Fundraising tips


A group of volunteer fundraisers in Santa outfits

So you're ready to fundraise but you're not sure what to do next?

We're here to help you get the most from your fundraising – take a look at the following hints and tips to get you started!

If you need more advice or ideas, please do get in touch. Good luck, and thanks for your support.

1. Get noticedA band at a fundraising gig

Sending a press release to local media could give your event a real boost. After all, if no one knows about your event they won't come. 

If you are organising a local event that may be of public interest or something out of the ordinary, contact your local paper, radio or TV station. We can help you so please do give us a call.

2. Online fundraising

Fundraise for us using Virgin Money GivingWe've teamed up with Virgin Money Giving to provide a secure online fundraising service that makes fundraising quick and easy.

You can create a personal e-fundraising homepage in minutes and email a link to friends, family and colleagues.

Read more: Online fundraisingVisit the Virgin Money Giving website

3. Gift Aid

If you're collecting sponsorship for an event, don’t forget to ask your sponsors to complete a Gift Aid declaration.

It won’t cost you or them a penny, and can increase the total you raise by 25 per cent!

All we need is the name and home address (including postcode) of the donor. This information is not put on our database. We don’t even require a signature!

Read more: Download a Gift Aid form

4. Raising more funds

Fundraising for the first time may seem a bit daunting – take a look at our top tips for ways to maximise your fundraising activity

Our top fundraising tips:

Read more

Make a list of who to ask for sponsorship

Start with friends and family then ask work colleagues or neighbours for support.

Put the f-u-n into your fundraisingGroup of bucket collectors
Make your fundraising as much fun as possible. People are more likely to get involved if you have something to offer in return.

Carry sponsorship forms everywhere you go
Take advantage of every opportunity!

Post a message on your work intranet
Ask your boss if you can post a message about your fundraising event on the intranet.

Birthday or anniversary donations
If you have a special occasion coming up, you could ask your friends and family for donations instead of gifts.




Read more: Gifts in celebration

5. Company support

Your employer or local businesses can be a huge help with your fundraising either by donating money or goods.

Ask your company to match what you raise
Many companies have a matched giving scheme allowing you to double what you have raised!

Write “ask” letters
Write to local companies asking for a direct donation, or if they might offer to donate a prize for a raffle or auction at your event. 
 
6. From A - Z

We have ideas of every letter of the alphabet - let us know if you have any more ideas that we could add to our list!

Our A - Z of fundraising ideas:
Read more


A
– Arts and Crafts Fair, Auction, Antiques Fair, Aerobics-athon, Activities Day, Abseil, Afternoon Tea Party, Art Exhibition

B – Ball, Bad Hair Day, Barn Dance, BBQ, Balloon Race, Battle of the Bands, Bring & Buy Sale, Breakfast Party, Buffet Lunch, Bike Ride, Beat the Goalie, Baked Bean Bath, Bingo, Bungee Jump, Boat Race
A fundraiser in the midst of abseiling
C – Cake Sale, Calendar, Candle Making, Champagne Lunch, Car Boot Sale, Christmas Fair, Curry Night, Cook Book, Coffee Morning, Collection Boxes, Cookery Demonstration, Concert, Craft Fair, Cricket Match, Car Wash, Charity ebay Website

D – Darts Competition, Disco, Draw, Dog Show, Dance, Duck Race, Dinner Dance, Dance-athon, Don't Come Event

E – Exhibitions, Ever-so-bizarre party, Easter Egg Hunt, Eating Marathon, Eurovision Song Contest Party

F – Fashion Show, Fancy Dress, Fun Day, Face-painting Competition, Film Premiere, Fish & Chip Event, Furniture Sale, Fun Run, Fifties Party, Five-a-side Tournament, Fete

G – Garage Sale, Garden Party, Gardening, Glamorous Grannie Contest, Games Night, Golf TournamentA dog in the charity T-shirt

H – Hallowe'en Party, Hula Hoop Contest, Head Shave, Hat Sale, Horse Show, Household Sale

I – Ice Skating Party, Indoor Market, Ironing (other people’s clothes in return for a donation)

J – Jumble Sale, Jazz Event, Jewellery Making, Japanese Themed Party

K – Knit (sponsored), Kite Flying (sponsored), Karaoke Night

L – Lottery, Lunch Party, Lecture
A child with his face painted
M - Make-up Demonstration, Marathon, Market Sale, Medieval Fair, Mile of Jokes or £1 coins, Miss World Tonight, Musical Evening, Midsummer Ball, Magical Events, Murder Mystery Dinner, Matched Giving, Mini Olympics

N – Nearly-new Sale, Nature Trail, New Year's Resolution

O – Open Garden Event, Opera Night, Orienteering

P – Pet Show, Pantomime, Plant Sale, Pram Race, Parachute Jump, Pop Concert, Poetry Reading, Ploughing Competition, Panel Game, Pancake Race, Plastic Duck River Race, Pets Advice Evening, Paint Ball Competition, Parties

Q – Quizzes

R – Race Night, Raffle, Recipe Swap, Raft Race, Run (sponsored), Rag Week, Rather Posh PartyA bearded actor

S – Sale, Shop, Sponsored Events, Scrabble Contest, Slave-for-a-day Auction, Supper Party, Sweepstakes, Silent Auction, Slim (sponsored), Shows (flower, etc.), Steam or Traction Engine Rally, Skittle Evening, Swim (sponsored), Shave A Beard (sponsored) Swimathon, Swear Box, Step-aerobics, Shoe Shine, Scavenger Hunt, Santa’s Grotto, Shoe Party

T – Talent Contest, Tombola, Toy Fair, Treasure Hunt, Trusts, Theatre Premiere, Tea Dance, Themed Evening, Tug of War, Ten-Pin Bowling, Teddy Bears' Picnic

U – Ugly Legs Contest, Ugly Face Pulling Contest, Underwear Party, Unwanted Presents (ebay)

V – Valentine Dance, Variety Show, Vintage Car/Bike Rally
A group of rowers
W – Wine Tasting, Walk (sponsored), Waxing, Weight of the Cake (Guess the), Welly Throwing, Wine and Cheese Evening

X – Xmas Stockings, Xmas Cards, Xmas Gifts, Xmas Hampers

Y – Yacht Race, Yo-Yo Competition, Yard of Ale

Z – Zoo Quiz, Zodiac Evening 



7. Share your fundraising story

Children taking part in a fundraising event at schoolPlease send us your pictures and stories from your fundraising event, we'd love to share them with our supporters. Reading about your fundraising event can be one of the most encouraging things for new supporters.

Email us or send in the post to:

Events Team
CHILDREN with CANCER
51 Great Ormond Street
London WC1N 3JQ

Read more: Read other fundraising stories!

Find out moreTo find out more about fundraising, setting up your online fundraising page, or if you need some help, please contact:

Katie or Yvonne in our Events team Tel: 020 7404 0808 or email community@childrenwithcancer.org.uk


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