The best summer fundraising ideas

Summer holidays don’t last as long as we want, but we can make them more memorable. To splash out over the summer and make your campaigns a hit, check out our top ideas.

 

 

Summer solstice soiree

 

Plan a summer solstice party for next year! Make 21 June a top theme night by staying up until the wee hours. Leverage the long evening with hourly fundraising goals.

 

Even small charities can get on board hosting a summer party. Friends of St Cross recently hosted an evening party that included a raffle, bar, and dancing. The charity raised £7,000 through ticket and raffle sales while guests enjoyed a great post-COVID-19 party.

 

 

Garden gatherings

 

Don’t let not having a property stop you from a garden party. You can invite your audiences to show off their verdant yards. Make the event hybrid. Charities can sell tickets to the virtual event or host a challenge.

 

Check out the National Garden Scheme, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, and the Royal Horticultural Society for ideas.

 

 

Bank holiday blockbuster movies

 

Stuck for ideas on what to do over the long weekend? Charity managers can consider helping families out here. A small purchase of a couple movie tickets could be the way to engaging the kids in a raffle ticket draw or auction. Pair the tickets with a meal out to maximise the fun.

 

 

Fun runs

 

Before the pandemic, fun runs around the park and local communities were a mainstay. Charity events like Chase The Sun Wimbledon Common 5k & 10k May 2022 and Superhero in the City make the best out of spring and summer weather for causes.

 

 

Taking time to train

 

Related to fun runs, there may be more serious runners in your audience. Make time to help those training for bigger races in the fall, like the London Marathon.

 

You can easily make these training sessions into a fundraising event by selling tickets for a series or for single-entry participation.

 

Encourage more audiences to show-up by hosting pop-up events for food and drink afterwards.

 

 

Block party

 

Remember the success of all the Jubilee events? Channel that liveliness into your own block party. Start by engaging your office neighbours and then spread the word over social media.

 

Make sure to include a digital RSVP, so that you can keep track of who’s who.

 

 

Photography events

 

Showcase the beauty of summer with a photography exhibit. Whether it’s an internal or external fundraiser, have your audiences take photos of natural surroundings. For inspiration, turn to the RSPCA. The charity runs an annual youth photography competition.

 

Candidates enter the competition and winners are featured online and in an annual brochure. Our top tip here is to engage with your corporate sponsors. Businesses may be able to help with the prize and in return, let them name the awards.  

 

 

Open-air nights

 

Showcase local talent by hosting a musical or open mic evening. Theatre goers benefit the most here. As an example, the National Trust hosts an open-air production of Twelfth Night at Tattershall Castle and invites guests to bring their own picnic ware.

 

For charities in a pinch for talent, companies like Outdoor Cinema can help you arrange everything, down to the licensing for drinks.  All that’s left to do is to sell tickets. Remember to record snippets of the event so you can post online later.

 

 

BBQ trade secrets and more

 

To get a few ideas going, check out Rainbow Trust’s Great Rainbow Bake. Participants enter their bake and fundraise for cause both in-person and online. To make campaigning easier, the charity has its own branded materials.

 

While summer bakes and cakes come as no surprise to charity organisers, try swapping out the sweets for BBQ meats. Use the same method as others have done before.

 

 

Geocaching for cause

 

Blend digital with physical by sending your audience out on a geocaching hunt. The hybrid treasure hunt lets audience explore their summertime surroundings while hunting for clues.

 

Take a hint from the Brainstrust. The charity’s neighbourhood police officer designed an outdoor treasure hunt for the community. The activity used GPS technology to locate ‘geocoins’. To get started, the National Trust explains how to get set up for kids.

 

 

Community clean-up

 

To enjoy the summer sun and do good, try a community clean-up. Have your volunteers and fundraisers get together to collect rubbish in the park, canals, or local community centre. Make some fun out of it by fundraising for the most trash collected.

 

 

Yoga in the park

 

Yoga, Pilates, or stretching lessons in the park celebrates athletes of all abilities. Ask yoga teachers to donate an hour while fundraisers sell tickets.

 

Yoga instructors like Sarah Greenall hold week long yoga for charity classes, where all proceeds go to chosen causes. For charities on a shoestring budget, connecting with like-minded instructors this summer could pay off.