Corporate fundraising is rewarding for the company and the community now more than ever. With a constantly shifting marketplace, employers must be able to show potential talent how they give back to their communities. Communities thrive, employees feel a sense of purpose and satisfaction, and employers retain talent and bolster their reputations. It’s a win for everyone.
Enjoy these top fundraising ideas for work teams, culled from possibilities and experience. There is a stark difference between charities and corporations when it comes to fundraising. Although the goal is the same, i.e., to raise money, the techniques, presentation, and requirements may be quite different.
Charities typically want as much positive publicity as possible, corporations may, at times, aggressively market their campaigns or withdraw from the public’s eye altogether, depending on what they are attempting to accomplish.
In this article, we’ll discuss corporate fundraising ideas only. But before that, let us tell you that corporations often hire a charity or fundraising professional to help them with fundraising.
If you’re hired as a professional to help a corporation with fundraising, you need to keep a few things in mind. For example, you should assess the specific needs of the company, and it might be necessary to meet with everyone involved in the process.
You should always approach the corporation with professionalism and courtesy, presenting yourself as an expert in your field. The more trust you gain and the more you can motivate them, the better your chances of developing a stable fundraising relationship that has longevity.
If you or your organization is partnering with a corporation to sponsor a fundraising event, it is essential to pay attention to the following considerations:
- Make sure you know the names and positions of those involved. Knowing who will be attending the initial fundraising meetings will give you an idea of the corporate level of people you will be working with and how they should be approached.
- Spend a little time researching the corporation. What does it do? What types of fundraising activities have they done in the past?
- During meetings with them, listen carefully, and ask questions. Get a solid understanding of their expectations and the type of fundraising they wish to do. Also, make sure they’re setting realistic goals. Add your knowledge and expertise about what they can expect. Educate them as far as the pandemic influences that may or may not yet be known in current fundraising.
- If necessary, bring a portfolio listing your experience with other companies. This way, should they request such a thing, you’ll be prepared.
- Remember that every individual within that corporation is a potential donor, making it extremely important to generate a positive impression.
Whatever your situation is, set up a corporate fundraiser that will attract employees and inspire them to donate. Make it fun, entertaining, and simple, appealing to the different types of people within your organization.
Need Help Getting People Onboard?
Whether you represent a charitable organization or you’re an employee of a corporation, here are some magnificent corporate fundraising ideas to consider.
14 Fundraising Ideas for Work
1. Balloon Pop Off
You can use the company cafeteria or other similar location for this event. Fill up the room with balloons. Put a slip in each balloon stating a prize the person wins for popping that balloon.
Employees can donate small prizes ahead of time, or you can purchase fun items at wholesale or party goods stores.
Charge a $10 participation fee and treat it as a race where you blow a horn and let them go at it, popping as many balloons as they can get their hands on. Make it more challenging by not allowing participants to use their hands. Alternatively, charge a small fee per balloon they want to pop.
This is a great one to invite the family, too, as well and a real winner with the kids.
2. Bingo Night
Everyone loves bingo! Set up a bingo night for employees and, possibly, one other guest they can bring.
Everyone pays a small donation at the door for each bingo card received. Offer small, fun prizes for bingo winners to make the fundraising event even more fun!
3. Bowling Tournament
Employees set up bowling teams and compete with one another at a bowling tournament.
Set pledges for every strike made, for winning teams, pins knocked down, and so forth.
They can also volunteer to make a one-time donation. Employees from the company can pledge to donate whatever amount they wish based on how you’ve set up the event.
Offer a fun prize to the winning team and collect donations and pledges afterward or on a specific day at work.
Contact your local bowling alley to set up a time and date for the tournament.
4. Company Concert
If there are musicians in your company who play in a band, perhaps they would be willing to play for a dance or small concert for employees and their families to attend.
Charge a small fee for admission, letting everyone know that proceeds go to support the company or a designated charity.
5. Company Picnic and Raffle
Hold a company picnic. Everyone can bring in one item for the picnic to create a great, varied meal in which everyone can partake.
During the picnic, employees and their families can purchase raffle tickets to try to win fun prizes.
You can also set up fun events, like relay races, an egg toss, pie-eating contests, or other activities to increase participation and make it a great time for all.
6. Competitive Events
Create an event in which different departments of the company form teams to compete against one another.
Others can pledge donations towards their favorite team for each win.
There are several possibilities and variations you can use. See what types of events or sports interest a majority of the personnel and decide from there what direction appears to work best so you can then plan and implement this exciting competition.
You can also add separate donation pages for each of the competitive groups before the event so that each “donation” is counted as a pledge should that team win.
7. Employees Dance
You can hold a company dance one weekend evening in the cafeteria or other appropriate space.
Charge a small ticket fee at the door. You can also offer drinks and snacks they can purchase while they are there.
Employees can invite their families to attend. On the other hand, you can make it an adult only event and have an area set up where they can leave their children with an onsite volunteer group of babysitters who’ll watch their kids while they enjoy a fun night out.
8. Funniest Photo Contest
Employees can bring in their most hilarious photos of themselves to participate in a humorous photo contest.
You can place each photo on a bulletin board in the lunchroom with a collection can under each one.
Others can vote on their favorite photo by placing a donation in the can. At the end of each day, collect and tally donations. Announce who is in the lead and get people motivated.
At the end of the event, add up the totals and announce the winner, who will receive a special plaque, trophy, or other amusing prizes.
9. Karaoke Night
You can use this event repeatedly for corporate fundraising purposes.
Employees and their family members pay a small admission fee and compete in fun karaoke competitions. You can also serve snacks and drinks to raise even more money.
Also, you can invite local sports figures and stars to compete on a specific night, which will bring even more publicity to your event.
10. Scratch Cards
You can present pre-made scratch cards to employees. Many fundraising companies offer these at low costs that you can use to raise money for your organization.
On each card, there is a series of spots to scratch off. Under each spot is a small dollar amount. Ask employees to scratch off two spaces on the card and donate that amount to your fundraiser.
11. Silent Auctions
With auctions, remember to keep them exciting and lively. Auction items should be well-targeted to the people attending.
To gain interesting items for your corporate auctions, you can use our exclusive wholesale drop shipper where members can gain access to wholesale products.
Refer to our blog post “How to Run a Silent Auction” for more information.
12. Treasure Hunt
Set up an intriguing treasure hunt within the company. Employees participate by paying an entry fee so they can join in on the excitement.
Find a location where you can do the event, and bury coins, small items, and other “treasures” that employees and their families can hunt for.
There are several variations to this type of theme that do not require burying items or finding an appropriate location, such as scavenger hunts, creating puzzles to solve, and so forth. Be creative!
13. Vegas Night
Set up a casino night where participants can play poker, roulette, blackjack, craps, and other casino-style games.
All participants donate to gain poker chips they can use for games and redeem for prizes.
14. Wine Tasting
Hold a wine tasting. Bring in sponsors for the event and sell bottles of wine, along with other items, and take a percentage of all products sold.
If you prefer not to bring in large quantities of wine (or simply cannot get all that you need before the event due to cash restraints), then you can easily set up a wine tasting coupled with our charity auctions software. This way, you would allow for your group to taste the wine, and then bid on types and quantities they would like and have the winning bids delivered later.
Make sure to have enough individual products to generate a high gross donation, but not so much that each item has a low bid.
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Whatever your situation is, set up a work fundraiser that will attract employees and inspire them to donate.
For your corporate fundraising, make your activities fun, entertaining, and simple, appealing to the different types of people within your organization.
