It’s a beautiful, bright, and sunny day. Ideal for lemonade, barbeque, cookies, and other concession stands. And the perfect chance for fundraising. Concession stands are one of the most profitable summer fundraiser ideas you can do as an event planner. With this list of summer fundraisers, anyone can take part in fun activities and meaningful missions for a small fee.
But why limit yourself to a small scale when you can ramp up your fundraising effort this summer? So, put on your sunscreens and grab your sunglasses. Start soaking up the sun with these hot summer fundraiser ideas. And learn how to make them go viral to raise funds for your cause.
Most Profitable Fundraisers
1. Corporate Support
Corporate sponsorships and partnerships can provide significant financial support for your organization and your fundraiser, particularly if the sponsor is willing to contribute a significant sum of money or provide in-kind donations.
These partnerships can be especially lucrative if you, as an event manager, and your organization have a clear value proposition and a large following. As long as you can provide brand visibility and community engagement for the sponsor, a large following may not be an issue.
2. Charity or Silent Auction
Auctions, whether live or silent, can be very profitable if the items sold are popular, well-known, or in high demand. Items that tend to sell well include vacation packages, unique experiences, and high-end consumer goods, and even free passes to common activities such as movies or amusement parks.
You may partner with local businesses such as travel agencies if you want to auction off vacation and unique experiences. Or you may connect with companies that sell high-end consumer goods that you can auction off.
To be able to attend your silent auction, possible attendees must purchase a ticket for the event. Each ticket has different access or ability to bid. For example, bidders can only bid on high-end and popular items if they purchased high-value and limited tickets.
Create your charity auction tickets with important information like the event name, date and time, item number, starting bid, bidding increments, and rules and instructions. But before that, determine the type of ticket you want to offer before creating ticket options.
Set bidding increments and assign unique identifiers to each ticket. Display the auctioned items, collect and track bids, and determine the winners based on the highest bid. Finally, notify the winners and collect payment for their items.
3. Fundraising Gala
Galas are formal events that can be very lucrative. They often include dinner, live entertainment, and auctions, and can attract high-dollar donors. This can be a great fundraising idea as people who usually attend galas are those who earn more and are willing to give more.
Aside from having an auction on your gala night, you can also sell tickets as an entry fee for your gala. You can also “sell” sponsorships and give out gift cards to those who avail of your sponsorships.
Begin by determining the ticket types and prices for a gala that includes individual and whole table tickets for a group of friends who want to attend. Make electronic tickets downloadable to different devices for easy access.
Assign unique identifiers, and arrange seating for entire table tickets. Manage ticket sales and sell tickets through event management software such as Event Espresso or Event Smart. Check-in guests and confirm their ticket type and seating arrangements on the day of the event.
4. Golf Tournament
Golf tournaments are great fundraisers for an organization or charity. As claimed by Direct Fairways, those who are avid golfers are people who make a good amount of money. Plan a grand nonprofit fundraising event by hosting a golf tournament.
You can offer general admission tickets, VIP tickets, pro-am tickets, and hole sponsorship tickets for your golf tournament. The types of tickets available may differ depending on the tournament and its intended audience.
As for the players, make registration more appealing by making a registration scheme. As an example, consider creating a ticket bundle in which a player registrant receives a discount for purchasing multiple tickets or registering for multiple game formats.
5. Casino Night
Casino Night can be a fun and engaging way to raise money while also providing guests with an entertaining evening. Sell tickets to your casino night event, assign guests a set amount of chips to play various casino games, and allow them to buy more chips if they desire.
You can also generate extra revenue by offering raffle prizes or by auctioning off items.
General admission tickets, VIP tickets, gaming tickets, raffle tickets, tournament tickets, silent auction tickets, drink tickets, and sponsorship tickets are all ticket options you can do for a casino night event.
The specific types of tickets available and ticket options may vary depending on the event’s goals and objectives and target audience.
