Why fundraising matters for churches

There are a number of reasons why fundraising is so vitally important for churches. The population of people who visit and donate to churches regularly is dwindling; the demographic is older on the whole and the cost of living crisis has hit hard. Things like electricity cost more, so it’s more expensive to just keep the lights on. Fundraising for the church can help to support projects which also benefit the wider community, often supporting those who are vulnerable or need a helping hand. There’s also an added benefit to online fundraising compared with in real life collections – it’s easier and quicker, no money needs to be handled and people don’t need to have cash on them to donate. It also has the potential to reach far more people and the link can be easily shared.

Church fundraiser ideas

There are plenty of fun options when it comes to church fundraising – take a look at our ideas below.

Community-centric events

Events that bring the community together are always sure-fire wins for fundraising. You could:

• Host a bake sale: This is the bedrock of fundraising activity. Get congregation members to bake goods (or even buy them) and host a sale after Sunday service – who doesn’t love a sweet treat!
• Car boot sale: Hosting a car boot sale is a really good way to raise funds and also gives members of the community an opportunity to get rid of things they no longer need, and others to bag a bargain. 
• Charity walk or run: If you want to get out there and get active, there’s nothing more motivating than others agreeing to join in with you. Organise a charity walk or run in the community catering to all different abilities and get people to sign up for training, if needed. 

Family-friendly activities

Why not think of a fundraising idea that appeals to all the family?

• Film night: The church is a big open space – utilise it and host a film night, charging a small donation fee for entry and sell snacks. 
• Family fun day: Family fun days attract big crowds and could be relatively easy to organise if you have all hands on deck. Think about scheduling in a day with entertainers, stalls and face painting.

Seasonal events: Remember to check the calendar when you’re thinking about fundraising – doing something around Christmas or Easter gives you a ready made theme to consider. Think easter egg hunts, summer fetes or Christmas markets.

Creative fundraising ideas

Are you a creative person? Yes or no, these are fun ideas that can involve all ages and abilities.

• Host an auction: Do an inventory of the skills the community has – decorating, gardening, cooking – and auction off vouchers of their time. 
• Talent show: You could do a talent show for children (or adults!) to create a fun, lighthearted atmosphere around your fundraising. Charge a fee for entry and also for tickets to watch the show itself – and host it in the church. 
• Art exhibition: Ask local artists and creatives if they’d like to show their work in an exhibition and ask for donations for an entry fee. 

Online and virtual fundraisers

You can also utilise the endless powers of the internet for your fundraising. With online fundraising, it’s easy to spread the word and message far and wide. 

• Crowdfunding: GoFundMe is a brilliant tool for church fundraising. If the building needs a new roof, for example, start a GoFundMe for that purpose and circulate the link. 
• Online raffle: You could sell tickets and do an online raffle to raise money. This is a really effective way to raise money and host a raffle – it means people don’t have to be there in person.
• Virtual concert: Maybe you’ve got a lot of talent in the congregation? Offer up virtual concerts via online streaming platforms where people can showcase their singing, dancing, musical talents. 

 How GoFundMe can help

So, if you’ve decided to fundraise for your local church, you’re in the right place. GoFundMe is free to start and really easy to set up, taking you through the process in a digestible, step by step way. It’s safe, fast and easy – we have a team of experts working around the clock to ensure everything runs smoothly, too. 

Running a fundraiser for your church really helps to give back to the community and keeps an essential lifeline for many people going. And you will make friends along the way, too!

When is Christmas Jumper Day?

Christmas Jumper Day 2025 is December 11th – meaning it’s slap bang in the middle of the festive season. The first Christmas Jumper Day was back in 2012 and is an initiative by Save The Children to raise money for their charity. 

How do I take part in Christmas Jumper Day?

There are so many different ways you can get involved in Christmas Jumper Day – starting with choosing your perfect festive jumper (or getting creative with some tinsel!). To get going, think about these easy steps: 

1. Organise your event: Think about what you want to do for Christmas Jumper Day. This could be as simple as turning up to work in a Christmas jumper, encouraging colleagues to do the same and asking for a small donation. 
2. Create a GoFundMe page: Start your GoFundMe page and in the fundraiser story add the description of what you’re doing and why. 
3. Spread the word: Share your fundraiser link amongst friends, family and colleagues. Be sure to share and include what the event you’ve chosen is.
4. Grab a Christmas jumper: Buy, make or grab your favourite festive garment from your wardrobe.
5. Donate to a charity of your choosing: Once you’ve raised the funds, donate them to charity! If you’re fundraising with a registered charity on GoFundMe, this couldn’t be easier.

