled newspapers.

Buy in bulk and sell them to your supporters. This fundraiser will cater to any age, starting with school-aged children.

5. Eco-Friendly Color Run
Road races are one of the most common nonprofit fundraisers and for a good reason! They get the entire community involved, raising a bunch of additional revenue.

For an engaging theme, incorporate a splash of color. Purchase a ton of non-toxic, eco-friendly paint or chalk, and let the colors fly! Supporters of all ages will have a blast covering their friends and family with the colors of the rainbow. Best of all, you won't have to worry about cleaning up the remnants since they're biodegradable.

Typically, walkathons involve participants taking pledges for every mile they walk from their personal networks. As for any other type of road race, charge an entry fee, and consider selling merchandise. For the best results, choose a 5K or 10K for your color run.

Not only will you raise money, but the merchandise is a great way to spread the word about your cause. When participants wear your branded t-shirt or use your organization's water bottle, it may spark the conversation about their involvement with your nonprofit.

To pull your event off without a hitch, check out Fundly's comprehensive walkathon guide.

6. Rummage Sale
From old clothes to unwanted electronics, everyone wants to declutter their homes. Instead of allowing these items to end up in a landfill, host a rummage sale. That way, you won't have to worry about the toxic fumes they release as they decompose.

Typically, fundraisers like this work best during springtime, because donors are in the spring cleaning mindset. Encourage supporters to donate the following to your cause:

  • Unwanted clothes
  • Usable electronics
  • DVDs, CDs, and records
  • Books
Once you've gathered all the donations, set up a pricing system. Individual pricing can dominate your team's time, so consider alternatives. For instance, use stickers to indicate prices. Green can represent $1; blue can represent $5 and so on. Then, individually price larger items such as furniture.

Make sure to choose a visible location with plenty of parking and booth space. Rely on volunteers to staff the event, and don't forget about accepting cash donations.

7. Recycling Drive
There are multiple ways to go about hosting a recycling drive. For one, you could encourage supporters to collect recyclable materials over a few weeks. Then, organize a drop-off date where all participants bring their reusable items. Bag the products and take them to a local recycling center. In most cases, you'll receive a certain amount of money per pound.

On the other hand, you could organize an environmental cleanup. Gather a team of volunteers and go around the community collecting trash. For instance, go to local parks and neighborhoods. To wrap up the day, organize the trash, and separate the recyclable materials. Be on the lookout for the following:

  • Aluminum Cans
  • Plastic/Glass Bottles
  • Cardboard
  • Paper

Not only will this raise money, but it helps to clean up local communities, too! Best of all, it comes at no cost to your organization or its supporters. To continue your research, explore other easy money-saving fundraising ideas.

8. Plant Sale
Regrowing the environment is likely the greenest fundraiser you can host. Your green-thumbed supporters will love this idea, meaning you'll likely generate a lot of revenue.

While this takes a bit of time to plan, you'll see a lot of enthusiasm from supporters. Encourage them to grow plants on your behalf. If you're running low on time, buy the plants from a local nursery. You won't produce quite as much profit compared to growing them from seeds, though.

Consider hosting it outside in the springtime. Community members are likely starting to consider their spring and summer gardens at that time.

From fruits and vegetables to colorful budding flowers, offer a variety of options for buyers. If possible, use biodegradable planters, too. That way, you'll have a fully-green fundraising event!

9. Organic Fair
Highlight local green businesses with an organic fair! This is great for boosting local shopping. In other words, you'll be giving back to your community's businesses and the environment.

Whether they sell organic products or simply have a green initiative, allow any eco-conscious business to participate. As a starting point, check into companies that sell the following products:

  • Eco-friendly cleaning products
  • Organic foods
  • Electric cars
  • Solar energy products

As for those with green initiatives, have them speak about their efforts to give back to the environment. It's a great opportunity for all local entrepreneurs to get the word out about their eco-friendly efforts.

To make money through this event, sell booth space to each business. Remember to accept donations and create posters that promote your organization's text-to-give number (click on this link to learn more). Supporters will be engaged in learning about all the products and ways that can boost their positive environmental impact.
As you now know, there are several ways your nonprofit can give back to the environment while still making money.

From an effective running shoe drive fundraiser to an organic fair, get the whole community involved. Start reducing your organization's carbon footprint today!


The 4 P's of Fundraising

Product
You need to love and believe in the product you decide to raise funds with. It can be anything; from cookies you baked yourself to your favorite lollipops . It will be easier to engage with your supporters if you believe in your fundraising product!

Price/Profit
When you choose a product, there are two factors you need to think about; the price you will sell and the profit you will make on each article. Try to find fundraisers that are just as good for you as they are for your supporters. Scratchcards and Dinner and Movie Card are a great example of good prices and high margin profit.

Place
Location is crucial when it comes to raising funds. Think of the product you have and follow the logical direction. If you sell custom Eyeblack , try to meet supporters outside a local football game, or your local sports center. If you sell Tumblers , try the office or any other places where adults drink coffee.

Promotion
Promote, promote promote! Flyers, emails, Facebook page and other post on your social media. It needs to look fun and draw your supporters in. Colors, fonts and pictures of your group always help!


106 Fundraising Ideas

There is virtually no limit to the number of things you can do as a fundraiser. From competitions to raffles to games, the only limit is your imagination. To save you a little time in brainstorming we're presenting you with 105 fundraising ideas to get the ball rolling. Hopefully you'll find something you like.

1. Deaf for a Day
Assemble your finest fundraising team and collect pledges for you to pretend to be deaf for a day. On the day of deafness you can only communicate using sign language and gestures for the entire day. Not talking can be a lot harder than you think sometimes, so make sure the minimum pledge is high.

2. Pajama Day
If you work at an office, see if you can arrange a work-in-your-jammies day where everyone wishing to wear their bedclothes pays a fee for enjoying the day in the utmost of comfort. A pair of soft slippers and a terry cloth house coat could be just the thing to boost productivity and focus.

3. Bottle Return
If you can return empty bottles and collect their deposits in your city it can make for another good fundraising idea. Ask all your neighbours to hand over whatever empty soda, beer and liquor bottles they might have lying around. You need to collect a lot of them to make it worthwhile, so you'll need a car to transport them all.

4. Community Clean Up
Anytime there's a festival, concert, or show of any kind there is always garbage scattered and piling up everywhere. Offer your professional cleaning services and charge a fee for a speedy and thorough cleanup operation.

5. The Community Tree
This works best during Christmastime. Buy the largest tree you can find and set it up in a park or neighbourhood, then sell people ornaments and lights to hang on it. Place a donations box next to the tree for people to leave their festive tidings.

6. Ball Pit Treasure Hunt
Find a large bin, something about the size of a baby's crib, and fill it with balls that have been stuffed with either prizes or "sorry try again" notes. People just reach in, dig around, and grab one. Charge $1 per try, and include a "grand prize" hidden somewhere in the mix.

7. The Auction House
Auctions always make great fundraisers, and there are several different types that you could try. There are silent auctions, blind auctions, bachelor auctions, ghost auctions, and used car auctions, just to name a few. Always make it clear that the profits from the event are going to a good cause.

8. Corsages
Is the local high school having prom soon? Is Valentine's Day coming up? You can make corsages fairly cheap with materials from an arts and crafts store like Michaels, or even the dollar store. Sell them at a decent markup and get the word around town.

9. Ugly Sweater/Tie/Hat Day
Ugly sweaters often pop up around the holidays, but you can stage your own ugly sweater day at the office to generate some quick and easy funds. People simple pay a nominal fee to wear an ugly sweater to work, and you could make things more interesting by offering a prize to the ugliest sweater of the day.

10. Selling Saplings
Go to a local arboretum or green house and ask if they have any saplings they would be willing to donate to your fundraising cause. Then sell the baby trees to people any way you can. Whether you do it online, door to door, or in a store there are lots of people who want to liven up their homes with a little greenery.

11. Busking
If you or anyone else on your fundraising team has a musical talent you can always try playing in the street for money. Some buskers can makes hundreds of dollars in an outing so don't underestimate this one. You might have to check with the city to see if you need to apply for a street performer's license first, however.

12. Create a Mixtape
The art of the mixtape isn't dead, it can still live on in your fundraising efforts! Going along with the busking idea, if your fundraising team has any musical talent you can record a few songs on a CD and sell them. You'll need to rent time in a studio to make a professional quality recording.

13. Theme Party
Who doesn't like going to a theme party every now and then? Pick your own wacky or exotic theme and charge your guests a modest admission. You'll have to throw in a big draw to get a lot of people interested, like a popular DJ or band.

14. Movie Night
Movie nights are a tried and true fundraising idea. You can make this extra-interesting if you hold it in the summertime by having it outdoors in a beautiful park or down by the water (if your city has water). Just be sure to pick a film that's suitable for all ages.

15. Sports!
Another great idea is to arrange a sports game; hockey, football, soccer baseball, whatever is most popular in your city, and generate revenue from ticket sales and concessions.

16. Beat the Goalie
If you have connections in professional or minor league sports, see if you can find a goaltender who would be willing to help you out. Charge people to take shots (or kicks if you want to do soccer) on the goalie and anyone who scores gets a small prize.

17. Scavenger Hunt
Make a treasure map with clues leading to a buried treasure somewhere in town and charge people a fee to play the game. Generate a buzz with social media and whatever ads you can afford. The more players, the merrier.

18. Lawnmower Men
Are your neighbours letting their grass grow a bit too long? Go door-to-door with a lawnmower and ask people if they'd like their grass cut for a fee. This idea works especially well with school kids.

19. Can I Assist You?
Offer to be someone's personal assistant for a day. Clean their shoes, fetch their coffee, and take their phone calls, all for a modest fee being put towards a good cause. A lot of people are so busy these days, why not help them out?

20. Dog Walking Service
Dogs are a lot of responsibility to own since you have to take them out for walks regularly during the day, and this can be a problem for some people who have to be at work all day. Start a dog walking service and take care of the little pooches when their owners can't be around.

21. Mr. Fix-It
- If you're handy, why not offer your know how to people in need. Even odd jobs around the house like fixing a leaky sink or patching a hole in the wall can be worth a small fee. The key is to be able to handle as many jobs as possible to maximize your revenue potential and this might entail buying new tools or watching tutorials on home repair.

22. Let's Go Bowling
There's nothing like the sound of 10 pins smashing after bowling a strike! A simple bowling tournament can be a great way to rally people of all ages together. Fundraising comes through player registration fees and concessions.

23. Games Tourney
Board games are all the rage these days, so you could easily put together a board games event in a banquet hall. This could work as a tournament or as a friendly games night where people pay to rent board games and play with their friends.

24. Karaoke Idol
Some people turn into rock stars once they have a few drinks and stand on a stage, so give them a place to claim their crown as Karaoke Idol. Offer a cash prize to the winner, and consolation prizes to the runners up. Make a big spectacle of this fundraiser and it will be a night to remember.

25. Used Book Blowout
Ask around if people have any old books they want to get rid of and sell them all in a used book blowout sidewalk sale. See if you can get a table at a bazaar or festival to get a spot with tons of foot traffic.

26. TV Series Finale Marathon
People often like to make a big deal of it when their favorite show reaches its terminal episode so they make an event out of it. But what about having a fundraiser where you show the series finales of a dozen or so popular television shows? Choose a diverse selection of shows to attract the biggest audience.

27. Poker Tournament
Poker is an intense game of skill, and some people take it very seriously. Some poker champs earn millions in tournaments. Although you might not make that much at your poker tournament fundraiser, you can still make something when the stakes get high.

28. Swear Jar
Does someone in your family or one of your coworkers have a bit of a potty mouth problem? Charge them $1 for every bad word they say. They will either clean up their language, or go broke from the cost.

29. Dress Down Day
A lot of offices might have casual Fridays' when the staff gets to wear jeans and shirts to work. It also makes for a solid fundraising idea. Charge people $5 to dress casual on any day of the week at your office.

30. Benefit Show
Maybe you know a band or an acting group? Ask them if they'd be willing to put on a show with all the proceeds going towards your fundraising cause. This is another fundraising event where you can sell concessions and apparel.

31. Henna Tattoos
Almost everyone has tattoos these days, but they're permanent so now everyone would want to get one. Henna, on the other hand, is temporary, and the elegant and intricate lines painted over the hands looks interesting. Find a henna artist willing to help you out and pay them with a cut of the proceeds.

32. Street Carnival
You'll have to apply for a city permit for this one, and there is a lot of paperwork involved, but carnival rides and games are easy enough to rent along with the crew to set them up. Street carnivals are a great summertime fundraising idea.

33. Balloon Popping
Inflate a couple hundred balloons and fill them with notes or prizes, then charge people to pop the balloons at $1 a pop, or whatever other price you choose. You can use cheap dollar store prizes, and maybe even have a grand prize hidden somewhere.

34. Dance Lessons
If you or someone else on your fundraising team knows how to dance, try offering dance classes to the public. Either one-on-one or group classes can work here. A few popular dance styles to go with are salsa, swing dancing, and meringue.

35. Racing Day
Gentlemen start your engines! See if you can rent a racetrack for a day and put on a race. Nascar or F-1? It's up to you.

36. Car Smash
Give people a way to take out their aggressions after a stressful day with this fundraising idea. Procure an old car and charge people for the pleasure of smashing it with a sledgehammer.

37. CFL Bulb Replacement
CFL bulbs are good for the environment and reduce your electricity bill, so you can do people a service by replacing their old bulbs with these newer, more efficient ones. You'll have to find a source that can sell you the bulbs for cheap to make this worth it.

38. Christmas Caroling
This fundraising idea is an oldie, but a goodie. Spread some Christmas cheer by going door to door and regaling people with festive tunes. The spirit of the season is sure to make some people give you a few bucks.

40. Cooking Class
Do you know your way around the kitchen? Host a cooking class where you teach them some of your best recipes techniques. Food has a way of bringing people together, so this fundraising idea can't miss.

41. Cow Pie Bingo
Here's a new take on bingo. Find a farmer who will allow you to use one of his cows and his field. Draw a large bingo board on the ground and as the cow walks around, people playing the game have to guess which square it will do its business on. If the cow pie lands of their square they get a point.

42. Pet Grooming
This is a great fundraising idea for pet lovers. Offer your services around your neighbourhood and beyond as a pet groomer and put all your profits towards your cause.

43. Dunk Tank
This fundraiser is fun for everyone, as long as you don't mind falling into a tank of cold water! Charge people $1 per throw to hit the target, and make it interesting by taunting them and putting on various antics. Make it a show and the money will roll in faster than you can say dunk!

44. Guided Tours
If you know where all the best spots are in your city, or if you can show people around a specific area and can explain the history behind you could be successful as a tour guide. It's a pretty easy business model, and tips are always a possibility too.

45. Full Service Gas Station
It seems the full service gas station went extinct a long time ago, but you can bring it back if you can find a gas station willing to let you do this. Pump gas and wash windshields for everyone who comes and be sure to make it known that you're doing it for a good cause.

46. Horseback Riding
How often do you get that chance to ride a horse? Probably not often at all, so see if you can set up a horseback riding course. You'll need to find access to the horses, and you'll need a venue with a simple track that people can ride on. Or, even better, do it out in the countryside where people have space to roam.

47. Gourd Throwing
Around Thanksgiving is when all the gourds are harvested, and there are always too many of them. From pumpkins to squash, what are we to do with all these gourds? As a fundraiser, organize a gourd throwing competition where people have to build their own throwing mechanisms like catapults or trebuchets. It'll be good and messy fun.

48. Guest Speaker Seminar
See if you can find an educational or motivational speaker willing to volunteer for your cause. Charge a modest admission fee for anyone wishing to attend, and generate a buzz via advertising and social media.

49. Ghost Walk
Most places have old ghost stories being told, so why not arrange a ghost walk tour where you introduce people to all the supernatural folklore of your city? Naturally, this fundraiser works best around Halloween.

