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Have the fundraising activities at your nonprofit organization grown stale? Looking for new ideas to energize your existing donors and find some new ones? Without preamble or further ado, this two-part article will present six ideas for new and fresh fundraising activities. 

‍1. Holiday-themed activities.

Have you noticed how the Halloween season now starts in late-August, and Christmas decor makes its first appearance in stores sometime in September? Even the second-string holidays, such as St. Valentine’s Days, Cinco De Mayo, and Memorial Day can be sources of great excitement. People love their holidays, and they’re always on the look-out for ways to observe, celebrate, and participate. Activities that center on holidays are a great way to engage potential donors and volunteers. Stringing together linked activities for closely spaced holidays (e.g., Christmas, New Years, Valentine’s Day) can build anticipation and the desire to be involved in each activity. Minor holidays and special set-aside days can rally just as much excitement as major holidays, too, such as International Bacon Day (celebrated in early Sept.) or National Pet Day (in April). When planning holiday-themed activities, make sure to provide lots of ways to engage on social media, since that is now more important than ever to participants—they love to post and share content related to their holiday festivities. Also, always be sensitive to inclusion and diversity when it comes to holidays.  

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Ideas:

-5k race in which participants run dressed in holiday costumes

-Holiday gift market

-Food festival centered on a holiday’s dishes and desserts

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2. Pet-themed activities.

Similar to the apparent rise in popularity of observing holidays, there is increasing interest in pets. More people own pets nowadays, and there is also an increased interest in involving pets in our lives—social media pet posts, pet wardrobes, and pet vacations are now common. People love showing their pets, especially online. Giving pet owners a chance to dress up their kitty, show off the tricks their poodle has learned, or take pics of their iguana can translate to lots of participants and a fun event. 

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Ideas:

-Pet beauty pageant (in-person or online)

-Pet-themed fun run

-Pet carnival with pet snacks and pet-friendly rides

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3. The “Non” Event

This may be a somewhat mind-bending idea, but it has recently emerged in fundraising circles—the non-banquet, non-night at the theater, non-party, or non-vacation. Many fundraisers take the form of a dinner or some other (ostensibly fun) event, in which participants buy a ticket, get dressed up, and enjoy an evening’s proceedings or weekend getaway. Of course, only a portion of the money raised at such events can be passed onto the organization or cause, because even if there is generous in-kind support, dinners and galas come with actual costs, too, such as food, venues, and services. The “non-event” fundraiser has everything except the actual event. There are invitations, tickets, and excitement, but the event is completely make-believe. Your donors pay for a sumptuous meal, an evening of entertainment, or a weekend at a bed and breakfast, but nearly the entire donation benefits the cause or organization. This may sound a little far out, but bear with me and imagine the fun, irony, and novelty. Consider how many donors are actually more interested in giving to the cause, but attend the gala banquet only out of a sense of obligation? Here’s a chance to capture a much greater portion of the donation with a novelty that can be as fun and engaging as the real thing. A ticket to a formal non-dinner for two could bring in $200, but your organization need not lift a finger to organize it, and your donors can have the satisfaction of donating without troubling themselves with ball gowns and black ties. A weekend getaway could go for $1,000, but no actual destination would be involved, and your donors would not have to pack or travel. To make it work, you’ll need to get very creative and keep your tongue firmly in cheek: “For $250 you will receive a ticket to a talent-packed variety non-show, not hosted by Keanu Reeves and totally not featuring Jennifer Lopez!” Sending donors fancy non-tickets, which detail all the food they won’t be eating and all the details that won’t happen, will make it fun and give donors something to display on their fridge. Including a social media component is critical, in which donors gush about the non-event while posting comfy selfies from home—“We are supporting our favorite organization by staying home in our pajamas during our weekend non-trip to wine country!”

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Ideas:

Formal non-dinner, non-luncheon, etc. (make the menu items exorbitant and absurd)

Star-studded benefit non-concerts (you can use any talent you like—no one will be there)

Exotic weekend non-trips (private jets and exclusive lodgings will work best)

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Tune in for the second part of this two-part article for three new fresh ideas!

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