Fundraising Ideas for Kids: Fun Ways Children Can Help
Getting kids involved in fundraising shows them how much of a difference they can make, while still having plenty of fun along the way. Working together as a family in aid of a good cause is amazing for all involved, and you can see your child grow in confidence, pursue their passions, and create cherished memories while helping others.
In this guide, we’ll take you through a few of the best fundraising ideas for kids, grouped by age, though all involve an adult, too. We’ll cover:
- Ideas for younger children: Lemonade or cake stands, toy and book sales, and sponsored reading or colouring.
- Ideas for primary-age children: Sponsored walks, talent shows, and bake sales.
- Ideas for older children and teens: Car washing, craft sales, and sponsored challenges.
There are plenty of ways to come together, kids and adults alike, and support the causes you’re passionate about:
Fundraising ideas for younger children
At any age, fundraising lets you help others and feel that same buzz of pride, no matter how much you raise.
Younger kids love feeling proud of what they’ve done, and fundraising is a brilliant way to build that confidence early. It’s their chance to help others and have fun while doing it. Each idea offers a different exciting experience or challenge, so you can pick whichever suits you and your child.
Below are three supervised fundraising ideas for younger children:
Lemonade or cake stand
Baking with kids can be a lot of fun, so why not add another layer to it and set up a stand outside for them to sell their cupcakes or brownies, with some refreshing lemonade on top?
You can design your stand and signage together and watch the support for your cause grow with every sale.
Toy and book sale
If you’ve any toys or books collecting dust, give them a new home and support a good cause while you’re at it with this kids’ fundraising idea.
Take a trip down memory lane as you sort through old favourites. Every toy or book you pass on gets a second life with a new owner, and every sale adds up for the cause you’re supporting.
Sponsored colouring or reading
For younger kids, sponsored colouring or reading is another fantastic way to support the causes you’re passionate about. Local libraries often host annual reading challenges, and being sponsored by family and friends to complete this challenge would be a great fundraising idea and a great way for everyone to see just how much your child’s reading ability has grown!
If your child wants to get involved but isn’t quite ready for a reading challenge, perhaps ask people to sponsor them on a colouring or drawing project.
Fundraising ideas for primary-age kids
As your children get older, they can take on a bit more independence with their fundraising, including fundraising at school. Each of these ideas can see your child grow in confidence, take on new challenges, and make friends while supporting something that has meaning to them.
Below are three easy fundraising ideas for kids of primary school age:
Bake sale
Everybody loves a bake sale. They’re a fun and easy way for kids to raise money and engage with their local community. You can bake with your child or supervise them as they do it on their own.
Whether they’re sold in your local community or at your child’s school, everybody will want to get their hands on some brownies, cookies, or cakes. The best bit? You can eat whatever’s left.
Sponsored walk
Staying active is great for kids and adults alike, and a sponsored walk is an easy way to get family, friends, or the whole school community involved together.
It doesn’t have to be an ultramarathon distance, just some laps of the local park or a walk with everyone who’s sponsoring will do.
Talent show
If you know a few kids who want to get involved, try handing them the reins to run their own talent show. This fundraising idea for kids could be as part of their school or something you help to organise elsewhere.
From wacky dance moves to superb impressions, maybe with a cartwheel somewhere in the mix, you’ll be able to cheer on kids expressing themselves and watch them beam with pride for a worthwhile cause.
Fundraising ideas for older kids and teens
There’s no age limit to fundraising, and older kids and teens can really make their mark. By taking on a bit more responsibility with these fundraising ideas, teens and older kids can show just how much of a difference they can make in their community.
Below are three fundraising activities for older children:
Car wash
The first fundraising idea for teens and older kids is a supervised car wash. Ask your child’s school or local community centre if you can use their car park, then spread the word to family, friends, neighbours, and the local community.
On the day, the children can scrub away and watch cars leaving squeaky clean. The community comes together, the kids have fun and work hard, and the fundraiser builds closer to its target.
