25 Easy And Effective Fundraising Ideas For Kids: A Parent's Guide
Raising funds for a charity can be difficult, time-consuming and expensive.
It is easy to get stuck in the "I don't know what I'm doing" mentality.
However, this doesn't have to be the case if you take initiative with your fundraising ideas!
When it comes to finding an easy way to raise money for charity, virtual fundraising ideas are one of the best options available - they're simple and require no physical effort on your part.
On top of that, virtual fundraisers also offer some great benefits such as low costs and much higher rates of return than traditional methods of fundraising.
Donate or sell old toys
Donate or sell old toys: this is an idea that both children and parents can love to do together. If you have any old toys lying around that you don't want anymore, it's worth donating them to a local charity shop.
Ask for donations instead of gifts
Christmas is typically a time of year where children in our society are showered with gifts from their friends and relatives. What if your child were to choose instead to ask you and the family to give donations to charity? Obviously, we're talking about giving away all gifts that are received, just a select few from the bunch.
Sell old clothes or material items
If you have any old jeans, skirts, jackets or scarves lying around your house which you don't want anymore and can be resold for anything higher than £0 (even if it's only one pound), why not list them on eBay or other virtual marketplaces? It's quick and easy to do - plus, you'll be doing your part for charity.
If you're not keen enough on computers to list items online, it doesn't mean that there are no more options for you! You could always ask around family members and friends if anyone would like their old jeans or shirts. As long as they're in good condition, there should be someone who would like to buy them out there.
Host a craft sale
One of the easiest virtual fundraising activities is to invite friends and family over to your house for an afternoon. As long as you have some crafts that you're willing to sell, it'll take a little bit of work but in return, you get a whole lot more than just spending time with loved ones -plus, even if they don't buy anything, they'll still have a good time.
There are a number of crafts you could make:
-Jewelry
-Pottery
-Scarves and Hats
-Gloves or Mittens
The possibilities are endless, so make sure you brainstorm a little bit before settling on one. All the proceeds from this virtual fundraiser will go to your charity of choice. It's as easy as that!
Host a dog wash
Now, because we are currently in an environment where we need to isolate it might be best to do this when we have the all clear. But it's not impossible, as this virtual fundraiser is perfect to do with your friends.
All you need for the dog wash are a few towels and some shampoo or soap - if you're feeling really crafty, make yourself an adorable sign that says "Towels Provided," so people know what they should bring! All proceeds go towards your charity of choice.
Host a virtual car wash
This virtual fundraiser is perfect for kids who want to get involved but can't go door-to-door or sell things in the local area. All you need are some buckets, soapy water, and sponges - then create a sign with your chosen charity's logo on it!
Again, like the previous point. You may want to consider doing this when we have the all-clear from the government that it is safe to do so.
Host a spelling bee event
This virtual fundraiser is perfect for kids who want to get involved in virtual fundraising ideas. It's also a great way to get your kids thinking about spelling and helping out charities in the process!
The steps are as follows:
* Create a sign with your chosen charity's logo on it
* Give each of the participants or "bee" contestants, their own word sheet - they should write down the letters they think are in the word
* When everyone has completed this, go back and check to see who spelled their word correctly! It's a virtual race so you can do whichever charity you want.
Organise a scavenger hunt
Instruct each team to take photos of certain objects at set points and then upload these pictures onto your chosen social media platform for all to see!
Afterward, ask the participants or "bee" contestants to write down what they think is in the picture - this will be their answer sheet. Race against time as you go back to check the spelling of each word!
Frantically searching the house for your child's lost toy or reading a book can be one of those unenjoyable parent moments. But what if your child could replace them with a donation to charity? Wouldn't that be great!
Collect spare change
Why not use one of the easiest fundraising ideas and have your children collect spare change? Adults can donate small amounts, which will really make a difference for kids.
If you're looking for a low-commitment way to raise funds, get your child an empty jar and let them collect spare change from grandparents, neighbours, and teachers.
Host a Pizza Party
Pizza is one of the most popular foods for dinner, so why not have your child's pizza party fundraiser? They can ask friends and family to donate money in exchange for a slice. Or they could charge an entrance fee along with donating a percentage back - it doesn't matter as long as you're making some more cash!
You can even go one step further and ask your local pizza store for a discount.
Guess The Jellybeans
This is a guessing game that's easy and fun for kids. Ask your child to fill up an empty jar with jellybeans (or other small objects). Then they can sell tickets in advance of the event, or have people pay at the door.
The child who is closest without going over wins all the jellybeans and donates the money to a charity.
The more expensive the ticket, the better chance you have!
Sell Cookies And Other Treats
If you have a knack for baking, this is the perfect way to raise money. You could even get your kids involved by asking them to bake cookies or make brownies for sale at school and in their neighborhood.
This is one of the most popular fundraising ideas for kids because it is easy to set up and costs next to nothing.
Organise a walkathon
A walkathon is where participants raise funds by walking a pre-determined distance for an organisation.
This is a good way to involve the entire family and could work well in conjunction with another fundraising idea, such as asking people to sponsor you based on how far they walked.
For example, if someone walks half of the total distance, they can ask people to sponsor them for £50.
You can also organise a themed walkathon, which is a great way to get people involved.
For example, one could organise a walkathon for cancer research and ask participants to dress up as their favourite character from the Wizard of Oz!
