Bored of cake sales? Here are 5 unique ways to raise money for charity
Fancy getting creative with your fundraising ideas? From motivating charity firewalks to rebellious burlesque shows, there are plenty of unique ways to raise money for a good cause.
We’re not saying there’s anything wrong with the fundraising classics… bake sales, sponsored silences, bucket collections. All fundraising, in any shape or form, is hugely beneficial.
At Cabaret vs Cancer, we’ve been raising money since 2014 to support those affected by cancer. And with a mission so large, it only makes sense for us to take an unashamedly loud and proud approach to fundraising. We believe that fundraising should be fun — for those raising and those donating.
So, if you’re looking for some genuinely unique ways to raise money for a good cause, here are 5 ideas to use as inspiration. Now, go out there and fundraise with pride!
Throw a cabaret or burlesque night
If you want proof that fundraising doesn’t have to be quiet, just come along to one of our charity cabaret and burlesque events. Singing, dancing, comedy, drag... You'll find it all! There are plenty of feathers, cheeky wit, and music to go around, and the best part is that you don’t even need a lot to host this kind of fundraising event.
Find a local venue, a few performers keen to get involved, and decide on a reasonable door charge. You’ll raise serious money while giving your supporters a night to remember.
Walk across fire (cue the shock factor!)
Fundraising is an excellent excuse to do something a bit mad for good reason. Our charity firewalk is exactly that, giving fundraisers the chance to raise sponsorship while walking barefoot across burning embers.
It really is as dramatic as it sounds, and it’s a great way to show your supporters just how invested you are in your chosen charity’s cause.
If a firewalk isn’t available near you, why not try an equally daring equivalent instead? Take a look at what’s locally available in your area. From abseiling and bungee jumping to cold-water swimming and skydiving, the more adventurous the challenge, the bigger the sponsorship pot tends to be.
And if you’re keen to see what our upcoming firewalk is all about, find out more and sign up to take part. We’ll be making our way across the burning embers this October, all in aid of incredible cancer support charities across the UK.
Run an online charity auction
We know that not everybody can make it to live events, which is why we also run online charity fundraising auctions. You can host an online charity auction for almost any special interest, and people love to bid on unique items they can’t get anywhere else.
Whether it’s an auction for signed memorabilia, art, experiences, or crafts, the buzz of bidding is sure to help you reach your fundraising targets. This is also a great fundraising event to push on social media, and a real chance for supporters to get excited about the different items you have on offer.
If you’re organising your own, make sure to reach out to local businesses, service providers, and creatives for donated items or experiences. Most are very willing to offer, especially when the cause is a good one.
Host a skill swap session
Looking for a creative fundraising idea? With a skill swap session, you take your own talent (and the talents of your supporters!) and turn them into a collaborative fundraising event.
Ask your community, friends, and loved ones to donate an hour of time to whatever they’re good at, and sell tickets to a community-driven evening of rotating skills swap sessions.
Here are just a few skills that could be on offer:
Haircuts
Wellness treatments, like massage or nail art
Tarot readings
Music lessons
Electronic repairs
Cocktail making
Social media marketing
Language lessons
Sewing and crafts
Everybody contributes, everybody gains. And you’ll get to discover all the secret talents of your supporters as a nosy bonus. It’s a win-win!
Turn your hobby into a sponsored challenge
If you’re stumped for ideas, take a look inwards. What is it you love to do? What doesn’t feel like a chore? It’s easy to turn your favourite hobby into a charity fundraiser.
If you love to knit, why not run a sponsored knitting marathon? Love to game late into the night? A 24-hour gaming stream could be the perfect challenge. Or, if you want to ramp the difficulty up a notch, why don’t you give up something you love for a month — like your daily coffee and pastry— and pledge the saved cost?
The specificity and duration of any personal challenge is a huge draw for potential sponsors. Remember that your supporters will also donate for your effort and personality, not just causes, so lean into the hobby that makes you, you!
Fundraising with a touch of rebellion. That’s the way we like it!
Cancer doesn’t care about being quiet or demure. Neither does any other cause worth fundraising for. So why should our fundraising efforts follow suit?
Whatever fundraising idea you decide on, remember that the most important thing is to raise money in a way that people actually want to be a part of. We find that experiences are one of the best ways to do that.
If you’d like to be a part of what we do, whether that’s working backstage at one of our fabulous cabaret shows, or marshalling at our charity firewalk event, you can always volunteer with Cabaret Vs Cancer.
Prefer to support us directly? Donate here, and help us keep kicking cancer in the d**k, one crazy fundraising idea at a time.
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