Sponsored challenge
The next fundraising idea for older kids is a sponsored challenge. Encourage your child to challenge themselves and to do something difficult and inspiring, like a long bike ride or a long-distance run.
It could even be something related to their passion, like scoring the most goals in a set amount of time or baking as many cakes as possible in a day.
Whatever your child chooses, cheering them on and celebrating what they achieve is all part of the fun, and could create a memory they’ll hold onto for years to come.
Craft sale
If your child loves making things with their hands, a craft sale could be the perfect fundraising idea for them.
Bracelets or bookmarks, paintings or tie-dye bags: let your child’s creativity take the lead, and use this kids’ fundraising activity to support a great cause.
Keeping kids’ fundraising safe
Safety matters most, and with a few simple habits in place, your child can focus on the fun and the pride of supporting a cause with their fundraising event, while you handle the practical side.
- Stay close by: Keep an eye on where your child is and who they’re chatting with, and be ready to support them if they need you.
- Walk them through the money side: A quick chat beforehand about giving the right change and taking the right amount helps your child feel confident and keeps things fair for everyone buying.
- Look after the online page together: Fundraising pages are easy to set up, and having an adult keeping an eye on the money side of things means your child can focus on the parts that mean the most, rallying support and bringing people together.
How to set up your child’s fundraising
Now that we’ve covered some easy fundraising activities for kids, let’s show you how simple it is to set up their fundraising page, too. All you have to do is follow these steps:
- Set up a free JustGiving page: Creating a page is easy and costs nothing.
- Set a target: The best fundraising pages have a goal in mind, and there’s nothing better than rallying friends and family to help you hit it together.
- Share it: The more people who see your child’s efforts, the more support (and encouragement) will build towards your cause.
- Turn on Gift Aid: This allows your chosen charity to claim 25p for every £1 you donate from the government, topping up your donation at no extra cost to you.
Watching that total climb is half the fun, and it’s a chance to celebrate your child’s progress every step of the way, all in support of a cause you care about together.
Ready to get started? Set up your free JustGiving page here. Not sure what you want to do yet? Take a look at some great fundraising ideas here.
Kids’ fundraising ideas: your questions answered
Thinking about hosting your own kids’ fundraising event? If so, you may have a few questions.
What are good fundraising ideas for kids?
The best fundraising ideas for kids are often simple ideas that allow them to be in charge, showcasing their skills in a talent show, their creativity with a bake sale, or their passions with reading challenges or sponsored walks. For more, quick funds, they can sell any unwanted toys or books.
How can children raise money for charity?
Children can raise money for charity in all sorts of ways, no matter their age.
For younger children, this includes simple ideas that will show your child the joy of fundraising, like lemonade stands or sponsored reading.
For primary-age kids, a bit more independence will go a long way. This could mean handing them the reins to host their own bake sales or talent shows.
For older kids and teens with more responsibility, it could even be through washing cars.
Whatever you choose to do, doing it with an online fundraising page run by a parent makes raising money so much easier.
What can kids sell to raise money?
Kids can sell unwanted toys or books after clearing out their room, with proceeds going to their chosen cause. They could also sell handmade crafts like candles, paintings or bracelets, or commission drawings for friends and family if they’re particularly artistic.
Selling baked goods like brownies or cookies is always a great way to build support for their cause, too.
How can a child raise money fast?
To raise funds and support quickly, you could try a quick bake sale, as this is a staple fundraising idea that usually ends with a just a few crumbs and a lot of support raised.
Other easy-to-set-up ideas include car washes, or sponsored challenges, with a parent-run fundraising page to make it easier for people to donate.
What fundraising can a 10 year old do?
Ten-year-olds can fundraise in a host of ways that suit their own passions, from sponsored reads and walks to creative bake sales. They could showcase their singing, dancing, or sports skills in talent shows and their artistic talents with a craft sale. It’s important that children of this age are supervised by a trusted adult.
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