Table of Contents
What Is Community Fundraising?
Community fundraising is when a group of people who share a certain number of commonalities or beliefs come together and start raising funds for one or many reasons as a community or a social group. Charities and non-profits mostly do crowdfunding activities with the help of a community fundraising strategy. A community is an example of ‘together we stand’ as community fundraisers bring people together and let them fight for a cause.
What Are The Best Community Fundraising Ideas?
Communities are constantly learning and adapting to survive and thrive. By planning and executing numerous local fundraising ideas throughout the year, communities can achieve their fundraising goals. We have highlighted some community fundraising ideas to follow to start a fundraiser for any cause.
1. Online Fundraising
Creating an online campaign is one of the easiest fundraising ideas for community groups. You can choose an ideal platform to start with. Make sure to curate an attention-grabbing story for your campaign. You can also integrate other social media fundraising ideas, such as Instagram fundraising, YouTube giving, sending out a fundraising email, etc.
As a crowdfunding platform, WhyDonate understands the complexity of the effort that goes into a fundraiser. That’s why we provide you with several features, such as a comprehensive dashboard, custom branding, multi-currency, and much more. WhyDonate charges a minimal transaction fee and 0% platform fees, so that whatever you raise doesn’t get affected by any additional charges.
Start your community fundraiser in minutes with WhyDonate’s easy setup.
2. Community Bake Sale
Be it a special occasion or a typical day, everyone loves a sweet and baked savory. It’s among the most interesting community fundraiser ideas. Organize a sale of ba
ked items such as cookies, cakes, and croissants in order to gather funds for your fundraiser. Communities can also tie up with the local bakery, which can help make the baking goods. Make the packaging of the displayed baking items attractive and colorful for children so that you can gather some small buyers.
Another idea that you can incorporate into baking fundraisers is creating a DIY selfie point where the buyers can take pictures of the fundraiser and add the pictures on social media. People from all corners of the world can see the fundraiser’s purpose and donate, even if they don’t buy the goods. Communities can initiate the campaign via crowdfunding websites and share pictures of the sale so that a wide range of people can be a part of the initiative.
3. Holiday Sale Community Fundraiser
Holidays are joyful moments, and you can witness more donations during the holiday season compared to other times of the year. You can choose what you want to sell depending on the holiday. For example, you can sell Christmas trees and cookies during Christmas and gather donations for your cause.
You can also sell greeting cards and costumes, or just select whatever you want to sell and put a donation box on the counter. Ask people to contribute as much as they can to support your community fundraisers, which can make a massive difference in other people’s lives.
4. Marathon Fundraiser
Organizing a marathon can be considered an excellent option for fundraising ideas for community groups. Marathon fundraising is usually a healthy and fun way to bring a community together. Incorporating a cause into the event can bring people even closer, as they can spread some goodness together. You can make a preliminary plan for the marathon so that you can reach more people. Keep provision for refreshments, decorations, approved permits, entertainment, and matching T-shirts for the participants. Keep the safety of the people in mind and run your campaign.
For a successful event, use local and social media & convenient fundraising platforms that allow donors to contribute via crowdfunding or direct donations.
5. Lemonade Stand
Transform this classic favorite activity into something that can really serve the community fundraising campaign. Set up a lemonade stand where volunteers can sell lemonades, with exquisite stories about the financing of the cause. Make sure you get all the good quality supplies you need for free in your community fundraiser ideas.
6. Tree Planting Fundraiser
Deforestation is a huge concern now as it fluctuates in our ecosystem. Start your community projects by planting a number of trees, pairing up with local organizations and schools if possible. Find local parks or forests to start the mission and seek the help of local nurseries if they can donate some plants for a peaceful future. It makes one of the most meaningful community fundraising ideas for charity as it not only aims to gather funds for the campaign but also caters to a better environment.
7. Game Night Fundraiser
An entertaining and engaging way to help a cause is to host a game night. Gather people from your community for a night of board games, trivia, or even video game tournaments. Charge a small entry fee or accept donations. Offer small prizes to increase engagement and promote a sense of friendly competition.
8. Community Yard Sale
A neighborhood yard sale can be a great way to interact with neighbors and generate money. Arrange a sale in a nearby park or community center and ask people to donate things they no longer need. You can use the sale’s proceeds to fund your community projects. Advertise the event locally and online to increase participation.
9. Talent Show
Organizing a talent show to bring out the hidden talents in your community. This is one of those exciting community fundraising ideas that entertains while raising money. Participants can pay an entry fee, and attendees can purchase tickets to watch. Add a donation booth and sell refreshments to increase your overall funds.
10. Charity Fitness Classes
You can host a charity fitness or yoga class to raise funds for a cause. Partner with a local instructor or yoga trainer to conduct a session in a park or gym and ask for donations instead of fees. It will not only promote wellness but also help to raise funds.
If you’re looking for more ways to collect support offline, here are some event-based fundraising ideas that work well in local communities.
11. Bottle & Can Drive
You can organize a simple and eco-friendly community bottle and can fundraiser. Ask friends and neighbors to save their returnable containers, then gather and redeem them. The small amounts quickly add up to support your cause, and Earth911 can help you find the nearest recycling center.
12. Sponsored Clean-Up Day
Organize a neighborhood clean-up day when participants collect pledges for every bag of trash they pick up. It not only creates a cleaner, healthier environment, but it also serves as a proactive community fundraising activity. Partner with local businesses for sponsorship or donations in kind.
Start a Community Fundraiser Now
Fundraising through crowdfunding is one of the obvious mantras these days. You can use other ideas as well and even promote these campaigns via social media channels to have a worldwide effect. Using crowdfunding platforms like WhyDonate can be very effective for community fundraisers and charities. Having these online charities can provide visuals about real community issues, and anyone can donate from anywhere in the world.
We’ve only covered the tip of the iceberg here, and we hope you can take these insights further and apply them to your community fundraiser ideas.
Kick off a community fundraising campaign and see the difference locally.
FAQs on Community Fundraising
1. What are local fundraising ideas for schools?
Local fundraising for schools can include initiatives like bake sales, car washes, lemonade stands, and partnerships with local businesses for raffles or sponsorships. These activities help raise funds within the neighborhood and strengthen community ties.
2. How can community fundraising ideas for schools boost participation?
Community fundraising ideas for schools can be walk-a-thons, field days, school pageants, and garage sales, which encourage involvement from students, families, and neighbors. These events bring people together, foster school spirit, and can be tailored to local interests for maximum impact.
3. How can you make your community fundraising campaign more compelling?
You should keep it personal and concise. Use real names and photos to build trust, and clearly explain exactly what you need the funds for and how it will make a difference. Avoid jargon and focus on a genuine, heartfelt reason why you care.
4. What should I do after the fundraising campaign ends?
Follow up! Share a short update with all donors, showing the results with a photo of what was achieved. No matter how small, it is crucial for building trust and encouraging future support to show the tangible impact of their contribution.
