Are you looking for fresh and unique fundraising ideas for your next big charity event? You’re in the right place! Organising a charity fun day is an amazing way to bring people together and generate money for a good cause. Best of all, with an open mind and can-do attitude, you can wave goodbye to the stale and tired and do something innovative and exciting instead.
To help you in your quest towards non-profit nirvana, we’ve compiled six concepts that will make charity events at work a barnstorming success. Ready to dive in? Let’s go!
Six Unique Fundraising Ideas
As is often the case with live events, the best way to stave off fatigue is to try something inventive. There are so many gatherings taking place every day in the UK that creative experiences can draw much bigger crowds. On top of that, an air of the unexpected might be all you need to whip up as much vibrant fun as vital funds.
Indoors, outdoors, devilish and diverse, our six unique fundraising ideas are designed to inspire your events to dizzying new heights.
Devilish All-Night Dance-Off
One of the main reasons to think up unique fundraising ideas is finding new ways to combine a worthwhile cause with fun activities. For many attendees, throwing shapes on the dancefloor is what a night out is all about. But are they ready to dance ‘til they drop? Our first suggestion is the best way to find out!
The idea here is for guests to compete against each other to see who can stay on their feet the longest. Dancers pay to take part, while everyone else gets to place bets on the outcome. Naturally, all money generated will go to your chosen charity.
To master a relentless danceathon, you should find a spacious venue with a good-sized dance floor, such as a ballroom. You’ll also need a well-caffeinated DJ, refreshments, and a seating area for anyone who doesn’t want to bust a move. Finally, don’t forget to take snaps so guests can share their memories and embarrass co-workers for the rest of the year.
The Next Stand-Up Superstar
Does your business have its fair share of budding comedians? The next of our unique fundraising ideas will give them the chance to show off their comedic talents at a charitable open mic night. Could your business be ready to unleash the UK’s next big comedy talent on an unsuspecting public?
Ultimately, this shouldn’t be regarded as a serious endeavour, so brutal heckling really isn’t necessary. What you can do is charge for entry and offer special tickets that include food and drink from a funky local eatery. In between performances you could even supercharge the upbeat atmosphere with music, drinks and interactive voting for the best acts.
Absolute Mudness
Moving away from indoor entertainment, our next idea takes place in the great outdoors. However, if you’re thinking about blue skies, birdsong and blissful bike rides, you’d be wide of the mark. Our next work fundraising suggestion is the mud-caked obstacle course.
Naturally this one works better in big, open spaces — ideally during early Autumn or Spring to ensure maximum muddiness. You can take donations from people to either test themselves or sit back with a drink and enjoy the desperate flailing from a safe distance. To mix things up, why not include team games, individual contests, raffles, food, music…the options are practically unlimited.
Rock the Block
Thinking about organising a charity fun day that the whole local neighbourhood can enjoy together? Continuing the outdoors theme, our next unique fundraising idea has its roots in inner-city American block parties. Called (by us, just now) Rock the Block, it’s essentially a British spin on an overseas tradition that is a world away from bunting, party hats, and scones — and it’s all the better for it!
The concept is to stage a vibrant street party with diverse music, food and drink. With an outdoors space for a centrepiece, Rock the Block is an opportunity to hire food trucks, stage engaging entertainment, and host fun — perhaps food-related — contests. You can generate funds by charging for entry and asking vendors to donate a share of proceeds for your worthwhile cause.
Naturally, this one needs to be set in summertime, to give your guests a fighting chance of importing some much-needed transatlantic sunshine.
The Big Kids Funfair
The next of our unique fundraising ideas is designed for families and adult co-workers who remain young at heart. Yes, it’s a not-so mature update of the classic kids funfair. If you often feel yourself being drawn towards the dodgems or waiting impatiently beside the waltzers, this one’s for you!
The rides are the stars of the show, so you’ll need to work with an event planner who specialises in providing extravagant entertainment. Food-wise, you can’t go wrong with traditional favourites like hot dogs and burgers, but more interesting choices could include international delicacies and veggie or vegan options. It’s important to please as many palettes as possible when thinking about snacks, as the last thing you want is for any guests to feel excluded.
The Great Gameshow Gathering
Heading back indoors, are you interested in charity events in work that can seamlessly combine banter and brain power? If so, why not tap into the UK’s endless appetite for quizzes with your very own evening of great game shows? From classics like ‘Who Wants to be a Millionaire?’ to modern favourites like ‘Pointless’, there’s plenty out there to be inspired by. You could even up the stakes with your own, hopefully less violent, take on ‘Squid Game’.
The key to making this work fundraising idea a success lies in authenticity. This is where an established event manager can really take your gathering up a notch. Not only will they be able to find a fitting venue but they’ll also be able to source convincing props. Sold on this suggestion? Then let the games begin!
Put the Fun into Fundraising With ConnectIn Events
If our unique fundraising ideas have struck a chord, the next step is to find an event management team who can take a promising idea and develop it into a living, breathing experience. From event design to production, a lot of time and skill goes into planning one of these gatherings. If you think you would benefit from a helping hand, ConnectIn Events is ready to answer the call.
As the brains behind the hugely popular I Love MCR Awards, we know a thing or two about charity events. These occasions showcase the full range of our services, from dizzying designs and engaging entertainment to technical excellence and classy catering. All completely personalised to make sure guests witness something truly unique and memorable.
Whether we’re working with household names or upcoming upstarts, our ethos is the same. We can manage any element of live and corporate events to an industry-leading standard.
To find out more, get in touch today!
