Why creative fundraising works

When public schools are forced to cut spending, the first programs to go are often art, theater, and music. We’ve seen an increase in crowdfunding for creative school programs, and many have included unique and clever elements like creatively inspired events that have made the fundraiser a success.

Creative fundraisers are a great way to stand out and build community. Fundraisers that encourage people to engage directly with a cause can have a greater, more long-lasting impact than fundraisers that simply ask for donations. Australians are more likely to engage with community-led initiatives, leading to higher donations and more ongoing support. More and more Australians are volunteering every year, with 43% of charities in Australia being volunteer-run.

Creative fundraisers encourage an appreciation for arts programs. If you meet your fundraising goal through an arts- or crafts-based event, you’re proving the concrete benefits of arts organizations and education.

Six fundraising ideas that work and spark creativity

Here are six creative fundraising ideas to get you started.

1. Host an art gala

If you’re an artist or have friends or students who are artists or craftspeople (perhaps photographers, painters or jewellery makers), ask them to donate pieces to an art sale supporting your cause. Here’s how:

For personal fundraisers

  • Find a space to host the event, ideally a gallery, cafe or school space. Host at a community centre in Brisbane, for example.
  • Partner with local artists or student artists who can donate pieces.
  • Invite family, friends and community members.
  • Share information on social media, especially in local groups. Encourage people to share on their own pages.

For nonprofits

  • Host an art gala as your signature fundraising event.
  • Recruit artist supporters and donors.
  • Partner with a local gallery.
  • Ask partners to post about the event on their social media.

For both

  • Serve light bites and drinks.
  • Allow people time to walk around, chat, learn about your cause and enjoy the art.
  • Provide information about your cause by setting up a donation station with a mobile device displaying your fundraiser page. Show people how much their purchases and donations can help.
  • Where possible, display pieces that have a connection to your cause.
  • Offer pieces at a range of prices, and make it clear that the funds will go to the charity.

2. Host an art workshop

There’s likely to be a great deal of overlap between people who support your cause and those who want to learn a related craft. Workshops like these are just as much about building community/expanding your supporter base as they are about raising money at the event itself.

For personal fundraisers

  • Recruit a skilled volunteer or local artist.
  • Use a local community centre or art school.
  • Advertise on social media and in person through flyers, particularly at your chosen venue/other local community centres and art schools.
  • Promote awareness for your campaign and encourage ongoing support by pointing attendees towards social media/mailing lists.

For nonprofits

  • Look to regular staff or volunteers to help teach workshops.
  • If you have a large existing support base, consider reaching out on social media/email to see what sorts of workshops supporters might be most interested in.
  • Partner with a local art school.
  • Advertise on social media and encourage supporters to share.

For both

  • Ask yourself: what kinds of art workshops can you and your fundraising team teach? Can you ask an accomplished teacher to donate his or her time?
  • Think about figure drawing, portrait or still-life photography, landscape painting and even cake decorating or other food art.
  • Host half-day or full-day workshops in exchange for donations to your crowdfunding fundraiser.
  • Charge admission or ask for donations to your crowdfunding page in exchange for entry. Make it clear that profits go towards your cause.

3. Organise a talent show

Host a talent show for visibility and engagement by inviting supporters and members of your local community to perform.

For personal fundraisers

  • Name the talent show after your crowdfunding fundraiser. Ask guests to donate to your fundraiser as the price of admission.
  • Choose a venue like a gymnasium, local theatre or other public space.
  • Publicise your talent show in your community and on your crowdfunding page.
  • If possible, ask a well-known member of the community to act as your emcee.

For nonprofits

  • Recruit performers from the community/your supporter base.
  • Partner with a local theatre or community space.
  • Select an emcee and judges from your staff/volunteers or recruit well-known members of the community.

For both

  • Ask businesses for sponsorships and matching donations.
  • For those who can’t attend, share pictures and videos from the show on your fundraiser page and social media to inspire them to give.
  • Ask for social media info of the performers so that you can tag them and encourage them/their friends and family to share on their own pages.

4. Sell crafts online

If you and your fundraising team have ideas for clothing, jewellery or other artwork that you can reproduce in large quantities, you can use sites like Etsy, eBay, Shopify and Instagram can help you reach more customers.

For personal fundraisers

  • Make handmade items by yourself or recruit friends to help/make their own crafts.
  • Promote on your personal social media.
  • Encourage people to share.

For nonprofits

  • Sell crafts made by volunteers, supporters or clients.
  • It can double as a visibility tool; for example, a disability support organisation might sell crafts made by clients.

For both

  • Choose a craft you can produce in quantity and customise easily with buyers’ names or other information.
  • Upload photos and descriptions of your crafts onto an ecommerce site.
  • Note in the item description that sales profits go to fundraising for a cause, and link to your fundraiser.
  • Make and deliver the items to order.
  • If your first set of items is a success, consider adding new ones.
  • Donate all the funds made from selling your crafts (i.e. the margin between the costs of making and shipping the products and the amount you make after selling them) to your fundraiser.
  • Use Australia Post for shipping.

