With fall just around the corner, now is the perfect time to begin planning a fundraiser for your nonprofit organization. After school and before Thanksgiving is the ideal window of time to make sure people attend your event and get excited about what you are doing. There are a variety of factors that could impact your fundraising event, so remember to take everything into consideration. For example, depending on where you live, college and NFL football games could be a hindrance to your event. While fall is an excellent time of year to have fundraising events, it’s important to plan around other fall festivities. Here are five great fall fundraiser ideas:
Non Event Fundraiser
A non-event fundraiser is the perfect “non-event” to plan during the fall months. With back-to-school, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and more all happening in the same time frame, some people may not be interested in participating in a fundraising event. Reach out to people and let them know you understand what a busy season it is. Share your goals and ask them to donate. You can send out invitations and ask people to “buy” their way out of another fundraiser.
Haunted House Fundraiser
Halloween is a great “theme” holiday that you can use in planning a fundraiser. Putting together a haunted house and charging admission along with offering people a chance to give in other ways is a low risk, high reward type of event.
A Fun Run or 5K
While planning a fun run or 5K can be time-consuming and difficult, there are very few expenses associated with the actual event. It is also a versatile event in that you can have a rewards ceremony, a dinner after, or even a concert or other type of community-wide event.
The fall is an excellent time of year to have a run, as the weather will be cooler and more people will be willing to get outside. You can also hold a themed race such as one where everyone wears Halloween costumes or a Thanksgiving “Turkey Trot.”
Pumpkin Carving Contest
Most people equate fall with pumpkins. Pumpkin bread, pumpkin spice lattes, pumpkin pie, and jack-o-lanterns are just a few of the ways that fall and pumpkins have been tied together over the years. A pumpkin carving contest is a perfect way to bring a slice of fall to your fundraiser and to allow people to have fun while supporting a great cause.