Christmas Jumper Day fundraising ideas

So you’ve decided to don your festive jumper – that’s the first step done. But why not make it more of a festive event? All of these ideas can be done in conjunction with Christmas Jumper Day itself. If you need more inspiration after this, check out our Christmas fundraising ideas post too.

1. Hold a festive bake sale

Bake sales are brilliant all year round to raise money for that good cause. And even more of an excuse to get one going when it’s Christmas! Either do the baking yourself, get a team of people together to make a feast or even go and buy your festive produce – then put a bake sale on in exchange for donations! You could try and do this in your workplace where surely people will be grateful for a Christmas sugar boost or somewhere like a Christmas fair. 

2. Sell handmade Christmas cards and decorations

Maybe you’re crafty or maybe you have a budding artist at home – making and selling handmade Christmas cards and decorations is a brilliant way to raise money on Christmas Jumper Day. You could even host a bauble decorating event and then all sell your creations. 

3. Organise games and activities

On Christmas Jumper Day, why not spread the cheer even further by organising festive games and activities? Think of something appropriate for your audience – in work for example you could do a Christmas bingo, or a Christmas disco for children at your child’s school.

4. Host a Christmas dinner

Another fundraising idea on Christmas Jumper Day could be to host a Christmas Dinner pre the big day itself for your family and friends. Ask people to bring a dish or give a small donation and get together for some festive cheer. 

5. Christmas-themed quiz

Who doesn’t love the competitive spirit of a good old fashioned quiz? Do this, but make it Christmas themed. Quizzes are a brilliant way of bringing people together – so get everyone you know in one place and teamed up, with the promise of fun and silly festive prizes. 

6. Santa fun run or walk

Sponsored walks or runs are a mainstay of fundraising. And it’s easy to make them festive-themed, meaning you get some exercise out in the fresh air in winter and also get to raise money for a good cause. The Santa Runs are an example of a brilliant organised festive run – get everyone to get their jumpers and santa hats on and get out there. You can adapt your walk or run to suit many abilities too, meaning children can take part.

Start your Christmas Jumper Day fundraiser with GoFundMe

So if you’ve decided that fundraising for Christmas Jumper Day is for you, start your free GoFundMe and get fundraising. GoFundMe is a custom built crowdfunding platform, meaning all the tools and resources you need are right in front of you to see the donations really rolling in. Good luck, merry Christmas and happy fundraising!

Here we’ve compiled some easy fundraising ideas for children.

Why fundraising is important for children

Aside from raising money for a good cause, there are a few reasons why fundraising with kids is good. Not only does it teach responsibility, but it can also help to develop communication skills as your child works as part of a team.

Teaches responsibility and empathy

If you’ve decided that you’d like to launch a fundraiser with your child, it can be a really helpful lesson in empathy, compassion, and responsibility. Talk to them about all the different charities and good causes out there to see if there are any that they are particularly interested in. Letting them lead will help to instill that sense of autonomy. Explaining why fundraising is important will also help with their sense of empathy and compassion for others around them. 

Promotes teamwork and communication

Along with developing key emotional skills, fundraising can help to promote teamwork and communication—especially if you’re fundraising as part of a larger group of parents and children.

Whether you’re planning the logistics of a fundraising activity or raising awareness by writing to local community members about the cause, communication is key.

Tips for organising a successful fundraiser with children

Now that you’ve decided on a family fundraiser, there are a couple of tips to really help get you going. To start and manage a GoFundMe on your own, you must be at least 18 years old. If you’re under 18, you can still fundraise—you’ll just need a parent or legal guardian to create and manage the fundraiser for you, with their permission and involvement. If you’re fundraising with a younger child, you can start one as the adult and personalise the page together. This helps keep everyone safe and makes sure your fundraiser follows GoFundMe’s rules.