5. Sell handmade wreaths

This is perfect for the holidays! Plug into the holiday trend and offer your wreaths in exchange for donations to your crowdfunding fundraiser.

For personal fundraisers

  • Make them yourself, or find a wholesale supplier who’s willing to donate fresh wreaths or raw materials to your cause.
  • If you assemble the wreaths yourself, add flourishes like dried berries, succulents, flowers, chilli peppers, corn husks, herbs or ribbons, especially if they visually or symbolically relate to your cause.
  • Sell them during the holiday season. Consider getting a stall at a local craft market.

For nonprofits

  • Recruit volunteers to make wreaths.
  • Reach out to local or wholesale suppliers for materials and run a workshop for community engagement.
  • Sell them as part of a seasonal fundraiser. Consider pairing it with other events you may run during the holiday season.

For both

  • If one wreath is selling out, recreate it to meet the demand. Reach out for more volunteers if necessary and give existing volunteers tips based on which wreaths are selling.
  • Create a delivery process and make sure to schedule out your deliveries.
  • Think about matching your wreath design to your cause. For example, yellow and blue flowers to raise money for relief in Ukraine.

6. Knit a quilt with your community

Making a quilt with your fundraising team and other volunteers is a great way to bring a traditional craft into your fundraiser. Here are some tips:

For individuals 

  • Ask people, organisations and businesses to sponsor squares on your quilt with a donation to your fundraiser.
  • You can include a message or image of their choice on the square of each sponsor.
  • Have patrons sponsor a square, you can then donate the quilt to an organisation you support with your fundraiser or a local hospital, shelter or other caregiving groups.

For nonprofits

  • Sponsor a quilt-making workshop.
  • Ask supporters to sponsor squares with donations.
  • Donate to a partner organisation or display it as a visibility tool.

For both

  • Remember that this is a long-term, relatively complex project.
  • Assign one or two people to manage the logistics of multiple sponsors and square-makers.
  • Expect it to take at least one month.

How to choose the right creative fundraising idea for your cause

Choose the right fundraiser to match your cause, timeline and resources.

Budget

If you already have a solid support base, your budget may be able to stretch further thanks to people donating time, energy, prizes, etc. You can also keep costs low by letting suppliers, venues and others know about your fundraiser; they may be able to offer reduced prices.

For example, quilt-making can be a great low-cost option, especially if you’ve got a community of sewists with fabric scraps on hand. You can also make chunky knit blankets made from yarn which is typically lower in cost.

Timeline & volunteer capacity

  • If you have a few weeks and a small team, try talent shows or art workshops.
  • If you have a few months and strong community ties, try quilt-making, craft-selling or art galas.

Cause type

Some causes are a better match for certain fundraisers.

  • Quilt-making or art workshops are better for ongoing causes where you have more time to put things together and promote.
  • Handmade wreaths or crafts can be a great way to pair fundraising with a celebration like a birthday or wedding.

Audience reach

Talent shows, art galas and workshops are ideal for local fundraising, while crafts, wreaths and quilts are a great way to get broader national, or even international, communities involved.

Logistics

If you’re setting up your own charity, remember to allow time for ACNC registration. Depending on the fundraiser and where you’re hosting it, you may also need permits or local council approval before proceeding.

Tips for success across all ideas

However creative you get, there are a few principles that apply to any fundraiser:

  • Practise clear communication about the cause you’re fundraising for and the impact of the funds raised. For example, if you’re raising funds for a homelessness charity, highlight how many people the charity helped in the previous year.
  • Be transparent about where the money is going. You can set up your GoFundMe so that the money goes directly to your chosen charity.
  • Celebrate the community. Highlight the efforts of your volunteers and thank supporters (whether they donated money, time, energy, etc.). This helps build an ongoing community.
  • Use a mix of local and online outreach. Social media tools can help your fundraiser have a wide impact, but reaching out more locally via community groups, flyers and word of mouth will help build a strong base of support.
  • Measure success in different ways. Set attainable goals for your fundraising target and consider other ways to measure success, including community engagement and mission impact.

Discover more fundraising tips on our blog

Creative fundraiser examples

There are plenty of success stories for creative fundraisers. One young Australian turned his love for video games into a fundraising event where he and his friends played the worst games they could find for 24 hours straight, raising over $20,000 for UNICEF Australia in three years. It wasn’t about being the best at something but rather sharing in the joy of failure.

Ready to get creative?

Whether you’re a nonprofit or an individual fundraiser, creative ideas inspire supporters and build community. These fundraisers allow people to celebrate, have fun and show off their talents while giving back. At GoFundMe, our online fundraising platform makes it easy to raise money for your cause. Look to our website for more tips and ideas, or come up with great strategies of your own. And if you haven’t already started a creatively inspired fundraiser, kick off your fundraiser today.