Community Events

When most people think of raising money through community events, they automatically start to consider the various options for events they can organise.

Ideas may include a fete or family fun day, a disco night, a trivia night or food and wine fair.

Events such as these can be extremely worthwhile – as community builders as well as fundraisers. They can also be a lot of work to organise, and we don’t always have the time or resources for a large-scale event.

I would like to encourage you to think a bit laterally on this one. Is there a community event run by another organisation that you can participate in? A local festival, an opening, open day, clean up day or election day? Offer to run a stall – a sausage sizzle or face painting stall are good options, but it can be anything else you like.

This will help to build engagement with your broader community, but also allow you to raise funds without the burden of organising an entire event. Benefits for the host organisation include promotion of the event to your own community.

PS I would also make sure I have a collection tin for those who are happy to support you but don’t want to purchase on the day.

Double Duty Community Events

These events can do double duty. You can raise funds, but at the same time promote your school or club.

Hand out balloons with your logo on them, if it is an event with lots of small children put together a goody bag with a colouring-in sheet (with your logo on it), a pack of crayons (with your logo on it), are you seeing a trend?
It doesn’t have to be expensive if you have the volunteers to put it together. You can buy packs of bubbles at discount stores or bottles of water and then print stickers or labels to go on them.
If your school doesn’t have a marketing budget, maybe it is something that a parent who is a graphic designer might be able to do for you. Canva is always a good way to produce flyers too.

Why not have the best of both worlds – fundraise and promote your organisation too!

Mandy Weidmann is Australia’s ‘Fundraising Whisperer’ – publisher of the Fundraising Directory and author of the Practical Fundraising Handbook for School and Club Volunteers. Mandy believes that parent volunteers shouldn’t have to reinvent the wheel all the time and is passionate about providing resources to make fundraising easier (and more fun). Click here to learn more about school and club fundraising ideas in Australia.

Originally published 17 August, 2017

Fundraising Directory

Fundraising Tip – Community Events

Community Events

Double Duty Community Events

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