Ten amazing animal fundraising ideas

 

Animals say the funniest things. No, wait, that’s kids. Animals do the funniest things and funny things raise funds. The greatest fundraising efforts typically involve either profundity or playfulness, each capable of raising an emotional response that moves people towards their wallets.  

 

With animals, the objective must surely be to make people laugh and make people coo. You want to pull emotional heart strings, almost manipulatively, all for a decent cause.  

 

Remember, before we begin, to always ensure the safety and happiness of animals. Raising funds should not lead to stress or any harm caused – so please practice caution. So, without further ado, we are going to run you through some of the best animal fundraising ideas for charities.  

 

 

1. Dog wash 

 

There are plenty of reasons to wash a dog and fundraising is one of them. Bathing our canine friends is often a joyless task, one that the owner avoids wherever possible.  

 

That’s where you can help. Volunteer to do the joyless task in exchange for donations. All you need is some easy-to-find grooming equipment, which could include: a bucket, an old brush, small tub (for the braver among you), sprayer, soap, towels, and nice-smelling oils (for the fancier among you). 

 

Then just wash hundreds, if not thousands, if not millions, of dogs. Save the world, one clean dog at a time. You could perform the dog wash as a one-off event – a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity – or make it a regular occurrence. You could sell tea, coffee, and cake to dog owners while they wait for their dogs to dry – and raise a little more money.

 

 

2. Buddy run 

 

The buddy run is essentially the fun run, only more fun because a dog, cat, hamster, cheetah accompanies you. (Bit of advice: do not buddy run with a fish. They’ll only slow you down.)

 

The buddy run could be a small event, with just person and pet, asking friends to donate and perhaps watch while you and your buddy run, say, 5km. (Remember not to run too far, because despite the way some of you talk to your animals, they are not actually humans and, in most cases, cannot run quite as far.)

 

Alternatively, you could set up a buddy run and involve as many people and animals as possible. Think of it like a Noah’s Ark situation, but with more humans and more dogs (or pets) and likely in a park.

 

Noah’s Park, basically.  

 

 

3. Yoga with animals

 

Do you know your Downward Dog from your Cobra? Have you done the Swan, the Camel, and the Butterfly? Why not include actual animals in your yoga and raise funds, too? 

 

Maybe don’t bring an actual Cobra because it’ll actually kill you, and probably not a Swan because the Queen will likely kill you, and I’m not sure where you’d get a Camel, and Butterflies are super delicate, so maybe just bring your dog…and stretch away.

 

Get a group of you and live stream the event to confused viewers. Add a donation button because watching animals watching humans perform animal shapes must be worth at least a tenner. Or simply charge participants for money, because doing animal shapes in front of animals is worth money, too, apparently.

 

Alternatively, team up with a local animal shelter or petting zoo. Ask them to provide some animals, invite people to do yoga, and raise awareness about their cause during your meditations.

 

You could help a good cause, confuse a dog, and find nirvana – all before lunch.  

 

 

4. Sponsor an animal

 

We know people who have sponsored hundreds of animals, evidenced by the piles of cuddly toys gathered around bedrooms. Sponsoring an animal is a fun, selfless, and simple way to make a difference and support a charity. 

 

Many charities offer updates and send photos showing how your chosen animals are getting along. Sponsors can follow their animals through their lives, knowing that your donation made a difference.  

 

 

5. Make animal cards 

 

You don’t need to be an expert to create charity cards. All you need is a bit of initiative and some exceptionally cute animals. You could feature your most photogenic felines, or cheeky canines, or other animals that are likely to make people coo. Go cute. Cute sells, especially on social media.

 

You could use the back of the card to give information about the animal’s life, along with information about how your chosen charity helps – raising funds and awareness at the same time.

 

Plenty of companies will create bespoke Christmas cards for charities. You will need to work on the design, but many companies can support that, too. You can sell the cards on your charity website – if you have one – or alternatively sell them locally, in accepting stores or by setting up a stall.

 

Plenty of charities, such as Cancer Research UK and Macmillan, are already selling great Christmas cards – so follow their lead. For animal inspiration, check out the RSPCA’s brilliant range.