Five Fall Fundraising Ideas

Orange you glad fall is here? We made it, despite all that 2020 has thrown our way. And a little physical distancing won’t damper our fall fundraising spirit! Now is a perfect time to jumpstart your fundraising efforts for The Longest Day. Here are a couple of virtual fall-themed fundraising ideas to get you started.

1. Organize a Costume Contest. Invite your friends, co-workers and family members to submit a photo of themselves (and pets) in their best Halloween costume for a $5 entry fee. Post all photos on a photo album and ask everyone to send the album out to their network. Ask for a $1 donation per vote. Consider splitting the pot with the winner or awarding prizes to the top finishers to entice more donations.
2. Throw a Virtual Fall Sale. Gather your friends together and ask for fall items to sell. Get creative - pumpkins, mums, coffee mugs, caramel apples, even old Halloween costumes! Take photos and post on social media and suggest a donation amount for each one.
3. Hold a Beverage Pull. Ask family, friends and businesses to donate a spirit or cider bottle to your fundraiser. Aim for 20 or more bottles valued at a minimum of $20. Wrap each bottle in fall colors and give it a number. Anyone who donates $20 or more gets to pick one number and gets the corresponding mystery bottle.
4. Put on a Halloween Scavenger Hunt. Create a list of items for individuals or teams to find in their own neighborhoods on a specific date. Ideas include cobwebs, hay, a witch hat, a house with more than 5 pumpkins, etc. Ask for donations during the month of October of $10 or more to participate. Participants should take photos of each item they find on the list and the winning team completes the hunt in the shortest amount of time!
5. Host a Pumpkin Carving Contest. Ask everyone you know to submit a photo of their pumpkin creations for a minimum donation of $10. Include different categories - i.e. carving, decorating, painting and kids.  Post photos on social media. Each “like” counts as one vote.  The photo with the most votes in each category wins!

If all else fails, host a virtual Halloween party with your friends on Zoom or Google Hangout. It’s a perfect time to check in on one another and get in a few laughs. Share with everyone why you are participating in The Longest Day and provide a link to your fundraising page for donations. Spice it up by adding a competition such as a porch decorating contest, a Halloween trivia contest or watching a spooky moving together.

Have other fall-themed fundraising ideas? Share them with us in the comments below!
 
Blog Post by: 
Katie Schuldt (friend me!)
Associate Director, Constituent Events
Alzheimer’s Association, Home Office