6. Chateau and Winery Tour
Partner with a local chateau and winery for a summer day tour and charge an entrance fee. Besides wine tasting, sell raffle tickets or hold a silent auction of the wines from the winery.
The unique experience and scenic location can make for an attractive fundraising opportunity for wine enthusiasts and supporters of your mission.
Single entry tickets, couple’s tickets, group tickets, premium tickets, VIP tickets, student tickets, and corporate tickets could all be available for a chateau and winery tour fundraiser. You can sell these tickets and have these options on your event website.
7. Major Gifts Campaigns
Secure large donations for your fundraiser from high-net-worth individuals or corporations through major donor campaigns. These campaigns necessitate a targeted approach, which typically includes in-person meetings or personalized solicitation letters.
Major gift campaigns can be very effective, but they require a significant amount of time, event planning, and resources to execute. If successful, your major donor campaigns can result in remarkable donations for your organization.
8. Shoe Drive
This is a popular school fundraising campaign since it allows parents to eliminate clutter in their homes while supporting their kids’ local school.
Organize a shoe drive by collecting preloved and well-loved shoes and partnering with a company that pays per pound of donated shoes. Then arrange for pick up and payment from the partnering company.
This can be a simple and effective way to raise funds while also promoting sustainability and helping those in need of shoes.
9. Peer-to-peer Campaign
This type of fundraiser can help your organization expand its reach and tap into new donor networks, as well as mobilize your existing supporters to fundraise on your behalf. Sponsors and donors of your cause create their fundraising pages and share them with their network of friends, family, and colleagues for donations.
In addition to creating a personal page through a fundraising platform, your supporters can also set their own fundraising goals, and track their progress. Peer-to-peer campaigns are effective because they leverage the social networks of individual supporters, which can result in a large number of donations and increased visibility for the cause.
10. Crowdfunding Campaigns
Crowdfunding campaigns are a popular way to raise money for a cause and organization and can be very profitable for your mission if done right. Crowdfunding campaigns require a strong social media presence and a compelling message that resonates with your potential donors.
Donations are done through a dedicated platform for a crowdfunding campaign. You should offer rewards or perks like a gift card to donors as an incentive for their contribution.
Easy Fundraising Ideas
1. Outdoor Movie Screening
Summer is a great time to stay outdoors. Set up an outdoor movie screening at your local community as a fundraiser event for your nonprofit. Sell tickets online or at the event. Consider offering VIP seating and other perks to encourage more donations.
Concessions are also one way you can boost funds during a movie screening. Offer refreshments like popcorn, candy, and drinks.
2. Trivia Night
This is a great fundraiser since the possibilities of raising funds on a trivia night are endless. You can sell tickets for spectators. You can have a trivia participant register online or register as a team with an entry fee to compete. You can collect donations from local businesses. You may also find corporate sponsors. And many more, your creativity is the limit.
3. Barbeque Grill-off
Summer is a great time for grilling outdoors, why not do it for a good cause? Host a barbeque grill-off and sell tickets online or on-site for a plate of barbeque. You can also sell drinks and desserts.
You can have a special registration or a minimum donation for those who want to vote on their barbeque. To boost attendance and participation, hold a contest for the best barbeque and the barbeque sauce.
4. Coffee Bean Sale
Hunt for suppliers of the best quality yet affordable beans in the market that are willing to partner and donate their beans for your fundraiser. Set a price that will cover the costs and make a profit.
Create a dedicated website for your Coffee Bean Sale Fundraiser. Take pre-orders from supporters to gauge how much coffee to order. Once the coffee arrives distribute the bags to your supporters. Make custom packaging or add a personal touch to the bags to make your fundraiser stand out.
5. Used Book Sale
This is a great school fundraising idea. Reach out to your local community and collect used books. After collecting books to sell, sort and set a price for each book, or create a bundle to sell out fast. Choose an ideal location to sell such as in front of the library, at a high school, or in the community yard.
