Below are 20 easy fundraising ideas for small groups.
Fundraising can be overwhelming as a small group with a small network, but irrespective of the size of your group, there are several unique and easy ways to rake in the funds and widen your reach.
- Peer-to-peer fundraising
This type of fundraising allows individuals to seek donations from their network to meet certain goals. Funds can be gotten from family and friends directly. It helps small charities expand their network and reach people they normally wouldn’t reach. This can be organized physically and virtually.
It is also called social fundraising
- Product sale
This is one of the most common fundraising opportunity, it can also be one of the most capital intensive as it requires having products on sale in other to make profits. These products can range from t-shirts to baked goods. The con of product sale occurs when there are not enough goods sold to make enough profit.
3. Seeking corporate sponsorship
Sometimes the simplest way to raise funds could be one of the best ways. Cooperate bodies are willing to provide grants and funds to small groups that support certain causes, a letter to these bodies will cast their attention to your group and they might extend monetary assistance.
- Raffle draw
A raffle is a contest in which prizes are won based on the tickets drawn. People get to buy tickets for a chance to win prizes. Money gotten from ticket sales can be used to fund various projects.
Prizes can be donated by sponsors to eliminate extra costs.
5. Sport events
Sports events are extremely popular these days because all nationalities identify with sports all around the world.
Small groups can reach out to sports teams to divert all proceeds from the ticket sale to your charity organizations. This can raise a lot of money for your cause or project.
- Concerts
Concerts, just like sports events are popular amongst all nationalities and they can raise so much money from ticket sales. Also, your group can reach out to artists to see if they can donate all proceeds to the charity or even get volunteers to perform for a local show.
- Live and online auctions
An auction is a process of buying and selling goods or services by taking bids, and then selling the item to the highest bidder or buying the item from the lowest bidder.
Items can be donated from brands, cooperate bodies or individuals and resold to the public through bids.
- Virtual events
Virtual events are more cost-effective than physical events, the cost of organizing a physical event can be used for other things or put into the charity, either way, it eliminates unnecessary finances. Events such as competitions and fundraising seminars can be done online.
- Trade fair
A trade fair is an exhibition organized so that brands can showcase their latest products and services and meet directly with customers. Small groups that decide to raise funds through trade fairs can do so either by selling stalls to brands or by collecting a commission on products sold.
- Car wash
Get a couple of volunteers who will be willing to assist in this process because it is a labor-intensive task that will require a certain degree of manpower. Ensure you publicize this before the event day, so people can prepare to come to offer their support. The turnout for this might get overwhelming so you need to prepare for the worst.
Overall this is a great fundraising endeavor with low operating costs.
- Email appeal
This form of fundraising works just like seeking sponsorship from corporate bodies does, the only difference is that your fundraising reaches individuals who have previously signed up for some sort of newsletter or information hub that your group has to offer.
This is why it is important to keep close contact with your supporters or individuals that have previously reached out to assist your cause.
- Social media fundraising
This type of fundraising uses targeted social media ads to reach out to supporters and donors. This might cost money but it is beneficial in the long run as your campaign will reach people that might not normally see it.
- Community service drive
Many people require certain help with menial tasks and would be willing to tip your small group for doing them. Tasks such as dog walking, lawn mowing, house sitting, house repairs, tutoring can be useful for your fundraising.
- Community grants
Community grants are funds given by the government or bodies to fund ideas, initiatives, and projects that are helpful or stimulate community growth.
Funds from grants usually range from small stimulus amounts to large amounts for major projects. Most grants require applications and documentations to be disbursed.
- Pledge fundraising
Donation pledges are individuals’ promises to donate a certain amount of service to an organization or group. This is great because it helps these individuals plan their finances as opposed to just outright payment. Just ensure that the pledges are redeemed within the set time.
- A- Thon events
A-Thon events are named after the word ‘marathon’. They accept participants in different categories of activity for an extended period. Individuals gather donations through supporters and these donations range from items to sponsorships. Popular examples are Walk-A-Thon.
- Yard sale
Yard sales are similar to auctions; the latter collects bids while the former has fixed but discounted prices. A yard sale is a convenient way to raise funds, individuals will always be willing to snatch up discounts.
- Online donation (crowdfunding)
Crowdfunding involves using an online platform to collect donations from a large number of organizations and individuals. Note that most crowdfunding platforms require a small commission from the money raised.
- Give-it-up fundraising
Give it up is a fundraising effort that appeals to the emotions of the potential donor by highlighting a habit or object they enjoy and make them donate the cost of that item or experience.
An example is donating the cost of a one thousand naira drink.
- Coin drive
Coin drive is a competition that pushes organizations or small groups to reach out to individuals to receive monetary support. In this competition, the whole group tries to raise money, the person with the most money wins. It not only serves as a means to fundraise but it helps foster interpersonal relationships within small groups.
So there you have it 20 easy fundraising ideas for small groups, so you won’t be running out of ideas anytime soon. Also read Instagram for Non-Profits: 7 Tips and Tricks.
