Summer Fundraising Ideas

Summer offers the perfect opportunity to take your fundraising outdoors. With longer days and warmer weather, people are naturally more inclined to participate in community events. These summer fundraising ideas will help you make the most of the season while raising vital funds for your cause.

June

1. Summer Fête

Organise a traditional summer fête with stalls, games, and entertainment that brings the whole community together.

Friendly tip: Create a detailed site map and schedule activities throughout the day to keep visitors engaged. Approach local businesses for raffle prizes 6-8 weeks in advance, offering recognition in event programs and social media in return for their support.

2. Father's Day Golf Tournament (3rd Sunday in June)

Organise a charity golf tournament with an entry fee, refreshments, and prizes for participants.

Friendly tip: Approach local businesses to sponsor individual holes with signage. Create fun categories beyond the traditional scoring, such as "most improved" or "best sporting attitude" to engage players of all skill levels.

3. Summer BBQ Fundraiser

Encourage supporters to host summer BBQs for friends and family, collecting donations per plate served.

Friendly tip: Provide hosts with digital invitation templates, suggested donation amounts, and simple recipes. Create a hashtag for hosts to share their BBQ photos on social media.

4. Summer Solstice Celebration (21st June)

Mark the longest day with an outdoor evening party featuring music, food, and activities.

Friendly tip: Solar-themed decorations and activities tie in nicely with the solstice theme. Consider hosting a sunset yoga session or a midnight feast to make the most of the extra daylight.

July

5. Charity Dog Walk

Organise a sponsored walk specifically for dog owners and their pets. Consider adding a pet costume contest or agility demonstrations.

Friendly tip: Partner with local vets or pet stores for prizes and promotion. Have water bowls and treat stations for four-legged participants. Check out your Wagathon campaign in your free Marketing Toolkit for ready-made social media posts!

6. Outdoor Movie Night

Set up an open-air cinema screening in a park or garden. Charge admission and sell refreshments.

Friendly tip: Choose family-friendly classics that appeal to a broad audience. Offer blanket and chair rentals for an additional donation.

7. Car Wash Fundraiser

Organise a charity car wash during the summer when people are more likely to want their cars cleaned after dusty summer drives.

Friendly tip: Create an efficient system with separate stations for washing, rinsing, and drying to minimise wait times. Offer refreshments for sale to waiting customers.

8. Mini Music Festival

Arrange performances by local musicians at an outdoor venue. Sell tickets and refreshments.

Friendly tip: Approach music schools for young performers who would appreciate the exposure. Create different "stages" or performance areas to accommodate various music styles.

August

9. Craft-Making Workshop

Host summer-themed craft workshops teaching skills like flower pressing, natural dyeing, or outdoor photography.

Friendly tip: Partner with local artisans who might donate their time in exchange for exposure. Provide take-home materials so participants can continue practicing their new skills. Consider a follow-up exhibition of created works to showcase participants' achievements.

10. Community Sports Day

Host a day of traditional sports day activities like sack races, egg-and-spoon races, and tug-of-war competitions.

Friendly tip: Create team categories for families, businesses, and community groups to encourage group participation. Offer a trophy for the most spirited team to encourage friendly competition.

11. Summer Supper Club

Organise a themed dinner party or picnic with an entry fee. Consider a specific cuisine theme or decade.

Friendly tip: Source decorations from supporters to keep costs down. Ask local cooking enthusiasts to volunteer their skills for preparing special dishes.

12. Sponsored Cycle Ride

Set up a cycling event with routes of varying difficulties. Participants can collect sponsorships based on their chosen distance and track their progress using fitness apps like Strava.

Friendly tip: Ensure you have clear route maps, first aid provisions, and bike repair kits available. Partner with a local cycle shop for technical support on the day. Don’t forget, there’s a ready-made Cycling Challenge campaign available to download from your Marketing Toolkit!

13. Charity Ice Cream Stand

Run an ice cream stand at local events or parks during hot weather.

Friendly tip: Approach local ice cream suppliers for donations or discounted stock. Offer unique toppings or flavour combinations to stand out from regular vendors.

Summer Fundraising Tools

Summer events benefit from mobile-friendly tools. Digital ticketing solutions work well for larger events like the Father's Day Golf Tournament or Mini Music Festival. For community events like the Sports Day or Cycle Ride, Fundraising Pages allow supporters to collect sponsorships easily. Contactless giving via Tap to Donate is perfect for outdoor venues where taking card payments might be challenging.

Need help getting started? Give as you Live Donate offers free support for fundraising all year round! Reach out to our Charity Team at charities@giveasyoulive.com to learn more.