50. Head Shaving
You've probably seen this one before, and that's because it works. Collect sponsors willing to pay you to shave your head. This might be a little harder to commit to if you're a woman, so make sure the minimum pledge is a relatively high number!

51. Language Classes
Bilingualism is a tremendously useful skill, but in North America a lot of people only know one language. Help people get started on their second, or perfect what they already know, with some language lessons. French, Spanish, and Mandarin are all popular language choices.

52. Luau
Get out your grass skirts and ukuleles because it's time to get Hawaiian! Some people will pay good money to enjoy a taste of tropical culture in a country where it's too cold to go outside for five months out of the year.

53. Luxury Car Test Ride
Some people would do almost anything for the chance to drive a Lamborghini or Ferrari, so why not give them the chance? There are many luxury car dealerships that will allow you to rent a car for a day, so take it to a track and charge people top dollar to ride around the course once

54. Sexy Calendar
We all know how popular fireman calendars are, so how about making your own sexy calendar as a fundraiser? On the flip side, you could make it something silly instead if sexy doesn't seem appropriate.

55. Pop-Up Garden
This is another small business idea. Imagine waking up to find your front lawn covered in pink flamingos! What a surprise it would be. That's exactly what this business would do. Overnight, set up a display of plastic animals or plants to amaze the lucky recipient.

56. Pancakes
Who doesn't like pancakes? They're cheap and easy to make, so as a fundraiser you can charge people on per pancake basis. Plus, you can offer toppings like fruits and nuts which they can add for an additional fee.

57. No Pants Day
The annual No Pants Subway Ride is becoming a phenomenon, so you can channel that same thing in your fundraising efforts. Look for sponsors willing to pay you to go a whole day with no pants on. Offer to show them photos as proof when you are ready to pantsless.

58. T-Shirt Sale
Pretty much everyone wear T-shirts and there are funds to be raised here. Procure a few hundred plain t-shirts in various colours and a silk screen printer. Set up a booth where you can make custom printed t-shirts. Even at just $10 each you can make a killing.

59. Plinko
This game fits in well at a festival or carnival. Set up a giant plinko board (the game they had on The Price is Right) and charge people to drop wooden pucks down the board. Offer prizes to people who hit the right slots.

60. Santa Claus
It's time to start practising your jolly ho ho ho's because if its Christmas time you can raise some serious funds this way. Set up a Santa's Workshop at a local mall and hire a few helper elves. Every kid wants their picture taken with Santa and the funds will roll in faster than you can say Merry Christmas.

61. Raking Leaves
Raking and bagging the leaves in the yard can be a painstaking and time consuming task, but that's exactly why you can make money doing it. Go around your neighbourhood with a rake and a pack of yard waste bags and see who will pay you to clean their yard.

62. Scramble Golf
In this style of golf all four players tee off at once and then shoot from the ball that lands closest to the hole. This continues until they get to the green, and then they all put from where the ball closest to the hole is. It's easier and more fun than regular golf, so you should be able to get a lot of people interested in this fundraiser.

63. Celebrity Bartenders
Host a bar night with celebrity bartenders and charge top dollar for entry. Hire flair bartenders (the kind that know how to do crazy tricks) and make the event a night to remember. Just add music and dancing and you'll have tons of funds by the end of the night.

64. Smoothie Bar
For the more health conscious consumers, you can have a smoothie bar offering a menu of various tropic delights. You'll need to procure various fruits like banana, strawberry, kiwi, and mango, at wholesale price to make this worthwhile.

65. Ice Cream Vendor
There's nothing better than an ice cold treat on a sweltering hot day. Acquire large amount of ice cream bars and popsicles on the cheap and sell them at outdoor events and city parks. You might need to apply for a vendor license first to do this legally though.

66. Revenge on the Boss/Teacher
Ask your boss or teacher if they would be willing to be subject to a harmless revenge prank for charity. It could just be something fun and simple like a cream pie in the face, but it shouldn't be anything embarrassing or harmful.

67. Tug-o-War
Heave! Ho! A tug of war is a great way to bring the community together, and as a fundraiser no matter who wins money will go to charity. This is another great chance to look for sponsors willing to lend some money to the cause.

68. Junk Car Rally
A little demolition derby is sure to get your blood pumping, so see if anyone has an old clunker they would be willing to enter into a junk car rally race. Charge the drivers an entry fee, and charge spectators admission. Concessions and memorabilia are some additional revenue streams here.

69. Bake-to-Order
This is a different take on the traditional bake sale fundraiser. Present people with a menu of possible items you can bake and take their orders. Maybe you could even offer bulk discounts to attract some big sales.

70. Dueling Pianos
Gambling is a sure way to raise some funds and you can arrange to put on your own casino night. Hire some pro card dealers and rent the blackjack tables, slot machines, poker tables, and craps tables. Don't forget; the house always wins.

71. Wine Tasting
If you're the athletic type, make an announcement that you'll be making a long and hard journey biking, running, or swimming, and look for sponsors. Many people might be inspired with the difficult task you're taking on and gladly throw money at you.

72. Casino Night
Gambling is a sure way to raise some funds and you can arrange to put on your own casino night. Hire some pro card dealers and rent the blackjack tables, slot machines, poker tables, and craps tables. Don't forget; the house always wins.

73. Sponsored Bike Ride/Run/Swim
If you're the athletic type, make an announcement that you'll be making a long and hard journey biking, running, or swimming, and look for sponsors. Many people might be inspired with the difficult task you're taking on and gladly throw money at you.

74. Duck Regata
You've heard of a sailing regatta, but have you ever heard of a duck regatta? Have people each buy rubber ducks and let them float down the river. May the fastest duck win!

75. House Sitting
Do you know anyone who's going on a vacation and needs someone to look after their place while they're gone? Offer your services as a house sitter and charge a fee to put towards your fundraising efforts

76. Baby Sitting
Maybe you have a friend or relative with a child and they're having trouble finding someone reliable to take care of them? If you're good with kids this can be an easy fundraising idea to pull off.

77. Talent Show
This tried and true fundraising idea can work very well if you get the word out in advance that you're putting on a show for charity. People of all talents are welcome, and you can start a buzz over social media and with ads in your local paper or radio station.

78. Serenade in the Park
If you have some musical talent try playing songs for people in the park or in restaurants, always telling them that you're doing this as a fundraiser so any tips are well appreciated. Brighten someone's evening with a beautiful song!

79. Sell Flowers
If you can find a florist or greenhouse that can give some roses at a wholesale price, walk around town in the areas where a lot of couples tend to go on dates and see if you can talk the gentlemen into buying flowers for their ladies. It'll make them look good, and it'll raise funds for your cause.

80. Portrait Booth
If you have some artistic talent, set up a booth where you draw people's portraits for a fee. This fundraising idea works especially well in the more touristy areas of town.

81. Poetry Booth
Revive the underappreciated art of poetry with this fundraising idea! Just like the portrait booth, write a poem on the spot for people willing to pay a fee. Print it out on an elegant sheet of paper so they have something to take home.

82. Make Your Own Pizza
Pizza fundraisers are common, but why not allow people the ability to make their own pizza? Set up a table with all the dough, sauce and fixings you need, and have a piping hot pizza oven at the end.

83. Dance-a-thon
With this fundraiser you can literally dance the night away. Collect money from sponsors willing to pay you to dance all night long. The more people you get involved in this dance marathon, the more funds you can raise.

84. Knitted Goods
If you know how to knit, some people might pay good money to purchase some hand-crafted mittens, sweaters, and scarves. This fundraiser might be most effective in the winter time when people need to stock up on warm clothing.

85. Homemade Preserves
A lot of people like to know that the food they're eating is healthy and natural, so you can raise some funds by selling your own homemade preserves. Things like jams and spreads are sure to be hot sellers.

86. Pet Show
Put on a pet show for the community. Have them do tricks and stunts to amuse the crowd, or have a beauty competition for pets. A lot of people love cats and dogs, so this can be a lot of fun for everyone involved.

87. Go Kart Race
See if you can rent a go kart track for a day and make an event out of it where anyone can enter. Set it up as a tournament, or a long race, and this will be a fun day at the track.

88. Scratchcards
Some people get addicted to scratch and win tickets, but you can make your own scratchcards and sell them at a similar price. With your cards the prizes won't be near as lofty though.

89. Photo Competition
Ask everyone to bring out their inner shutterbug and put on a photography competition. People must pay a small fee per photo they enter in the contest, and the top three winners get modest prizes.

90. Sell Candles
Candles are cheap if you buy them wholesale, but they are also pretty easy to make from scratch. Either way, this is another product that you could make a small business out of to raise some quick funds.

91. Rat Race
Life in the big city is a rat race, so people will love this as it is an actually race with rats scurrying through a maze. Have each rat wear a number and take bets on who will win.

92. Junk Removal
Lots of people have loads of old junk they don't know what to do with, and there is big money in junk removal services. Get a truck and a couple strong people to help out and you can clean up both literally, and figuratively.

93. Community Mural
Nothing jazzes up a neighbourhood like street art, and you can do it in your area with a community mural. Get city approval to cover a wall with outdoor art and charge people to add their own creations to it.

94. Art Exhibit
If you have connections into the art world, this can be a great fundraising idea. Stage an art exhibit for charity and take a small cut of all artwork sold for your fundraiser.

95. Abseil Down a Building
Also known as rappelling is perfect for getting media attention and generating a buzz. Collect sponsors for this one and choose the biggest, tallest, most well known building in your city to abseil down it. It's very important that the setup is done by professionals in order to ensure a secure environment.

96. Beard Growing Competition
Beards are trendy these days, so any guy who can grow one can consider doing it as a fundraising idea. Collect sponsors willing to see you or your fundraising partners with a full beard, and then collect sponsors again in a few months to shave it off!

97. BMX/Skateboard Show
It's exhilarating watching people do crazy stunts on BMXs ad skateboards, so this is another fun fundraising event to atend. Hire some pro skaters and BMXers and arrange a show in your town.

98. Egg Drop
Just like the art exhibit, this is a fun and engaging way to get people out to support your fundraising cause. You'll need some connections into the industry and a good venue to make it happen.

99. Fashion Show
Just like the art exhibit, this is a fun and engaging way to get people out to support your fundraising cause. You'll need some connections into the industry and a good venue to make it happen.

100. Quit a Vice
If you're a smoker or a drinker, it's time to quit that nasty habit and raise some funds while you're at it. Just look for sponsors willing to see you quit your old habit. The hard thing is the actual quitting part.

101. Kite Fighting
We all know about kite flying, but what about kite fighting? It's where people fly their kites and have them "attack" one another by colliding. Charge people to play in the competition.

102. Murder Mystery
Host a dinner party with a twist; there's been a murder and they have to solve it through various clues that pop up throughout the night. Charge people entry to this special event.

103. Obstacle Course
This fundraiser is fun for people both young and old. Set up an obstacle course and charge people for the pleasure of running through it. This goes well at a carnival or street festival.

104. Parachuting
Just like the abseiling idea, this one is great for adrenaline junkies and easily lends itself to media coverage. How many people would pay to see you jump out of a plane? Hopefully a lot!

105. In Stocks
If you, or someone on your team, doesn't mind suffering for the cause, put them in stocks and have people pay to throw things like water balloons or banana cream pies at them. This fundraising activity is another good one for carnivals and street festivals.

106. Restaurant Percentage Night
Everyone loves a delicious meal from their favorite restaurant, so why not have it benefit your cause at the same time? You and your friends order from a local restaurant on a certain day and the restaurant donates back a percentage of sales to your cause, usually 15-20%. You can find fundraising restaurants near you and book online on GroupRaise.


A to Z Fundraising Ideas

A is for All You Can Eat
Who doesn't like to eat? More than that, who can resist the chance to eat all they can cram into their stomachs for a low price? Try offering an all you can eat buffet of some type of food that lots of people enjoy. Some good options for this might be pizza, Chinese food, hotdogs, or miniature hamburgers. Pretty much any delicious food that you can get in bulk might do the job here, and you can pull people from miles around if you have it in a fun outdoor location like a city park. If you plan on having it outdoors, be sure to have a backup plan in case of rain.

B is for Brazilian
Put on your dancing shoes! Rent out a music hall and change a small admission for people to come in and dance the night away. You can make this even more unique by adding a special theme like 80s disco, or 70s rock n' roll. Not only can you generate revenue from admissions, but also from selling drinks and snacks. You'll of course have to account for the cost of hiring a DJ or bands, the venue rental, and any other costs that come with it, but in the end you should be able to turn a profit. Do the math first to see what your breakeven point will be and figure out how feasible it will be to raise your desired amount of funds.

C is for Cook-a-thon
Again on the theme of food, you can set up a cook-a-thon where people come out and cook whatever they want and you sell whatever they make. This can get interesting as you never know what people are going to come up with, so you might end up with is a cornucopia of culinary delights. If you're doing it in the summertime, barbequing is the way to go, and be sure to offer ice cold refreshments as well. Good food has a way of bringing people together, and that's exactly what you want to do when throwing a fundraiser.

D is for Dance Party
Put on your dancing shoes! Rent out a music hall and change a small admission for people to come in and dance the night away. You can make this even more unique by adding a special theme like 80s disco, or 70s rock n' roll. Not only can you generate revenue from admissions, but also from selling drinks and snacks. You'll of course have to account for the cost of hiring a DJ or bands, the venue rental, and any other costs that come with it, but in the end you should be able to turn a profit. Do the math first to see what your breakeven point will be and figure out how feasible it will be to raise your desired amount of funds.

E is for Environmental Cleanup
Do some good for your community and assemble a team to clean up a local park, forest, or river. You'll be doing a great service to the neighbourhood, and people will appreciate the hard work you're doing. The way to make money here is to get sponsored by local residents and businesses. Go door to door, or ask around online, and get as many pledges as you can. The more people you have looking for pledges the better, and it also helps to plan on cleaning up an area that really needs it.

F is for Film Night
Almost anyone likes maxing and relaxing with a good movie, so this can make for a simple fundraising idea. Stage it outside if the weather's nice and make like a sit down drive in theatre, or host it at a community centre on the cheap. The money comes from admission fees and concessions, just like a real movie theatre, and you can get popcorn and refreshment for cheap from a dollar store. Just be sure to pick a film that's okay for all ages.

fundraising ideas
G is for Games Tournament
There has been a massive resurgence in the popularity of board games, so this presents another great fundraising opportunity. Choose a competitive game and get the word out that you're having a tournament with a small sign up fee, and prizes for the winners. It shouldn't be too hard to get people interested in this idea. It'll be fun night of games for everyone, and you can also offer snacks and drinks as an additional revenue stream.

H is for Hockey
Few things are as Canadian as hockey, so better way to get people to come out and show their support for your cause then by staging a hockey game? There are a couple ways you can do this. You can either have people pay to join a team and play in either a tournament or a single match against other participants, or you can set up a game with local players and charge admission. Getting local celebrities to show up can help attract more attention to the game. Either way, keep things light and friendly because like Stompin' Tom Connors said, "The best game you can name is a good old hockey game!"

I is for Icy Water
Every January, some people (who might be crazy) partake in the polar bear swim, which is where they plunge headlong into the frigid waters of one of the great lakes. This can also be great fundraising idea. If you or any of your partners are willing to do it, collect donations to take a dip in a freezing cold lake. You will of course want to set a minimum total donation for this, and you can make a big event out of it when you're ready to take the plunge. The best part about it is that there really are no overhead costs as you don't have to pay to jump in a lake.

J is for Junk Sale
More commonly called a garage sale, this is an easy way to raise a little money and get rid of any old stuff you have lying around at the same time. If you want to get other people involved, you can charge them a nominal fee to set up their own table at the event. Stage this in an area that gets a lot of foot traffic to maximize the number of potential customers, and send out some flyers around town to get the word out before the big day. Social media is also very useful in raising some awareness of your junk sale, so set up a Facebook event and promote it as much as possible leading up to the day.

