Fundraise for Lily

Fundraising ideas to help fight mitochondrial disease

Thank you for choosing to raise funds for our charity to help fight mitochondrial disease. Every penny you raise helps support patients affected by mito, and helps advance research towards effective treatments and that all-important cure.

If you’ve been wondering how to turn care into action, this guide is for you. Whether you’re an individual, a parent at the school gate or the person colleagues turn to for organising things, there are lots of simple, inclusive ways to raise money to help fund mitochondrial disease research and support today.

This guide shares practical, UK-focused fundraising ideas to help fund mitochondrial disease research and patient support through The Lily Foundation. It covers quick wins you can set up today, inclusive options for homes, schools and workplaces, and major events you can join. You’ll also learn how to collect donations safely, make the most of JustGiving, use Gift Aid and matched giving, and avoid common fundraising pitfalls.

We’re so grateful for your support and will do everything we can to support you in your chosen charity challenge. There are so many ways to fundraise for us, so our Lily Foundation charity events page is a great place to start. And once you’ve chosen your challenge, if you’re unsure how to get going, we’ve pulled together a few hints and tips below to kickstart your fundraising journey.

If you have questions or need a hand with planning, email [email protected]. The team at The Lily Foundation are ready to help.

By backing The Lily Foundation, you’re supporting vital research and practical services for families living with mitochondrial disease across the UK. Every pound counts.

Quick wins you can do today

Start with something you can set up in under an hour.

• Create a JustGiving page. Use our step‑by‑step guidance on setting up a JustGiving page to add a strong photo, a short personal story and a realistic target. Add a line that explains why you chose The Lily Foundation and how donations help. Invite your first five supporters directly by message to build early momentum. See our resource on JustGiving fundraising for practical tips.
• Switch on Gift Aid. If you’re a UK taxpayer, Gift Aid adds 25% to eligible donations at no extra cost. Remind supporters to tick the Gift Aid box on your page. Include a short note in your updates about the impact of Gift Aid for clarity.
• Share a simple ask. Post your link with a direct, human message: ‘If you can, please donate today or share this post. Thank you.’ People respond to clear, specific requests.
• Set a date. A quick coffee morning or a pay‑to‑play gaming hour could be organised as soon as this week. Keep it short, share the link and have a card reader or QR code on display.

If you’d like printed resources or logos, contact [email protected] and we’ll send you everything you need.

Inclusive fundraising ideas for everyone

Choose ideas that match your time, energy and community. Of course you want to challenge yourself, but if you hate running, it’s probably not realistic to sign up for the London Marathon. If you’re doing something outside of your comfort zone, you’ll probably find people give more generously. And linking your fundraiser in with a special event, or doing it in honour of a loved one, will often attract more support.

Here are options for homes, schools and workplaces, with accessible and remote choices throughout.

• Coffee morning. Host at home, in a community hall or at work. Put out a jar for loose change and display your QR code. Offer decaf and dairy‑free options and keep standing time short. If you prefer to go remote, run a virtual coffee break on Teams or Zoom with your JustGiving link in the chat.
• Step‑count challenge. Set a personal or team goal over two weeks. Adapt for different abilities by allowing rolling totals, seated steps or minutes of gentle movement. Daily updates keep donors engaged.
• Uniform‑swap day. Great for schools. Pupils bring an old tie, book or bit of kit to swap for a small donation. Add a table for lost‑property ‘buyback’ with proceeds to charity.
• Pay‑to‑play gaming night. At school or online, ask for a small entry fee, offer quick mini‑tournaments and a parents‑versus‑kids round. Share your JustGiving link for those who can’t be there.
• Workplace lunch‑and‑learn. Run a 30‑minute session about mitochondrial disease and how The Lily Foundation supports families. Invite donations and ask your employer about matched giving. To explore partnership ideas, visit our page on charity corporate partnerships.
• In‑memory and celebration giving. Mark a loved one’s life with an in‑memory donations page or invite donations instead of birthday or wedding gifts. These pages often inspire generous, meaningful support over time.

For a longer menu of options, browse our A to Z of ways to fundraise which is packed with practical ideas for different settings and seasons.

Beyond raffles: events you can join

Prefer a set date and a ready‑made challenge? Team Lily offers charity places, training tips and fundraising support.

• London Landmarks Half Marathon. A brilliant city route with crowds to cheer you on. Charity places come with a fundraising toolkit and a Team Lily running top.
• London Marathon. Join an iconic day and turn your miles into hope. We provide guidance on training, storytelling and supporter updates from sign‑up to beyond the finish line.
• Parallel Windsor festival. An inclusive event with multiple distances, great for families and all abilities.
• The Big Lily Quiz. Host your own pub, school or workplace quiz. We can share round ideas and artwork. Add a bake sale or spot prizes for extra proceeds.
• World Mitochondrial Disease Week. Plan assemblies, green dress‑up days, staff coffee breaks or a lunchtime walk. Use it to launch your JustGiving page and share facts about mitochondrial disease.

Find dates and sign‑up routes on our community fundraising events page, or email [email protected] for current charity places.

