Easy fundraising ideas for your cause
Do you want to raise money for a worthy cause but need to organise something that’s quick and easy? Not all fundraisers require months of planning and sleepless nights, so you can do a good deed without taking on too much stress.
At GoFundMe, we’ve got you covered with this list of easy fundraising ideas in Australia that are simple to organise while also allowing you to maximise the donations you receive.
Not only are these fundraising ideas designed to be straightforward, but they’re also for everyone. Your fundraising journey starts here!
Fun run
Inclusive and accessible to all ages and fitness levels, a fun run is a non-competitive way of bringing a community together in an active, social environment. Requiring minimal equipment or preparation, fun runs are simple to organise and cheap for those on a tight budget.
You can also tailor a fun run with creative themes to enhance the experience and make it more engaging, such as fancy dress or a colour run. Why not join a parkrun and run 5K at your local park to raise funds for charity? Or, do a charity walk instead of running so everyone can join.
The combination of ease and enjoyment means a fun run is an excellent fundraiser option for groups of friends, schools, social clubs, work colleagues, and more.
Bake sale
Who doesn’t love homemade treats? As far as easy fundraising ideas go, a bake sale is a surefire winner. Not only can you share the workload by inviting other people to donate baked goodies, but you’ll already have a large group of people in one place, ready to sell to.
Bake sales can be quickly set up in schools, community centres, or workplaces. They require only basic baking skills and ingredients. Accessible and appealing to a broad audience, a bake sale is an enjoyable fundraising idea that brings communities together.
Car wash
To get a car wash up and running, all you’ll need is soap, water, sponges, and some willing volunteers. Next, you just need to pick a location that sees a lot of passing traffic, such as a car park at a school or supermarket, or on your street. Once this quick planning process is complete, simply open up your social media apps and start spreading the word to promote it.
The hands-on activity creates a fun, social atmosphere that’s enjoyable for volunteers and customers alike. The high-visibility nature of a car wash means you could receive a lot of donations for your charitable cause.
Readathon
A readathon is always an instant hit with schools, encouraging children to read while raising money for a good cause. This school fundraising idea can be set up with minimal fuss, as all you’ll need is some books and a way of tracking reading progress.
Students collect pledges based on the number of books or pages they read, helping to promote a love of reading while contributing to the lives of others. It can also be done at home or in libraries, making it flexible and accessible for all.
Crowdfunding
What makes crowdfunding a quick fundraising idea is that it uses an online platform to reach a wide audience with very little effort. By using a reputable platform, such as GoFundMe, you can start crowdfunding in just a few clicks before sharing your fundraiser via social media and email.
It’s also a great way of engaging a diverse range of people on a larger scale and maximise the amount of money you raise.. Accessible and affordable, crowdfunding is a no-brainer.
Trivia night
Everybody loves a quiz night, so why not host a trivia event and use it to fundraise? It is easy to scale to different-sized groups, inexpensive, and simple to organise and set up. You can run it online with video call apps and quiz software, or in person at a venue.
Ask your local pub or community centre to host or set up a virtual quiz where participants can join from the comfort of their own homes. The event can easily be shared online or hosted at a venue, making it accessible to a wide audience.
Partner with local businesses
Partnering with local businesses is a simple and fun fundraising idea because it builds community connections while raising funds. All you need to do is reach out to local businesses and see if they’re interested in supporting you in some way. They could do so by:
- Having collection pots on their premises.
- Distributing flyers about your fundraiser
- Promoting it on their social media accounts and other marketing platforms
- Donating a portion of their sales
- Sponsoring your fundraiser
- Offering products and services as prizes
The collaboration is also mutually beneficial, as businesses gain positive exposure within the local community by contributing to a charitable cause.
Use social media effectively
When fundraising, if you want to reach a large audience instantly, then there is no better tool than social media. You can create and share your fundraiser on Facebook, Instagram, X, formerly Twitter, or TikTok seamlessly. Use compelling messages, photos, and videos to make it more engaging. This low-cost, quick fundraising idea is a great way of spreading the word to a variety of networks.
You don’t even need to tie yourself down to a specific event or challenge – simply tell your story honestly and encourage people to donate. Check out our top social media fundraising tips.
Take on a challenge
Physical challenges are a great way to fundraise, whether you’re going solo or as a team. While some challenges push participants to their limits, they’re usually straightforward to set up and promote with GoFundMe. Here are some popular challenges to get you started:
- Half or full marathon.
- Swimming lengths in a pool.
- Long-distance cycling.
- Obstacle course.
- Dance competition.
- Sober October.
- Walk or hike.
- Completing an activity daily for a month – examples being national challenges such as Movember or Dry July.
To boost potential donations, keep people updated on your progress. Make them feel part of the journey. Sharing photos and videos of your challenge is a great way of keeping donors engaged.
Sausage sizzle fundraiser
Nothing brings a community together quite like a sausage sizzle. A true Aussie fundraising favourite, it’s a simple BBQ where you sell sausages, bread, and drinks in exchange for donations. With low upfront costs and broad appeal, it’s an easy way for schools, sporting clubs, charities, and community groups to raise money while creating a friendly, social atmosphere. Popular locations include outside shopping centres, local footy matches, school fetes, and community events. To maximise your fundraising, create a GoFundMe fundraiser. That way, friends, family, and supporters who can’t make it in person can still contribute online, helping you reach your fundraising goal.
It’s easy to start crowdfunding
So, there you have it, raising money doesn’t have to be difficult. With our easy fundraising ideas, you can remove the complexity of organising fundraisers and start making a difference in the lives of fellow Aussies in a few simple steps.
Whether you choose to host a bake sale or take on a demanding challenge, GoFundMe is here to guide you every step of the way of your fundraising journey.
With easy set-up for fundraiser organisers, community reach-out tools, and the GoFundMe Giving Guarantee for peace of mind for organisers and supporters, we’ll help you get started in just a couple of clicks.ks.