Ten top fundraising ideas

No matter how great your idea for a campaign, it won't get off the ground without cold hard cash. Read on for some ingenious fundraising ideas, plus tips to ensure your hard work gets results.

If baking cakes isn't your thing, there's always the 'wacky' stunt option...

Fundraising idea 1: Wacky sponsored stunt

Shave your head, wax your chest (chaps), bathe in baked beans, dye your hair, auction yourself to the highest bidder – the potential for a sponsored stunt is limited only by your capacity for shame. Then it’s all about using your marketing nous to spread the message far and wide and optimise your chance of making money.

Fundraising idea 2. Clothes swap

Also known as swishing, a clothes swap involves inviting people to a venue (usually a town hall or club but a big living room would do) and getting everyone to bring one or two unwanted items of used (but wearable) clothing. Charge entry and give everyone 20 minutes to walk around, size up the clothes on display and have a drink or two. When you shout “swap”, everyone dives on the clothes they want. Many places use a system to ensure the person with the sharpest elbows doesn’t bag all the stuff. One way is this: when people arrive, exchange each of their garments for a token (such as a button) – then when the bun fight begins ‘charge’ one token for each item they want. That way, people can only take away as many garments as they brought.

Fundraising idea 3. Sponsored sporting challenge

With every charity offering a trek up Kilimanjaro or sponsored skydive these days, it’s hard to find a sporting challenge that will impress. Try and set yourself a task that’s genuinely difficult, or at least sounds like it is. You could row across the channel (on a rowing machine in the gym, unless you’re into extreme sports) or ‘cycle’ to another country (again in the gym, over a period of weeks). You could also try and get a place in a local marathon – the London Marathon is hard to get into, but other cities like Brighton also have marathons.

Fundraising idea 4. Fundraising event

Fun if you’re attending; stressful if you’re organising. Fundraisers could include benefit gigs, jumble sales and garden parties. If well planned, publicised and attended, these events can raise lots of money and publicity for your group. But they can also be a lot of effort and, on rare occasions, lose money. Avoid ending up in this situation by following these pointers:

• Concentrate on publicity – set up a Facebook event, invite friends, ask them to share it; tweet about it; put up posters; encourage word-of-mouth; get in the local paper or on the radio.
• Make sure the event doesn’t clash with any major sporting events or bank holidays.
• Make sure people realise the objective of the event is to raise money (so, no, they can’t get on the guest list for free entry). The admission fee should be enough to make money for the campaign, but not too expensive. Consider having a concessionary rate.
• Make sure that you have an information stall at the event, with leaflets and displays, campaign merchandise and a collection tin for donations.

Fundraising idea 5. Benefit gig

If you’ve got the contacts, organise a benefit gig with local DJs and bands who will play for free. You’ll probably have to pay for the venue and a PA system, though some bars let you use their space as long as you can guarantee a certain level of takings at the bar (again, publicity is key). Make sure people realise the objective of the event is to raise money so they don’t try and blag their way in.

Fundraising idea 6. Fundraising raffle

Sure, raffles are associated more with the Women’s Institute than cutting-edge campaigners, but they are easy to set up and cheap. Source prizes for free – find friendly local businesses to give you a food hamper, gift tokens or free tickets to a local event. Ask artists or crafty types to donate prizes, or bake some delicious cakes. You can buy books or raffle tickets at post offices or stationers.

Fundraising idea 7. Fundraising sale

Consider having a stall at a fair or local fete, a car boot sale, plant sale, jumble sale or theme market. Publicise and promote the stall and make it look attractive and welcoming. Think about putting up a banner, so people know they’re supporting your campaign. Explain as much as possible about what you’re doing: people are more likely to be sympathetic and spend money.

Fundraising idea 8. Bucket rattling

At every event make sure you do some bucket rattling. Small change soon adds up and there are always people who will chuck in notes. Be careful not to overdo it though. Don’t be aggressive, or do it at other people’s events without asking first. Pub collections are an easy earner, but be prepared for argumentative/drunk people or just to be ignored. Ask permission from the licensee first.

Fundraising idea 9. Crowd source funding

Crowd sourcing means gathering people together and asking them to donate towards a specific project. There are several websites that exist to help you do just this.

Fundraising idea 10. Busking

Busking can raise a lot of money (depending on whether you have the voice of an angel or a strangled cat). It’s legal in most places in the UK, except for some places where bylaws prevent it. Check with your local council. As long as you’re not obstructing the pavement, you should be OK.

11. Be polite – say “thank you”

Yes, we said ten ideas. But this is important. Remember to thank everyone who helps you out. It’ll greatly enhance your chances of getting help again in future.