A-Z of fundraising ideas

Alcohol-free zone

Try giving up alcohol for a specified period of time and ask friends or family to sponsor you. Depending on your drinking habits, that might be a week, a month or longer!

Afternoon tea

What better way to fight mitochondrial disease than by charging a fee for people to tuck into a selection of delicate finger sandwiches and sweet treats and sip cups of tea!

Bake sale

Give yourself, and others, the chance to channel their inner Mary Berry. To help get you started, here are some delicious recipes for Superb Buns, Banana Bread Loaf and Chocolate Brownies, kindly shared by James, adult mitochondrial disease patient and author of Baking Blind. James is partially sighted due to LHON (a form of mitochondrial disease). Plus, you’ll find more delicious recipes on our website, including moreish mito biscuits and a crowd-pleasing chocolate cake.

And if there’s no-one willing to pull on their pinny, local businesses will sometimes consider donating at a reduced cost or even free of charge.

Birthday bonanza

Instead of requesting presents and cards from friends and loved ones, consider asking them to make a donation to The Lily Foundation instead.

Busking

If you’re that way inclined, and have a bit of talent, take to the streets. But if you find people paying you to stop, this probably isn’t the charity challenge for you!

Bingo night

A great way to get both young and old together, you just need someone with a loud voice and a grasp of the bingo lingo to make the night a success.

Book sale

A simple but really effective way to raise some pennies. Hardbacks, reference books and textbooks will often command a better price than paperbacks, so display these prominently to maximise sales.

Business travel

If you’re a regular traveller through your job, remember to use Easyfundraising to book your business travel and you can raise donations for us without doing a thing.

Boxing Day swim

The benefits of wild swimming are well known, so take the plunge and participate in a Boxing Day dip.

Battle of the bands

If you live in an area with lots of musical talent, pit bands or solo artists against one another in a local community building, pub or village hall.

Car boot sale

Such a simple concept: everyone must bring something along and buy something while they’re there. A great way to recycle unwanted clothing, books or toys, as long as they’re in good condition.

Car wash

We’re all guilty of not washing our cars enough, and this is a good one for getting kids involved too – all they need is a bucket of water and a sponge!

Coffee morning

Like a bake sale but on a smaller scale. Gather a group of friends together and enjoy a good natter whilst raising money to fight mitochondrial disease.

Car share

Be like Peter Kay and pool your resources with colleagues on your commute. Not only great for the environment, it’ll help you save on fuel and parking costs, and you might make new friends too.

Chilli & Prosecco night

The same concept as a coffee morning, but take things further, cook up a big batch of warming chilli and invite a group of pals to dinner instead.

Collection tins

Boost your fundraising and collect unwanted change by displaying these in hard-to-miss spots at your local community centre, shop or pub. Apply for a collection tin.

Cycle to work

Leave the car in the garage or give the train a miss and donate the money you save to The Lily Foundation instead.

Charity of the Year

Many companies have a chosen charity each year, so get colleagues involved in choosing The Lily Foundation by holding an annual voting event.

Come Dine with Me

Host your own dinner party, charging guests to sample your culinary creations before scoring the evening and your cooking.

Cocktail night

Host an evening of mixing, sipping and socialising. Ask guests for a donation to attend, run a raffle or cocktail-making competition, and even create a signature drink in honour of The Lily Foundation.

Dog-walking service

Many people struggle to find time to walk their dog, so volunteer to walk some of the four-legged friends in your area in exchange for donations.

Duvet day

Who wouldn’t pay for the chance to win a day under the covers? Check with your line manager or HR department before embarking on this one, but we’re pretty sure you’ll sell plenty of tickets!

Donate your coffee money

That daily fix of double espresso or skinny latte can be costly, so ask people to sacrifice it, just for one day, and donate the money to The Lily Foundation instead.

Dance-a-thon

Challenge people to dance for 24 hours straight! This one works best if they’re divided into groups, with each group dancing for a few hours then resting and refuelling when the next group takes over.

Dress-down day

Whether it’s casual clothing or a fancy dress theme, charge a small fee for allowing people to get out of their uniform and even charge a fine if anyone forgets.

Dry January

As well as getting sponsored for banishing the booze, save up the money you would have spent in the pub or at the supermarket and donate this at the end of the month too.

Egg & Spoon race

A throwback to sports day! Make sure everyone wanting to take part raises a certain amount before they can participate.