Age-appropriate activities

A really important point to make when fundraising with your child is to choose age-appropriate activities. Not only does this mean your child will enjoy the event, but you’re more likely to get a response from their friends of a similar age too, maximising your chances of raising more money. Look at brackets such as under 7s, 7-11, and 12 and above, for example. This gives a wide enough variety for plenty of people to get involved, but ensures everyone stays happy and safe. A versatile choice of activity, for example, might be a sports day in a local park, with different activities such as a fun run, obstacle course, and face painting.

Community involvement

Getting the community involved in fundraising is a brilliant way to engage more people, which leads to wider circles knowing about your fundraising efforts and hopefully more donations.

Why not see if teachers, family members, and other parents want to get involved in your fundraising? They could do everything from stewarding the event, for example, or handing out leaflets. 

Keep it fun

It’s important to keep the fun in fundraising when you’re looking to engage a child or group of children. Think about your child’s interests, are they sporty, do they like reading, are they creative? And think about a fundraising event which might include some of their interests to keep it engaging.

Child safety and supervision

If you’re hosting a fundraising event with your child or other children, it’s important to emphasise the importance of adult supervision at all times. The child’s physical and emotional safety must be paramount, so make sure that you have plenty of other parents or guardians there to keep an eye on everyone. If there’s a big group of children, don’t try to take all the responsibility on yourself. 

Fun and easy fundraising ideas for children

Now, onto the good part – where you can start thinking about all the fun activities you can do to get those donations rolling in. From fundraising events to sponsorship, here are some ideas to help you reach your fundraising goals in no time.

Sponsored walks or runs

Sponsored walks, jogs, or runs are great fundraising ideas because they are free, easy to organise, and can be adjusted for any age group. Plus, it gets your little ones out of the house and active.

If you want an idea that’ll be a true hit with parents and teachers, why not introduce a sponsored silence?

Bake sales

Bake sales are a classic fundraising idea and appreciated by everyone. If you decide to do a bake sale, the easiest option would be to pick a place where everyone congregates anyway – like school, for example.

Encourage those contributing to pick simple recipes that the child can help with under parental supervision. And if you need to bolster the numbers, you can always pick up something pre-made, too. 

Fancy dress day

Who doesn’t love a fancy dress day? Organise a day at school where students and teachers alike can dress up as their favourite characters for a small donation. For events like this, make it clear that the costumes don’t have to be fancy or expensive, and to make it inclusive, why not offer prizes for the most creative look? You could also tie in a book sale featuring some of the children’s favourite characters.

Charity car wash

A charity car wash is a classic fundraising event to raise money, and a fun one too. Just make sure that the car wash is organised in a safe space, like a school or community centre car park, with plenty of adult supervision so that there’s no damage to the vehicles or unsafe behaviour around roads. For a car wash, materials like sponges will be needed. 

Non-uniform day

A non-uniform day is always a treat for any young person. Encourage the school to put one on, with a small fee to be paid to wear casual clothes for the day.

Make the day even more special by hosting a school fete or end-of-term talent show. You can take a look at our post on school fundraising ideas too, for more inspiration.

Eco-friendly fundraisers

A really brilliant way to tie in teaching children about the environment would be to have a fundraiser centred around being eco-friendly. The possibilities here are boundless and also very easy to set up. You could hold a competition to see who can collect the most litter, or bottles for recycling, or even grow plants to sell in the local community. 

Read-a-thon

One for all the little bookworms – a read-a-thon where children are sponsored to read as many books as possible in a set time. Encourage those taking part to create a reading journal to document what they’ve read and their thoughts to share with their friends. A small prize could be provided at the end, too, as an incentive. 

Treasure hunt

A treasure hunt is a fantastic way to raise money. Make sure you have plenty of prizes for the children to find (consider partnering with small local businesses to provide donations). This could be themed around your cause or time of year, for example, host an easter egg hunt. Charge a small entrance fee to take part.

Games night

A games night is a fun way to bring people together to raise money and awareness. You can supply board games or video games for the children to play with. Depending on the children’s age, you could incorporate a quiz night, or just have that for the adults. Charge an entry fee to raise funds. Sell ice cream, popcorn, and refreshments on site with profits going directly to the fundraising total.