K is for Karaoke
How low can you go? Host a limbo competition and find out! This is a great summertime fundraiser that of course lends itself to Caribbean themes. Get someone to play a steel drum and a booth where people can buy fresh coconuts, and it'll be just like Jamaica. When the music's playing and the bar comes down lower and lower there will be an intoxicating energy in the air.

L is for Limbo
How low can you go? Host a limbo competition and find out! This is a great summertime fundraiser that of course lends itself to Caribbean themes. Get someone to play a steel drum and a booth where people can buy fresh coconuts, and it'll be just like Jamaica. When the music's playing and the bar comes down lower and lower there will be an intoxicating energy in the air.

M is for Marathon
This option isn't for the faint of heart. It takes serious endurance to run a marathon, so you might just want to do a half marathon, but either way this is a solid fundraising idea. Have every person on your fundraising team look for sponsors to run a marathon and the money will add up quick. You might want to do a little training before hand though. It's sure to take a lot out of you, but it'll be worth it when you hit your fundraising goal.

N is for Nature
Maybe you live in a city with a lot of scenic trails and parks? Try arranging guided hikes around some of the most breathtaking areas and providing people with information on some of your cities best natural settings. Most cities do have natural beauty to be found, you just have to know where to look, so you can surprise people by showing where the good stuff is. For this you would charge a fee, and tips are also a possibility if you give good service.

O is for Origami
The Japanese art of paper folding is rare skill. It take a lot of patience and precision to make one of those little paper cranes or frogs, and that make for interesting knick knacks to have on your desk at the office or bookshelf at home. Find some people who know how and hire them to sit at a booth and make origami animals for people at a few bucks each. It isn't everyday you see someone who can do this, so you might be able to get a lot attention from passers-by on the street when they see what's going on.

P is for Pants
Or, rather, the lack of them! You've maybe heard of the no pants subway ride which happens in major cities once a year, and this is a similar thing. You'll have to look for sponsors to pledge money to the cause with this one. The idea is that once you've raised enough money you and your partners will spend one whole day without wearing pants, wherever you go. This could be a little difficult in the wintertime, so we suggest keeping this one to the warmer months of the year.

Q is for Quiz Night
Quizzes and trivia nights are popular at bars, so if you've ever been to one you know how fun it can be. Stage your own quiz night at a popular venue and watch the money roll in. To generate some extra chance, offer bonus questions where anyone in the room can shout out an answer but if they get it wrong they have to contribute a quarter into the pot. Do this with some really tough questions and watch the change pile up. It'll look like you raided a piggy bank by the end of the night.

R is Rap Battle
This one's a great way to get younger people involved. Put the word out that you're staging a rap battle tournament where anyone can come and test their verbal mettle. You might be surprised at how many amateur rappers there are out there. Since you would host this is a concert hall or some other indoor venue, you can generate additional funds by selling snacks and refreshments. Alcoholic beverages might be ideal here, so look into getting a liquor license for the evening.

fundraising ideas
S is for Shakespeare
Channel your inner dramatist and act out one of Shakespeare's plays. Try going with one of the comedies as they are more suitable for all ages. If you choose to do this yourself with your business partners, we recommend going with the sponsorship route as to put on the show since you probably don't have professional acting skills and it might be a little nerve wracking to get on stage. The other route is by hiring a stage acting crew, renting a nice venue, and charging guests a modest fee to get in the door. Be sure to offer refreshments at intermissions too.

T is for Training Seminars
If you or someone in your company has a special line of expertise, ask them if they would be willing to give training sessions. It could be anything from yoga, to motivational speaking, to marketing; pretty much anything that you think people will pay to learn more about could be offered as a training session to raise money for your business. Get the word out through social media and digital advertising to generate some buzz before the event, and give people a small discount on ticket prices when they pay in advance.

U is for Ugly Face
Encourage people to get a little silly and show you their best ugly face. Have people pay to enter photos of themselves making their most hideous ugly face and assemble a panel of judges with your staff and have a good laugh at all the ridiculous pictures that come in. The winner gets a prize. May the ugliest face win!

V is for Volleyball
Another sports-themed event, this one can't miss in the summertime. Arrange a volleyball tournament and have people pay to enter, or you can hire celebrity teams and charge people tickets to watch the big game. Either way, it shouldn't be hard to generate some buzz and get people interested.

W is for Water Fight
Who doesn't love a good water fight on a blazing hot day? Get in touch with your inner child and sell people water balloons to throw at each other. Maybe you could also set up games where two teams are pitted against each other and whoever is dryer at the end of it wins.

X is for X Marks the Spot
Let's hunt for treasure! Design a map that makes people feel like their searching for pirate gold and charge them a small fee to partake in the event. Make this a day-long event where finding one treasure gives them a clue leading to the next, and the next, ultimately sending them all over town, or maybe just a large park that would be a good fit for the event. As far as what you should use for buried treasure is concerned, the dollar store should have some cheap toys that work for this purpose.

Y is for Yoyo
How many people know how to do tricks with a yoyo? Get some yoyo pros together and put on a show or a competition and charge people admission to watch. Like with any other event, food and drinks are another way you can generate some extra revenue with this fundraising idea.

Z is for Zoo
Here's an idea that the kids are sure to love, and if they kids love it they will bring the parents with them. Set up a petting zoo with barn yard animals, or whatever other exotics mammals and birds you can gather. It's not every day you get to come back to face with a sheep or an alpaca, and they are very furry and tame creatures. You'll also want to have a few animal handlers around just in case they get a little unruly from all the human attention they are sure to get.

a to z fundraising ideas

How to Tell a Persuasive Fundraising Story

fundraising ideas
Good fundraising has to do with good storytelling. If you can't tell a persuasive fundraising story, then you will have trouble meeting your goals. There are some key concepts to keep in mind when telling your fundraising story, and these can all be applied whether you're promoting a sport tournament for charity, or if you're doing a simple product fundraiser like selling Katydids to help people in your community.

Keep in Mind Why your Fundraiser Matters
First and foremost, you have to clearly communicate why your fundraising cause matters. Why is it so important that this money is raised? Why is it important for you to be involved in it? Why should the greater community care about it?

For example, say you're raising money for a local Church group so they can clean up and revitalize a rundown city park. You could say it's important because it will improve the lives of the people living in the area. Explaining in simple terms why your fundraiser is needed right now should be the first element of your fundraising story.
It's All About the People
It's great that you're making the commitment to fundraise for a good cause, but at the end of the day it isn't about you. The fundraiser should be about the people you're helping, and the donors that make it all possible.

It can be tempting to want to start throwing numbers and statistics around, but that rarely helps support your case because people can get skeptical when they have numbers thrown at them. It's more helpful to focus on the people involved, why they need help, and what your donors can do for them.

Why your Donors Matter
While you are doing important work with your fundraiser, you shouldn't make it seem like you're the hero here. Your fundraiser would be nothing without your supporters, so you need to tell your story from the angle of them being the real heroes. Explain what their donations will go towards to demonstrate how they will make a real difference.

When you write out your fundraising story, watch out for third-person words "we" and "us". Focus on using the second person "you" to put the focus on your donors. Whether you're hosting a grand event, or if you're just selling Katydids, a good fundraising story is essential. Write your story down with these tips in mind and we're sure you'll improve your results and become the fundraising superhero you always wanted to be.

How to Deliver a Great Fundraising Pitch

No matter what kind of a fundraiser you're planning, you need to have a persuasive pitch prepared. You should be able to explain in under a minute what your fundraising idea is, and why it matters. It should be an elevator pitch; something short enough that you could tell it to someone in a quick elevator ride. But how do you pack all the necessary information into it?

Practice Makes Perfect
Before you go into the world with your fundraising materials in hand, you'll need to practice your pitch until you have it down pat. Write it down, and recite it in front of a mirror until you have memorized it. Deliver your pitch to family and friends and see how they react. Ask them for feedback so you can determine ways to improve it. Your fundraising pitch will sound natural and more convincing once you've nailed it.

Don't Stick to the Same Script
Even though you've perfected your pitch, that doesn't mean you should stick to the script like a robot. Every prospective supporter is different, and each person will have their own rebuttals and responses. They may interrupt you halfway through with questions or concerns, or they may wait until the end to bombard you with questions. Through practicing your pitch on your family and friends you can figure out what the most common responses are, and you can devise the best way to respond to them.

Demonstrate Value and Importance
The most important element of your pitch is in the way you explain why your fundraiser matters, and why you need help. If you're selling cookie dough for a local elementary school fundraiser, for example, you can explain that the funds will go towards buying new computers for the school library, or for buying new equipment for the football team. When your supporters see that the fundraiser is for a good cause, and that they can make a difference in their local community, it could give them the nudge they need to pledge their support.

Do you have your fundraising pitch ready? Be sure to apply these three tips to make it as effective as possible. While you're at it why not take a look at our selection of cookie dough? Selling these in a fundraising pitch is so easy, they practically sell themselves.
pitching a fundraiser

3 Ways to Get Teachers Involved in your School Fundraiser

fundraising ideas for teachers
Teachers are the life blood of any school, so getting them involved in your school fundraiser is essential for success. Whether it's a sport-themed fundraiser, a yard sale, a book drive, or a bake sale, having the teaching staff involved always helps because they have close relationships with their students, and their students' parents. Here are three tips to help you get teachers involved in school fundraisers.

Brief Them on Your Fundraiser
You'll have to tell the student body about your fundraiser, and you'll need to tell the teaching staff about it too. Call a meeting where all the teachers are invited and display enthusiasm at having them involved. You'll need to explain the details of what you're doing, why it matters, and how they can help. In the end you'll want to make them feel appreciated and needed by outlining exactly what they can do to make your school fundraiser a success.

Allow Teachers to Get Involved
If you give teachers a way to be involved in the fundraiser, it's a safe bet that many of them will gladly join in. If it's a sports-themed fundraiser you can assign some of the teachers to act as referees or judges. You could also have some of them help with setting up the event, and with cleaning up after the event is done. You could further incentivize the teaching staff with rewards for those who show outstanding commitment, or to the teacher whose class raised the most money.

Host a Teacher Competition Fundraising Event
You could also have teachers get involved more directly. For example, you could have them offer to shave their head for a large donation, or you could have them agree to do something silly if a big enough donation is made, such as wear a costume for a day. A dunk tank is another classic fundraising idea that can be fun for everyone. Just imagine how many students will line up to dunk their teacher into a pool of cold water!

Sports-themed fundraisers like soccer games, hockey tournaments, and football games are some fun fundraising ideas that schools can use, and you'll definitely need to get teachers involved to pull it off. Need help to decide what is the best fundraiser for your school? No problem! Give us a call at 1.800.443.5353 and one of our Fundraising Consultants will get you all set up.


3 Elements of Good School Branding

Even though online methods are popular today, face-to-face fundraising is as effective as it's ever been. In-person fundraising might even be the only method that you use especially if you're selling some of the fundraising products that we have in our store. We have a few quick tips to share with you right now to help take your face-to-face fundraising game to the next level and make more sales than ever before. Let's take a quick look at some of the essential elements of school branding, and how they can help your school fundraisers.

Research Your Market
You can't build a strong brand image if you don't know who you're marketing to. Conduct research into different student personas and parent personas and try to understand what are their preferences, concerns, and aspirations. Once you have this information, you can highlight the aspects of your school which will appeal to those qualities. Without it, you'll be working blind and developing an image that you hope works, but could backfire. Conduct surveys, and speak to students, parents, and other people in the community to glean this information.

Align Your Brand With Your Audience
Now that you've narrowed down who your target audience is and what they look for, you can decide what elements of your school should be highlighted in its branding message. Write a list of the most positive elements of your school, and describe how each one applies to your audience's goals. Once you've nailed that down it will become the cornerstone of your brand image.

Stay Consistent
Branding is only effective if it's done consistently. Your school logo, color scheme, mission statement, about page, and everything else should always be the same no matter if it's on social media, a website, a newsletter, or a fundraising drive at your school. To do this, create a style guide that clearly defines your school brand, and how it's communicated in all your marketing and social media materials. The style guide should be given to anyone involved in the school's fundraising efforts.

A strong school brand is essential to launch a successful fundraiser. If you're running a sports fundraiser you can take full advantage of your branding knowledge. What about running Sports Apparel
school fundraising ideas

3 Tips to Fire Up your Face-to-Face Fundraising Efforts

face to face fundraising ideas
Even though online methods are popular today, face-to-face fundraising is as effective as it's ever been. In-person fundraising might even be the only method that you use especially if you're selling some of the fundraising products that we have in our store. We have a few quick tips to share with you right now to help take your face-to-face fundraising game to the next level and make more sales than ever before.

Listen More Than You Speak
Cultivating relationships is at the heart of effective in-person fundraising, and when it comes to building strong relationships it's always important to listen to the other person and get to know what they care about. Once you understand where they're coming from and what drives them, you'll be in a much better position to make your sales pitch because you'll be able to frame it a way that aligns with their ideals.

You should spend 75% of the time listening, and only 25% of the time speaking when you interact with a potential supporter, so whenever you're going to make a pitch take special care to let them do the talking. It will keep you from looking too aggressive. Showing curiosity in their concerns makes you seem more sympathetic, and therefore more likely to win their support.
Project Confidence and Sincerity
Projecting an air of confidence and sincerity will help you in any area of life, and this is especially true when it comes to fundraising. When you meet with your supporters maintain strong posture and positive body language, speak clearly and calmly, and smile often. A warm, genuine smile will go a long way in making your supporters feel at ease. If they feel comfortable with you they will be more likely to hear you out and pledge their support to your fundraising cause.

Practice, Practice, Practice!
"Practice makes perfect," as the old saying goes and this applies to your fundraising pitch as well. Before you head out to meet supporters face to face, practice your pitch over and over again until you've nailed it down perfectly. Practice in front of a mirror. Practice with one of your friends or family members. Record yourself on video and see what you really look like. All these methods can help fine tune your approach and find little areas of improvement to perfect your fundraising pitch.

Last of all don't forget to thank everyone you speak to, even if they don't offer their support. Maintaining a positive demeanour will keep your spirits up and carry you through to the next supporter. Have these 3 tips in mind next time you're ready to do some face-to-face fundraising and you should have better results. Best of luck!

3 Canada Themed Fundraising Ideas

This one is for our friends in Canada. There are certain things that appeal to a distinctive sense of Canadian-ness, and some of these things can be adapted to launch a successful fundraiser. So if you live in the Great White North and need some ideas, here are a few Canadian fundraisers.

A Good Ol' Hockey Game
Canadian folk hero Stompin' Tom Connors said it best in his classic song, "the best game you can name is a good old hockey game." It's our national sport, and many Canadians grew up watching Hockey Night in Canada on the CBC, cheering for their home team. If you can go through the effort of organizing a hockey tournament, or just a single game, you can create a lot of fun and excitement for your Canadian fundraiser. During the wintertime, outdoor venues are great, but even if its summer you can still rent a hockey rink for the day. Charge people a sign up fee, and sell tickets for the game. You can make a lot selling hot chocolate, coffee, tea and snacks too. Concession stands are always a good source of additional income in your fundraising events, if you need help choosing the best options for your concession stand, don't hesitate to give us a call, our Fundraising Consultants will be happy to help.

Winter Clothing Drive
Every Canadian has a complete winter wardrobe of scarves, gloves, tuques, thick socks, and long underwear. If you're caught without some of these cold weather essentials you're not going to have a good time when our famously cold winter hits! A good Canadian fundraiser could be a winter clothing drive. Ask around for people to donate any used winter clothing they don't need but that is still in good condition, setup a garage sale in your school gym, add a stand to sell some hot chocolate and rake those funds!

Sweet Maple Treats
Maple syrup is as Canadian as hockey. After all, the maple leaf is on our flag! Maple syrup is delicious, so you can try selling pancake breakfasts with real maple syrup for your Canadian fundraiser. If you've ever tasted real maple syrup you'll know that the imitation stuff at the grocery store does not compare. Syrup farms also produce a wide variety of maple syrup-based candies, so you can try buying some of them in bulk as well.