You may also sell it online through social media or a dedicated website. Donate any unsold books to your community library or a high school or grade school library or even a charity. Remember to have fun and engage with your customers. Encourage them to share their love for reading and spread the word about your fundraiser or organization.
6. Selling Raffle Ticket
Choose high-valued and desirable items as the prizes for the raffle. Set the raffle ticket price and decide how many tickets you need to sell to reach your summer fundraising goal. Design eye-catching tickets with clear instructions on how to participate.
Advertise your raffle on social media, local media, or by word of mouth. Sell your raffle tickets online, in public outlets, or at other events. To raise more funds, host an event for the raffle draw.
It can be a community yard sale where community members can gather to witness the raffle. Don’t forget to follow up with donors and thank them for their support. But before planning all of it, be sure to check local laws and regulations to ensure compliance.
7. Giving Holiday
A Giving Holiday fundraiser involves a particular day or any international day for giving and encouraging supporters to make donations. It can be Christmas Day, Valentine’s Day, Father’s Day, Fourth of July, etc.
Choose a summer holiday for your fundraising and create a theme around it. Aside from social media, use email marketing to promote your event and encourage supporters to donate. Make giving easy by providing a link to your online donation page.
Create a sense of urgency by emphasizing the impact that donations will have on your organization. Follow up with donors and supporters after the event and provide updates on how their donations are making an impact.
Most Popular Fundraisers
1. A-thons
Choose a suitable challenge such as a walkathon, danceathon, readathon, or swimathon. Then set a goal and timeframe for the event and invite participants to sign up online and gather pledges from their friends, family, and colleagues.
On the day of the event, make sure to provide refreshments for participants or make them available via cash for spectators. Include also other entertainment and prizes to keep participants motivated and engaged. After the event, thank the donors and participants and report on the result of the fundraiser.
2. Community Yard Sale
Gather participants to donate items to sell. Set up tables and tents for the yard sale. Price items and organize them into categories. Enlist volunteers to help with setup, sales, and cleanup. Collect money and keep track of sales. Donate any remaining items to a local charity.
Remember to promote your event beforehand, make an engaging display, and price items reasonably to encourage sales.
3. Bake Sale
Choose baked goods that are easy to make and have a high-profit margin. Gather your baking supplies, tables, chairs, signs, and any other materials you’ll need. Assemble volunteers and assign them as marketers, bakers, sellers, or treasury. Price your items reasonably while making sure you’re making a profit. Promote and set up your sale online.
For on-site display; set up tables and chairs to display your baked goods and make sure you have plenty of change. Be friendly and engage with customers. After the event, thank your volunteers and donors.
4. Summer Camp
One great summer fundraising idea is a summer camp. Choose a fundraising idea that aligns with the mission and values of your organization, such as a carwash or bake sale. Gather volunteers to help with event planning and execution. Encourage campers, volunteers, and parents to help with fundraising activities.
Leverage social media and email marketing to promote the fundraiser and engage with donors. Offer incentives or rewards to encourage giving, such as early registration discounts or exclusive access to camp activities. Partner with local businesses or companies to sponsor the fundraiser or provide in-kind donations.
Host a kickoff event such as a Talent Show or a Pool Party to generate excitement and momentum for the fundraiser. Plus, a talent show or pool party itself is a great fundraising idea. Thank donors and keep them updated on the progress of the fundraiser. Measure the success of the fundraiser and make adjustments for future fundraising efforts.
5. Sun and Sands Fundraiser
Choose a beach or waterfront location to host the event. Create a package deal or a swag bag for attendees, which includes summer items and a ticket to the event. Incorporate a variety of activities for attendees to participate in, such as sandcastle-building contests, beach volleyball, and water balloon fights.
To raise more funds, offer food and drink options such as lemonade, barbeque, or concession stands. You may also sell merchandise related to the event or beach-themed merchandise. Attract a wide range of attendees by advertising on multichannel marketing.
