3 Ingenious Fundraising Ideas for Fall

After summers filled with weekend getaways, long vacations, and day after day of day camps, many of us are eager to get back into the familiar rut of the school year. It allows us to return to a reliable routine and get comfortable and cozy before chilly weather arrives. While fall may be the ideal setting for settling in, nonprofits don’t need to settle on the same old fall fundraisers. Try one of these ideas that puts the FUN back in fundraiser!

Guided Tours

If you’re based in a historic town or near a scenic nature trail, fall provides the perfect temperature and color to host socially distanced guided tours. If you can find a way to incorporate your nonprofit’s mission and significance as it relates to the tour, even better!

For example, a nonprofit like a local branch of Habitat for Humanity might offer a guided tour of the unique architectural offerings of a community while a nonprofit providing arts programs to community kids might showcase the homes and haunts of local artists and musicians.

This fundraiser can be particularly useful if you’re raising funds for a community that has been adversely affected by forces beyond their control. However, it’s not necessary to dwell on the suffering of a community. Instead, celebrate the contributions the community has made and how the community will benefit from the proceeds!

Dog Walk

While we’re on the subject of striking out on a walk, consider how your organization might benefit from a fundraiser walk for a cause. Similar to the Walk To End Alzheimer’s, you have your friends and family sign up to sponsor you for each mile you walk. But what could make it even more fun? Everyone brings their dogs! While you are getting exercise and supporting a good cause, you can also cross off “walk the dog” from your to-do list. This idea is most ideal if the fundraiser has to do with animals, but dogs are a great addition to any fundraiser. You could also have doggy bags at the end of the race for a small price to add to the fundraising. I mean, who doesn’t like hanging out with a bunch of puppies and getting outside, all for a great cause!

Seasonal Decorating Service

Lastly, as we’re getting into the holiday spirit, why not offer porch-decorating services to busy homeowners who want to get into the spirit of the season but just don’t have the free weekend! Most people will have all the decorations on hand - it’s just the time they lack. However, you might consider investing in some seasonal inflatables at the end of the season and renting them out next year if the service is a success!

Comment below the most original fall fundraising idea you’ve ever seen undertaken!