Browse Our Canadian Fundraisers
Visit our Canadian Fundraisers for a selection of fundraising products suitable for different groups: schools, sports groups, churches, you name it! From t-shirts, to chocolate bars, to magazine subscriptions and the very popular Smencils, we got you covered.

canadian fundraising ideas

How to Go From Order Taker to Order Maker

order taker fundraising ideas
There are two types of sales people in this world: order takers, and order makers. It might not be immediately obvious, but there's a world of difference between the two. The bottom line is that while order takers might do alright, order makers are the ones you want on your team.

What's An Order Maker?
Order makers are the highly motivated go-getters that seem to make sales no matter where you put them. They aren't afraid to push back and challenge the customer a little bit. Rather than focusing on what the customer asks for, like order takers do, they focus on what the customer needs and try to convince them to make a purchase. Order makers still know when to quit, but they are persistent and focus on long term results.

What's An Order Maker?
Order makers are the highly motivated go-getters that seem to make sales no matter where you put them. They aren't afraid to push back and challenge the customer a little bit. Rather than focusing on what the customer asks for, like order takers do, they focus on what the customer needs and try to convince them to make a purchase. Order makers still know when to quit, but they are persistent and focus on long term results.

How to Be An Order Maker
Being an order maker all comes down to a handful of key traits.
  • Challenge the customer and push them a little bit outside their comfort zone. It's important to not go too far, though. If the customer truly isn't interested, it's best to leave them alone and come back later. No one likes a pushy salesperson.
  • Know everything about the product you're selling. You need to clearly explain the features and benefits of what you're offering to interest people.
  • Listen to your customers, ask questions, and handle objections accordingly. Be patient, and show that you have your customer's best interest in mind. Have responses ready for the common objections that people will have.

Become an Order Maker!
Now that you know how to not just take orders, but make them too, you're ready to try an order taker fundraiser. There's a different fundraising program for each taste; would you choose Jewellery? Snacks? Tumblers? Candles? Or what about a brochure that includes several options? Not sure? Give us a call and together we'll find the right one for you.

15 School Fundraisers

At schools across the country fundraising is often used to generate the money needed to pay for all sorts of things from new textbooks to computer labs. If you're in a Parent-Teacher Organization, or if you want to get more involved with fundraising at your kids' school, there are dozens upon dozens of excellent school fundraising ideas which you could put into action. In this list, we present you with 15 tried-and-true school fundraisers for your consideration. Let's start with a classic:

Cookie Dough
Cookie dough has been a fundraising go-to for a long time, and it's not hard to understand why. We have the top cookie dough brands; in different tub sizes and proportioned packages; in a variety of flavours, including Gluten Free, so there's a great option for everyone.

Silent Auction
Auctions have been used to fundraise for all sorts of causes, and they are no less effective at school. A silent auction works well there because it gives students time to consider their options, and it doesn't require you to have everyone in the school gathered at one time to place bids.

How Many In The Candy Jar?
All you need to do is get a large jar and fill it with candies like jelly beans or chocolate eggs, then allow people to make guess for a $1 each. The winner could get a prize like a gift card or one of our discount cards for example.

Pizza Day
Pizza is often the go-to meal for students of all ages, so a pizza day fundraiser is a sure thing. Prepare party sized pizzas and sell the slices at $1 each in the school cafeteria or front hallway and let the funds roll in. Be sure to consider vegetarian pizzas for those who can't eat meat, and no-cheese pizzas for those who are lactose intolerant.

Grab Bags
Janet Joachim raised $1.8 million for her PTA over the course of 10 years by selling grab bags. You could steal her idea and put together some grab bags of your own and sell them for $5 each. Fill them with some of our snacks, and other useful low-cost items.

Smencils and Smens
Smencil and smens are a top seller for school fundraisers, particularly with elementary schools. These scented writing tools come in a wide range of fruity scents. Smencils branded with popular movies and superheroes are a sure hit.

Team Jerseys
Every school has a sport team, and you can take advantage of that by ordering custom printed sports jerseys with your school name and logo on it. Give students a way to show their team spirit with a sport jersey fundraiser.

Balloon Popping
Here's a cheap and easy fundraiser for school. Fill hundreds of balloons and put notes inside that either award a prize, or say "Sorry try again." Allow students to pop the balloons at $1 each, or whatever you wish to charge, and let the fun begin!
school ideas
Popcorn
Popcorn is also a great choice for a school fundraiser. Our popcorn comes in flavours such as cheddar cheese, classic caramel, and jalapeno cheddar, and all are no-trans fat and MSG-free. Take a look at the Gourmet Popcorn page to get started.

Scratchcards
With a scratchcard fundraiser the cards tell your supporters how much to donate. Every supporter gets a sheet of coupons for popular local deals, so they get something valuable out of it no matter what. Donation amounts on the cards range from $1 to $5, a good deal for you and your supporters.

Chocolates
Whether it's Christmas, Easter, or Valentine's Day, chocolates are an effective fundraising idea for schools. We have a wide selection to choose including our own all-time favorite Katydids.

school ideas
Relay Race
A relay race is great way to generate some team spirit and get everyone involved in a fun, outdoor activity that can raise the funds your school needs. Set up an obstacle course around the school and have people form teams. Charge a small entry fee and offer prizes to the top three winners. The prizes don't have to be anything fancy, just something to get people moving.

Dance Party
Many of us have fond memories of school dance parties, so why not have one as a fundraiser? Hire a DJ, hire a caterer, and arrange a Friday night dance party in the school gymnasium. You can charge an admission fee at the door, and you could also sell food and drink at a concession stand. You'll be raising money for the school, and making memoires to last a lifetime.

Gift Baskets
Just like the grab bags fundraiser, gift baskets are a great way to raise money for your school. Make gift baskets that are relevant to the time of year, or a current holiday, and sell them in a silent auction.

Candles
You can sell Candles at any time of the year; plus, everyone likes a nice scent to dress up their workspace or home. Place an order at our store and you'll receive the candles within a week.

Do any of these ideas sound suitable for your next school fundraiser? Hopefully they do. If you have questions or need more ideas, call us! Our Fundraising Consultants will be happy to help you plan your next fundraiser.


Monthly Fundraising Ideas

No matter the season we've got loads of great fundraising ideas that are sure to be fun and get people engaged in your charitable cause. Sometimes there are national monthly themes, while other times there are holidays that could inspire a particular fundraiser. All four seasons lend themselves to certain types of fundraising events as well, so no matter what month of the year it is there is always something to fit the occasion. With that said, here are three seasonal fundraisers for every month of the year.

January
Calendars - It's the start of the New Year, so it's the perfect time to create a calendar and sell them to raise money for your cause. Pick a theme that makes sense for your charity, or you could go with a theme that lots of people would like. Cute animals or beautiful scenery can turn into big sellers. Or if you want to go with a more adult theme, bikini babes or shirtless firemen can work out too.

Snow Shovelling - In January winter is in full swing and that means a lot of people have to shovel their driveways and walkways, sometimes on a daily basis. An easy fundraiser for this month is to simply go door to door asking to shovel the snow for a modest fee. Be sure to explain that it's for a good cause.

Hot Drinks - Who doesn't like a cup of hot cocoa, cider, or tea on a chilly winter day? Set up a booth at a park with tobogganing hill, or at a skating rink, and sell the hot refreshments for a $1 each. The materials are cheap, and the drinks practically sell themselves.

February
Flowers and Chocolates - Love is in the air this month! Valentine's Day is on everyone's mind in February, so they're going to be thinking of what they can do for that special someone in their lives. Sell flowers or chocolates at local shopping malls, or go door to door. Maybe even throw in a romantic card as an added bonus.

Singing Telegrams - If you have a good singing voice, or if you know someone else who does, you can offer to do singing telegrams for people. It's an old fashioned thing, but some people find it charming and thoughtful.

Superbowl Fundrasier - February is also Superbowl time, and that means football fans will go all out throwing parties for the big game. Set up your own event and sell snacks and drinks, or ask a local sports bar if they'll let you use their establishment to throw a Superbowl party.

March
St. Paddy's Day Party - There's a little Irish in everyone on St. Patrick's Day, so this is a good opportunity to throw a St. Paddy's themed event. Sell pints of green beer, charge people to kiss the blarney stone, pop green balloons for prizes, and people to leave donations in a pot of gold. Mark March 17 on your calendar!

National Nutrition Month - March is National Nutrition Month, so it's a good time to have a fundraiser based around healthy foods. You could have a healthy food bake sale, or have an eating competition where the contestants don't eat hotdogs but stuff their faces with salad instead.

Used Book Drive - March is also National Reading Month, so you can take advantage of that theme by organizing a used book sale. Ask around and see if anyone has any old books they wouldn't mind parting with, and then sell them off for a couple bucks each.
monthly ideas
April
Spring Cleaning - In April spring has arrived at last, and that means it's time for spring cleaning. Offer your expert cleaning services at a competitive price and you'll have people beating down the door to have you make their place spotless. Go door to door, or launch a social media campaign telling people about your spring cleaning fundraiser.

CFL Bulbs for Earth Day - April 22 is Earth Day, a time when we are all encouraged to think about our impact on the environment and what we can do to reduce pollution in our own way. An easy thing that we can all do is replace the incandescent light bulbs in our house with low-wattage CFL bulbs. Acquire a large number of the bulbs wholesale, and sell them at a good price. You'll be raising money, and helping people reduce their carbon footprints as well as their electricity bills.

Easter Egg Hunt - Of course Easter is also in April, and with Easter comes chocolate eggs and bunnies. Plants chocolate eggs around the neighbourhood and charge people a small fee for a document with clues on how to find them. Or, you could have an egg painting competition. All you need are eggs from the grocery store and some water colour paints to make it happen.

May
Cinco de Mayo - May 5 is Mexico's well known holiday Cinco de Mayo. On this special day organize a Mexican themed event with tacos, tequila, and Mariachi bands. There's something irresistibly fun about Mexican culture so this is one fundraiser that is sure to be a good time for everyone.

Mothers Day Gifts - Mother's day also happens on the second Sunday of May, so this is another occasion where you can sell cards and gifts for people to give their moms. Check our product listings for things that could be easy to sell on this special day.

Cut The Grass - Now that spring is here and the flowers are in bloom, it also means the grass is growing and people are bringing their lawnmowers out of the garage. Just like how you could go door to door shoveling driveways, you can go door to door offering to mow people's lawns.

June
Father's Day Gifts - Father's Day falls on the second Sunday in June, so just like with Mother's Day you can see this as an opportunity to launch a fundraiser. Check our product listings for things that can make good gifts for dear ol' dad!

Neighbourhood Cleanup - World Environment Day is UN-led event that happens in June. This occasion is all about spreading awareness about what we can do to save the environment, so it can be a good time to do an environmental cleanup as a fundraiser. Look for people who will sponsor you to clean up a local park or neighbourhood.

Summer BBQ - Nothings says summer like a barbeque on a hot, sunny day! Stage a community BBQ in a park and charge people for drinks, hot dogs, sausages, salads, and whatever you might want to bring to a barbeque. Jazz it up with some music and games like Frisbee or soccer and you'll be sure to get people interested in what you're doing.

July
Fireworks Display - Independence Day is always a cause for celebration and lots of people love a good fireworks display, so this is another occasion where you can launch a fundraiser. Hire professionals to set up a fireworks display and charge guests a modest admission fee to see the show. You can also sell snacks and refreshments for additional revenue streams.

Massages - International Massage Week is in July as well, so if you're good with your hands you can offer people massages for a reasonable price. Help people loosen up and relax, and they'll be glad to donate to your fundraising cause.

Ice Cream - July is also National Ice Cream Month, and what better time to indulge your sweet tooth than with some frosty treats in the summer sun? Look into finding large quantities of ice cream wholesale and sell them somewhere many people visit on foot. You might have the best results if you go to an area with a lot of tourists.


August
Refreshing Smoothies - August is when a lot of delicious berries and fruits are in season, so you can take advantage of the fresh harvest by mixing delicious smoothies for people. Set up a booth somewhere with a lot of foot traffic just like with the ice cream fundraiser in July.

Artwork Drive - August is also Artist Appreciation Month, and this lends itself to a fundraising idea too. Stage an artwork auction, or hire an artist to draw portraits of people on the spot in a place with a lot of foot traffic.

Piece of Pie - There are also numerous pie-themed days in August because so many fruits are in season at this time. Look into buying bulk quantities of various pies, or bake your own and sell slices at a booth on the street, or take orders from people and deliver the pies straight to their door.

September
Marathons - The month of September usually has a lot of marathons going on, and they are always good opportunities for fundraisers. Look for people to sponsor you to participate in a marathon, or maybe create your own marathon and charge people a registration fee.

Wilderness Tours - September is National Wilderness Month, so if your city has a lot of natural beauty and wildlife you can arrange a wilderness tour group. Charge people a modest fee for a two or three walk in the woods and educate them on the many types of flora and fauna along the way.

Back To School Special - Every kid knows that September means it's time to go back to school, and this occasion easily lends itself to raising funds. Order some of our pens and pencils and sell them to students or to parents with kids going back to class.


monthly ideas
October
Pumpkin Carving - You know its October when every grocery store in town starts stocking massive quantities of pumpkins, and few things say Halloween better than a jack-o-lantern. Pick up some of those fresh pumpkins and charge people to enter into a pumpkin carving contest. When that's over, charge people to smash the pumpkins with a baseball bat!

Candy Sales - Of course Halloween also means candy, and we've got all kinds of sweets to fit the occasion. These goodies practically sell themselves!

Breast Cancer Drive - October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, so you can spread awareness about it and raise money if it makes sense for your charitable cause. Launch a donation drive, or simply go door to door asking for donations.

November
World Series Party - The baseball season is long and in November it all comes to a climax with the World Series. Just like the Superbowl, this is a great occasion to throw a themed party.

Raking Leaves - Just like shoveling snow in January, and cutting the grass in May, November is a time when you can go door to door offering to rake and bag all the leaves littering people's lawns. All you need is a rake, a pair of gardening gloves, and the brown paper leaf bags. All that can easily be found at your local hardware store.

Men's Health Awareness Drive - You've probably seen a lot of guys sporting moustaches for Movemeber to raise awareness for men's health, particularly for prostate cancer. If it goes with your fundraising cause, you can launch a fundraising drive for this monthly theme as well.

December
Pictures with Santa Claus - Kids love Santa Claus and some will line up down the block to sit on his knee and tell them what they want to for Christmas. Rent a Santa suit and set up a stage at a mall, or maybe in a local park, and change people a small fee to enter into Santa's workshop and tell jolly old St. Nick what they want this year. You'll need to hire a few elves and spare no expense on decorating the set to make it feel as Chistmasy as possible.

Caroling - Dust off your holiday hymn books and warm up those vocal cords! It's time to spread some holiday cheer with a little door to door caroling. Once you instill the Christmas spirit in people with your beautiful voice they'll have no choice to but to donate some money to your fundraiser.

