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Finding your next fundraising idea can be exciting, especially when you start imagining the people it could bring together and the difference their support could make.
You don’t need a big event or a completely original concept to get started. A familiar activity, a shared challenge or something thoughtful for supporters to buy can all give people a way to contribute.
The right choice depends on your audience, the time you have and what you can comfortably organise. Here are some charity fundraising ideas to explore, with practical pointers to help you turn an idea into a plan.
Before booking a venue or ordering supplies, think about who you’re hoping will take part. What do they enjoy, how much time can they give and what would make the activity accessible to them?
A quiz night might suit an established group that enjoys getting together. A challenge people can complete in their own time may suit supporters who can’t attend an event. Calendars or cards offer another option for people who’d like to buy something in support of your cause.
Your first steps:
You don’t need to commit to the biggest idea on your list. Choose something your team can manage well.
A quiz night gives friends, colleagues and local groups a reason to gather around a shared activity. You can build it around general knowledge or choose a theme that suits your audience.
Raise money through a clearly advertised entry fee per person or team. Before setting the price, work out your venue, equipment, hosting and prize costs. If a local business can contribute a venue or prize, confirm that support before including it in your plans.
The main work is organising questions, taking bookings and keeping the evening running smoothly. Agree team sizes, timings and how answers will be marked so participants know what to expect.
Get started:
Printed answer sheets, table numbers and a welcome poster can support the event without needing an extensive collection of materials.
A sponsored walk, reading challenge or creative challenge gives supporters something to work towards while raising money for your charity.
Participants invite others to sponsor their activity, either with a fixed donation or an amount linked to what they complete. Explain the arrangement clearly so everyone understands how contributions will be collected.
Choose a challenge that fits the people you’re inviting. You could offer different distances or personal targets so participants can select something suitable for their circumstances.
An organised group activity needs planning for the route or venue, supervision and participant support. A challenge completed independently still needs clear instructions and someone available to answer questions.
Get started:
If you’re offering badges or other participation items, include their cost in your budget from the outset.
A charity calendar can bring together local photographs, artwork or images connected with your cause. It also gives supporters something they can use or give as a gift.
Money comes from calendar sales, with production and selling costs deducted from the income. Local businesses may also be interested in sponsoring a page, provided you agree exactly what they’ll receive.
Before ordering, think about who’s likely to buy it and where you’ll sell it. Gathering expressions of interest can help you judge demand, although interest won’t always turn into a purchase.
Allow time to collect images, confirm permission to use them, prepare the design and check every date. Plan your launch around when your audience is likely to buy a calendar for the coming year.
Get started:
Explore wall calendars when you’re ready to compare printing options. Keep packaging and postage in mind if you’ll be sending orders to supporters.
A book sale gives supporters two ways to contribute: donating books and buying something to read. It can work as a standalone activity or a stall within an existing community event.
Your income comes from sales, while likely costs include the venue or stall, transport, storage and display materials. Donated stock reduces purchasing costs, but sorting and moving it still takes time.
Set clear guidelines for the types and condition of books you’ll accept. Arrange a collection period and decide what will happen to unsold items before donations arrive.
Get started:
Simple category signs and price cards can help visitors browse without needing a volunteer to answer every question.
A craft session, photography workshop or gardening demonstration can turn local knowledge into a fundraising activity.
Raise money through paid places, with a clear explanation of what the session includes. A volunteer tutor or donated venue may help reduce costs, but check materials, equipment and any other expenses before setting the ticket price.
Keep the group size manageable for the activity. Participants should know whether it’s suitable for beginners, what they’ll need to bring and whether they’ll have something to take home.
Get started:
A short printed instruction sheet can give attendees something useful to refer to afterwards, along with information about your charity.
Greetings cards, tote bags and badges can give people a way to support your charity through a purchase. Start with a product that suits your audience and a design they’d want to use, wear or send.
For example, cards featuring local artwork could appeal to an established community audience. A tote bag with a thoughtful illustration may work for supporters who want something useful beyond a single event.
Sales income only becomes a contribution to your fundraising after costs have been covered. Include production, packaging, payment fees and any postage you’re paying for when comparing options.
Get started:
Our merchandise printing range can help you explore options. If you give items away to promote your charity, treat them as a campaign expense when planning your fundraising budget.
Before committing, make a simple estimate of income and costs. Use realistic participation or sales figures, and consider what happens if fewer people take part than you hope.
For an illustrative quiz night, 60 paid places at £5 would bring in £300. If the total cost were £100, that would leave £200 for the cause. With those same fixed costs, you’d need 20 paid places to cover the expense before raising additional funds.
Your own figures will depend on the activity. Some costs stay the same regardless of attendance, while others, such as workshop materials, increase with each participant.
Include any applicable VAT, booking fees and delivery charges in your estimates. Keep confirmed support separate from donations or sponsorship you’re still hoping to receive.
It’s also worth considering volunteer time. An activity with modest costs can still need substantial work to organise, deliver and clear away.
Once you’ve chosen an activity, explain what people can do, what it costs and what their support will help achieve.
“Join our quiz night to help fund new equipment for our community centre” gives people both an invitation and a reason to take part. Add the practical details and one clear next step, such as booking a place or ordering a calendar.
You don’t need every type of print for every fundraiser. Choose materials around where you’ll reach people and what they need to know. Our guide to choosing print products for a charity campaign can help you decide.
If you’re organising an event, our guide to how to promote a charity event covers local outreach, social posts and reminders.
Your next fundraiser can also help you learn what your supporters enjoy and what your team can comfortably deliver.
Afterwards, record the income, costs and time involved. Ask volunteers what worked well and thank everyone who contributed. Share the confirmed total and explain how the money will support your work.
Those notes will give you a useful starting point when you’re ready to repeat the activity or try something new.
For print to support your plans, visit our charity printing hub. Registered UK charities can apply to our Charity Partners Programme. Once approved, you’ll receive lifetime Silver Tier pricing, with up to 15% off eligible products and no minimum spend to retain it.
Posted on March 18, 2026 by Miller Lane-Williams
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