Easter egg hunt

The little ones will love getting out in the garden hunting for chocolate, and if the weather doesn’t play ball it’s just as much fun inside.

Fun run

Run, jog or walk a set distance. This is a great one to do at a local fête or summer fair, as it’s simple to arrange and gives lots of people the chance to get involved.

Face painting

Easy to set up and always a hit with the youngsters, especially if you have someone with a bit of artistic flair.

Five-a-side tournament

Not everyone can play for 90 minutes, so include lots more by making it a 5-a-side.

Garage sale

Open up your garage, or if the weather’s fine set up a trestle table and shift any unwanted items like clothing, toys and furniture. Spread the word via social media – everyone loves a bargain! Take it one step further by asking houses in your area to get involved and turning it into a street sale.

Give while you shop

Don’t forget you can get free donations to Lily every time you shop online with Easyfundraising.

Garden sale

Arrange a sale of seeds, bulbs and plants. By asking friends and family to take cuttings or propagate their plants, you’ll have plenty to sell without incurring costs.

Game-a-thon

Host a live stream where players are sponsored to play their favourite games. This is one way of raising money without having to leave your room!

Gift aid

Whenever you’re collecting donations, remember to take people’s full details so you can claim the extra 20% gift aid.

Host a workshop

Whether it’s silk painting, cake baking or English language, if you’re an expert, why not have a go at teaching others by hosting an in-person or online workshop?

Hook a duck

No fancy equipment needed, simply fill up the paddling pool, add some rubber duckies with little hooks on their heads and let the fun begin.

Ice bucket

We’ve all seen this one on social media – now it’s your chance to have a go. Also a great way to raise awareness on social channels if lots of people share their efforts. Brrr!

Jewellery sale

Just like clothes or shoes, lots of us have trinkets and treasures we no longer wear, so try selling them at a car boot sale or online.

JustGiving

Making fundraising simple! Whether you’re taking on a challenge, marking a special occasion or raising awareness, JustGiving lets you share your story, collect donations securely and track your progress – all in one place. It’s quick to set up and easy to share with friends, family and supporters.

Karaoke night

We’ve all got that favourite tune we’re desperate to belt out in front of our friends – well, most of us have! Host the event at home, or at a local pub or bar, charging a fee or requesting donations.

Lemonade stand

A classic fundraiser, and great for all ages. Set up a Lily awareness stand in your garden or at the park on a hot day, and offer lemonade plus other drinks and snacks for sale.

Learn a new skill

Turn learning into fundraising! Whether it’s baking, painting, juggling or playing an instrument, ask friends and family to sponsor your progress as you take on a new skill.

Movie night

Pick a classic film (or a series if you want to make a night of it), charge everyone a nominal fee then get comfy in your front room.

Matched donation

Does your employer offer a matched donations scheme? Many companies will match what you raise, up to a certain amount, so make sure you let your HR department know about any fundraising you’re doing.

Movember

Growing a moustache for charity can be a great group activity, with lots of opportunity to share photos, compare notes and get grooming.

Neighbourhood clean-up

Organise a day for people in your local area to pick up litter and clean up the streets together, and ask for donations from the community.

Non-uniform day

Like a dress-down day but for schoolkids and students. Everyone pays a nominal fee to ditch the uniform and wear their own clothes for the day. Or add an extra dimension by giving the day a theme – and getting the teachers involved too!

Odd jobs

From dog walking to DIY, put your skills to good use! Tackle odd jobs for friends and neighbours and raise funds to help fight mitochondrial disease.

Open mic night

Showcase local talent and have a blast! Host an open mic night and turn your community’s creativity into support for The Lily Foundation.

Pet photo contest

All you have to do to take part is post a picture of your fluffy or feathered friend on Facebook or Instagram and tag #Lilyfoundation. Charge a small entry fee and collect votes through a poll, with the winner receiving a photo portrait of their pet.

Photography contest

Similar to above but not pet-related. Simply choose a theme – it could be sunsets or landscapes or famous buildings – and everyone pays a nominal fee to submit their entry.

Pub quiz

If your local pub hosts a regular quiz, ask the person in charge if they’d be prepared to run it on one occasion in honour of The Lily Foundation. A great way to raise awareness about the work we do.

Payroll giving

Liaise with your employer’s finance department to find out if you can give via monthly payroll. Some employers will even match what you give up to a point.