Christmas Decor - What's a Christmas tree without ornaments to hang on it? If you're the crafty type you can make your own decorations and then sell them to the public. Or you can look into buying Christmas decor wholesale and selling them with a markup. Either way, you'll be helping people get a little more festive while generating some income for your fundraising cause.

monthly ideas


Popular Fundraising Products

Scratchcards

Scratchcards

Scratchcards are a quick and easy fundraiser that almost any group can be successful with. Donation amounts are small, and your supporters get great, brand name coupon sheets as thank you gifts! Get your cards personalized with your group name and logo!
More about Scratchcards Fundraisers

Cookie Dough fundraiser

Cookie Dough

Cookie dough is delicious and easy to sell! Everyone loves the scrumptious flavors, and the convenience of pre-made cookie dough makes it a fun activity for parents to do with kids, and an easy way to bake up fresh, warm cookies when company drops by!
More about Cookie Dough Fundraisers

Sour Yummy Lips Lollipops

Lollipops

Lollipops are so easy to sell that even a small group can make a big profit. Here's an idea to boost your profits: Tie 3 lollipops together with colorful ribbon to make lollipop bouquets. Suggested sale price for lollipops is $0.50 each, but you can sell bouquets for $2 and make an additional $0.50 on every sale!
More about Lollipops Fundraisers

bonfire t-shirts

T-Shirt Fundraisers

Whether you're fundraising for a personal cause, school, or a nonprofit organization, t-shirt fundraisers are an easy and creative way for you to raise money. Our friends at Bonfire have a t-shirt fundraising platform where you're able to design your t-shirt and launch your fundraiser right from your computer. Plus, with Bonfire there are no inventory costs, they print and ship all the shirts you sell to your supporters, and send you 100% of the profits.
More about Bonfire

Magazines

Online Fundraiser

This is a great fundraiser for because it's 100% free and done entirely online. You can personalize your fundraising page, and use the integrated email feature to quickly and easily reach supporters nationwide! Just imagine your group getting support from coast to coast! If each member of your group sent just 12 emails each to invite people to your online magazine store, you would be selling magazines so fast you'd barely be able to keep up with the profits!
More about Free Online Fundraisers

Beef Snacks

Beef Snacks

Delicious Beef Snacks come in a variety of flavors that everyone loves. They're such a convenient and high protein snack that selling them will be so easy you'll want to sell them again and again! Medium sized groups will have great success selling these fundraiser favorites at sporting events, community picnics, in schools or around town. Easy to handle carry cases turn this on-the-go snack into an on-the-go fundraiser!
More about Beef Snacks Fundraisers

Keep in mind that this is only a general reference. If you're interested in a particular fundraiser that isn't listed, give us a call and we'll find a way to make it work for you, or help you choose a fun and profitable alternative.

Unique Fundraising Ideas

Looking for ideas to make your next fundraiser fun, exciting and profitable? Look no further! Here are some great ideas for fundraising to help you get started:

Ideas for Schools
  • "Pie the Teacher" (or principal, or other authority figure): Kids can pay for a chance to pie an authority figure. You can also turn it into a raffle. The winning ticket-holder gets to pie the principal!
  • Classroom Competition: For school-wide fundraising, create competition between classrooms to boost participation. The classroom that sells or raises the most wins a prize like a pizza party or homework-free week.
  • Friday Snack Shop: As a special Friday treat, and on-going fundraising campaign, organize a snack shop that will be open every Friday during scheduled break times. Students and teachers can take turns running the shop, and you can sell treats like lollipops, candy bars, bags of chips or healthy beef snacks.
Ideas for Sports Teams and Leagues
  • Registration Day Fundraising: Raise funds in one day by charging a fundraising fee. Team members and/or parents pay the fee on registration day and receive a Scratchcard that they can use to raise back their money, and even some extra to cover additional travel or equipment expenses.
  • Customized Fundraisers: Use your team's name, logo and colors to add an official touch to your campaign by choosing products and programs that can be customized such as - Scratchcards and the Free Online Magazine Fundraiser.
  • Game Day Hotdog Sale: A hotdog sale is a great fundraising idea because hotdogs are a low-cost snack that you know will sell fast. It's also pretty easy to find parent volunteers willing to man the barbecue and sell hotdogs throughout the game.
Ideas for Churches and Youth Groups
  • Holiday Sales: Set up a sale of baked goods and holiday handicrafts made by members of the community just before the holidays. You can also take orders for frozen cheesecakes or cookie dough at your sale. Frozen foods are so convenient for the holidays, and your customers will really appreciate the opportunity to order these delectable treats.
  • Strawberry Social: You can use strawberries, apples, pumpkins, or any other in-season produce. Sell tickets for your social and have community members bake a variety of treats using your theme fruit. You can even have a bake-off as your main event!
  • Talent Show: What talents are hidden away in your community? Between churches and youth groups, there is probably a wealth of talent with little opportunity for exposure. Take advantage and organize a talent show filled with singing, dancing, acting, comedy and music all from local talent!
Need even more ideas, or have an idea of your own and want help getting organized? Call us! You can also find more great fundraising ideas in our Resource center.

How Can Surveys Create Better Fundraisers?

A well crafted and delivered survey can do a lot to improve your fundraising efforts. If you target the right demographics, and ask the right questions, you can gain some very helpful information that will enable you to take your fundraiser to the next level. Here's a quick rundown of how you can benefit from sending a survey to your supporters, and a few tips on how to make an effective one.

How Surveys Help
A good survey takes time to put together, distribute, collect, and then compile all the data, but it will be worth the effort if you do it right. A good survey can help you improve your fundraiser in a specific way. For example, you might want to know how to sell more merchandise to your supporters, or how to attract more volunteers to help you out. You can also learn about how effective your fundraising efforts have been so far, and discover areas of improvement which, until then, maybe you had not considered before. So how can you go about designing an effective survey? There are many things to consider, but here are some quick tips to get you started.

Effective Fundraising Survey Tips
  • Keep questions clear and concise - Your supporters probably aren't going to want to spend too much time filling out your survey, so that's why it's important to keep your questions short and to the point. Avoid using double negatives, and keep your questions open-ended (meaning, they'll have give an explanation rather than a simple yes or no).
  • Use the Likert-Scale - Not all of your questions have to be open-ended though. You can also have a series of questions on the Likert-scale, which is where people rate their answer on a scale from "very unsatisfied" to "very satisfied". You should also include "not applicable" or "I don't know" as options.
  • Keep it anonymous - People will be more willing to take the time to fill out the survey if they don't have to submit their personal information. You should also be sure to tell them at the start of the survey how long it will take, and wait until the end to ask for demographic info.
  • Test it out - Before you send your survey to anyone, you should test it out and get feedback. You can do this by sending it to a small group of volunteers , or maybe you could give it to your friends and neighbours to see what they think. Just be sure they keep it confidential and don't tell anyone else about the survey.
These are just a few tips, but if you want to know more check out this post on Charity Village. A Survey could be just thing to launch your fundraiser to the next level.

Non-Profit Fundraising

If you're fundraising for a specific non-profit organization, either in your area or for a national cause, we've got some great non-profit fundraising ideas for you!

Causes take off when you go online!
Online fundraising tools add a new dimension of reach and accessibility to your non-profit fundraising campaigns. Whether you use them to collect donations, sell popular products, or even hold an online auction, your pool of supporters is no longer limited to your local community.

Online Magazine Fundraiser!
This fundraiser is completely free and perfect for non-profit because you can raise awareness - and funds - at the same time. Efundraising.com , you'll get a customizable, online magazine store of over 650 popular titles (People, All You, TIME, Cooking Light and more) at up to 85% off the newsstand price.

Invite supporters nationwide to your fundraising store. If you have an existing website or blog, you can even link it to your fundraising website.
Your group received 40% of every purchase.
non profit fundraising

Be sure to encourage any group members participating in your campaign to use the simple, helpful integrated email feature and to share your store's URL across their social networks like Facebook and Twitter.

Online Donation Fundraiser - Door-to-door is one way, but when you solicit for donations online you immediately increase your reach nationwide. Our online Donation platform is flexible, fully customizable and absolutely affordable for non-profit organizations of all sizes.

You get a donations-dedicated website designed with your colors, images & logo, a secure donation page and the ability for your groups/chapters to register for their own donation page. Visitors will access a secure portal where they can search for groups raising funds for your cause and you can easily monitor how various groups are performing and who exactly is participating.

Integrated Facebook, Twitter and email sharing and a tax deductible receipt issued to your donors are other amazing touches that go along with this unique fundraising idea.

Online Auctions - Virtually everyone is familiar with eBay and how it works even if they've never personally run an auction with them. Tap into that familiarity and put an online auction to work for your non-profit. It can be organized as either a standalone fundraising initiative or in tandem with another fundraising event. A simple Google search will produce a bevy of online auction solutions.

If you haven't started your nonprofit yet, there are some important steps you need to take; learn how to start a nonprofit with this guide

Branding is power: Proven, customizable non-profit fundraising products

Scratchcards
Though our scratchcards come in over 30 predesigned themes branding them with your organization's name and logo will make the maximum impact. Scratchcards for non-profit fundraising are a fun way to attract support: supporters scratch one or more dots and donate the amount(s) uncovered. In exchange, you tear off a coupon sheet with coupons for popular national retailers like TCBY, Pizza Hut, AMC Theatres, eMusic.com and more. Their small size makes them ideal for stashing in your purse or coat pocket so that you always have them handy.

T-shirts
T-shirts are a tried and true way to promote awareness of your cause and attract supporters. Wear your custom t-shirts branded with your logo and the name of your campaign at your fundraising events and offer them up for sale. Supporters are only too happy to 'wear' your cause when its one worth backing!
non profit fundraising


Fundraisers for Kids


fundraising ideas for kids

Getting kids involved with fundraising is a great way to teach them the value of getting involved with the community and making a difference. When it comes to fundraisers for kids, they need to be straightforward, safe, and fun. If you're stumped for suitable ideas, we've got a few that you could consider.

Every kid needs pens and pencils for school, so a smelly pencils fundraiser is a great fundraising idea for kids Choose from our selection of Snifty pens, pencils, and rulers and simply have them sell them at school to their classmates.
You can always take a more traditional approach by considering some of our candies and chocolate bars. Who doesn't have a sweet tooth? Choose from lollipops, chocolate bars pretzel rods and more. These items should be an easy sell for the kids at school.

Kids will love a colouring wall and it's really simple. All you have to do is choose a theme that a lot of kids will be interested in, or maybe something seasonal, and then find a lot of stencils on that theme. Charge a small fee, maybe just a dollar, to buy one of the stencils and supply them with the things they need to colour them in. Once they're done they can post on the colouring wall for everyone to see. Make sure they sign their names so everyone can recognize their work.

These are just a couple fundraising ideas for kids that can fit the bill. Whatever you choose to do remember to keep it simple and safe for the young ones involved!


Ideas for College Fundraising


fundraising ideas for college

When it comes to fundraisers for college students, the possibilities are virtually endless. If you're going to do this, you'll first have to organize a committee and assign each member specific tasks suitable to their individual talents and experience. Remember that students are usually busy with their studies, and they probably don't have a lot of money to spend, so you have to make sure your fundraiser is something that they would be interested in.

An outdoor barbeque is always a popular choice. You'll need to rent the necessary equipment such as a barbeque (of course) and maybe also a tent and some tables to set everything up. Look into buying hot dogs and drinks in bulk because you're likely going to need a lot of them and anything you can do to keep costs down is going to help your fundraising profit margin. Get the word out that you're having a BBQ fundraiser via email, social media and flyers posted on campus well before the day of the event to make sure every knows about it.

A dance party is another solid college fundraiser. See if you can host a dance in the school gym and look into hiring a DJ, or maybe some local bands, to provide entertainment. Of course you'll also have to provide food and drinks for your guests, and that is another way to generate some revenue on top of ticket sales. Just like with the BBQ idea, get the word out well before the event to ensure that people know about it.

A lot of college students love to play sports, so a tournament is another great idea. It should also be easy to organize because the school will already have its own sport facilities. You'll have to reserve usage of the facility, and then organize the teams. Charge a modest fee to join the tournament and offer a prize to the winning team. Remind them that it is all for a good cause, and not necessarily about being the best athlete in school.

Just remember to keep it fun, and focus on things that students are interested in!

5 Movember Fundraising Ideas


In the month of November many men grow mustaches for the cause of "Movember." In case you haven't heard of it, it's a men's health awareness campaign that takes places over the entire month of November. Prostate and testicular cancer are the two main health issues that it concerns itself with, and every year millions of dollars are raised for research into curing these deadly diseases.

Themed occasions like this always lend themselves to fundraising ideas, so what can you do to get on board with Movember with your fundraising efforts? Here are a few Movember fundraisers to get you started off.

Shave the Date
Movember is all about growing a mustache to support awareness for men's health issues, and people who want to participate in the month-long event should start from scratch. That means shaving off what hair they already have on their faces, and growing a brand new mustache over the course of the month. Host a Shave the Date party and get everyone pumped up about Movember.

Make a Video
Make a promotional video about how your fundraising team is supporting Movember, and ask people to show their support by visiting your fundraising page and sending donations. Be sure to share your video over social media and ask your supporters to share with their networks too. The more who see it, the merrier!

Sponsor Your Mustache
If you're growing a mustache for Movember, it presents a great opportunity to find people to sponsor what you're doing. Ask your family, friends, and coworkers to pledge their money in the spirit of Movember, and in exchange you'll abandon the razor until no earlier than the 1st of December. If a lot of people on your fundraising team are going to do this, you can make a friendly contest out of it and offer a prize to the one who earns the most pledges.

Movember Scratchcards
This special month presents a great occasion for a scratchcards fundraiser. With these scratchcards, the person scratching them doesn't win anything, but instead the cards tell them how much they're going to donate to your fundraiser. Customized cards with a fun Movember design can be an easy way to show support for men's health issues.

Custom T-Shirts
Allow people to show their support for Movember with custom T-shirts designed for this special month. Think of T-shirts with a big mustache, and a clever or funny slogan, and you'll give people another easy way to show their support for men's health issues. You can design it yourself or ask our Fundraising consultants for help, and here's our piece: No extra charge!

Don't forget to stop by our Movember page to get your Movember Fundraising Handbook and other free downloadables to kick-start your fundraiser!

Charity Auctions: A Step-by-Step Guide for Any Cause

Charity auctions are a fantastic way to increase revenue and engagement for all sorts of nonprofits, schools, churches, teams, and other fundraising groups. Not only do supporters have a special opportunity to contribute to your mission, they also get a tangible item in return. ItÂ’s a win-win situation!

Whether your organization is considering a charity auction or actively planning an upcoming event, itÂ’s a good idea to understand the steps involved in the process. After all, itÂ’s important to know what to expect and how to optimize your event for increased engagement for everyone involved.

The team at OneCause is made up of auction experts, and weÂ’ve written this resource to help you get the most from your next auction. WeÂ’ll cover the basics of charity auction fundraising, why hosting an auction is beneficial, what youÂ’ll need to get started, and a step-by-step process to follow.

Ready to get planning? LetÂ’s jump in.

Why Host a Charity Auction?

According to recent research by OneCause, fundraising events are some of the most appealing and meaningful experiences for donors. Simply put, charity auctions are a fan-favorite idea (with live and silent auction elements ranked as some of the most loved by event attendees, at 51% and 45% engaging, respectively).

Auction fundraisers collect revenue through various revenue channels, including ticket sales, item bids, buy now items, raffle tickets, and additional donation appeals, making it a high-ROI event when pulled off successfully. That means more dollars go towards making your vision a reality.

TheyÂ’re also flexible for online or in-person events. Plus, auctions offer highly engaging and memorable experiences for attendees both on and offsite, and are easy to involve sponsors and partners for additional revenue.

So really, the question isn’t “why host a charity auction?” It’s why not?

What YouÂ’ll Need

Before you can jump into auction planning, make sure your nonprofit is set up for success. Here are the bare essentials:
  • Auction software: Having the right tools is critical for ensuring a seamless event and a positive guest experience. Ideally, youÂ’ll want to look for a virtual fundraising suite that includes mobile bidding and auction tools, as a single comprehensive platform is the best choice for long-term flexibility and ease of use.
  • Auction items: Your auction items are the star of the show, and theyÂ’re really what determines whether your event will be a success. Highly demanded items will drive bids significantly higher than what you procured them for, leaving net profit to support your mission.
  • Time: Auction fundraisers can be complex events, so youÂ’ll need plenty of time to plan and promote them. The time youÂ’ll need will depend on the size, scope, and complexity of your event, but we suggest getting started between nine and twelve months beforehand.
  • Event team: Pulling off a charity auction will require a passionate event team to support your efforts from planning through to execution. This group will likely be composed of a combination of volunteers and paid staff members.

If youÂ’re lacking any of the above, now is the time to make adjustments and consider expanding your nonprofit fundraising toolkit.

