Fundraiser/ Event Ideas

50-50 raffle fundraising simply involves the sale of raffle tickets with the proceeds being split evenly between the winner and United Way. Your only fundraising expense is the raffle tickets (a double ticket roll, a single ticket roll that you tear in half or a board with the numbers for sale). Winners are always happy with a cash prize. All you need is one or more ticket sellers. Raffle tickets normally sell for $1 apiece, with an incentive for multiple purchases such as 3 tickets for $2, or 5 tickets for $4, etc. Using a price incentive for multiple tickets can often increase your total sales and builds a larger ‘prize’ to split with the lucky winner. The ‘take’ is tallied and one-half awarded to the holder of the lucky number.

Encourage employees to bake for a bake sale. All proceeds from items sold benefit your campaign. Have a “Top Chef” competition – between floors or departments; or have a contest – see who makes the best chocolate chip cookies, apple/pumpkin pie, or cheesecake.

Ask each department to sponsor, create and fill a theme basket (spa, chocolate, lottery, gourmet cooking, home improvement, entertainment, sports, night on the town, dog/cat oriented, kids/game oriented, etc.). Sell raffle tickets for $1 each or 6 for $5. Employees can select which basket or baskets they’d like to win. You can also substitute a basket with an item or experience unique to your organization. 

Ask employees to cook a favorite chili recipe and enter it into a cook-off contest. Invite employees to pay $10 for lunch (a sample of each chili dish). Each participant casts one vote for their favorite and the chili with the most votes wins a prize (or bragging rights).

Invite employees to an old-fashioned carnival, complete with a bake sale, bubble blowing, and 50 cent hot dogs. Have a hula hoop contest and hoop-shoot. Charge participants a fee to enter contests. Have a dunk tank with your favorite executives. Have a pie-throwing booth.

Teams participate in Olympic or Minute to Win It type events, such as wastebasket paper ball free throws, balance a Styrofoam cup on a service tray while navigating an obstacle course, make a paper airplane and fly it the longest distance, make the longest paper clip or staple chain in one minute, fold and stuff letters/envelopes in one minute. Teams pay to participate and the company buys prizes or lunch for the winning team.

Create a mini-golf course that takes players through your building (even up and down in elevators!) The lowest score (which may be decided by a tiebreaker) will take home a prize. Interested employees return an entry form, pay a nominal fee, and bring a putter the day of the event.

Collect recipes from employees, and compile them into sections and into a cookbook. Sell the cookbook for a reasonable fee. Consider having an employee’s child provide the cover artwork. Books can be printed and bound by a local business. This would also be a great way to highlight the “Top Chefs” at your organization.

Have staff donate $1, $2, $3 or an amount of their choice to vote for the director they want to see pied in the face. Collect votes for one to two weeks and have a fun event where the director with the most votes gets a pie to the face.

Ask vendors to donate items, ask employees to donate handmade items, solicit gift certificates from local restaurants, etc. Put the items on display online or in a prominent location. At a designated time, close the bidding. Then let employees know of the highest bid and continue the auction with one hour left to outbid it to win it. UWPC can assist in displaying items online.

Combine several of the events listed here in a “United Way Day.” Here’s a great combo: Chili cook-off, bake sale and live auction. The chili cook-off provides the lunch for employees. While they eat and wait for the live auction to start, they can browse the selection of auction items, or buy some sweet treats from the bake sale. Before the auction starts, you can have a United Way representative speak to your employees and share about the impact of donating.

Partner with a local artist or talented employee to host a virtual benefit concert for your team. Use a platform to register attendees so that they can purchase tickets for entry.

HOW TO:

• Determine if this event will be live or through video submission. 
• Partner with a local artist or employee to host a company concert and promote through email, intranet and/or company social media on how to purchase tickets.
• If an external partner is used – confirm technology is compatible and determine if live streaming is an option. Have a practice session prior to the event to ensure all issues are resolved.
• IF LIVE: promote a day/time to host the event through online meeting platforms. Attendees purchase a ticket for entry to view the show.
• IF RECORDED: promote a day/time to host the event through online meeting platforms. Share videos of the concert through YouTube, Vimeo, or Google Drive.
• Send thank you messages to all participants and performer(s).
• Submit ticket sales proceeds to United Way.

