BAKE SALE

Post a bake sale menu that your interested participants can browse.  As they make donations, they can also put in their order information and your bakers will create and deliver requested goods.  You can bake some of the classics – cake, pie, cookies – or choose a theme or holiday to center your bake sale around.

BINGO NIGHT

Who doesn’t love a good game of Bingo!  It’s fun and very easy to plan and it’s appropriate for people of all ages.  Change an entry fee and a fee for ‘extra’ Bingo cards.  Check with some local organizations to see if they might have a set of Bingo balls, cards, markers, tabs, etc. that you can borrow or rent.  The internet is a great source for themes, cards, etc.

BOARD GAME TOURNAMENT

Teams compete during a board game tournament to raise money.  Ask local businesses or friends who can’t attend to donate prizes for tournament winners.  You can give “bonus points” to participants who agree to host their own fundraiser because they were inspired by you!

BOOK SWAP

Host a book swap and charge a small fee to enter and/or per book exchanged.  This event can be hosted in your home or meet somewhere fun – maybe at a local brewery!  Talk to your local library about resources that they have that can help you with your book swap.  Maybe you will be so inspired you can start your own book club – with an entry fee as a donation to Voices of Courage.

BREAKFAST BENEFIT

Making a big batch of pancakes or biscuits and gravy for a crowd can be an easy way to fundraise.  Maybe you know of another event, like a 5K or other morning event, that would allow you to provide breakfast for participants as a fundraiser for Voices of Courage.  

DOLLARS FOR DARES

This is a perfect idea for those who like a little adventure or to participate in silly but fun activities.  Set up your Dare as a Facebook Event, announce the dare you will complete if you raise a set amount of funds.  Promote your page and watch the donations come in.  There are a lot of dare challenges out there, but here are just a few ideas:  Cold water challenge; dyeing your hair or shaving your head; performing a song in public, wearing a crazy outfit or costume around town or to work.  Of course, you would then share pics or videos of your Dare so everyone who donated can share in the fun.

DRESS DOWN FOR DONATIONS

Does your workplace keep things professional with a dress code?  Have a talk with your boss or HR Department to see if they are open to the idea of a regular casual Friday (or any day) where people in your office can donate $10 or $25 (whatever you choose) to dress in pajamas, ugly Christmas sweaters or even just jeans or sweats on that day.  Maybe have it recur once a month, weekly or whatever seems appropriate for your workplace.  Again, pictures are great so everyone can share in the fun!  It’s good PR for your company and fun for your co-workers.

GARAGE/YARD SALE

Encourage your friends, family, neighbors and co-workers to collect all their gently used clothes, home goods and collectibles and host a large garage/yard sale at your home, place of business, or wherever is big enough to hold it all!  Promote your sale, letting patrons know it is a fundraiser for Voices of Courage.  It’s a great way to clean out, pare down and raise money for a good cause.

HAPPY HOUR

Host it in your home or find a venue for a low price (like a local VFW Hall, Knights of Columbus hall, etc.) and serve cocktails and hors d’oeurves.  You can sell tickets in advance and ask attendees for donations that night.  OR, find a local pub or restaurant who will agree to offer you discounted food and/or drinks for your attendees.  They might even be willing to do a profit-share for the evening.  At home, think about hiring a DJ, run a raffle and award prizes for some quick trivia questions. The possibilities are endless!

HOST A (DRINKING) SPELLING BEE

Host a spelling bee and charge an entry fee.  You can host this at home or consider having it at a local brewery/bar/restaurant.  See if they will donate a percentage of their profits for the evening.  Participants can set up personal pages and fundraise online ahead of time.

HOSTED DINNER PARTIES

Do you enjoy hosting dinner parties at your home?  Consider hosting one as a fundraiser!  It can be fancy with cocktail attire, or just a backyard BBQ.  Let your friends and neighbors know ahead of time that it’s a fundraiser so they are prepared.  Fun and easy!

MOVIE NIGHT

Invite friends, donors, volunteers, potential supporters, neighbors – anyone – to come to a family movie night.  This can be in your backyard or in a park.  Maybe even ask a local business or two to help sponsor the event.  Charge a fee, sell some popcorn and enjoy!

PAINT & SIP

Host a paint & sip night in your home or at a local establishment.  Sell drinks and food for additional revenue.  Weather permitting, this could even be done outside.  It’s easy to set up a registration page and collect entry fees – or do this in person.  If you need help finding someone to lead the ‘paint’ portion of the ‘paint & sip’, just let us know and we’ll help you! 

An alternative to this would be a Plant & Sip – instead of painting a picture, participants will put together a beautiful arrangement or planting, with gardening tips from a knowledgeable instructor.

PING PONG/POOL TOURNAMENT

Do you have a ping pong table or pool table?  Or do you know someplace that does?  Host a tournament as a fundraiser!  Encourage teams to complete to see who can raise the most and of course, add prizes for your winners.

PUB CRAWL

Host a philanthropic pub crawl.  Members get to enjoy a great night out on the town together while raising money for a cause.  You can add a theme (like the 1980’s), BridesMaids, Disco, Color theme (everyone wears purple!), Favorite Movie Character, Mardi Gras.  The theme possibilities are endless.  Map out your route and call the bars to let them know your group will be stopping in.  They may even offer discounts for them!  Set up a donation bucket everywhere you go (volunteers will need to be responsible for these).  Promote, of course, on social media and – pictures please!

SCAVENGER HUNT

These can be online (through pictures)  or offline (actual places/objects). Create a list of items (or mix it up and use a few riddles) needed to win the hunt.  Encourage participants to donate extra money to “unlock” special clues to help them along.  

TRIVIA NIGHT

These events are very popular.  Sell tickets or charge an entry fee.  Run games throughout the night that require an additional donation.  Participants can even set up their own personal fundraising page to raise money ahead of time.  Give prizes for teams who raise the most – besides just prizes for the winners.

VEGAS BABY!

Bring Vegas to your home with a casino night!  The evening could consist of appetizers, Black Jack tables, Poker tables, an online, silent or live auction, a raffle.  You name it.   Every ticket holder gets a certain amount of chips in exchange for a donation.  Need more chips?  Make another donation.  Set a dress attire to go with your theme (from jeans to black tie).  Get some volunteers to be servers for the night (we can help with that) or hire some dealers for your tables.  What could be more fun?