Planning Your Auction in 8 Steps


Now itÂ’s time to plan your upcoming charity auction event. By following these eight steps, you can set up your nonprofit for maximal impact and results.

Step 1: Determine your eventÂ’s format.


Charity auctions come in all shapes and sizes, so determining the format of your auction early on is critical. When deciding between an online and in-person auction, consider the following:

  • Virtual events offer benefits such as convenience, accessibility, and increased reach.
  • Face-to-face fundraising events, on the other hand, tend to be more engaging for attendees and retain guestsÂ’ attention for longer.
  • Hybrid events offer the best of both worlds by incorporating a combination of online and in-person engagement and bidding.

Once youÂ’ve determined whether your auction will be online or in person (or a combination of both), youÂ’ll need to choose whether to plan for live or silent bidding. Luckily, both live and silent auctions can be held in virtual, in-person, or hybrid formats.

Step 2: Invest in new auction tools as needed.


The right auction software can make the difference between a well-planned event and one that ultimately fails to meet its goals. While you might have an existing suite of event fundraising tools, itÂ’s important that your toolkit contains the following functionalities:

  • Item procurement management and tracking
  • Mobile and online bidding tools
  • Streamlined check-in/check-out processes
  • Robust reporting and detailed analytics

The software you choose will play critical roles in both the planning process and the auction itself. Its features and the quality of the user experience it offers bidders will directly impact your eventÂ’s results, so it pays to carefully weigh your options early in the process.

Step 3: Set guidelines for your event.


Before you get too far into the auction planning process, you'll need to determine the critical guidelines for your event. Consider the following logistics:

  • Date or time frame: While in-person auctions traditionally take place on a single night, virtual and hybrid auctions may open online bidding up to a week before the finale event.
  • Budget: Determining your budget can help guide other elements in your planning such as your software purchases and venue choices. Just remember, keeping your expenses low is critical for driving ROI high.
  • Goals: What are you looking to get out of your event—a certain dollar amount in bids? A particular number of attendees? Decide whatÂ’s vital to your auctionÂ’s success beforehand to determine your results after.
  • Target audience: Decide who youÂ’ll be targeting with your upcoming auction fundraiser. Perhaps this will be a high-end gala gathering of major donors, a more laid-back event where everyone is invited, or a strategic offering to re-engage lapsed supporters.

Determining the logistical guidelines for your upcoming auction is essential as it must chronologically precede the rest of the steps on this list. You canÂ’t begin inviting guests to attend your auction if you havenÂ’t decided on a date!

Step 4: Begin procuring and pricing your auction items.


Because your auction items are integral to the success of your auction, item procurement is one of the most important steps in the planning process. If youÂ’re not sure where to start, use this list of charity auction item ideas from OneCause to point your team in the right direction.
As you assemble your auction items, consider whatÂ’s popular and performing well at charity events:

  • Exclusive experiences
  • Vacation packages
  • Gift baskets
  • Memorabilia

Once you begin securing items, itÂ’s time to price them. Although the end price varies depending on bids, you need to determine the starting bid and minimum increment.

We recommend first obtaining the itemÂ’s FMV, or fair market value, which is the typical selling point of an item on an open market. For many tangible items, this would be the price you would pay to purchase the item at a store. For more exclusive and intangible items, however, determining the FMV will require a bit of estimation.

Industry experts suggest starting an itemÂ’s bid at between 30-50% of its fair market value, and setting the increasing bid increment to 10 and 15% of the FMV.

Step 5: Set up an event page or microsite.


Your event page or microsite functions as a critical tool during the planning and promotional stages of your auction. It serves as a resource for supporters to seek information about your upcoming event, learn more about your mission, and engage in your fundraising. For online and hybrid experiences, it might even house your virtual event center!

Take a look at the differences between the event web pages and standalone microsites:

  • An event page is a central landing page on your website used to convey event information and direct visitors to get involved.
  • A microsite is hosted on a separate subdomain and is typically made up of a small number of web pages all dedicated to your event.

While each approach has its own unique benefits and drawbacks, choosing between an event page and a microsite is a personal choice for each organization to determine based on its needs. The most important idea is that it contains all of the essential information and leads users down the conversion cycle.

Step 6: Start promoting your auction to your audience.



Promoting your auction is one of the most important steps because itÂ’s what encourages supporters to get involved. Now that you have your event page or microsite live, be sure to actively direct donors and prospective event attendees there to learn more.

When it comes time to market your event, consider the following favorite outreach channels:

  • Social media
  • Email
  • Text
  • Direct mail

As you invite donors, supporters, and other community members to attend your upcoming event, be sure to share the story behind your fundraising need. For example, what is your organizationÂ’s mission, and how are these fundraising dollars going to support your vision?

Making this clear from the get-go helps communicate that your auction is more than just a fun event, but that itÂ’s also an impactful way to get involved in your cause.

Step 7: Plan additional logistics.



At this point, itÂ’s time to finalize some additional logistical details for your event. What these are will likely vary depending on the format of your auction as well as other key decisions youÂ’ve made along the way. As you approach this step, consider the following:

  • In-person: For an in-person auction, be sure to book and prepare your event venue, order catering and hiring waitstaff, display your items, and prepare seating arrangements.
  • Virtual: While you wonÂ’t have to manage the physical aspects of an event venue, you will need to prepare well to pull off a seamless virtual auction. For example, will you have additional activities or entertainment? Is your online event platform prepared to support your auction? Do you have a plan for ensuring smooth transitions or otherwise preparing for technical difficulties?

Take time to think through the various elements of your unique in-person, hybrid, or virtual event. Chart out the guest experience from arrival to checkout—is there something to keep their attention at every point of the event? Are there mission moments and additional donation appeals baked into the schedule? Now’s the time to finalize these and other details.

Step 8: Make your auction engaging



Keeping your audience engaged throughout your event is a must. A few tactics for boosting engagement in both in-person and virtual contexts include:

  • Leaderboards: Leaderboards display real-time updates concerning top bidders and donors. This encourages generous supporters to keep giving, and inspires others to make their way to the top.
  • Fundraising trackers: Fundraising trackers, like thermometers and other visual displays communicate real-time fundraising data towards an overall objective. As bids reach toward your revenue goal, the tracker becomes increasingly filled.
  • Outbid notifications: Outbid notifications are a mobile bidding tool used to update guests when theyÂ’ve been outbid for an item theyÂ’re vying for. Upon receiving this real-time notification, they can return to the auction item to up their bid and stay in the game.
  • Countdown timers: Countdown timers are a great way to boost last-minute bids right as an item is closing. This encourages participants to place or up their bid, which are often more generous as time is running out.

These strategies, along with others, are known as gamification methods. They leverage common elements of gameplay—such as friendly competition and the concept of winning—to drive engagement and bids as a result. When done well, you’ll retain attendees’ attention from start to finish and maximize the number of bids made.
As you begin planning your upcoming charity auction, remember that using the right fundraising software can make all the difference. When you equip your team with the tools they need to succeed, you can drastically simplify the event management process, provide a more engaging experience for everyone involved, and even boost revenue as a result.

And remember, it can take a good deal of time from beginning to end, so itÂ’s a good idea to get started planning right away. Good luck!

Church Giving: 4 Ways to Re-Engage Your Congregation

Even if your congregation shows up every Sunday and wants to see your church thrive, they can still sometimes lose momentum and motivation for engaging with your fundraising.

Especially considering how the pandemic interrupted routines and in-person events, your congregation may have slipped out of the habit of engaging with your cause. If youÂ’re struggling with how to get your congregation to re-engage, weÂ’ll discuss these four ways to renew their excitement around church giving:

  • Plan exciting fundraising events
  • Make it easy
  • Use prospect research
  • Revamp your pitch

Just because your members have lost some momentum doesnÂ’t mean you canÂ’t get back on track with your fundraising goals. By changing up your strategy, improving some of your processes, and exploring more effective fundraising ideas, your congregation will be reinvigorated and excited to help you reach your goals in no time.

Plan exciting fundraising events


Whether you choose to go with fully in-person, hybrid, or online events, there is no shortage of fun and family-friendly ways to get everyone involved. Events are perfect for both fundraising and creating a stronger sense of community among your congregation. Many of the events you may already be planning can likely be turned into a fundraising event as well.

ItÂ’s important to not make all of your events focused on fundraising. Even the ones that are primarily for fundraising should still feel like a fun family outing. Your congregation is a community first and foremost - make sure it feels that way!

Here are a few fun ideas to get you started:

  • A fair or game night. These events are more intensive because of all they entail but when done successfully they can be great fundraising opportunities and lots of fun for every family who attends.
  • A raffle or auction. Sell tickets or have members bid on small items youÂ’ve procured or services from different members or businesses in the community.
  • An ice cream social. Set up an ice cream bar and let kids (and their parents) build their own sundae when they buy a ticket. Delicious and easy!
  • A bake sale. Ask your members to bring their best baked goods and set up tables to sell them. For a bonus incentive to participate, consider making it a competition and crown winners for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd best desserts.
  • Secure pledges for quitting habits. This can be done at any time to encourage quitting “vices” and make a challenge out of it. However, if your denomination is Catholic, this is perfect for during Lent.

There are tons of more ideas out there and only you will know what will work best for your unique congregation. Brainstorm ideas and recruit volunteers from your congregation to help you organize your event.

Make it easy!


YouÂ’re busy, your congregation is busy. For many members of your congregation, the problem may not be that they are not willing to donate but that the process feels complicated and burdensome. In their already busy lives with work, school, kids, and household duties, you should make it as easy as possible for them to donate. Here are a few ways to simplify the process:

  • Use software to enable online donations. You likely already have a website, but do you have an online donation option? If youÂ’re still relying on members bringing cash or checks to donate when they attend church, it might be time to make a change as more and more people go cashless. Church giving software makes giving to your church easier for everyone.
  • Help members identify their matching gift programs. Many of your members likely work for one of the many companies that match gifts. They may not even know it! Software like Match360Pro can help you organize all of your donors and easily check if their employers match donations. This is a very simple way to maximize your donations without a lot of extra work!
  • Ensure that online donations are fully mobile-optimized. If your services are still virtual or hybrid, ensuring that congregants can donate from their mobile phones encourages giving and makes it easier for them. You might even consider running a text-to-give campaign. During in-person services, a mobile option allows people who may not have cash or checks on them to still donate during the time when you pass the collection plate.

ItÂ’s a common rule that the easier something is, the more likely we are to do it. If the process is too complicated, is only available at specific times, or requires significantly more effort from your members, it may be keeping your members from taking action. Take a look at your giving process and try to reduce any points of friction or barriers.

Use prospect research


While many people think of prospect research as a way to identify wealthy donors, that is not the only way to use it. Researching possible donors can help you identify past donors who have lapsed. Having this information helps you to formulate a plan to reach back out to them.

You might want to initiate an open conversation with them and give them the opportunity to express why they stopped donating. It may have just slipped through the cracks, but if they do have any doubts, this is an excellent time to address and resolve them. This will show them that you care about their opinions and want them to feel confident in donating to your church.

Besides helping you re-engage past donors who have lapsed, prospect research can also help you identify members of your congregation who would make good donors. Wealth can play a role here, but so can other philanthropic activity, personal interests, and the amount of time theyÂ’ve been part of the church. Engaging in prospect research can also help you identify connections that your most generous congregants may have. Perhaps they own a business that might want to sponsor an event or have friends or family who they could invite to join your services or fundraising events.

To get a conversation going, you may want to send donation request letters to members of the congregation. Donation request letters are a more personal way to ask for contributions than addressing the entire congregation. Sign them personally if you can, and do your best to make them feel personalized and not like a regurgitation of a pitch theyÂ’ve heard before.

Revamp your pitch


If youÂ’re having a hard time connecting with your congregation and expressing the importance of their contributions, it may be time to change how youÂ’re communicating. However, this can often be harder than it seems. So what makes a great pitch?

A great pitch goes beyond simply conveying information. They arenÂ’t all the same, but they do all have a lot of thought and intention behind them. Remember that youÂ’re addressing real people - you want your message to resonate with them.

There are lots of different ways to appeal to your congregation and ask for their support. Here are a few keys to a persuasive pitch:
  • Emphasize the value of your cause. Why should your congregation give their money to you over another organization? Maybe itÂ’s because it enables you to provide their family with the community that surrounds their children. Perhaps the church they love so much needs some renovations. Reflect on why it would be worth it to them to donate to your church.
  • Highlight how donations help. Oftentimes, people are much less hesitant to donate when they understand exactly what will be done with their money. You donÂ’t need to send them an itemized receipt, but you can explain in more detail how you plan to use their donations. If you can cite an example of the impact of past donations, like the new playground that their kid loves playing on, or the new materials for Vacation Bible School that their teen used, you can help them see their donation as an investment.
  • Tell a story. When you share all of this information with your congregation, you want to be cognizant of how youÂ’re delivering it. When you can, avoid simply stating things and give specific examples instead. Lean into the common experiences you have all shared and evoke their emotions and connection to your church and congregation.
  • Express appreciation for your donors. Lastly, you want to make sure to not make this all about you. Always express your gratitude to anyone who donates or is considering donating. You may even want to highlight members of your congregation who are current donors. To take it a step further, share what their donations have specifically helped your church achieve.

For your donors that have lapsed, changing your pitch to address some of their concerns and leading with empathy can go a long way to convince them to re-instate their donation. Learning to effectively craft a compelling pitch is an important skill thatÂ’s worth developing to improve your fundraising success.


The most important thing to understand when attempting to reignite peopleÂ’s interest and passions is to figure out whatÂ’s not working and why. There are lots of best practices and event ideas out there that are very helpful (check out DonatelyÂ’s top church fundraising ideas to get started!), but only if youÂ’ve done the work of analyzing your specific situation. Only you know your congregation best.

Your church and the community it creates for your congregation is important to them. Spend some time thinking about how you can make them feel important in the process and connected to it. A little creativity can go a long way in improving your fundraising strategy and increasing your congregationÂ’s engagement.

Youth Fundraising Trends: 5 Engaging Strategies

Fundraising is all about knowing your audience, and this holds true even when youth are involved. If your organization works with youth, consider how to best engage them.

Usually referring to those in Generation Z, born around 1996/97 and later, these youth grew up in a very socially conscious and digitally transformative world, being more philanthropic than most as well as more technologically adept. With world news stories constantly popping up on mobile phones informing them of the most recent tragedy, and with unintentional pressure from social circles and social media to show activism in charity, this generation canÂ’t help but be attracted to the world of fundraising.

Currently around 57% of young people would rather save their money than spend it, and 32% of Gen Z are already donating their own money. They clearly donÂ’t just think of money as something to be spent. This generation is also more interested in volunteering, with 26% of 16-to-19 year olds already volunteering on a regular basis.

To leverage this philanthropic spirit, your organization should be considering youth fundraising trends which you can fold into your fundraising strategies that you rely on. Consider ways to acknowledge Gen Z’s generous, active spirit and offer them volunteer opportunities, as well as meeting them where they already are—the online space. In this guide, you’ll be learning about a couple of youth fundraising trends and these best practices:

  1. Use social media and crowdfunding.
  2. Incorporate fundraising gamification in peer-to-peer campaigns.
  3. Implement text-to-give options.
  4. Promote with branded merchandise.
  5. Show donor appreciation.

Youth Fundraising

1. Use social media and crowdfunding.


Social media is constantly being saturated with content, whether itÂ’s text-heavy status updates or a collection of memes. This is because more and more youth and Gen Z-ers are signing up and becoming a part of the online social sphere.

Your organization should have some sort of social media profile, whether it is a Facebook page to post upcoming events or an Instagram account to highlight the actions youÂ’ve taken in support of your cause. Social media and your website are likely where a lot of young people are first interacting with your cause, so make sure theyÂ’re up-to-date and inviting.

Social media is a great place to facilitate your upcoming crowdfunding campaign. Crowdfunding is a fundraising method involving the collective efforts of your personal network of family, friends, and colleagues. Primarily done through social media and specific crowdfunding platforms, it involves a singular campaign webpage which is shared through various avenues.

