Fundraising ideas
These are just some of the ideas you can use for planning a fundraising event! You'll know best what works for your particular community.
Kid-run and school events
- Holiday party
- Read-a-thon
- Auction
- Penny war
- School drive
- Dance-a-thon
- Talent show
- Sporting event
- Jog-a-thon
- Fashion show
- Collect donations for doing chores
- Sell lemonade
- Concession stand
- Skate-a-thon
- Car wash
Special life events
- Event opportunities
- Wedding
- Baby shower
- Birthday
- Bar/Bat Mitzvah
- Anniversary
- Quinceañera
- Retirement
- Communion
- Graduation
- Confirmation
- Collect donations in lieu of gifts
- Donations in memory/honor of a loved one
At your home
- Book club
- Garage sale
- Clothing swap
- Book sale
- Release party
- Auction
- Male beauty contest
- Holiday party
- Board game or card game tournament
- Poker party
- Cook-off
- Fashion show
- Cocktail reception
- Dinner party
Other events and parties
- Holiday party
- Marathon or triathlon
- Golf or Bowling tournament
- Fashion show
- “No talent” show
- Sell your music
- Parents’ Night Out: donate your fee for babysitting
- Sell your art
- Dine out for Mercy Corps
- Concert or performance
- Bake sale
- Mustache-growing contest
- Car wash
- Set out donation envelopes at a public venue
At your place of work
In addition to generating donations at events, many employers match funds raised by their employees. Increasing numbers of companies are also establishing employer-sponsored payroll-deduction giving programs. Please contact your leadership team or HR representative to explore this great opportunity to make your donations go even further.
- Jeans Day
- Holiday party
- Ice cream social
- Alternative gift fair
- Book sale
- Employer matching customers’ or employees’ gifts
- Bake sale
- Cook-off
- Donate tips
- Golf or Bowling tournament: employer makes a donation per turkey or strike
- Set out donation envelopes
- Curse Bucket/Swear Jar: pay a fine for every curse word at work
- Recycle cans: keep an extra trashcan in the break room
- Loose change bin
- More
As a business owner or executor
- Sell your product or service.
- Jeans Day: pay $5 to wear jeans to work
- Send a fundraising email to your customers
- Payroll-deduction employee giving program
- Charity fair
- Set out donation envelopes
- CEO costume picture: charge $5 to have picture taken with staff member
Businesses, nonprofits and individuals alike are selling items and services for a good cause by directing proceeds to Mercy Corps. “Cause marketing” partnerships generate much needed funds for our programs. In order to maintain positive and compliant cause marketing relationships, Mercy Corps follows Better Business Bureau standards and state laws. Please read our Cause Marketing Guidelines carefully.
At your place of worship
- Alternative gift fair during the holiday season.
- Make an offering to Mercy Corps
Alternative gift fair are bazaars where people “shop” for Mercy Corps Gifts which help the world’s most vulnerable people. Fairs can include tickets, booths, and even concessions! Feature the symbolic Gifts in a newsletter, or on your bulletin or website. Gifts can also be used on a giving tree or table or during your next gift exchange. To request Mercy Corps Gift cards to sell in your community, please first register and then email our Community Fundraising Team.