CHARITY FUNDRAISING IDEAS

HOW CAN I FUNDRAISE FOR MY FAVOURITE CHARITY?

Before you start fundraising, it’s important to have a realistic fundraising goal in mind. Whether you have lots of experience, or are fundraising for the very first time, you’ll quickly discover that having a carefully thought-out plan can help you to reach your fundraising goals much more quickly.

WHAT IS FUNDRAISING?

Fundraising involves raising money for a good cause. Anyone can fundraise for a favourite charity, or on behalf of a specific charity campaign, and it’s often our personal attachment to a cause that drives our fundraising efforts.

WHY IS FUNDRAISING A GOOD THING TO DO?

Charities rely on fundraising for a large percentage of their income, but it’s not just about the money. Fundraising can also help promote a charity’s message and goals, encouraging others to get involved and spread the word.

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HOW CAN I CHOOSE WHO TO FUNDRAISE FOR?

There are thousands of charitable organisations to fundraise for so it can be difficult to know where to start. Our charity search can help you research charities in the UK and overseas to find a cause that’s close to your heart. Perhaps your personal values mean you want to support a specific cause, or maybe you want to give back to a local charity that’s helped you, a friend, or a family member at a difficult time?

WHY SHOULD I PLAN MY CHARITABLE FUNDRAISING?

Whoever you’re raising money for, having a clear idea of how to achieve your target is crucial. A fundraising plan will provide clarity and a good understanding of both your short and long-term goals. It’ll help you make the most of your time and understand exactly how much effort you’ll need to put in. This will help you to stay motivated and on-track with your fundraising objectives.

HOW DO I DECIDE ON MY FUNDRAISING GOALS AND OBJECTIVES?

Before you can map out your plan, ask yourself these five questions:

  1. Which cause do I want to raise funds for?
  2. Why do I want to raise funds for this charity?
  3. How much do I want to raise?
  4. Who do I want to ask for support?
  5. What’s my timescale for fundraising?
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CAN YOU GIVE ME SOME FUNDRAISING IDEAS?

Your plan should include a range of ideas so as many people as possible have a chance to support you. You can divide it into short-term and longer term ideas, depending on how long you have to reach your target.

To help you reach your fundraising target, we’ve come up with some great ideas to get you started:

  • Take part in a sponsored run or bike race; check your favourite charity’s website to see whether they’re looking for people to raise funds
  • Get colleagues involved; have a cake sale or get together to agree on some ideas for charity fundraising in the workplace
  • Ask for donations or clothes, toys and other bric-a-brac and have a car boot sale.
  • Organise fun nights in - or out - such as karaoke, talent contests and a fancy dress day.
  • Run a raffle - ask friends and family to donate prizes.
  • Organise a charity car wash at work, or at home.

For your fundraising efforts to be successful they should inspire your supporters to donate. Think about activities that people will respond to, engage with and share your fundraising photos on social media. After all, fundraising campaigns are far more successful when they support causes people care about.

HOW CAN I MAKE THE MOST OF MY DONATIONS?

There are many ways to collect sponsorship, for example through an online fundraising page or a paper sponsor form. If your supporters have a CAF Charity Account, they can give you a CAF Charity Voucher or donate direct to the charity via our website. You’ll receive an email to say how much they’ve sponsored, which you can add to your offline total.

Don’t forget to ask them to claim Gift Aid on their donations, if they’re eligible.

Most importantly, remember to have fun and enjoy your fundraising. After all, no matter how much or how little you raise, your fundraising really does have the ability to change lives.

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