Start fundraising today

If you’re still looking for some inspiration, we also have a blog post on fundraising ideas in general.

Whatever you decide to do, make sure you publicise the online fundraising page at the event, on social media, and in those friends and family group chats. Make it as easy as possible for people to donate to your good cause.

It couldn’t be easier to start fundraising for a good cause with your child on GoFundMe. Fundraising together could be a bonding experience where everyone gets satisfaction and fulfilment from doing something good, whilst having fun along the way. Be sure to choose something educational, appropriate, and safe – and good luck.

The benefits of fundraising at work

Raising money for a good cause at work may be a great way to unite colleagues together  and inspire everyone to pitch in. It’s a chance to encourage solidarity, build rapport, and spread awareness of causes close to the heart. Employers can foster a more positive company culture that encourages the team to give back to the community by hosting fundraising activities and events.

Fundraising ideas at work allow people to make a difference in the world, which is one of the main perks. It is common practice for businesses to donate to community organisations that share the same ideals as the company or are especially meaningful to those working there. And by fundraising with colleagues, you really get to know what makes them tick too, which helps to bond you and make more meaningful relationships. 

Fundraising at work can help:

• Build a team spirit: You’re all united towards one combined goal – and if you’re invested in fundraising, everyone wants it to work.
• Get to know your colleagues: Fundraising for a specific cause could help to open conversations about what the cause means to them.
• Gives a sense of responsibility: If you’re fundraising together, it can help to create a sense of personal responsibility and community amongst colleagues.

How to get started with fundraising in the workplace

It’s crucial to have the appropriate conversations and secure the required approvals before beginning fundraising efforts at work. HR or management approval, as well as any applicable permits or licences, may be required, depending on the nature of the activity in question.

If you want to start fundraising at work, you should consider: 

• Speaking to management or HR: Make sure you’ve covered any limitations or requirements that might come if you’re fundraising at work.
• Decide on a cause: Think of several causes which are relevant to your colleagues and get them to cast a vote.
• Have ideas for fundraising events: Think about what might be appropriate for your workplace. It could be anything from a sports day to a coffee morning, recurring or one off. 

Involve anyone you can: Foster that community spirit from the get go and try to involve anyone you can in the process.

10 fundraising ideas for work

1. Organise a charity run or walk

A charity run or walk can do double duty by raising awareness and money for health and wellbeing while benefiting a good cause. Teams or individuals can participate in collecting as many donations or sponsorships as possible. 

Participants run or walk a predetermined distance, either at the workplace or in the broader community. Themed events, where participants dress in a certain way or sport a particular t-shirt, can also be fun. If you need more info on how to set up your fundraiser if you’re racing for charity, have a look at our post here.

2. Host a bake sale or food fair

A bake sale or food fair is a time-tested fundraising strategy that can succeed even in the modern workplace. In this activity, workers prepare and sell baked goods, meals, and other culinary creations to other workers and guests. 

You can host it at lunch or include it in something bigger, like a charity auction or raffle. To spice things up, you can have local food vendors, or caterers donate a percentage of their proceeds to the cause.

3. Organise a workplace challenge

An innovative technique to boost teamwork and collect donations for a good cause is through a workplace challenge. Fitness challenges, trivia challenges, and social media challenges are just a few examples of the many possible variations on the theme. Teams or individuals can participate in collecting as many donations or sponsorships as possible. 

The competition might run for a specified time frame, and the top finishers can be awarded rewards or special recognition. Encourage workers to promote the challenge on social media by posting updates and using relevant hashtags.

4. Office olympics

Fundraising, company camaraderie, and friendly competition can all be boosted by hosting an office Olympics. You and your colleagues can participate in various competitions, including races, tug-of-war, and trivia challenges. 

Those involved can give to their preferred squad in hopes of helping them win bragging rights and a prize. Raising money for a good cause through team-building exercises can be a memorable and enjoyable experience for everyone involved.

5. Throw a film festival

Host a movie night as a team-building exercise and charity fundraiser for a worthy cause. Choose a current hit and sell tickets to your staff and their families to raise money for the cause.

