There are hundreds of different ideas and ways to collect money for charity. The most important way to do so is to let everyone know about the cause you are supporting and also have fun in the process. Naturally, you will face a few challenges along the way but with a bit of energy, creativity and determination, you can easily reach your goals. Here are some easy ways to collect money for charity.
1. Meals/bake sales
Going beyond the traditional bake sales, you can cook meals for friends and charge $10-$15 per person. You will need to ensure that you make profits after buying the ingredients. Alternatively, you can invite friends for morning coffee or breakfast or even get friends to bring different dishes.
2. Game night
Organize a fun game night or any evening with a theme. Charge people a small amount like $5 and make the evening exciting by organizing a treasure hunt or a quiz, Bingo night or Silent auctions etc.
3. Car wash
This is a fun and easy way for kids and teenagers to collect money for charity. Lemonade stands and bake sales also work great for younger kids.
4. Seek help from local businesses
Leave a few collection boxes at the local businesses/shops/pubs or cafes. People do not mind leaving spare change and coins. These can add up over time. It is one of the easiest ways to collect money for charity.
5. Volunteer to pack bags at grocery stores
Many large department stores allow you to help out at the checkout counters and help shoppers bag their groceries. You can do so and ask shoppers to donate a small amount for your charity. This is a great idea for kids and teenagers to collect money for charity.
6. Fancy dress or black tie events
A themed event such as a black tie evening, fancy dress, a ball or raffle is a great way of collecting money for charity. Charge the guests for tickets for the event.
7. Sporting events
These are great way to get the community to engage in some healthy physical activities and also collect money in the process. Swimathon, marathon, triathlon, football events are all fantastic ideas to get people together. You can charge the teams or individuals for participating. Make sure you seek permissions from local authorities before hosting such events.
8. Yard sales
Organize a yard sale so people can get rid of their old junk and unwanted treasures. You can charge a small amount per table.
9. Lucky draw
Arrange for a lucky draw based on a TV event/match or simply a raffle draw where people pay for the tickets and you randomly pick a lucky winner. There are endless possibilities here.
10. Personal solicitations
Visit or email people you know and who trust you. There is great power in personal communication as people usually find it difficult to say no if they know you personally. If you are emailing people, be concise and clear. Discuss your motivation in supporting this charity.
11. Harness the power of social media
Every charity needs word of mouth promotion. Today, you can reach a wider audience by using social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. When people like what you are doing, they are more likely to share it. You can also set up a website or a page where people can make online donations.
12. Work together
If you know of people in your neighborhood supporting the same charity, then get together with them and work towards a common goal. Pooling all your resources together will help you concentrate on smaller areas that are your strong points. You can also have people to do different tasks. Make sure you decide beforehand how you plan to divide the proceeds.
Some important points
Seek proper permissions from the store/authorities before collecting money. Note that many charities do not recommend seeking money on the streets. If you are using flyers or leaflets or posters, make sure they include the logo/registration number of the charity. For events involving music and alcoholic beverages, you might need to apply for a license. Also, your safety is paramount. Discuss the need for public liability insurance or other permissions with authorities before starting out.
