10 cheap fundraising ideas
If you’ve decided you want to start fundraising, a good place to start would be to look at cheap fundraising ideas. Big events are great and can attract a lot of attention, but also do require some form of investment before you put them on – and day to day that might not be practical. But there are plenty of ways to raise money for your good cause without breaking the bank first. And it’s always easy to start a GoFundMe to fundraise.
Volunteer for a good cause
Volunteering for a charity or organisation is a brilliant way to fundraise for them without incurring a large cost first. Volunteering means giving your time and it also helps to raise awareness of the cause you are supporting at the same time. There’s plenty of opportunity to volunteer for local good causes like food banks or charity shops.
2. Clear out unwanted belongings
Giving your house a little spring clean and getting rid of extra clothes, ornaments, books… and selling them at a car boot sale or online can also be a good way to raise money. It’s good for the planet and gives items another lease of life whilst giving you a clearer home.
3. Take on a running or walking challenge
A fitness challenge is a brilliant way to raise money for a good cause. It gets you out of the house and fit in the process and there’s also no limit to how far you can go – ultramarathons anyone? The great part about a walking challenge is that taking to the pavements around your home is free, all you need is a good pair of shoes. You can read more on our blog about how to get into running.
4. Host a skills workshop
Maybe you’ve got a skill that people covet around you? From DIY to make-up, photography, arts and crafts or even computer skills – get a group together and offer to share your wisdom for a small donation towards that cause you’re raising. You can spread the word on social media and arrange regular sessions.
5. Give something up
Something that is simple – but not necessarily easy – to raise money is giving up something to raise money for charity. Maybe it’s something like smoking in Stoptober which can benefit your health as well, or something like meat for veganuary. There’s a growing popularity of calendar events like dry january, which you can read about here.
6. Start a crowdfunding campaign
A really simple way to raise money is to start a crowdfunding campaign, either for a charity close to your heart or a personal charitable cause. You just need to start one and tell your story about why you want to fundraise and then start sharing it on social media, by email, with posters up at your local school or local businesses. You can start your fundraiser here and take on our handy tips on how to get sharing here.
7. Use your creative skills
Maybe you’re a budding arts and crafts person? In that case, you can create something to sell and put the proceeds towards charity. Even if you’re not crafty, something like carpentry or hairdressing can be offered in return for donations.
8. Sponsored litter pick
Something that benefits the community and is very easy to organise is a sponsored litter pick. Pick a day and get family members and friends to join you in the local parks, playgrounds and streets to pick some litter. Organise a few weekends and spread the word, getting people to sponsor you for your good cause whilst you do it.
9. Brave the shave
Brave the Shave is an excellent organised challenge to do which requires little financial commitment – but shows that you are committed to the cause because you are shaving your hair off. Make an event of it, get people round to video the big moment and share it on social media.
10. Community coffee morning
An all-time favourite fundraising idea is the coffee morning. There are so many different formats you can do it in – get people to donate to attend, or to buy the cakes from you, to make the cakes themselves and ask for a donation on entry… it can be done with colleagues, friends, school mums. Macmillan’s coffee mornings are probably the most famous example of fundraising in this format, so take a look at the Macmillan website for some inspiration.