To ramp up the fun, set up a popcorn bar and encourage staff to dress as their favourite movie characters. This may be an exciting and enjoyable method to earn money while giving workers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

6. Hold a video game party

As more businesses adopt remote or hybrid work arrangements, a virtual gaming night can be a fun way to bring colleagues together while contributing to a good cause. An online quiz tournament or a digital treasure hunt may be organised, with staff contributing to taking part. 

To spice things up, host a virtual photo booth where staff members can shoot images and enter to win rewards. Fundraising in this fashion can be both a lot of fun and a clever way to get people involved in the online world.

If you need more inspiration on how to set up a gaming marathon, have a look here.

7. Host a charity talent show

Fundraising and employee recognition can be accomplished fun and uniquely by hosting a charity talent show. Employees can be encouraged to try out for the show, and those who cut will get to play in front of a live audience. You can ask for donations from your staff to support the performers. 

You can make it more competitive by having judges provide their opinions on how well each performer performed or by letting the audience choose their favourite. Raising money for a good cause through team-building exercises can be a memorable and enjoyable experience for everyone involved.

8. Social media challenge

Social media challenges are a fun and effective method to get the whole workplace  involved and thinking outside the box while also benefiting a good cause. Create a 30-day fitness challenge or a 30-day cooking challenge and have people share their success on social media to motivate others to join up. 

You can encourage people to contribute to the fundraising effort or create a crowdfunding page where people can make donations, such as friends and family. Raising money for a good cause with the help of your enthusiastic staff can be accomplished in this way.

9. Crowdfund for a good cause at work

Create a fundraiser on sites like GoFundMe, and start sharing the fundraiser link with your coworkers, family, and friends. Creating an online fundraiser can be a low-effort way to raise money. You can easily share with coworkers via social media or post a fundraiser flyer at your work. Creating a GoFundMe is simple and you can get started within minutes. 

10. Book swaps

A really easy way to fundraise would be hosting a book swap in the office. Get your colleagues to bring in several books they’ve read (or ones they haven’t!) and hold a swap. All you need to do is set up a table and ask people for a donation once they’ve swapped their books. You might even find it inspires a new group of bookworms to get together!

Start a workplace fundraiser today

Fundraising events at work are a great way to unite coworkers in support of a common goal and make a positive impact in your local community. There are many enjoyable and exciting office fundraising ideas to select from, such as a charity walk or run, a bake sale, a dress-down day, or a quiz night.

Collaborating with coworkers on a fundraising effort is an excellent opportunity to give back to the community while having a good time. You may put up a significant fundraising event by following the steps mentioned in this article and using the fun fundraising ideas for work offered.

Fundraising ideas that spark creativity

You don’t just have to do a sponsored silence or run a marathon to raise money. 

Get your creative juices flowing and fundraise in a fun, creative way. 

You can make this inclusive and invite lots of people, or you can take part in smaller ways. 

1. Host an art fair

An art fair is one of the more unique fundraising ideas. If you’re an artist or have friends or students that are artists or craftspeople (perhaps photographers, painters, or jewellery makers), ask them to donate pieces to an art sale supporting your cause. Here’s how:

• Find a space to host the event—ideally a gallery, café, or school space. Serve drinks and appetisers.
• Allow people time to walk around, chat, learn about your cause, and enjoy the art.
• Provide information about your cause by setting up a donation station with a mobile device displaying your fundraiser page.
• Show people how much their purchases and donations can help.

2. Run an art workshop

An art workshop is one of our favourite quick fundraising ideas. You can host an art workshop if you have artistically talented friends and family. There’s likely to be a great deal of overlap between people who support your cause and those who want to learn a related craft.

• Ask yourself: what fun art workshops can you and your fundraising team teach? Can you book an accomplished teacher to donate their time?
• Think about figure drawing, portrait or still life photography, landscape painting, cake decorating or other food art.
• Host half-day or full-day workshops to ask for donations at your event.