Or you could have a Halloween themed-walkathon that encourages participants to wear costumes of some ghouls or ghosts.
Decorate cupcakes
Have an online bake sale and post your baked goods on social media. If you offer to send the items, people are more likely to buy them!
Put up flyers around town with pictures of food that has been decorated in some way - this will draw attention from passersby and encourage those to buy the food at your virtual bake sale.
If you have a child in school, ask their teacher if they're willing to host it in class! This is an easy way to get parents involved and interested in donating to charity.
Say bingo
Say bingo and have participants call out numbers that they hope will be called. The first person to shout "Bingo!" gets the virtual prize pot!
Make Bingo cards for friends and charge a fee for each card. Winners can choose between prizes such as gift items, snacks, or toys.
Organise a talent show
Organising a talent show can be an easy and effective fundraising idea. Use virtual tools such as video streaming to broadcast the event so that it's open to everyone in your community!
There are many social media platforms that will help you live-stream. The only hurdle is getting everyone together to dedicate time to participate.
The event could range from telling jokes, singing, dancing, to performing a stand-up comedy routine.
Many virtual fundraising ideas involve using social media and the internet so make sure you are aware of any age restrictions before organising your event! You will likely need to arrange this with other parents or the school.
Set up a lemonade stand
The easiest virtual fundraising idea is to set up a lemonade stand. All you need are a few supplies, and if the weather's nice enough for it, your kids can take turns working in shifts with their friends!
Since these are virtual fundraising ideas, you don't have to invest any money into buying lemons or ice - instead, you can offer virtual rewards and prizes to donors in exchange for money.
However, if it is not possible to have these physical fundraising ideas at school due to age restrictions then virtual fundraisers might be the way forward.
Lend a helping hand
If virtual fundraising ideas are not the best solution for your school, or you're looking for something a little simpler to manage then try lending a helping hand.
Help people with their spring cleaning in exchange for them donating what they earn to charity! Just make sure that it is agreed on beforehand how many hours of work will be done. This is very popular among the elderly who don't have the energy to do it themselves.
Alternatively, if you're looking for something a little more physical then how about donating your time at an animal shelter?
Before doing this it is important that parents are familiar with any requirements or guidelines in place and make sure their child knows what they will be getting up to! This type of event is also a great way to socialize and if you're looking for ideas it may be worth considering visiting your local animal shelter.
Sell old books
Raising funds for your child's school can be hard when you have to spend hours outside shopping and haggling with shoppers. A more virtual approach is needed!
One way of raising money that parents are always keen on, yet never actually get around to doing themselves, is selling old books from their collection.
Sell your old books online to create a virtual book club where people can buy and then read them, getting all the benefits of reading without any worries about storage.
Organise a clean-up event
If you're looking for virtual fundraisers, there are plenty of ways that your child can help.
Consider organising a clean-up event with the parents in your child's class to see what they come up with! It doesn't have to be just about cleaning - this could also include an art project or social media campaign to raise awareness about an issue.
Cleaning your neighborhood is an important cause to the little ones in town. Contact the neighbors for support and offer them a fee or incentive for their help.
Organise a balloon raffle
It's not just adults that love raffles - kids are crazy about them too! Get balloons in your childrens' colours and have a virtual fundraising event with friends, family, or neighborhood members.
Put the raffle tickets inside the balloons and sell them. The winners will be drawn when all the balloons are inflated and someone shakes them up to pop one of the balloons
Organise a multicultural fair
If you live in a multicultural area, organise an international fair where everyone can try to experience the cuisine and cultures from all over.
You don't need much; just some tables with food on them!
Specially designed products from your culture are a great fundraising idea
The event is one of the most lucrative opportunities to sell these items, so encourage people who want to give back with their hard-earned funds.
Raising funds for charity can be difficult, time-consuming, and expensive. But even if you don't have a lot of experience or an overwhelming amount of supplies, there are plenty of easy ways to make it happen!
One way is through virtual fundraisers, which require minimal effort on your part. They allow kids from different cultural backgrounds the chance to raise money for charity, and with virtual fundraising ideas, you can tailor them to the needs of your group.
Offer a gift wrapping service
A simple way for kids to donate is to offer gift-wrapping services in the neighborhood. To get more donations, set up a stall in the community with a flyer mentioning your child’s noble cause. People will come willing to support and donate to their child's worthy cause.
Sell flowers
A quick and easy way to raise money for kids is through selling flowers. To do this, find a few buyers who want to buy flower bouquets from you every week - then offer them at cost price or even sell them as half-price if they're willing to donate twice the amount of their purchase to your cause.
It's advisable to do this in the summer months because flowers are in bloom and people will want to buy them.
Carve Pumpkins
In the autumn, carve pumpkins for Halloween and then sell them afterward. Talk to friends in your community who love pumpkin carving and see if they are willing to donate their time or skills to help you with making these sculptures. Offer parents a discount on buying one of these carvings from you (and add that it will support your child's school or charity).
Wrapping Up
There are many ways to fundraise for a specific cause, but this guide has outlined some of the easiest and most effective fundraising ideas that children can do.
These fundraising ideas will help your child learn how they impact their communities in meaningful ways while also getting them involved in charitable activities.
The next time you're thinking about what kind of fundraiser to host for your kid's school or organisation, take a look at these 25 easy and effective fundraising ideas!
Have you tried any of the ideas listed here?
Let us know!
We would love to hear from you.