3 Kid-Friendly Fundraising Ideas for Nonprofits

Nonprofit organizations need a well-thought-out plan for attracting donors. This is crucial for steady expansion and making a meaningful impact in the community. Cultivating donor relationships is important for a nonprofit's mission. It's like tending a garden to produce a large harvest.

Some organizations want to boost their fundraising and reach a younger audience. To do so, they should consider fun and creative fundraising ideas. 

When building a donor development strategy, it’s important to not only focus on current fundraising efforts. It's also important to anticipate the future to ensure continued success. 

One pressing concern is the potential aging out of a donor base. 

Demographics are shifting and preferences are evolving. Nonprofits risk losing support if they don't engage with young families. 

Recognizing this challenge, it becomes crucial to introduce kids to the organization's mission at an early stage. This helps them develop a sense of giving back and getting involved in the community from a young age.

Planning family-focused fundraisers can create opportunities for new donors to engage with you. Plus, it allows you to help foster a spirit of generosity in the younger generations. 

If you're looking for kid-friendly fundraising ideas, here are 3 ideas to get you started. As well as a few secrets that will make any of these events more successful and fun. Hint: it involves proper planning and a great event management software.

1. Walks/Fun Runs

Physical activity, fun, and fundraising—these three elements intertwine beautifully in a Walk or Fun Run event. It also meets one of the basic needs for parents and grandparents. They want to get their kids out of the house to burn off some energy, especially during summer break. 

Walks and Fun Runs are versatile events suitable for people of all ages and fitness levels. Participants walk, jog, or run a set distance to raise money for the cause. 

You can make the event more kid-friendly by including themes such as a color run, a superhero run, or a costume parade. Children love the excitement of such events and will eagerly take part. 

Remember to have plenty of refreshments and a comfortable rest area for families.

This family-themed event and its public exposure make it a great event to recruit local businesses as sponsors.

Such events promote health, community spirit, and socializing while raising funds. Plus, children get the added benefits of physical activity and the satisfaction of contributing to a cause they care about.

FundEasy's Peer-to-Peer software offers a strong platform for nonprofits organizing walks and runs. It helps them raise more money, bringing in thousands of additional dollars to support their organization and its mission. With FundEasy's easy-to-use features, participants can easily make their own fundraising pages, share their stories, and connect with potential donors.

Peer-to-Peer easily connects to social media, making it simple for participants to reach more people and find more donors. It also has tools to track and report progress in real time, helping fundraisers stay motivated and achieve their goals.

In our recent webinar, Supercharge Your Peer-to-Peer Fundraiser we share even more tips to engage your participants and maximize engagement!

2. Bake Sales

Bake Sales are an all-time classic, offering a platform to fundraise and engage with the community. Participants bake goodies and sell them at your event, and the proceeds go to your cause. The simplicity of a bake sale and the charm of homemade goods can attract large crowds. After all, who doesn’t love an excuse to eat sweet treats for a good cause?

This fundraiser allows parents to involve their children in different parts of the event. For example, kids can help bake and sell goodies. Being part of a bake sale teaches children important lessons about how their efforts directly help others in their community.

Plus, who can resist a cupcake offered by a charming young philanthropist? 

Pro-tip: Create simple language that's appropriate for kids. Use it to explain what your organization does and how the bake sale helps. Doing this can help you connect with people in your community. 

Finally, consider promoting different types of baked goods. Include allergy-friendly and healthy options. This way, everyone can join in. Advertise ahead of time and make the event welcoming with decorations, music, and maybe even some activities for children.

Use Attendance by FundEasy to coordinate your bake sale signup. Be sure your registration includes different categories such as gluten-free, nut-free, cookies, and cakes. This ensures a variety of baked goods that suit various preferences and dietary needs.

3. Charity Fair/Carnival

One of the most colorful and entertaining ways to engage children in a fundraising event is organizing a Charity Fair or Carnival. These events perfectly combine entertainment, learning, and charity, creating a memorable family experience.

The premise is simple. Your nonprofit hosts a fair or carnival featuring games, food stalls, and various attractions. Like a county fair, attendees can buy tickets that can be redeemed for many activities and attractions. Remember to also have some free options sprinkled in as well.

This fundraiser offers a great chance to ask local businesses for support and participation. They can give prizes for games, provide food and drinks, or even assist with the setup and organization.

To make the event more kid-friendly, you can include activities like face painting, magic shows, puppet theater, or a petting zoo. Games like ring toss, sack races, or a dunk tank are always a hit among children. 

Consider hosting educational booths where children can learn more about your cause in a fun and interactive way.

Don’t forget to have a designated area for parents and kids to relax, recharge, and enjoy family time. This area could be a simple picnic area or a more structured space with seating and tables.

Organizing a Charity Fair or Carnival is a big task that needs careful planning and help from volunteers. But, the benefits can be huge. This includes raising money, community involvement, and building relationships with donors. It also involves raising awareness for your cause.

Elements of a Successful Event

No matter what family-friendly fundraising event you choose for your nonprofit, these 6 tips will make it more successful. Plan, plan, plan. Communicate, communicate, communicate. Ok, so that’s only two things, but they are crucial. 

Your team will want to start far enough in advance to ensure you can develop a plan and have time to get all the logistics in place. 

A great place to start is using robust event planning software for nonprofits, like Attendance. By using stress-free fundraising event planning software, you can take the headache out of much of the logistics. This includes a simple way to set up a fundraising event website and a place attendees can reference for all the event details and registration. 

Keeping them updated as the event draws near is a great way to create excitement and maximize attendance. Plus, it allows you to avoid confusion or frustration. With Attendance, you can communicate any last-minute details, reminders, or adjustments in the event. 

Conclusion

Engaging children in fundraisers can offer your nonprofit many advantages. It brings in families, creates a broader donor base, and helps foster a culture of giving in the younger generation. 

With proper planning and communication, you can ensure your event is safe, fun, and a great family experience, all the while raising funds and awareness for your organization’s mission.

If you'd like to learn more about our Peer-to-peer, Attendance, or Crowdfunding products, please reach out! We'd love to chat.

Also, if you haven't joined already, we have an exclusive Facebook Group just for our customers! If you are a current FundEasy Customer and would like to join, go here to learn more and request to be added!

Madison Hull

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This article was inspired by our customers and written to encourage your fundraising efforts. Although we work with nonprofits and events daily, our team members are not Event Consultants. We encourage you to consult with your event consultant, executive team, and/or affiliate organization before making any major changes to your events.