3. Organise a talent show

If you’re looking for easy fundraising ideas, you just need to allow your community to show what makes them special. Host a talent show and invite supporters and members of your local community to perform. Some easy steps to do this are:

• Name the talent show after your fundraiser and share the fundraiser with guests.
• Choose a venue like a gymnasium, local theatre, or other public space.
• Publicise your talent show in your community and share your crowdfunding page.
• Ask a well-known member of the community to act as your emcee and have them share it on Instagram or TikTok.
• Ask businesses for sponsorships and matching donations.
• Share pictures and videos from the show on your fundraiser page and social media to inspire those that didn’t attend to donate.

4. Sell crafts online

Selling homemade items online, like custom clothing, jewellery, or other artwork, can help you raise money.

• Choose crafts you can produce in quantity, don’t require too many resources, and customise easily with buyers’ names or other information.
• List your handcrafted items on an e-commerce site like Etsy or eBay.
• Note in the item description that profits from the sales go to fundraising for a cause and link to your fundraiser so people can donate as an alternate way to support you.
• Make and deliver the items to order. If your first set of items succeeds, consider adding more inventory.

5. Sell handmade wreaths

The perfect gift for the holidays! The best fundraisers plug into existing trends and excitement. You can either sell your wreaths for a set amount or ask people for a donation of their choosing.

• Make them yourself, or find a wholesale supplier willing to donate fresh wreaths or raw materials to your cause.
• If you assemble the wreaths yourself, add flourishes like dried berries, succulents, flowers, chilli peppers, herbs, or ribbons.
• If one wreath is selling out, recreate it to meet the demand.
• Create a delivery process and schedule your deliveries.

6. Knit a quilt with your community

Making a quilt with your fundraising team and other volunteers is a great way to use a traditional craft to raise funds. Here are some tips:

• Ask people, organisations, and businesses to sponsor squares on your quilt with a donation to your fundraiser.
• You can include a message or image of their choice for them to read on the square of each sponsor. Share your progress on Instagram!
• Once the quilt is finished, you can sell it for a reasonable price and put that towards your fundraiser goal.

Fundraising essentials

Set up your fundraiser

Add your fundraising goal, photos, videos and a detailed fundraiser story.

Increase awareness and build your community

Share your fundraiser via our integrated links to your Facebook, Twitter and email accounts.

Keep it current with fundraiser updates

Write several updates, add new photos and send thank you notes to your donors.

Seasonal fundraising ideas

Although you can fundraise all year round, using the seasonal calendar can be a good way to get fundraising events organised. 

Christmas, Halloween and the changing of the seasons can be an inspiring time for donors. Here’s some of our ideas below.

1. Winter gift wrapping station

During the winter holiday season, you can raise funds by setting up a gift-wrapping station. Many people prefer to pay someone else who is better at wrapping gifts. You can collaborate with a local business to set up your station nearby or inside. Make it clear that all funds will support your cause through a sign or poster. People will happily contribute to a good cause while finishing their holiday shopping. It’s a quick fundraising idea during the giving season.

2. Easter Egg treasure hunt

An Easter egg hunt is a really fun way to fundraise with all the family. 

You can organise a fundraising day for children and adults alike and create an accessible treasure hunt that doesn’t have to break the bank. 

You can raise money by asking people to donate ahead of time, or sell tickets to attend. 

3. Summer BBQ and jumble sale

Why not combine your favourite summer activities with an outdoor fundraising event? A summer BBQ is a great idea as it promotes sharing, community bonding, and opportunities to discuss your cause with others. You could sell tickets to the event in advance, informing community members that all proceeds will go towards your cause. Or you could organise a yard sale, invite the community to buy and sell and share that all sales will go to your fundraiser.

4. Autumn book sale

When autumn arrives, many students go back to their studies and tackle their required reading. Why not reach out to your community and neighbours and ask if they have any books they no longer need or want? Once you have enough books, you can organise a book sale in your garage or even team up with a local school to use their gymnasium. Let everyone know that the proceeds from the sale will go towards supporting your cause.

First time crowdfunding?

It can be hard to know where to begin if you’ve not crowdfunded before. 

Fortunately, there’s plenty of examples to look at to understand how to create an effective fundraiser. 

If you’re unfamiliar with crowdfunding pages, or want some inspiration before you start, you can look at these examples below. 

What is crowdfunding?

Top crowdfunding sites

How it works

Fundraising ideas by cause

You may be motivated to fundraise because of a cause that is important to you. 