Crowdfunding is an online fundraiser that actively engages and encourages participation, which youth and other Gen Z-ers are strongly attracted to because it lets them express their philanthropy via outlets that theyÂ’re already experts at using! Here are some tips to help you get started:

  • Create an online crowdfunding page explaining your mission and what youÂ’re currently fundraising for. Make the content engaging and emotionally investing as well as easy to digest. This way others who go on the page understand what the message is.
  • Set a funding goal and deadline. This will incentivize the youth to actively keep sharing your page just to make it to the goal.
  • Encourage social sharing. Keep reminding people to share your crowdfunding page. Even better, suggest supporters to put the link in their account bio and profile, so anyone in their social network can view at their convenience.

Crowdfunding campaigns are a great way to engage youth. Raise revenue while getting some great positive exposure. Generation Z will love being associated with and helping your cause. If youÂ’re curious for more, CircuiTree has a great list of fun and effective youth fundraising strategies.

Crowdfunding is also a fundraising method involving the collective efforts of your personal network of family, friends, and colleagues. To learn more about Crowdfunding, check this article by our friends at Rally Up.

Youth Fundraising

2. Incorporate fundraising gamification in peer-to-peer campaigns.


Gamification is a huge trend in the fundraising world, and itÂ’s especially attractive for youth and Generation Z. Fundraising gamification is when organizations add game mechanics to their campaigns in order to make them more appealing and engaging for participants. Organizations will transform certain fundraising events or campaigns into a competition and award those who made the largest impact.

Gen Z-ers are attracted to these types of campaigns because theyÂ’re able to actively engage in philanthropic efforts while also competing with peers for whatever the organization offers. As organizations offer rewards ranging from physical gifts showing appreciation to public recognition on an online platform, young people will be flocking to participate for your cause.

Peer-to-peer (P2P) campaigns are a great example of how you can utilize fundraising gamification strategies. Peer-to-peer fundraisers involve recruiting a group of volunteers to fundraise on your organizationÂ’s behalf.

Youth and Gen Z-ers will love volunteering to be a P2P fundraiser. With their own designated online P2P donation page, they can explain their personal connection to the cause as well as share it on social media with their own network of family and friends. This is a great way to raise money as well as increase positive recognition of your work.

To get youth even more excited about your P2P campaign, host an event to go along with it! For example, hosting a walk-a-thon or another community event can supplement your P2P efforts. HereÂ’s how it works:
  1. Plan P2P supplemental event. Choose an event that will empower your volunteer fundraisers as well as get them excited to participate.
  2. Encourage each P2P volunteer to raise money before the event. With the event date being the deadline, your volunteers can raise money on their individual P2P online donation by reaching out to their networks and explaining their involvement in your event. For example, if the event is a walk-a-thon, friends and family will want to donate just to see the volunteer participate!
  3. Include gamification elements. To motivate your volunteers, gamify your P2P campaign by adding “fundraising thermometers” to track who has raised the most money, awarding badges to those who reach goals, posting a leaderboard so participants know who’s leading, and offering incentives like prizes or a social media shoutout.

Active community-based events are going to be your best bet for ways to supplement your peer-to-peer campaign. Since P2P fundraising is based on being social and word of mouth, having a communal event is key. Be creative about your event and try out those gamification elements to raise more money than ever!

Youth Fundraising

3. Implementing text-to-give options.


Text-to-give has risen in the fundraising world to become more and more integral to fundraising strategies. According to the Pew Research Center, 96% of Americans now own a cellphone of some kind, with 1 in 5 American adults being “smartphone-only” internet users. This means a lot of people are using cellphones, with a good portion of them using only their cellphones to access the internet.

How does text-to-give work? With text-to-give technology, nonprofits and other charitable organizations can allow donors to make gifts with just a text message from their mobile phones. To Generation Z and other youth, texting is second nature. Opening up this channel of support can increase engagement with youth as well as raise fundraising revenue without creating a ton of extra work on your end.

Your organization must first choose a software provider with a text-to-give platform. Make sure it aligns with your needs as well as keeps information secure. YouÂ’ll receive a phone number which donors will be able to text whenever they want to make a gift. You can then start promoting text-to-give on your website, email communications, and social media accounts.

By texting a simple keyword (set by you) to the provided number, youth and Gen Z can easily text when theyÂ’re feeling charitable. If theyÂ’ve given before, the text-to-give software will even have their financial information saved.

One of the hardest parts about fundraising with youth is trying to navigate the world they live in—full of social media and instant messaging. Speak their language with your text-to-give campaign! To learn more, check out Snowball Fundraising’s text-to-give guide.

Youth Fundraising

4. Promoting with branded merchandise.


One thing that the youth continues to love is merchandise! Whether it is in support of an influencer they admire or representing their own school, selling branded merchandise is a great way to raise funds.

If youÂ’re raising money for a specific event, selling merchandise branded to your organization is a great way to not only promote your cause but also to boost revenue. Gen Z-ers will love the change to support your organization as well as have a keepsake for being involved. For example, some summer camps will create custom camp t-shirts to reach camperÂ’s sentimental side as well as their practical side.

Additionally, when youth wear your branded merchandise, they are also spreading the word about your organization to those they interact with. ItÂ’s likely that their personal network involves other like-minded charitable people who might then become interested in your cause.

Youth Fundraising

5. Showing donor appreciation.


The best marketing tip for your organization is to always say thank you. Youth and Gen Z-ers want to be recognized for their efforts and even just sending a quick email explaining your appreciation can help.

Though the contents of a thank you letter are pretty consistent, you should always personalize it to the individual donor. Here are some best practices to keep in mind as your team goes through its correspondences:

  • Engaging and appreciative subject line. A good example is “We couldnÂ’t have built this many homes without you!”
  • Mention your fundraiser success. Talk specifically about the actions your organization took with the money that was raised. Whether you helped those in need or bought new equipment for the local community, donors are going to want to know.
  • Share photos and videos. Other media can really elevate your email and also break up large groups of text.
  • Give them a personalized shoutout. If this donor raised a particularly high amount of money, make sure you recognize this! This is key especially if you used gamification strategies.

If you think an email or letter isnÂ’t personal enough, there are plenty of other thank you gift ideas out there. Click here for some more guidance and get brainstorming!




Our current youth is our future generation of donors. However, they also want to help now! Learn about these youth fundraising trends and help your organization gain some clarity in how to best leverage the Generation Z philanthropic spirit.

5 Donor Appreciation Strategies That Help with Retention

Guest post by Sandra Davis at Donorly

Picture this: your nonprofit has just finished a successful fundraiser, earning donations from hundreds of first-time supporters. But when you check your donor database a month later, only a fraction of those new supporters have made a second donation. This is a common scenario many nonprofit professionals face, and it can be combated with the right donor retention strategies.

Every small organization, from start-up nonprofits to local schools, knows how important it is to get the most out of every dollar. ItÂ’s also a well-known fact that attracting new donors is expensive. By contrast, retaining the donors you already have has a much higher return on investment; these relationships tend to increase in value over time as you deepen your connections with donors.

The number one way to retain your donors is to thank them. There are many ways nonprofits can show their appreciation, and to help your organization improve your donor retention, this article will explore five of them:

  1. Personalize your thank-you messages.
  2. Send gifts.
  3. Host donor appreciation events.
  4. Create donor spotlights.
  5. Construct a donor wall.

Donor appreciation shouldnÂ’t just be an item to check off on your to-do list. Instead, make donor appreciation a consistent part of your organizationÂ’s fundraising strategy to help cultivate, build, and sustain stronger donor connections from the very beginning of your relationships. LetÂ’s get started.

1. Personalize your thank-you messages.


Every message you send to your donors, from event invitations to fundraising letters, should be personalized, especially your thank-you messages. Doing so helps your supporters feel connected to your organization as a valued individual with a unique relationship, rather than a nameless “friend” only identified by their donation amount.

Of course, writing unique messages for each of your hundreds or thousands of donors isnÂ’t practical. However, you can still tailor your communication to each donor by leveraging two key strategies, segmentation and personalization:

  1. Segmentation is when nonprofits divide their supporters based on shared characteristics, then create unique communication strategies for each of those segments. For example, you might divide your donors based on how long theyÂ’ve been with your nonprofit. New donors would then receive a special welcome series of messages, while long-time donors would be sent messages thanking them for their continued support.
  2. Personalization involves adding personal details about donors to your messages. This can include addressing them by name, listing their specific donation total, and mentioning previous times they engaged with your organization, such as attending an event or volunteering.

Using both of these strategies is fundamental for effective nonprofit marketing. By first dividing donors, you can focus on where each group is in their donor engagement journey and craft a unique message cadence around it. Then, you can use personalization to populate the thank-you templates created for each segment with individualized details.

2. Send gifts.


While your donors give because of their connection with and belief in your cause, some of them may appreciate receiving a small gift or token as a thank you for their support. Your nonprofit can give a variety of items to supporters, whether to mark a special occasion like a year of uninterrupted support or to celebrate their involvement in a specific fundraising event or campaign.

Get creative about what you give supporters, as memorable items will stand out in your supportersÂ’ minds and may make them more inclined to donate again. Tokens of appreciation can include:

  • Fridge magnets
  • Buttons
  • Keychains
  • Postcards
  • T-shirts
  • Bracelets
  • Hats
  • Mugs
  • Bumper stickers

Sending out branded items that your supporters are likely to keep can also accomplish a few other tasks in addition to saying thanks. For example, if your prospect research indicates that a supporter has the potential to be a major donor, you may consider adding a little extra to their first thank you to start the engagement off on the right foot.

Additionally, items that supporters will use everyday can help further market your nonprofit. For example, each time a supporter wears a t-shirt, hat, or other piece of branded apparel in public, theyÂ’re effectively advertising your cause, which can help build additional touchpoints with new supporters.

3. Host donor appreciation events.


Your nonprofit should host a variety of events throughout the year to both raise funds and build a community around your organization. To celebrate successful fundraisers and major campaigns, consider hosting donor appreciation events to thank donors and further build your relationships with them.

When planning an appreciation event, be sure to take your donorsÂ’ preferences into account when considering the details of your event, such as:

  • How it will be hosted. These events can be in-person, online, or hybrid. Large-scale organizations that operate in multiple states may prefer online events to get more supporters involved, while those that primarily focus on local supporters can get roughly the same benefits by hosting in-person events.
  • What activities you will have. Your donor appreciation events should focus on activities other than donating to your cause. Choose activities based on the donors you intend to invite. For example, for your major donors, you might choose to host an exclusive gala, while a community 5K may be better for your local volunteers, fundraisers, and mid-level donors.
  • Who will be invited. Donor appreciation events are meant to celebrate your donors, but you donÂ’t necessarily need to invite every donor to every event. For example, at the end of a capital campaign, you may host an open appreciation event that all contributors are invited to, as well as a private event catered to major donors who gave during your campaignÂ’s quiet phase.

Donor appreciation events require an investment of resources, from event expenses to staffing. However, theyÂ’re also an opportunity to further network with your donors and encourage them to build relationships with one another. By doing so, youÂ’re not just saying thank you, but also giving them more reasons to continue supporting your cause and interacting with your organizationÂ’s community.

4. Create donor spotlights.


Sometimes a bit of extra attention and praise from your community can go a long way towards making donors feel appreciated. With donor spotlights, you can publicly recognize your supporters and celebrate their dedication to your organization with the rest of your community.
Donor spotlights usually consist of a photo of your donor, a brief description of how theyÂ’ve supported your organization, and a statement about what your cause means to them. There are several channels you can use for your donor spotlights, including:

  • Your blog. Supporters will be able to see themselves recognized every time they visit your website. These posts will also serve as a marketing tool, showing new supporters that you have a vibrant, active giving community they will want to join.
  • Social media. If your donors use social media, consider posting their spotlight on your organizationÂ’s accounts and tagging them. Then, your supporters can share the spotlight with their friends and family to further celebrate their commitment to your organization.
  • Your newsletter. If your nonprofit has a weekly or monthly newsletter, consider adding a “donor of the month/week” section to regularly acknowledge your supporters. Making donor appreciation a regular part of your nonprofitÂ’s communication strategy will show supporters what they mean to your organization and may even encourage others to donate a little more to receive their own spotlight.



5. Construct a donor wall.


There may be situations where your nonprofit needs to go beyond thank-you letters to convey your appreciation. For example, DonorlyÂ’s capital campaign guide emphasizes how important it is to thank major donors. For these donors, consider going the extra mile and building a donor wall.
Double the DonationÂ’s donor recognition walls guide explains that donor walls are permanent displays that list the names of your top donors to honor their support. They are more expensive than other forms of appreciation, but they have the potential to solidify long-term support from your organizationÂ’s most important donors.
When constructing your donor wall, be sure to ask the following questions:

  • Who will my donor wall recognize? Donor walls have limited space, which means youÂ’ll need to choose who youÂ’re including and why. In some cases this will be more straightforward, such as honoring the donors who gave to a specific campaign. In others, you may need to make some more difficult calls about who is and is not included. Consider working with a minimum donation amount to help narrow down your donor list.
  • What kind of display do I want? While there are traditional donor wall displays, you can get creative with how you celebrate your donors. For example, there are also virtual displays with touch screens, donor appreciation spaces branded with your nonprofitÂ’s logo, and outdoor statues that feature both acknowledgement plaques and impressive sculptures.
  • How much is my budget? If you decide to build a donor wall, be prepared to invest a significant amount of resources into it. Donor walls are ultimately investments in your nonprofitÂ’s future, but stay realistic about what your current budget can support when speaking to donor wall construction services.

After constructing your donor wall, be sure to invite donors to its grand unveiling. This can be held in-person or live-streamed to include remote donors. These unveilings can be part of a larger donor appreciation event or held as a private gathering specifically for the recognized donors.


Donors continue to support their favorite causes for a number of reasons, but saying thank you regularly ensures they feel valued by your organization. Get creative with your donor retention strategies by going beyond simple thank-you emails with personalized messages, physical tokens of your appreciation, and even permanent displays of your appreciation.

Hosting Virtual Fundraisers: 4 Tips for Your School

Online revenue from virtual fundraisers increased by 23% over the past year, up from 15%, according to Double the Donation.Virtual fundraisers have gained significant traction in the nonprofit and educational fundraising environment due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, online fundraising is here to stay even after we resurface from social distancing.

Virtual fundraising events function to raise money and maintain donor relationships with your students, parents, staff, and alumni. The upside of hosting an online event is that with an exciting fundraising idea for your school, you have a high potential of attracting attendees from all over the world.

At 99Pledges, weÂ’ve seen the positive impact that hosting a virtual fundraiser has on a schoolÂ’s financial goals. There are four key tips you should consider before your event:

  • Pick a compelling fundraising event idea
  • Develop an online registration page
  • Promote your event successfully
  • Follow up with your attendees

WeÂ’ll begin with diving into the most important first steps; picking an engaging fundraising event idea.

Pick a compelling fundraising event idea


No one knows your students, staff, and families better than you. You know whatÂ’s worked for your fundraising efforts in the past, and what excites people to give to your cause. Take whichever ideas were most successful in the past and pivot them to the virtual sphere.

With the right software and clear communication with your attendees, pivoting your previously successful event ideas can be simple. Here are some popular examples with virtual-friendly alternatives:

  • Walk-a-thon: If your school typically hosts in-person walk-a-thon fundraisers, your team can find ways to move everything online. Participants can log their miles and route in their own neighborhood, and peer-to-peer fundraising will still take place online as usual.
  • Talent show: A classic school fundraiser, the talent show can be hosted easily online. Either splice videos of your acts together, or live stream your show. To vote, your supporters can donate online in the name of their favorite act.
  • Dance class: Popular with any age, a dance instructor can host a virtual dance class for your students and parents so they can tune in from home easily. Depending on your student body, this can be easily shifted to another skill such as cooking or art.