Let your employees shine! Ask employees to contribute a suggested donation “cover charge” to receive a link to a virtual talent show or open mic. Have a host to make the event fun and efficient!
 

HOW TO:

• Determine if this event will be live or through video submissions.
• Pick a start + end date for contestants to submit their talents or talent videos.
• Promote either live or recorded events with clear end dates and instructions to employees. Determine if the winner(s) get a prize to add additional excitement.
• IF LIVE: promote a day/time to host the event through an online meeting platform and determine the run of the show based on submissions. Attendees to contribute a suggested donation for entry to view the show. At the end of the event, set up a poll for attendees to vote on their favorite acts.
• IF RECORDED: Determine the final day to accept video submissions. Once all received, share videos of acts through YouTube, Vimeo, or Google Drive. Have employees vote for their favorite by making a suggested donation as a vote towards the winner. Clearly define an end date and time and whoever has the most donations at the end is the winner!
• Send thank you messages to all participants and contestants and share links to all videos or recordings of the event.

• Follow up with the winner to provide a prize and submit donations to United Way.

A classic fundraiser turned virtual. Instead of buying treats, buy recipes with a suggested donation to make at home!

HOW TO:

• Determine length of time to run virtual bake sale and promote through email, intranet, and/or company social media.
• Gather family or favorite recipes from employees and create a virtual cookbook either through Microsoft Word, Google Pages, or e-book website.
• When employees make a donation, follow up with a link to the recipes or send the document.
• Encourage employees to make items and share photos/videos of the final product to promote throughout the timeframe.
• Submit donations to United Way.

A classic fundraiser gone virtual. Select several leaders within your organization and set a goal – whichever leader has the most votes, gets a pie in the face! Employees can contribute a vote through a suggested donation. Enlist friends and family to pie the leader in the face either live in a virtual meeting setting or recording and sharing through YouTube, Vimeo, or other sites.
 

HOW TO:

• List the names of volunteered leadership with the ability to make a donation per leader.
• Choose a start + end time to collect funds through online platforms and promote through emails, intranet, and/or company social media.
• Once event ends, calculate and confirm the leader with the most votes or highest donation total.
• Coordinate with the leader when/where they will be pied in the face (live or recorded)and share with staff.
• Submit donations to United Way.

Find employees to host or record a cooking demonstration or partner with a local chef in the community to teach an online cooking class. Register attendees with a suggested donation to learn new meals or different techniques to learn.
 

HOW TO:

• Select an online meeting platform and set a date and time for the event.
• Choose a start + end time to collect funds through online platforms and promote through emails, intranet, and/or company social media.
• IF LIVE: promote a day/time to host the event through online meeting platforms. At the end of the event, set up a poll for attendees to vote on their favorite acts.
• IF RECORDED: Determine the final day to accept video submissions. Once all received, share videos of acts through YouTube, Vimeo, or Google Drive during the day/time confirmed for the event.
• Submit donations to United Way.

Employees can contribute a suggested donation for a link to happy hour.

HOW TO:

• Select an online meeting platform and set a date and time for the event.
• Choose a start + end time to collect funds through online platforms and promote through emails, intranet, and/or company social media.
• During happy hour, consider playing games, hosted conversation topics, or having a theme.
• Create or share cocktail and non-alcoholic drink recipes.
• Submit donations United Way.

Host a time for employees to take a break and watch a movie! Employees can join the movie by registering with a suggested donation.
 

HOW TO:

• Create and install a Netflix Party account and ensure that it is compatible and allowable for employees.
• Provide the link to the event details to registered attendees
• Select an online meeting platform and set a date, time, and movie selection for the event.
• Send party URL to all participants to join Netflix Party(https://www.netflixparty.com/).
• Submit donations to United Way.

Select leadership to model in an at-home Fashion Show. Each leader is given different looks in different themes (pajamas, formal wear, etc.). Encourage employees to contribute a “cover charge” with a suggested donation for admission to attend.