This could be something personal or something that affects somebody you know. 

Medical

Raise funds to cover out-of-pocket costs for medical expenses like surgeries, medications, and even lost wages due to time off from work. Here are fundraising ideas for family or friends facing illness or medical debt.

• Medical Crowdfunding Guide
• Medical Tourism and How to Fund It
• In Vitro Fertilisation Fundraising

Funeral and Memorial

Reduce the financial burden of a loved one’s funeral by fundraising online for a memorial service or raise money to honour their legacy with a scholarship fund.

• Funeral Savings Guide: Everything You Need to Think About

Pets and Animals

Raise funds for your pet’s veterinary care, treatments, or surgery. Animal lovers can also employ their fundraising ideas for animal shelters or support the preservation of endangered species.

• Help Your Pet With the Ultimate Pet Fundraising Guide
• Fundraising Ideas for Animal Charities
• How to Get a Service Dog
• How to Raise Money for Your Pet’s Surgery

Emergencies and disasters

Help rebuild communities that have been hit with a sudden emergency or disaster. Quickly set up a fundraiser in the wake of a hurricane, fire, flood, or earthquake to support your family, friends, or community.

• Fundraising Ideas for Disaster Relief
• Crowdfunding for Natural Disasters
• Developing and Financing a Disaster Recovery Plan

Kids and Family

Fundraising online for children of all ages. Help pay for sports camps, school projects, science fairs, and more. Or, host a virtual fundraising event for a family looking to add to their family through adoption.

• Fundraising Ideas for Kids and Teens
• Resources and Grants Providing Financial Help for Single Parents
• Adoption Fundraising Ideas
• 15 Ideas for Fun & Easy Summer Fundraisers

Education and schools

If you’re looking for the best fundraising ideas to change someone’s life: raise funds for school supplies, field trips, school improvement projects, programs, or facilities upgrades. Connect your student group with a special charitable organisation or raise funds for a classroom.

• Student grants that can help pay for university without a loan
• Fundraising Ideas for Schools
• Fundraising Ideas for Small Groups
• 16 Fun & Easy Preschool Fundraising Ideas

Nonprofits and charities

Create a charity fundraiser to support the causes and nonprofits you’re passionate about. Raise funds to help the sick or disadvantaged or provide scholarships and training to those in need. Invite your community to donate and help create positive change locally and globally with these easy fundraising ideas.

• Charity Fundraising Ideas
• Fundraising Ideas for Charity Events
• How to Raise Money for Environmental Charities
• Best Ways to Raise Money for Charity
• Best Charity Fundraising Sites to Make Giving Easier

Churches and faith

Raise funds for building enhancements, education, training, mission trips, and other church programs and community activities. Leave a donation jar with a sign out near the coffee station or ask if you can organise a sale on the grounds of your church.

• Fundraising Ideas for Mission Trips
• Church Fundraising Ideas

Neighbours and community

Provide financial assistance to friends and neighbours struggling in the aftermath of a natural disaster or other hardship. Help fund projects that benefit your community and neighbours.

• Fundraising Ideas for Community Projects
• How to Help Your Community Through Crowdfunding

Sports

Support amateur athletes by raising funds for equipment, facilities, league expenses, prizes, team activities, tournaments, travel, and more. Put together a sports tournament and let people play a game for a good cause. You can sell tickets and food to spectators and funds can be put toward your fundraiser with a cause in mind.

• Sports Team Fundraising Ideas
• Football Fundraising Ideas

More fundraising ideas

There’s no shortage of unique fundraising ideas to help you raise meaningful donations. A well-executed idea can be the key to fundraising success. Create your fundraiser and share the link so that supporters know exactly where to get involved.

• Simple Fundraising Ideas
• Fast Fundraising Ideas
• Winter Fundraising Ideas
• Fundraising Ideas for Social Media
• How to Raise Money For a Business: 12 Ways to Raise Capital for Your Start-Up

The Wildlife Trusts’ annual celebration of all things marine has events across the UK you can take part in. 

It runs from 22nd of July to the 6th of August and there’s lots of exciting ways you can get involved.

Here we break down exactly what is involved and fundraising ideas you can do to go alongside it. 

What is National Marine Week?

