Great Fundraising Ideas
There’s no doubt about it: fundraising events work. A well-executed event can do more than just bring in major support for Dream On 3, they are also a great way to engage supporters, promote Dream On 3, and have a ton of fun all at once.
If you’re looking to plan a fundraising event that draws in donors, have we got the list for you! Below, you’ll find classic (yet ultra creative!) fundraising events that your friends and supporters are sure to look forward to all year long.
Tournaments
When warm weather rolls around, why not enjoy some fun in the sun while raising funds for Dream On 3? Plan a fun sports tournament where supporters donate a preset amount in order to participate on a team with friends, with the winners taking home a big prize of course!
Don’t forget to seek out local companies to sponsor your tournament, too!
Tournament Ideas: cornhole, darts, golf, bowling, kickball, carting, clay shoot, yachting
Dinner Party
Whether your friends would appreciate a night of glitz and glamour or a bbq picnic, some type of dinner party might be the perfect event for you! Your dinner party may consist of dinner, some type(s) of entertainment, and plenty of activities to keep the fun (and fundraising!) going all night long.
You can adjust your charity dinner party to fit your guests. Not interested in a seated dinner? Mix it up with a live band, a comedic speaker, or a unique theme. (Think: poker tables at a casino-themed event or a jazz bar scene with heavy hors d’oeuvres) The possibilities are endless when you get a little creative!
No matter what spin you put on your dinner party, remember that the best part of these events is getting the chance to connect with your guests and share Dream On 3’s mission and updates.
Other Party Ideas: picnics, BBQ’s, cocktail parties, wine tastings, Kentucky Derby party, Sports viewing party, Dream Night, Hop Fest, handbag brunch, breakfast, art night at a gallery
(COVID-19 UPDATE – you can have Zoom parties and Netflix parties for the virtual version)
Walkathon/Runathon/Swimathon..
“a-thons” combine two of the best things around: fitness and fundraising! Using Dream On 3 fundraising website, your friends can form teams to raise funds for Dream On 3 in preparation for the big walk, run, swim, hike, or bike ride.
“A-thons”, like many other active fundraising events, thrive on group participation. When you motivate your supporters to engage their own communities in your campaign, you’ll be amazed at the fundraising results!
When participants share your event and campaign with their friends and families, tons of potential new supporters will be exposed to your campaign and Dream On 3!
Other “A-thons”: hike-a-thon, row-a-thon, bike-a-thon, ski-a-thon
Carnival
Everyone loves a night at the carnival, so it makes perfect sense to pair one with your fundraising campaign! Get as elaborate as you want with this event by hosting larger-than-life rides or keeping it simple with classic games that no one can say no to!
There are few fundraising events that truly appeal to any demographic, but the carnival is certainly one of them. A carnival-themed fundraising event is family-friendly and adaptive enough to provide entertainment for attendees of all backgrounds.
Carnivals are more than just fun and games, though; these fundraising events have the potential to be serious fundraisers for Dream On 3. You can charge an admission through your Dream On 3 online website or as cash in person and bring in extra donations with concessions as well as a donation booth, of course.
If you budget carefully and get most of the necessities donated, you stand to raise a lot of money. Carnivals build community and give your supporters of all ages the chance to come together and have fun in the name of Dream On 3.
Carnivals are a fantastic way to get the whole community excited (and educated) about your Dream On 3. Have fun with it!
Trivia Tournament
For all the amateur Jeopardy! contestants out there, there’s nothing more fun than a little trivia competition. Encourage your friends to show off their brain power by donating to form small trivia teams. Don’t forget to offer a killer prize for the winning geniuses!
Anyone can compete in a trivia tournament, but more importantly, almost anyone can plan one with next to no hassle. They’re among the easiest events to host in terms of planning.
All it takes to host a super successful trivia night is a venue, a host, and some interesting questions. Keep it simple or spice it up by offering concessions or arranging a seated dinner (or even better partner with a local restaurant or brewery to host the night, you can even reach people you don't know who just happen to be patrons of the business.
Most importantly, break up the evening with a number of donation appeals and quick reminders of your fundraising efforts. You might even frame your trivia categories around Dream On 3 and sports so that your evening is both entertaining and extra-educational.
Movie Night
Grab some popcorn! Movie nights are a terrific way to raise money and enjoy a cozy night with your favorite flick. While you will have to secure the rights to the film of your choice, the rest of the planning for this fundraising event is relatively simple: find a venue with ample space and a big screen (or projector), sell some tasty concessions, and you’re all set. Feel free to show a short Dream On 3 video and hold a big appeal before the screening to make the most of this fundraiser.
If you want to add even more fun to the event, consider going all out and incorporating a theme that relates to the film you’re showing. Most importantly, provide plenty of donation opportunities at your event, including a donation booth and advertisements for your online fundraising website.