6. Summer Expedition
Organize a trip or excursion to a popular or unique local and charge participants a minimum donation to join. You can also seek sponsorships and donations from local businesses and organizations to cover the costs and generate more revenue for your fundraiser.
Make it more engaging and interactive by offering various activities or challenges along the way. You can promote your event through social media, email campaigns, and word of mouth to attract more participants and supporters.
7. Battle Of The Bands
Music always brings people together. Reach out to local bands and invite them to participate in the competition. Find judges who will rate the performances and determine the winner. Sell tickets to your Battle Of The Bands Fundraiser and promote it through multi-marketing channels.
Consider setting up ways to boost funds that will be raised at the event through selling merchandise, temporary tattoos, etc. As part of the winning prize offer them the opportunity to perform at your future events. Not only will your event heat up yuppies’ summer, but they will also be supporting a good cause.
Raise More Money By Making Your Fundraiser Sizzle and Go Viral
Viral videos reach a larger audience and lure people to attend your event out of curiosity. Use these simple ideas and tips to make your events go viral.
- Use social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to promote your event.
Social media is the most convenient and cost-effective way to promote your fundraiser. Post various content about your event on different social media platforms.
Make content that others will want to share. Your post can be an image or a video that highlights your mission and cause. And the impact of your fundraiser.
- Create a Facebook event for your fundraiser
A Facebook event for your fundraiser is a simple and effective way to promote your cause. It will assist you in reaching not only your target audience but a wide range of audiences and make it viral.
Upload an awe-inspiring image or video about your fundraiser to your event page. Then enter the details of your event; the date and time and the location. Next, share the fundraiser event on your Facebook page. This includes your event website as well as other social media channels.
Then post updates and reminders leading up to your event to keep people engaged and excited. This will create a buzz about your event allowing your fundraiser to go viral.
- Generate a fundraising hashtag
Create a fundraising hashtag to help your event go viral. Here are simple tips:
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- Keep your hashtag short, simple, and easy to remember.
- Make it one-of-a-kind and memorable.
- Make use of your organization’s name.
- Use a call to action.
- Make the hashtag relevant to your cause.
- Test it by researching social media if the hashtag is not in existence.
- Make sure to use the hashtag on all your social media posts.
- Collaborate with an influencer who shares your cause
Influencers have a large fan base. They can help promote your fundraiser to their audiences. Reach out to influencers who agree and support your cause. Ask them to share and promote your fundraiser with their followers.
- Create a challenge
Start a challenge that compliments your fundraiser. Encourage people to participate and share with their networks. When creating a challenge make sure it is simple enough to replicate and not too complicated to go viral.
This can be a social media challenge, a creative challenge, or a physical challenge. One example is the ice bucket challenge. The challenge raised $115 million in donations for ALS research.
- Partner with local media
By collaborating with local media, you can spread the word about your fundraiser and reach a larger audience. This requires you to identify local media outlets relevant to your cause and mission. This includes newspapers, TV stations, radio stations, and online news sites.
After identifying, reach out to local media outlets and provide them with your press kit. Then you should be available for interviews with the media. Prepare to answer questions about your organization and fundraising campaign.
- Coordinate with local business
Connect with local businesses that share your values, serve a similar customer base, or are affiliated to your cause. Create a partnership plan outlining how they can support your fundraising campaign.
Promote the partnership on your event website, social media pages, and any marketing materials for your campaign. Encourage your supporters to shop at businesses that are supporting your cause.
Thank these companies for their help with your fundraising campaign. Mention them on your event pages and keep them updated on the impact of their donation.
- Post shoutouts from donors in updates
Before posting, get permission from donors and sponsors, particularly corporate sponsors and influencers. After that, add a section to the landing page of your organization’s website where you can thank your donors and sponsors.
You can also share updates on social media. Highlight the messages of your sponsors and donors. When using social media, be sure to include a link to your website where people can learn more about your fundraiser and make a donation.
