Charity Fundraising Ideas: Practical Ways to Get People Involved

Coming up with a fundraising idea is often the easy part. Turning it into something people actually hear about, understand and want to support takes a little more thought.

It doesn’t have to mean organising a huge event either.

Some charities raise money through one big annual fundraiser, while others run smaller activities throughout the year. What works will depend on your cause, the people who support it and how much time you realistically have to organise everything.

If you’re looking for somewhere to start, we’ve pulled together a few fundraising ideas… along with some practical things worth thinking about before you get going.

Start With Something That Suits Your Supporters

There’s no shortage of fundraising ideas out there. The trick is choosing one that feels right for the people you’re asking to take part.

Coffee mornings, bake sales and quiz nights can work well when you’ve got a strong local community around you. Sponsored walks, runs and other challenges give supporters the chance to do the fundraising themselves, while raffles and prize draws can either stand alone or become part of a bigger event.

Then there are seasonal opportunities. Christmas fairs, festive card sales, Easter events and other dates throughout the year give you an occasion to build around rather than starting completely from scratch.

Selling something can work too. Charity calendars, Christmas cards and other fundraising products give supporters something for their money while helping raise funds for your cause.

You don’t necessarily need the most original idea. If people understand it, can get involved easily and know what their support is helping to achieve, you’ve already got the important bits covered.

Give People a Reason to Get Involved

Whatever you decide to do, make the purpose clear.

“Help us raise £2,000 for new equipment” tells somebody much more than simply asking them to support a fundraiser. If there’s a particular project, service or goal behind the campaign, talk about it.

That doesn’t mean filling every poster or social post with information. Give people enough to understand why it matters, then make the next step obvious.

Where is the event? When is it happening? How can they donate? Do they need to register? Can they help even if they can’t attend?

Those are the things people need to know.

Think About Where People Will See Your Fundraiser

Social media and email make it easy to reach people who already follow your charity. The challenge is often getting beyond that audience.

That’s where local promotion can still make a real difference.

A poster in a community centre, café, school or shop can put your fundraiser in front of somebody who might never see your social posts. Leaflets can be handed out locally or taken away from an event. If you need more room to explain the work behind a campaign, a brochure gives you space to tell that story properly.

Stickers can play a different role. They can be handed out to supporters, added to fundraising packs or used around an event to keep the campaign visible.

You won’t need all of them. A small local event might only need a handful of posters and some leaflets. A longer fundraising campaign could involve several pieces of print alongside email and social.

Start with where you need to be seen… then choose what will actually help you get there.

Don’t Let the Cost Per Item Make the Decision

This is an easy trap with print.

Ordering more can bring the individual cost down, but that doesn’t make it cheaper if half of it is still sitting in a box six months later.

Think about how many people you’re realistically going to reach, where the print will go and whether you’ll be able to use it again.

The same goes for paper and finishes. Sometimes something unusual is exactly what a campaign needs. Other times, a straightforward paper stock and a strong piece of artwork will do the job perfectly well.

For charities working to a budget, we’d rather help you find the right option than sell you something you don’t need.

Make Everything Feel Like Part of the Same Campaign

If you’re promoting the same fundraiser across posters, leaflets, social media and other materials, people should be able to recognise it.

That doesn’t mean every piece has to look identical.

Keeping your charity colours, key message, imagery and important information consistent is usually enough to tie everything together. It also reduces the chance of different dates, donation links or event details appearing in different places.

For longer campaigns, it’s worth deciding these things before you start producing individual pieces. It makes everything that follows much easier.

And When It’s Over…

Tell people how it went.

If you raised £800, £8,000 or simply had a brilliant turnout, let the people who supported you know. Share some photographs, thank the businesses or volunteers who helped and explain what the money raised will go towards.

Someone who supports one fundraiser could come back for the next one. They might volunteer, become a regular donor or tell somebody else about your charity.

The event may be finished… the relationship doesn’t have to be.

Planning Your Next Charity Fundraiser?

Start with something your supporters will actually want to get behind. Be clear about what you’re raising money for, make it easy to take part and spend your budget on the things that will genuinely help.

And if print is one of them, take a look at our charity printing range. We’ve brought together posters, leaflets, brochures, stickers, calendars and other useful options in one place.

Registered charities can also save 10% on eligible online orders.