Quiz night

Costs nothing to set up, promotes team work and everyone will learn something new! The format works well online too – simply charge an entry fee per team or per person, and you’ll find plenty of quizzes online that you can download, or create your own if you’re feeling smart.

Quit smoking

Everyone knows the dangers of smoking, so this challenge can often inspire generous donations.

Raffle

Simple but effective. Gather together a few small items like gift cards, wine, sweets or smellies, then collect money from anyone who’d like to buy a ticket and be in with a chance. Or approach local businesses for prizes, say a voucher for an afternoon tea, a beauty treatment or an MOT.

Recipe book

If some of your colleagues enjoy cooking, ask them to contribute family recipes that can be pulled into a charity collection. People will love to have their name in print, and you might even find a new dinnertime favourite.

Shave your head

If you’re brave enough! Make sure you get someone to film it and share on social media to maximise donations.

Stay off social media

A bit like quitting alcohol or smoking! How long could you last – an hour, a week a month? Get your friends to sponsor you to find out.

Sponsored silence

This wouldn’t work if your job relies on using the phone, but there are lots of jobs that could take on the challenge of communicating entirely by pen and paper for a day.

Swear box

Charge a fine for any bad language used a home or in the office; or get colleagues to pay the price for using ‘management speak’. Anyone caught asking the team to ‘think outside the box’ will owe Lily a donation!

Spelling bee

One for the school swots! All you need to do is gather together a list of words and a group of geeks and you’re off.

Sports day

Next summer, why not charge mums and dads to enter the parent/guardian race? They’re always so competitive, they won’t be able to resist!

Santa run

Jump out of bed on Boxing Day and join thousands of other people running off all those festive excesses and kickstarting their New Year health kick.

Silent disco

Your musical tastes won’t bother your friends – or your next-door neighbours! Boost the funds by serving refreshments and charging a small fee.

Spare change

Every penny counts when it comes to fighting mitochondrial disease, so tell everyone that any money you find, whether it’s down the back of the sofa, on the kitchen table or in trousers heading for the wash, is fair game!

Summer fête

These are a staple at most schools, so ask if you can set up a Lily awareness stand at the next one.

Skills auction

Ask people to offer up their time and services to the highest bidder. From housework and something to grocery shopping and gardening, there are plenty of chores we’d all gladly pay for given the chance!

Second-hand clothing fashion show & sale

If you let people know you’re looking for donations well in advance, everyone will have plenty of time to sort through their stuff and donate what they no longer wear.

Sweeties in the jar

Such a simple concept. Charge a small amount per guess, and the jar is the prize for the closest guess.

Talent show

Bring Britain’s Got Talent to your own town! Sell tickets for admission, while anyone can volunteer to take part.

Trade up

Start small and trade your way up for a big impact! Begin with something simple, like a paperclip or teabag, and see how far you can trade up in value. Sell your final item and donate the proceeds to The Lily Foundation.

Tombola

Another one for the summer fête or fundraiser. All you need are some raffle tickets that can be pulled out of a large bowl or drum, and plenty of prize donations.

Tip donation

Ask your local pub or restaurant if they’d donate a portion of their tips over a given night or weekend.

Teddy bear’s picnic

If you go down in the woods today, you’re sure to enjoy this family-friendly fundraiser. You could even go on a bear hunt afterwards.

Uniform swap

A fantastic fundraiser that helps families save money each year and keeps old uniforms out of landfill.

Volunteer day

Give up a day to help The Lily Foundation, whether that’s at a Lily event or as part of a cheer squad. Or, choose one of the suggestions from our A-Z and start spreading the word.

Walk-a-thon

A bit like a marathon, but not everyone wants to run. Select a location and set a distance, then get as many people involved as you like – the more the merrier.

Wine & cheese night

Gather a group of friends together, lay out a cheese platter and open a few bottles, and charge everyone a fee. What’s not to like?!

World Book Day

Already celebrated in schools across the country, it’s a fabulous excuse to dress up as well as encouraging more reading.

World record attempt

A great way to get lots of folk simultaneously channelling their competitive spirit to try and break one of the many crazy world records in existence.

X marks the spot

A bit like a treasure hunt, participants have to track down hidden items in a designated area or solve clues – you can make them as straightforward or cryptic as you wish.

Yoga fundraiser

Select a location and invite a yoga instructor to lead the class for free. Everyone who attends then pays a small admission price that goes straight to The Lily Foundation.

Zumba-thon

Much like a yoga fundraiser, it’s a great chance to get fit and have fun.