HOW TO:

• Provide the link to the event details to be included in the registration email.
• Select an online meeting platform and set a date, time, and themes for the event.
• Designate leadership/employees to participate as models and have them either record their looks or set a schedule for themes/looks to run live.
• At the end of the event, set up a poll for attendees to vote on their favorite looks.
• Submit donations to United Way.

Have employees teach their skills to fellow employees by hosting online tutorials. Have employees contribute a suggested donation for a link for each class.
 

HOW TO:

• Select an online meeting platform and set a date and time for the event.
• Choose a start + end time to collect funds through online platforms and promote through emails, intranet, and/or company social media.
• Determine number of events and employees who are able to host online tutorials. Each class will need its own event confirmed on the company calendar.
• IF LIVE: promote a day/time to host the event through online meeting platforms. Attendees contribute a donation for a ticket to view the show. At the end of the event, set up a poll for attendees to vote on their favorite acts.
• IF RECORDED: Determine the final day to accept video submissions. Once all received, share videos of acts through YouTube, Vimeo, or Google Drive.
• Submit donations to United Way.

Employees register and contribute a suggested donation and choose their own path to get outside and safely participate in a group health challenge.
 

HOW TO

• Choose a start + end time to collect funds through online platforms and promote through emails, intranet, and/or company social media.
• Determine a date and time for an official 5k event. On that date, attendees will determine the route based on safety and current location.
• Consider having employees ask for sponsorships from friends and families to increase contributions.
• Ask attendees to record their route, take videos and photos to share.
• Submit donations to United Way.

Create challenges for your staff and ask participants to take a picture or video completing the challenge. Each challenger donates a set amount and nominates others to make a donation and complete a challenge. Share on social media or internal workplace intranet.
 

HOW TO:

• Choose a start + end time for event and to collect funds through third party online platforms.
• Promote through emails, intranet, and/or company social media.
• Keep track of all employees who have completed the challenge and ask them to submit contributions to company PayPal or through third-party online platform.
• Submit donations to United Way.

Run a virtual trivia night with employees looking to have fun and test their knowledge!
 

HOW TO:

• Set up a set up a third-party fundraising site to register attendees.
• Determine if employees can register as a team or individually and make a suggested donation for both options.
• Select an online meeting platform and set a date, time, and promote through emails, intranet, and/or company social media.
• Determine how to facilitate the game:
  -Set up an account with online trivia platform
  -Set up an account and create your own trivia through online presentation platforms such as Mentimeter or Kahoot!
  -Create your own trivia questions and presentation through PowerPoint and use chat box for answers.
• Submit donations to United Way.

Employees submit photos of their pet and your audience votes via donation and decides who is cutest!
 

HOW TO:

• Choose a start + end time to collect funds through online platforms and promote through emails, intranet, and/or company social media.
• Participants will submit photos to internal corporate contact to share out before voting.
• Employees vote for the cutest pet by making a contribution at a set or suggested donation.
• Determine what prize will be given to the winner, even if just bragging rights.
• Submit donations to United Way.

Host a Bingo game to send Bingo cards and call numbers during a virtual meeting. Encourage employees to contribute a “cover charge” for entrance and receive a determined amount of Bingo cards. Distribute additional Bingo cards for contributions for additional fundraising.
 

HOW TO:

• Set up a set up a third-party fundraising site to register attendees.
• Select an online meeting platform and set a date and time for the event.
• Choose a start + end time to collect funds through online platforms and promote through emails, intranet, and/or company social media.
• Determine how many rounds to play and whether there will be prizes for winners.
• Create account on virtual Bingo platform such as myfreebingocards.com orbingomaker.com; be sure to confirm account as some free accounts have limitations.
• Send Bingo cards or link to the virtual bingo game prior to the game.
• Submit donations to United Way.

Purchase or collect items that your team would want to bid on and create a virtual silent auction. The highest bid wins!
 

HOW TO:

• Collect auction items for the event and determine starting value.
• Set and use a silent auction site like 32auctions.com to run the auction.
• Determine length of time to run the silent online auction and promote through email, intranet, and/or company social media.
• Follow up with winners to collect payments and distribute items won.
• Submit donations to United Way.