The A-Z of fundraising ideas

Send your donation to IHC, PO Box 1757, Wellington, or just send the money in by using IHC’s secure online donation form with your credit card.  You will go through a secure online credit card facility on 2day.com.

Check out tips for holding your fundraiser

Auction:  Get auction items from local businesses or get people to donate their talents and auction them locally.

Babysitting:   Let people friends and colleagues know you are available to babysit and donate the proceeds to IHC.

Birthday party:   Have a birthday party but ask people to donate to IHC in lieu of gifts.

Cake stall:   Set up a cake stall at a local event and ask your friends and colleagues to do some baking for IHC.

Charity dinner:   It doesn’t have to be big. Sell tickets (perhaps to dinner at your place) to friends and colleagues, with proceeds to IHC.

Desk to Desk collection:   Go desk to desk in your office or place of work collecting for IHC, rather than door-to-door.

Dollar for dollar:   Ask your employer or local business to match all the donations you raise.

Entertainment:   Perhaps you and/or some of your friends are particularly talented musicians, comedians, jugglers, etc. Have an evening of fun entertainment.

Fancy dress:   Raise money at events or in the office by dressing up or down for the day, be outrageous!

Fun run:   Organise your own or find a locally organised event and participate for IHC.

Garage sale:   Get everyone to give their house a good spring clean and sell the unwanted items.

Guessing competitions:   How many sweets, marbles, weight of the cake, the stock price, etc..

Homemade sale:   Organise a bring-and-buy sale in your front room or garden of cakes, jams, sweets, vegetables, etc.

Individual sponsored challenges:   Do something bizarre or unusual, but safe, and get sponsored.

Jumble sale:   I know, it’s just an old name for garage sale, but go with the theme and have a white elephant table, sell your home knitting.

Karaoke:   Share your singing skills, pay for a song or invite your friends and colleagues to a Karaoke party – sell tickets.

Lawn bowls, croquet, petanque, or mini golf:   Fun on your lawn or at the local park for friends, families and colleagues – for a donation or fee.

Match the photos:   Match the pet with the person, the baby with the adult, etc. have an entry fee and pick a winner.

Morning tea:   Charge a gold coin donation for a morning tea for friends and colleagues.

Mufti day:   Come to work in your casuals, dress down, or in pyjamas for a day for a donation.

Night of Rugby / Races / Video:   Organise the right thing, invite friends and colleagues for a donation to IHC.

Opera Night:   If you and your friends like the opera, invite them to a viewing of your favourite opera DVD, you may need to have a large TV screen.

Pop Idol:   Yes I know, it’s just a younger name for Karaoke.

Quiz night:   Test teams of colleagues knowledge or persuade your local pub to donate takings from a regular quiz night.

Raffle:   Get prizes donated and check with IHC about legalities.

Skip a lunch:   Cut your lunch for a day or week and give the money you save from not buying your lunch to IHC. Encourage work colleagues and friends to do the same.

Skip a bottle of wine / a coffee / a …:   You get the picture, and donate that money to IHC.

Swear box:   Will do well in many workplaces.

Trivia competition:   Get those great minds working amongst your colleagues and friends – I know, its just another name for quiz night.

Ugliest photo ever competition:   Get everyone at work to bring the ugliest ever photo of themselves with a small donation, pick a diplomatic judge and pick some fun winners.

Wash some cars or windows:   Work as a group, make it fun, let friends, family and neighbours know beforehand and charge an amount that works.

Xtremes:   Set up a competition at work for those of you who love extreme sports or competitions. Create a challenge, but make it safe. Charge an entry fee.

Your ideas:   They will often be the best around!

Zanadoo Evening:   You think of something starting with Z. For those who are true fans of Grease. Show the DVD, dress for it, charge an entry donation.

Tips for holding your fundraiser
Tip 1. How will you make your money? Charge an entry fee or ask for contributions, or both. Hold an auction or raffle or both. Arrange sponsorship to do something out of the ordinary.

Tip 2. Get family and close friends involved first. If they write their sponsorship amount on your form first, they are likely to be the most generous and set the standard.

Tip 3. Ask people to give money straight away. This will save you time after the event. Carry some change with you just in case.

Tip 4. Know where the money is going. Know about IHC and what we do when asking people to donate or sponsor you. This website has plenty of information about IHC – click why IHC needs your support.