Talent Show
Let’s face it: who doesn’t love a good show? When your community can all come together to celebrate the amazing (sometimes surprising!) talents among them, everybody has a blast.
Like some other fundraising events, you can make your talent show as over-the-top or low-key as you’d like. Simply charge an entrance fee for contestants, sell tickets to spectators, and sell concessions for extra donations.
Organizing a talent show will take some resources (and you don’t want to skimp on proper sound equipment or rehearsal time!), but it can also seriously boost your fundraising results. To maximize profits (and fun), make your show as inclusive as possible by opening it up to all ages and talents.
Add a twist by having the audience vote with their donations. Have each of your contestants register a fundraising page and have the raise money leading up to the show. Also set out tip jars with each contestant’s name and photo at the event for in-person donations.
Field Day
Charity field days are a fun way to get the whole community together and raise money for your cause. Plan a full day of games, food, and (friendly!) competitions that appeal to kids as well as adults. Pro tip: since field days are best held outdoors on a warm, sunny day, keep a backup location or rain date in mind in case the weather isn’t on your side.
Honor our Dream Kids by naming events after them according to their favorite sports. For example, Dream Kid Noah’s Push Up Challenge, or Dream Kid Elijah’s quarterback Challenge.
Similar to carnival fundraising events, field days combine a lot of mini-games and fundraising activities into one jam-packed day.
While this does mean you’ll have to put some thought into planning, it also means that almost everyone will find something they love at your event (and you’ll raise more because of it).
You can charge by event or for a full day’s admission. Don’t forget to offer concession stands, donation booths, and merchandise tables to really maximize fundraising potential!
Cook-Off
Calling all chefs! A charity cook-off is a classic way to engage your supporters and raise some money for Dream On 3—and did we mention eat a lot of good food, too? To pull off this event, you’ll need some sort of theme and plenty of willing participants. Charge a small entrance fee and sell tickets to the big event for all your hungry guests.
Simply put, no one wants to turn down delicious food or the chance to prove that they’re a master chef.
While you should encourage any and all local foodies to submit a dish, you might also want to reach out specifically to restaurateurs and well-known culinary experts in your community.
Engaging with local businesses or prominent individuals will help you promote your event to their loyal customers and fans, and might lead to potential sponsorships down the line.
Food Ideas – cupcake wars, chili cook-off, Bring the Heat Wing Cook Off, and of course BBQ
Fun Run
A fun run is just as fun as it sounds! This themed race encourages friendly competition and a fun event for every age. Your supporters won’t be able to turn down this chance to support your cause and have an exciting afternoon.
Your participants’ excitement will be contagious.
For your fun run, participants will accept pledges from family, friends, and peers.
Your supporters fundraise on your behalf. Remember, just because your participants might be doing some fundraising doesn’t mean you won’t have work to do! But don’t worry, your fun run will be easy to host with the help of your peer-to-peer software.
Like walkathons, fun runs are popular because they are healthy, active, and great fundraisers. As long as you have the right resources and team to accomplish a fun run, they are a surefire choice.
Concert
If you’re looking to host a fundraising event that’s a little more unique, try hosting a concert! We know what you’re thinking, big rock stars? There’s no way that’s in the budget. But don’t worry, you won’t have to throw down too much money to throw this stellar event.
With the help of local artists and both their networks and your own, this event will be easy to pull off.
A charity concert is mutually beneficial for both your organization and the artists performing! While your event will help promote Dream On 3, it’ll also help your artists promote their music and themselves.
You can have people donate a set amount to your fundraising page ahead of time as their ticket price. Then have a guest list at the entrance of your concert. If you still have room, you can take walk-ups who can donate in person for a ticket. Plus, you can encourage additional donations by hosting an appeal at the concert. Have everyone go to your fundraising website and make a donation while they are there!
Obstacle Course
An obstacle course is the perfect fundraising event and can be a fun challenge for kids, teenagers, and adults alike. You’ll want to set up plenty of obstacles and games to make up your obstacle course and offer participants the option to register online through your Dream On 3 fundraising page.
Your supporters will have the option to participate as individuals or in teams, they can even register their own team pages as a great fundraising booster!
With a prize for the winning team, friendly competition is sure to ensue!
Your obstacle course event is sure to leave your supporters with smiles on their faces and make for a successful fundraiser.
Car Wash
A car wash is an easy and profitable fundraising event. Between the its simplicity and everyone being outdoors, it’s hard to find a better fundraiser! You’ll just need to invest in soap, sponges, and promotion! Your friends can help wash cars, the day of.
Who can say no to an expensive car wash that will support a good cause?
Make sure a few volunteers stand near a busy road with signs to promote your event the day of and you’re sure to see a flux of dirty cars with supportive drivers.
Car washes are fundraising staples that speak for themselves. They’re low-cost, quick, and easy ways to bring in funding.