National Marine Week is an annual event put on by the Wildlife Trust. As well as Wildlife Trust events, there are also more locally-ran ways you can participate. 

This year’s theme is ‘Sea the Connection’ and the Wildlife Trust will be highlighting how as an island nation we are all closely connected to the sea. 

Wildlife Trusts around the UK will be holding sea-themed events, from snorkelling through the waters of Wembury Bay in Devon, to exploring the rockpools of Yorkshire’s Boggle Hole on a seashore safari, or even picnicking with a porpoise on the clifftops of North Wales.

The week-long-event is important as it raises awareness of our environment, the work to be done and how we can truly appreciate it. 

About The Wildlife Trusts

The Wildlife Trusts, the trading name of the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts, is an organisation made up of 46 local Wildlife Trusts in the UK. 

The Wildlife Trusts, between them, look after more than 2,300 nature reserves, covering around 98,500 hectares.

It is a grassroots, independent charity with more than 900,000 members and 39,000 volunteers working together with their Wildlife Trust to make their local area wilder. 

Donations go a long way in supporting the charity and the vital work it does. It is registered charity on GoFundMe’s directory, meaning it’s easier than ever for you to fundraise and give back to the charity. 

How to get involved with National Marine Week 2024

There’s lots of ways you can get involved in this year’s event. 

From whale watching to workshops, there’s events all over the UK – including some which are perfect for the whole family to join in on. 

Here we break down some of the best ways you can fundraise and get involved. As well as this, there’s plenty of ways you can fundraise for the environment on GoFundMe. 

Do a litter pick or beach clean

A litter pick and beach clean is a great way to get involved, as well as seeing some of the UK’s beautiful coastline. 

Every year, an estimated 8 million tonnes of litter enters the world’s oceans, so it’s crucial that as much as this can be removed from our shorelines. 

You need very little to get involved, really. Just an energy to get stuck in, a bin liner, suitable footwear and if you can, a litter picker. 

Fundraise for The Wildlife Trusts

You can fundraise directly for The Wildlife Trusts as well. 

It’s very easy to set up a fundraiser on GoFundMe and National Marine Week is the perfect opportunity to do so, as awareness is already raised. 

All you need to do is explain why you would like to fundraise and encourage your friends and close ones to donate. 

You can really make a difference with your fundraising, as every penny helps. 

Use less plastic

Using less plastic is also an easy way you can support The WildlifeTrust from home. 

You can get involved with National Marine Week by using less plastic in your day-to-day life. This could even start from swapping from a plastic, disposable water bottle to one you can use every day. 

July is also plastic free month (Plastic Free July), offering you a good chance to fundraise while you do it. 

Join others fundraising to protect marine wildlife

If you don’t know where to start in fundraising, you can take a look at these successful fundraisers for inspiration. 

Welsh Three Peaks Challenge

Ava Randall was able to raise thousands of pounds when she attempted the Welsh Three Peaks Challenge. 

She launched her fundraiser to help raise funds for a three-week, marine conservation expedition to Thailand in the summer of 2024.

She said: “Whilst in Thailand I will be visiting the coral reefs of Koh Toa which are so important to our planet. Not only being incredibly diverse with species which rely on the reefs for their survival, coral reefs also offer storm protection to the people who live near, incomes for locals and food and medicine for everyone. I will be assisting in research and carrying out coral reef restoration projects. The work taking place on the reef is vital and I hope to be a part of it.”

Tread the Globe – Sea Turtle Rescue Fund

Marianne and Chris from the YouTube channel Tread the Globe were able to raise a massive £40,000. 

The pair were trying to drive around the world when they noticed the state beaches were in when they were covered in litter. 

Cleaning them up, and fundraising, they were able to make a huge difference. 

Solo SUP Around Mallorca 600km

Harrison Wright was able to raise thousands of pounds by paddleboarding around the island of Mallorca. 

The distance  is approximately 600km and Harrison said the idea came to him while looking at a map. 

He raised money for the Save the Med foundation. 

Start your fundraiser for National Marine Week

Whether you’re planning on cleaning up your local beach, taking on a large walk or simply fundraising from home – it couldn’t be easier to get started. 

Start a fundraiser today and make a change.