Charity Fundraising Ideas: 60 That Actually Raise Money

Charity fundraising ideas

Fundraising totals come down to two things: how many people take part, and whether they're giving on a card or scrabbling for change.

Below are sixty ideas sorted by how much organising they need, plus the levers - matched giving, Gift Aid, contactless, a public target - that raise more from the same event.

Whatever you run, register with the charity first. Most send a free kit and paying-in details, and it saves you money.

Thank you cards for the people who baked

Somebody made forty cupcakes at 11pm. A thank you card, printed in the UK and blank inside, is the least they're owed. Bunting, banners and cake toppers for the table are on our party supplies page.

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Shop thank you cards

Easy fundraisers (an hour to organise)

  • Dress-down or non-uniform day, £1 to £2 a head.
  • Wear a colour day.
  • Bake sale - see our bake sale ideas.
  • Coffee morning.
  • Raffle with donated prizes.
  • Guess the weight of the cake.
  • Name the teddy.
  • Sweets in a jar.
  • Office quiz at lunchtime.
  • Swear jar for a fortnight.
  • Bring and buy book or plant stall.
  • Silly hair or silly hat day.

Sponsored challenges

  • Sponsored silence.
  • Step challenge across a month.
  • Sponsored walk, run, swim or cycle.
  • Head shave or leg wax.
  • Give up chocolate, coffee, alcohol or social media.
  • 24-hour gaming, baking or cycling stream.
  • Couch to 5K as a team.
  • Sponsored read or spell for schools.
  • Climb the height of Snowdon on the office stairs.
  • Wear the same outfit for a week.

Events worth the effort

  • Quiz night with a bar and a raffle - the highest earner per hour of planning.
  • Race night with sponsored races.
  • Talent show or open mic.
  • Fun day with stalls, in a school field or car park.
  • Auction of promises: a day's gardening, a cake, a lift to the airport.
  • Ceilidh or barn dance for community groups.
  • Curry or pie and pea night in a hall.
  • Car wash day.
  • Craft fair with tables sold to stallholders.
  • Sports tournament: five-a-side, netball or rounders.

Workplace fundraising

  • Matched giving - check first, it can double everything.
  • Payroll giving sign-up drive.
  • Dress-down Friday all month.
  • Bake-off between departments.
  • Senior staff swap jobs for an hour.
  • Desk decorating competition.
  • Charity of the year vote to get everyone invested.
  • Volunteering day, if your employer offers paid time.
  • Sell unwanted branded stock or old equipment.

How to raise more from the same event

  • Take contactless. Card gifts run consistently higher than cash.
  • Set a public target and show progress on a board.
  • Add Gift Aid to every sponsorship form - it adds 25% at no cost to the giver.
  • Ask for matched giving from employers before the event, not after.
  • Round up: 'suggested £2' beats 'donations welcome'.
  • Photograph everything and post the same day - late donations follow the photos.
  • Say the total out loud halfway through. People push it to a round number.
  • Thank people by name publicly, and with a card if they did the heavy lifting.

Shop thank you cards

Cards for volunteers and organisers

Thank you and well done cards, blank inside, posted first class.

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How to write it so it lands

  • One well-run event beats three half-organised ones. Pick the quiz night.
  • Recruit a named person per job: money, food, prizes, setup. 'Everyone helps' means nobody does.
  • Thank people the same day, publicly and by name. It's what makes next year possible.

Where to shop next

Frequently asked questions

What are the easiest charity fundraising ideas?

A dress-down day at £1 a head, a bake sale and a raffle. All three can be organised in an afternoon and between them cover most of what a school or office raises in a year.

What raises the most money?

Sponsored individual challenges and quiz nights. Both get people giving by card in larger amounts rather than putting coins in a tin.

What is Gift Aid and should you use it?

Gift Aid lets a UK charity claim an extra 25p for every £1 donated by a UK taxpayer, at no cost to the giver. Always include the declaration on sponsorship forms and online pages.

Do you need permission to fundraise for a charity?

Register your event with the charity first. They'll confirm what you can use their name and logo for, and send materials and paying-in details.

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