Spring is a great time of year to freshen up your fundraising. The birds are chirping, the sun is out, and the (hopefully) warmer temperatures encourage everyone to get out of the house. Here are some new ideas to take advantage of season and refresh your fundraising opportunities:
Floral Delivery
Put a twist on the classic holiday wreath fundraiser by delivering spring blooms instead! Talk with your local floral shops to see what fundraising options they may have available for nonprofit organizations.
Flower Bulb Sales
Spring is a great time to meet the needs of those with green thumbs in your community. Find your favorite spring bulb fundraising organization and sell flowers to your community members before they head to the store.
Amazon Associates Program
Sometimes if the snow hasn’t melted fast enough, people aren’t quite ready to leave the house come spring. Luckily, retail giant Amazon has a special affiliate system aimed at helping nonprofits. If your nonprofit has a site, you simply need to place Amazon’s affiliate link on it. If people go to Amazon’s site from your links and make a purchase, you can earn up to 10% of the profit.
Post a Challenge
Remember the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge? What started as a video challenging friends to take action quickly went viral and raised $115 million for the cause. Can your organization think of a way to challenge supporters to take action or donate?
Easter Egg Hunt
Set up a family-friendly egg hunt at a public park! Sell tickets ahead of time to ensure you have enough supplies for all participating kids.
Mother’s Day Breakfast
Many mothers look forward to their special day as an opportunity to rest. Give moms a hand and host a fancy breakfast where they won’t have to lift a finger. Partner with a local restaurant or staff the kitchen with volunteers.
Running/Walking Events
As the weather improves, people will be excited for an opportunity to get outdoors after being cooped up all winter. Still dealing with snow? Try a treadmill-a-thon or spin-a-thon instead!
Golf Tournament
Golfers anxiously await the opportunity to get back on the green in the spring. Host a charity golf tournament and raise the stakes for entry. Set fundraising requirements and appeal to local businesses to secure prizes for the lowest scoring participants.
Spring Cleaning Sale
As the snow melts and we shed our winter gear, take advantage of your community’s spring cleaning fever by asking them to donate their unwanted items for a garage sale hosted by your organization. Many people don’t have the time to organize their own sale, so having a place to bring items could be just what they need.
Beach/Park Clean-Up
Cleaning up a local beach or park is a great way to do good and make connections with your community. To make it even more fun, couple a clean-up day with another activity, like a barbecue or outdoor concert. Ask for donations and give your supporters a chance to feel like they physically made a difference and moved you closer to achieving your mission.
These are just some new, fresh ideas to get out of the winter blues. It’s time to start thinking about warmer weather and ways to refresh your approach to fundraising for your nonprofit!