Successful Fall Theme Fundraising Ideas
Fall is here! And while there are lots of things you can do to make the most out of the season, one thing stands above the rest: fall fundraisers. Whether you’re looking to raise money for a local charity, a school event, or even a special cause like cancer research or animal welfare, fall events are some of the best ways to transition from summer and bring people together for a great time.
With so many popular fall activities, this season is the perfect time for your organization’s fundraising efforts. From pumpkin patches and apple picking trips to hayrides and corn mazes, there are plenty of opportunities to engage donors and volunteers alike. But don’t just take our word for it—here are creative fall fundraising ideas to help inspire your next campaign.
Football Tailgate
Fall is upon us, which means it's time to start thinking about how you're going to celebrate America's favorite sport. If your community has a high school, college, or maybe a professional football team, host a tailgate party fundraiser where attendees can donate money towards your nonprofit. It'll give them a great way to connect with your organization while enjoying some food and drinks. Plus, you'll get to see your friends and family cheering on your favorite team!
Fantasy Football League
As we said, fall is upon us you can't escape football season!
Fantasy football leagues are popular fundraisers for nonprofits because they're a great way to engage supporters and raise money at the same time. But fantasy football leagues aren't just for sports fans anymore—they've become a favorite among people looking to give back. There are many ways you can raise money during a fantasy football league, hot events during games, or while setting up your teams to ensure everyone knows how it works.
Haunted House
Haunted houses are one of the most popular Halloween activities, especially among kids. Turn your office, church, apartment, school, or local community space into a scary haunt that'll guarantee chills. Be sure to include a cash box near the exit to encourage visitors to donate money. And, as an added incentive, offer hot cocoa and treats for an additional fee along with the admission fee.
You can host a haunted house fundraiser for school clubs, sports teams, and nonprofit organizations located in an easily accessible area. To collect more funds and advertise create a simple online fundraising page with Events.org and start collecting funds today.
Chili Cook-Off
Chili cook-offs are a great way to raise money for your organization while having some fun. They’re easy to organize, inexpensive, and there’s no limit on how many people can participate. Create a sign-up sheet for competitors. Once they have signed up give them a list of foods they cannot put in their chili for allergies reasons, after all, we want as many people to participate as possible right? After, create flyers and sell tickets to the cook-off! We encourage add-ons to the event like a game of bags, or drinks to drive more donations. Make sure you have a way for attendees to cast their vote so you can properly name the chili cook-off winner!
Pumpkin Carving Contest
This fall fundraising idea requires participants to pay a small fee to participate. You can supply the carving supplies for convivence, you can either sell pumpkins at the event for an additional cost or let participants bring their own. If you have a large number of participants, segment them into groups based on age. For example, 10-year-olds decorate the pumpkins while 20-year-old adults carve pumpkins. Make it an event everyone can participate in.
Trivia Night
Trivia nights are becoming increasingly popular throughout the United States. They're fun, easy events that allow people to enjoy themselves while supporting a good cause. Create a trivia night that is crafted towards fall, Halloween questions, horror movie trivia, or Charlie Brown Thanksgiving or Halloween trivia. Charge a fee in order to play. To increase donations ask for donations of drinks and snacks so attendees can purchase them as well.
Pumpkin Pie Sale
If you want to raise funds for your school or non-profits, consider selling pumpkin pie. Not just one, but several varieties, have something for every food allergy and preference to allow more people to participate. You can even sell them online and have pick-up or delivery options. And it doesn't matter whether you're baking them yourself or buying them pre-made. Contact local bakeries and ask if they can offer you a special rate and you can upsell them or if you know a group of volunteers that will bake pies for your charity.
Turkey Raffle
Turkey raffles are the perfect fundraiser for the holiday season because almost every household in your community wants a turkey for Thanksgiving dinner. You could charge anywhere from $5-$10 per raffle ticket, depending on how many tickets you sell, and draw the winner a few days before Thanksgiving, giving everyone plenty of time to plan out their holiday meals.
Make sure to purchase more than just one turkey for the raffling; it makes the event seem like there are multiple prizes being given away. Also, make sure to buy big turkeys, since larger birds sound more appealing than smaller ones. You can do multiple giveaways for different family types, small, medium, and large turkeys! To set yourself apart add a ticket that is priced more that will include supplies to make sides, such as potatoes or vegetables.
Paint and Sip
For this fundraiser, you'll need to partner with a local paint and sipping store like Pinot's palette. They will provide the canvas and the tools and may even offer a discount for charity, while you supply the theme, this one being fall-themed obviously, and the drinks! You'll also want to make sure to check with your local liquor laws to ensure that you can serve alcohol during the event.
If you don't have access to a local paint and sip shop, you can still host your own version of this event. Reach out to a local artist and ask them to lead the painting portion of the event. Be sure to purchase enough supplies ahead of time to accommodate everyone. This is a great event to hold while the temperature starts to drop and people are looking for more indoor activities.
Rake-A-Thon
With fall comes leaves and with leaves comes a lot of extra yard work. Create a rake-a-thon to clear all those leaves and raise money.
Get together a group of volunteers and have them knock door to door and offer yard cleanup for a flat fee or a donation of their choice. If door-to-door is not what you are looking to do you can always make a website with Events.org that allows people to register to get their yard cleaned. Advertise your link or QR code around your community and you will be sure to get a lot of people registered! You can also have an option of just donating, this makes it easier for people who don't need the service to still support your charity.
To add some friendly competition group volunteers up into teams to motivate them to get even more sign-ups!
When organizing your fundraising event, there are certain things that you have to keep in check. You want it to be memorable, efficient, and above all else, fun. With that being said, here are some fundraising tips to remember.
Plan early
If you are planning a fundraising campaign for the fall season, there are certain things that you need to do ahead of time. For example, you need to start planning your fundraiser now. You want to make sure that it happens in September, October, or November because the weather isn’t too hot and cold. Also, you don’t want to spend too much money on decorations and food.
Make your purpose clear
What do you want to achieve through your fundraiser? What do you hope to accomplish with their donation? Do you just want to make a difference? Or do they want to see change? When people hear those answers and how invested you are in your fundraiser it makes them want to support you more
Value volunteers
Volunteers are just as important as getting donations from donors, they are the reason you are able to host a fundraising event without taking too much of the profit for costs and maximizing your giving. Make sure to not overwork volunteers and let them know they are appreciated.
Value donors
Lastly, donors are the backbone of nonprofit organizations. They provide financial support and help build the foundation of your organization. But it doesn’t end there. Donors are also the ones who make sure that your organization continues to exist. Without them, your organization wouldn’t be able to survive. And without them, your mission won’t be achieved. So how do you value them? You must realize that each donation is a gift of time.
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