How to Start a Fundraiser: 3 Easy Steps

Image credit: World Animal Protection / Katie Bryden

Hosting your own fundraising event is a great way to raise funds and awareness to help end animal cruelty. You’ll be using your passion to move the world to protect animals while having a bit of fun at the same time.

Anyone can do it! Here are three simple steps on how to start a fundraiser for animals in need:

1. Pick your type of fundraiser

There are lots of effective ways to start a fundraiser such as bake sales, walking or running events, swim races or treasure hunts. All you need to do is pick one and move on to step two. If you’re looking for some inspiration on the type of fundraiser to pick for your event, check out our free Fundraising Guide.

2. Set up your online fundraising page

Create your own online fundraising page for online donations on JustGiving and share it with your friends and family. It’s easy to use and you can also add photos and blog posts about the cause.

3. Get our fundraising application form

If you’re starting a fundraiser for animals in need, tell us about it on 1300 139 772 or email us at fundraising@worldanimalprotection.org.au. We’ll send you our form as well as some tips and freebies to hand out such as World Animal Protection stickers and newsletters.

Pro-tip: Promote your fundraiser on your social media networks to explain the cause of your fundraiser and encourage your audience to give for animals in need.

More ideas on how to start a fundraiser:

Activity events

Are you an active person who’d like to do something outside? Do you want to challenge yourself? Find an organised running or walking event near you, and once you’ve signed up you can create an online fundraising page and ask your friends and family to sponsor you. Remember to personalise your page and set yourself a target.

Or you can create one yourself. How about... Arm wrestle, Bike run, Car wash, Dog walks, Easter Egg Hunts, Fun Run, Kayaking race, Swim race, Treasure hunt or a Yo-Yo competition?

Recognise a special event

Ask for donations in lieu of gifts for an upcoming birthday, wedding, anniversary, retirement or any other special day you have in mind!

Ethical bake sale

Bake sales are fun and delicious! Get together with a few friends and family and bake some tasty treats. Or throw a Breakfast Club, a BBQ or a picnic!

Don’t forget to make them vegan or use cage-free eggs. You can also bake treats for your four-legged friends.

Social event

Ask a local bar or restaurant if you can use a space for free and organise a night out for your colleagues or friends. You can charge a fee for tickets and raise extra money by holding a raffle, silent auction or collection. It’s amazing how generous people feel when they’re enjoying themselves!

You can hold a trivia night at work, at school or at a local bar. Charge an entry fee per person and get people into teams. You can either take a proportion of the entry fees to offer as a prize or see if someone will donate a few bottles of wine as prizes. Trivia questions can be easily found on the internet - you could
even include an animal round so the questions relate back to the work you’re supporting - check out our quiz section!

Or set up a Karaoke night, Yoga at sunrise, Video night, Xmas fair, Halloween party or a Dress up party?

Girls' (or boys’) night in

Invite your girlfriends or your mates around for a fun-filled evening of movies, drinks and nibbles for a good cause. Charge a fee to join and ask everyone to bring something to drink. Just provide some cheap nibbles and entertainment and let the fun begin!

Garage Sale

Get together with your friends and family, clear out your cupboards and bookshelves, and hold a garage sale. If you don’t have space to sell items outside your home, ask your local market if they’ll let you set up a stall for free as the profits will be going to charity.

Guess the weight or number of sweets

Fill a jar with tasty treats and charge a donation to guess its weight correctly. Whoever gets the closest to the weight wins the jar.

Dress up/dress down day

Whether it’s swapping your uniform for something more casual, or vamping up your usual outfit, this is a great way to raise money. Get permission from your manager or teacher first and then let everyone know the date in advance and ask for a donation to participate. The only difficult part is deciding on a theme.
Will it be a colour, an era, PJs, pirates, animals? The list is endless!

We couldn't do it without you

Each and every dollar you raise at your fundraising event will help us to protect animals. Just take a look at the dollar guide below to see how much of a difference you really can make. You can also use it to set yourself a target to aim for and to encourage your friends and family to give a little bit more.

$140 could help fund a video to expose cruelty in the wildlife trade.
$250 could help feed a bear for a month at our partner sanctuary in Romania.
$500 could help support inspections of illegal bear bile facilities in Vietnam.
$1000 could help feed an elephant for 40 days at one of our partner sanctuaries.

We hope we’ve given you a few ideas on how to start a fundraiser and raise awareness about your cause effectively. Remember, we can send you newsletters and stickers to help with your fundraising event - just ask! Call 1300 139 772 or email fundraising@worldanimalprotection.org.au

Thank you and good luck!

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