- Work with a local event
To promote your fundraiser, partner with an existing event that is relevant to your cause. For example, you are raising funds for women and children. Collaborate with women empowerment events to promote your event or fundraiser.
Introduce yourself and your fundraiser to other event organizers. Not only will you gain exposure, but you will also be able to broaden your network as an event planner.
- Make giving a personal and interactive experience
Ensure that your sponsors and donors have a unique and engaging giving experience. This can be an irresistible way to engage donors and encourage more donations.
Incorporate fun and make it more interactive by using technology like the social swipe by Misereor.
Scorching Tips For Summer Fundraiser
- Set clear goals
A clear goal can help you focus your fundraising effort and helps you establish a specific target that you want to achieve. It can help you develop a targeted plan of action tailored to achieve that goal.
- Create a detailed budget
A detailed budget will help you make informed decisions about how to allocate funds for your organization and prioritize your fundraising efforts. It will also help you to achieve your fundraising goals while maintaining the financial stability and accountability of your fundraiser.
- Engaged with key stakeholders
Engagement with your stakeholders (sponsors, donors, volunteers, community leaders, participants) will help to boost your fundraising by increasing awareness and support for your cause, building trust and credibility, and generating new ideas and perspectives.
Your fundraiser can become more effective, impactful, and sustainable by leveraging your stakeholders’ networks and resources, demonstrating transparency and collaboration, and tapping into a wide range of knowledge and experience.
- Choose the right location
The right location can help you attract more attendees. Helps you create a more enjoyable and memorable experience for them. And ultimately increase your fundraising outcome.
When choosing a location, pick one that is accessible, comfortable, and matches the theme of your event. The perfect location can make your camping more appealing and will generate leads and more ticket sales and donations.
- Leverage the summer season
Create a unique and unforgettable experience for your attendees to generate more interest and participation by leveraging the summer season.
To do this you can host an outdoor event to take advantage of the warm weather. Incorporate summer-themed activities in your summer fundraiser by creating a fun and festive atmosphere.
- Create a strong marketing plan
Develop a clear message, utilize multichannel marketing, collaborate with influencers, design visually appealing content, and measure and adjust your plan as needed.
- Consider partnerships and sponsorships
To boost funds for your summer fundraiser, consider partnerships and sponsorships. Create a sponsorship package where corporate sponsors or individuals can “buy” your offering.
- Get creative and imaginative
Display your thought leadership by sharing valuable and original summer fundraising ideas. Influence and inspire others to give and follow your pursuit.
- Make use of social media
According to a poll conducted by Nonprofit Tech for Good, social media is an essential tool for non-profit organizations to interact and connect with contributors. According to the survey, social media was used by 82% of respondents to advertise their fundraising efforts, and 72% of those respondents thought it was a successful fundraising tool.
Shareable content is the best way you can make use of social media and by using striking hashtags.
- Plan for contingencies
Even with a fail-proof plan and with the best intentions, some things are beyond our control. As an event specialist, always prepare for the unexpected and always have a contingency plan ready.
- Use a dedicated platform for donations
Make giving to your organization or your fundraiser easy. Set up a dedicated platform for your cause. Allowing donors to give by inputting their credit card numbers on your platform.
Heat Up Your Fundraising this Summer with Event Smart
Whether you are a seasoned event specialist or just starting in the industry, these creative fundraising ideas and tips for your summer fundraising event are guaranteed to engage every family member and community member.
Whichever of the suggested fundraising ideas you choose or you may come up with an original summer fundraising event idea. Remember to plan and execute with the right event management process and software for your summer fundraiser.
So what now? Heat up your fundraising this summer with the best event management software- none other than Event Smart!
Event Smart can assist you with event registration and online ticket sale. You can even plan unlimited events with an event website without commission fees per ticket sold for your event. I cannot emphasize enough all the amazing features and benefits of Event Smart!
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