How to collect money for charity

Keep it simple and safe. It’s never too early to start seeking out sponsorship, so even if your event isn’t until next year, the sooner you start telling people about it, the more you can raise in awareness and funds. 

• Online first. JustGiving is quick to set up, easy to share and collects Gift Aid automatically for eligible donors. It’s one of the largest platforms for JustGiving charities, so friends will recognise and trust it.
• In person. Use contactless card readers where possible. If you need physical options, request official collection tins from The Lily Foundation so you can fundraise confidently and comply with local rules.
• At work. Ask payroll to add The Lily Foundation to your Payroll Giving scheme and invite matched giving on top of employee donations.

Make your JustGiving page work harder

Stories inspire action. Here’s how to help people donate on JustGiving. And don’t be shy! The more people you tell about what you’re doing, the more support you’ll receive. Many people will want to support you when they find out what you’re doing, and they’ll probably be happy to spread the word on your behalf too. Ask colleagues, as well as friends and family, and check whether your employer offers matched funding to help boost your pot.

• Lead with why. In two to three sentences, explain your personal reason and the difference a gift makes. Keep it clear and warm.
• Use one strong photo. Faces build connection.
• Set a realistic target. Many small wins beat one big stretch.
• Post short updates. Thank early donors by name (with permission), share progress and add one new detail each week, such as training, quiz scores or a bake photo.
• Ask directly. Message 10 friends one-to-one. Direct asks usually outperform public posts.
• Add Gift Aid reminders. A single line can lift totals meaningfully.

For set-up support and examples, see our page on JustGiving fundraising.

Low‑energy and remote options

If energy or time is limited, try these simple suggestions.

• Online book swap with small donations per swap.
• Five‑minute desk tidy sale at work, with items priced at £1 to £3.
• Quiet craft or knitting sale hosted on a WhatsApp group.
• Virtual quiz round shared in a group chat, donate to see the answers.
• Sponsor a daily micro‑habit, such as stretching or mindful minutes.

If you’re caring for or grieving someone affected by mitochondrial disease, know that The Lily Foundation offer counselling and emotional support. Feel free to fundraise at your own pace, or not at all.

Corporate matched giving and partnerships

Matched giving can double impact in minutes. Ask your employer whether they match staff fundraising. Many UK companies will match pound for pound up to a set limit. For deeper collaboration, from staff volunteering to sponsorship, explore our charity corporate partnerships page and contact [email protected].

Common mistakes to avoid

• Spreading yourself too thin. Pick one idea and do it well.
• Leaving Gift Aid on the table. Always prompt people to tick the box if eligible.
• Forgetting the follow‑up. One thank you and one final reminder can lift totals by 10-20%.
• Not making it easy to give. Share a clear link and offer contactless options at events.
• Overcomplicating permissions. If you plan street or store collections, check local rules and use official materials from The Lily Foundation.

Use the 80/20 rule to work smarter

The 80/20 principle in fundraising says roughly 80 percent of your total often comes from 20 percent of actions or donors. Focus on the high‑return tasks.

• Prioritise personal asks to close friends, family and colleagues.
• Spend time on your story and photos, not on designing posters.
• Repeat what works, and drop low‑yield ideas quickly.

Short FAQ

• What activities can I do to raise money for charity? Coffee mornings with contactless donations, step challenges, uniform swaps, gaming nights, quizzes, lunch‑and‑learns, in‑memory pages and celebration giving are all effective and inclusive. For more, see our A to Z of ideas on ways to fundraise.
• How can I raise funds immediately? Set up a JustGiving page, message five people directly, post once on your main social channel and schedule a simple event such as a virtual coffee break this week.
• What are unique fundraising ideas? Try a desk tidy flash sale, parents‑versus‑kids gaming night, a lost‑property buyback table at school or a micro‑habit sponsorship where donors back a daily mindful minute.
• What are common fundraising mistakes? Not enabling Gift Aid, not asking directly, making giving complicated and trying too many ideas at once.
• What’s the 80/20 rule in fundraising? A small number of actions and supporters usually generate most of your total. Focus on personal asks and simple events that are easy to repeat.
• How do I get people to donate on JustGiving? Tell a short, honest story, use one strong photo, set a clear target, ask directly by message and post brief updates with thanks.
• How do I collect money for charity? Use an online page as your main method, add contactless at events and request official collection tins for cash where appropriate.

Helpful links and next steps

• Learn how to create and optimise your page on our guide to setting up a JustGiving page.
• Explore inclusive events and sign‑ups on our community fundraising events hub.
• Ask about partnerships or matched giving through our page on charity corporate partnerships.
• If you need to talk, our counselling options offer emotional support for carers and families as well as affected patients.

Head over to our resource hub where you can download lots of helpful materials like our fundraising pack and sponsorship form to get you started on your fundraising mission.

Summary

Fundraising for The Lily Foundation doesn’t need to be complex. Start with a clear story on JustGiving, switch on Gift Aid and choose one simple idea that fits your life. Add a workplace lunch‑and‑learn or join an event when you’re ready. If you need materials or a friendly sounding board, email [email protected]. Together we can turn small actions into real progress for mitochondrial disease research and the families we support.