These aforementioned examples are some of the most popular ways schools have hosted online fundraisers. However, if your team is new to hosting such events, 99Pledges offers a host of smart ways to fundraise. Once you have your idea determined, youÂ’ll want to develop a registration form for your attendees.

Develop an online registration page


Having an effective online registration form for your schoolÂ’s virtual fundraiser is crucial for attracting and securing attendees. Your supportersÂ’ first impression of your online event will be through their registration on this form, so make sure that itÂ’s a good one.

Providing an online registration page is also crucial for collecting data that can inform your virtual event strategies going forward. Be sure to determine what you want to know about your supporters going forward, such as contact information and more. HereÂ’s how you can provide the best registration experience:

  • Brand your donation page. When you create your registration page, ensure that all forms are branded to the look and feel of your school to maintain consistency and establish credibility.
  • Ask a few intentional questions. Again, when crafting your registration form, you have the opportunity to retain essential data. Be sure to ask whichever questions you need to build out your supportersÂ’ profiles and reach out to them after your event. For example, consider asking what other fundraisers they may be interested in attending, and what kind of device theyÂ’ll use to attend your virtual experience.
  • Use a secure payment processor. Whether your attendees are paying a registration fee or collecting P2P pledges from supporters, be sure to implement a secure payment processor in your registration page to protect sensitive information.
  • Make sure your registration page is easily accessible. Take the time to ensure your webpage is accessible to all devices and browsers. This is crucial for remaining inclusive and welcoming to every user. For example, include items such as alt text for images.

Creating a positive user experience with your virtual event registration form doesnÂ’t have to be difficult. Now that youÂ’ve properly designed your donation form, itÂ’s time to attract your registrants with promotional tactics!

Promote your event successfully


To ensure you hit your financial goals, construct a persuasive promotional campaign. To complete this effectively, make a clear call to action and implement a multichannel marketing strategy. This means youÂ’ll want to use various communication routes to reach your potential attendees with your virtual event information.

To do this effectively, check your engagement metrics on each platform to determine which channels would be best for your campaign. Here are a few of the most effective platforms to promote virtual fundraising events for your school:

Direct mail


You already have your studentsÂ’ addresses, so send out invitations via direct mail. YouÂ’ll likely have your virtual event information hung up on the fridge at home, and your mission will remain top of mind. Sending out a physical invitation stands out amidst the clutter your audience sees every day online.

To effectively write your virtual event invitation, consider the following best practices:

  • Address the donor by their name, instead of a generic “Dear Donor,”
  • Add eye-catching graphics and fonts
  • Include instructions for RSVPs

With these elements, your invite will stand out and entice even more of your community to support your schoolÂ’s event.

Email


Email is likely the main way your school communicates with parents, staff, and older students. Use this to your advantage and send out personalized yet automated invitations to your school. Be sure to include:
  • An engaging subject line
  • Eye-catching images
  • Personalized introductions.

Add the link to your registration page for easy access, and youÂ’re all set!

Social Media


Social media is crucial to the success of your event, as many of your students are likely on multiple platforms, in addition to following your schoolÂ’s pages. Some best practices for effective social media promotion include:

  • Creating content that is native to the platforms youÂ’re posting on. Depending on the channel, ensure your content aligns with other posts on the same platform. For example, you can create an event page on Facebook with tons of details, but you wouldnÂ’t do the same on Instagram, rather youÂ’d post an eye-catching graphic.
  • Ask your supporters to share your content. Ideally, your followers would promote and share your virtual fundraising event to their networks because they already outwardly support your cause. This is especially important when youÂ’re hosting a virtual event because your supporters can participate from across the globe.
  • Tracking your social media analytics. Social media is beneficial in the way that it helps your team monitor follower activity and post engagements. This is perfect for obtaining actionable data such as when your supporters are online, and what content resonates with them.

Ensure that your event team is aligned on your social media strategy. Having a content calendar can ensure that no content is double posted, and your content is sent out at the right time.

Follow up with your attendees


Finally, be sure to follow up with your schoolÂ’s virtual event attendees. When you communicate after the event, youÂ’ll strengthen your relationship with supporters, make them feel appreciated, and lay the groundwork for future engagement. This is so important because it will foster a sense of community even when your events are online.

Some recommended ways to follow up after your event include:

  • Thank you letters: Show your appreciation with a personalized thank you letter. Use the information in your donor database to personalize names and messages to add value and build relationships. For examples of useful templates, check out this resource from Fundraising Letters.
  • Surveys and polls: Feedback on your schoolÂ’s virtual fundraiser is essential to gaining insights on the success of your event. Be sure to alter your strategy for your next event based on insights gained from your surveys.
  • Donation receipts: Configure your chosen virtual event software to send out automated receipts for gifts. This is important because your donors likely want to keep track of their gifts for taxation purposes.

Growing engagement is crucial for hitting your fundraising goals. Be sure to follow up after your event to find out how to improve your future virtual events and please your dedicated attendees.


Pivoting your school fundraiser to the virtual space doesnÂ’t have to be difficult with the right practices in place. Ensure youÂ’re making decisions based on insights from past events to make your fundraiser as engaging as possible. Happy fundraising!

Fundraising Products: The Pacesetter and Gamechanger in Raising Funds

When people want to raise funds for a cause, they often turn to crowdfunding platforms. These are usually donation-based and aim to raise as much money as possible in a short timeframe. This makes it an effective way to generate funds, but it is not without drawbacks.

Gofundme is a well-known platform mainly used for personal fundraising. It has a great track record since it offers transparency to the donor. However, it is not meant for causes that are more on the grassroots level and rather focus on helping individuals reach their personal goals.

Fundraising products are an alternative and proven way to raise funds. As opposed to donation-based fundraisers like those in Gofundme, fundraising products provide personalized fundraising options for each campaign, which is a great way to get the attention of potential supporters. If itÂ’s time to go-fundraise, in an easy way, maybe itÂ’s time for you to consider fundraising with our high-quality programs.

Why Choose Fundraising Products


The main reasons why you should use fundraising products include;

Giving Back
You can give people something in exchange for the support they give. In the case of donations, there is nothing to be gained or give in return other than a sense of gratitude and emotional satisfaction from helping a good cause. With fundraising products, you can sell products related to the cause of your choice and raise funds through the sales you make.

In an increasingly digital world, it can't be easy to get people to take notice of your cause. However, offering something in return gives you an edge and makes it easier to get people on board.

Quality Branded Products
When you look at successfulfundraising campaigns for sports groups, you will notice that they sell branded products. This includes t-shirts, mugs, and other merchandise with their own logo or name.

Bear in mind that quality products make it easy to raise funds. Many people will willingly donate money to a good cause, but they want to be sure that their money is being used to support something worthwhile. If you can give them a quality item representing your cause, they’ll be happy to support you and even “sport” your brand. Your team raises funds while also promoting your brand. Sounds good, right?

Wide Selection for Non-profit Type Campaigns
It doesn't matter whether you are a church, school, or any other type of non-profit, thereÂ’s a fundraising product that will suit your cause.

You can even offer different items; the wide selection is an excellent approach, seeing that it allows people to contribute in a more personal way and get something they like.

What we know after 30 years of experience in fundraising
When it comes to online fundraising, fundraising.com has been a leader for 30 years. Many companies come and go in fundraising but in 2022, weÂ’re celebrating 30 years helping people raise the funds they need by leveraging the power of the internet. Since the beginning, 30 years ago, we have strived to offer high quality products and excellent customer service, and weÂ’ve also learned a lot along the way, and this experience tells us that product-based, online fundraising is a successful way to achieve your fundraising goals.

If you want to gofundraising in a successful way, our fundraising experts offer guidance and walk you through choosing the best fundraising program for your organization. LetÂ’s go raise some funds!


4 Fundraising Ideas for Church and Other Faith-based Groups


Are you a pastor of a small church, and raising funds to support various projects, groups, and events is difficult for you? Most small churches source money from their small congregation, and at times, as a pastor, you may feel like you are overburdening your members by asking for more.

Besides, discussing church fundraising initiatives outside of the Sunday giving can be overwhelming for your people. Below are four church fundraising ideas that you can implement to raise funds for your church projects without putting a financial strain on your congregants.

The ideas apply to all faith-based organizations and church groups, like youth groups raising funds for mission trips and camps.

1. Have funds collected in donation jars
One of the best ideas for collecting donation funds is by giving out glass jars to your members to save funds for church projects. You may also consider customizing the jars with a church photo and a charming call to action like "help us raise sympathy funds to reach out to many lost souls through missions."

2. Fundraising with candles
No one can say no to a pleasantly fragrant candle with a lovely design! Not when they offer a nice and peaceful environment and are essential during power outages. An example of a candle fundraiser is the Journey of Faith Candle Fundraiser.

Candles for the Journey of Faith are the best pre-sale or brochure fundraisers for church and faith-based organizations.

You don't need money to sell the Journey of Faith candles. All you need is a brochure with a variety of candles and scents.

You then distribute the booklet to supporters and order the candles they need. Later, after receiving your candles, you will distribute them to everyone who purchased them.

Journey of Faith Candle is high quality, sells swiftly, and is popular. The candles also come with different fragrances and messages. For example, we have the Juicy Peach (Encourage) Journey of Faith Candle, inspiring people to encourage one another.

3. Create a committee to help you gather the funds
Whether you are a church pastor or a director of a faith-based organization, raising funds alone can be a difficult task. You need the help of others, so we recommend that you form a committee to work with you.

You should include influential members in the committee. To be successful, always inform members of your amount and account for every dollar collected.

Engaging with your supporters and giving them updates on the fundraiser makes them feel part of the project and thus are encouraged to give more. You may decide to show them some pictures and videos concerning the project. It would help if you let them know that their contributions were worthwhile.

4. Hold events and rummage sales.
Events are not only avenues that allow members to donate to the church but also give them opportunities to bond with fellow congregants. You may ask the participants to donate items they no longer use, such as clothing, shoes, electronics, and house furnishings.

We recommend holding the fundraiser on a sunny weekend morning when more people have attended.

You can also consider holding family dinners where families buy tickets. Family dinners allow families to relax and enjoy a night free from cooking and dishwashing.

It would be best to consider holding babysitting nights where parents can donate while their children receive childcare.

Final Thoughts
There are many other great ideas to raise funds for your faith-based organization but the Journey of Faith Candle Fundraiser is an easy and popular fundraiser among small churches since these candles sell fast, and there's no need for upfront payments to start selling. Happy fundraising!

Top 5 Peanut-Free and Gluten-Free Fundraising Ideas


If your child has a peanut allergy, or if you are gluten-free, you know how difficult it can be to find safe food for school or social events. This is especially true when it comes to fundraising activities. Many popular fundraisers revolve around food, which can be a real challenge for people with special dietary needs. But don't worry, we've got you covered! WeÂ’ll give you some great ideas for peanut-free and gluten-free fundraisers.

Bake Sale
Of course, you can go with a good old bake sale to raise money. If you're baking the goodies yourself, make sure you have the right peanut-free and gluten-free ingredients, which can be tricky. An alternative is to ask local businesses, like your local bakery or coffee shop, to donate or give your group a discount on gluten-free and peanut-free treats.

Chocolatiers Variety Packs
If you are short on time but still want to do a fundraiser, consider selling chocolatier packs. These are a variety of packs of one-dollar chocolate bars. Not only are they a great fundraising idea, but they also offer a tasty treat. They come in four assorted flavors and a massive discount for a fundraising event. Depending on the number of packs you buy, they are available at fantastic prices for fundraising purposes. You will be able to get as high as 50% profit back.
Chocolatiers also come in a $2 presentation which gives your group up to 55% profit. They are also peanut-free and gluten-free.

One Dollar Bars Variety Packs
Another tasty and ready-to-go fundraiser is Van WykÂ’s tried and tested $1 AmericaÂ’s Variety chocolate bars. These high-quality chocolates are sure to please your sweet tooth supporters who want a peanut-free and gluten-free option. They make a great fundraiser for churches, schools, and sports teams alike.

Sweet & Salty Pretzel Rod
Now, for a sweet and salty flavor combo, opt for sweet and salty pretzel rods. They are a great fundraiser for schools and churches, and yes! They are peanut-free and gluten-free too. They come in four flavors, and each rod is individually wrapped, making it easy to hand out and sell.

Famous Fortune Cookies
Want to add some fun to your peanut free fundraiser? How about doing it with Fortune Cookies? But not just any kind. This Fortune Cookies Fundraiser stands out because the cookies are covered with delicious toppings and the inspirational messages inside of them will warm your heart. They are also individually wrapped, making them easy to hand out and sell.
These gluten free and peanut free fundraising programs are an effortless way to make big profit with safe food for everyone. Happy safe fundraising!



IDEAS EN ESPAÑOL



CONSEJOS DE MARKETING PARA SU RECAUDACIÓN DE FONDOS
El marketing es un elemento esencial de la recaudación de fondos con el que algunas personas podrían tener problemas. Podría recaudar dinero por una causa muy importante, pero las personas necesitan saber qué está haciendo y deben saber qué impacto tendrán sus donaciones. La dirección que tome dependerá de la naturaleza de su organización benéfica y los datos demográficos a los que se dirige, pero para las organizaciones sin fines de lucro locales hay algunos consejos generales rápidos que facilitan las cosas.

Crea una lista de correo electrónico
El email marketing es un método de marketing muy poderoso, especialmente para la recaudación de fondos. La mejor manera de construir su lista de correo electrónico es utilizar la participación de las redes sociales para dirigir a las personas al sitio web de recaudación de fondos y solicitarles que se registren para recibir el boletín informativo. Cada nuevo suscriptor podría convertirse en donante en el futuro.

Cuente historias de impacto
En todo su contenido, ya sea en el boletín informativo, en el sitio web o en las redes sociales, las historias de impacto son una mina de oro. Busque historias personales que demuestren cómo su caridad ha marcado la diferencia. Testimonios, videos, infografías y entrevistas son todos formatos posibles para contar la historia. Cuando las personas vean la diferencia que realmente ha hecho su caridad, se les puede persuadir para que envíen una donación.

Mantenga un concurso divertido
Una buena manera de generar algo de interés para su recaudación de fondos es mediante la celebración de un concurso a través de las redes sociales. Por ejemplo, si tiene una organización benéfica de deportes, puede solicitar a las personas que envíen sus mejores fotos de las pequeñas ligas, y las tres mejores recibirán un premio. Ese es solo un ejemplo, pero el concurso que elijas ejecutar debe ser algo relacionado con tu causa. !De esa manera puede proporcionar una transición fácil a su recaudación de fondos donde puede solicitar donaciones con una historia de impacto convincente!
fundraising ideas for college


UNA FORMA CLARA DE DUPLICAR LAS GANANCIAS

Las recaudaciones de fondo de lavado de autos dependen de los clientes que hacen fila para que le limpien su vehículo, pero ¿existe otra forma en la que pueda aumentar aún más sus ganancias? Por supuesto, y la oportunidad será "perfectamente clara" para usted en un momento.

Cada gran recaudación de fondos depende de factores clave de éxito. El primero es cuántos clientes puedes atraer. Eso a veces es un poco difícil de prever con un lavado de autos, así que mantén los dedos cruzados esperando que los prospectos creen una línea que se extienda en el horizonte.

Una segunda vía para el éxito de la recaudación de fondos es la cantidad de contribución que puede generar de cada patrocinador individual. Cuanto más, mejor, el patrocinador ya está contribuyendo, pero siempre puedes sacar más provecho sobre esta oportunidad, ya que puedes influir en ellos y ofrecerles más cosas cuando lleguen al lugar.

Aunque el encerado del auto o las ruedas con un cargo adicional es una estrategia, ofrecer una forma de mantener limpio el interior del vehículo del acompañante durante un largo tiempo después de lavar el automóvil podría ser bastante poderoso. Ahora estás en algo.

Usted ya sabe que a cada usuario le gusta la idea de mantener limpio su vehículo. Pero si bien la próxima lluvia puede afectar el exterior, el interior es diferente. Representa el entorno en el que el conductor entra y vive cada día.