50 Quirky and Unusual Fundraising Ideas

Sometimes the fundraisers that stand out the most are the ones that make people smile. Quirky and unusual fundraising ideas get people talking, sharing, and rallying together for a common goal.

From fancy dress days to head shaves, we’ve rounded up 50 unique fundraising ideas for every budget. Some are big-money fundraising ideas designed to raise serious sums, while others can be organised in just a few minutes. Feel free to jump straight to the ones you’re interested in, and remember, every single one works brilliantly alongside a JustGiving page.

Big-money quirky challenges

If you want to raise some serious support for your cause, go big with some of these wild challenges and stunts. These are some of the best big-money fundraising ideas around, the sort friends and family can’t believe you’re undertaking and can’t resist supporting.

• Skydive for charity: Few big-money fundraising ideas grab attention like jumping out of a plane for a cause you care about.
• Shave your head: Dramatic, simple, and one of the most-shared fundraising ideas around.
• Firewalk: This unique fundraising idea has become a charity staple, and will see you walk across hot coals in front of friends and family.
• Wing walk: Strap yourself to a biplane and take your fundraising to new heights.
• Ultra-marathon or 100-mile cycle: Push your body further than you thought possible, spurred on by the support of your close ones, and the cause that got you started in the first place.
• Climb a mountain: Whether it’s the Three Peaks challenge or summiting Kilimanjaro, enduring any mountain is an accomplishment you’ll be proud to say you’ve achieved.
• Break a record: It could be most hotdogs eaten in an hour or furthest distance walked while doing a handstand, but getting your name in the record books, and for a cause you’re passionate about, is as cool as it gets. This is one of the most unusual fundraising ideas, giving supporters something memorable to follow while helping you raise money.
• Abseil down a building: Several charities host organised abseils, so why not conquer a fear of heights and raise support for a meaningful charity at the same time?
• 24-hour treadmill run: This is a tough endurance stunt that people will love to follow along with, and will have people supporting every step of the way.
• Eating challenges: Take on 100 hot wings, the ridiculously sized burger, or see how many marshmallows you can eat before time runs out, with onlookers paying to watch.

Low-cost quirky fundraising ideas for home and office

Not every unique fundraising idea needs a big budget. Some of the best unusual fundraising ideas cost next to nothing and can work almost anywhere, whether you’re at home, in school or in the office.

• Sponsored silence: See who can stay quiet the longest, with sponsors donating for every hour of peace and quiet.
• Guess the baby photo: Colleagues will guess who’s who and see who’s changed the most, for a small fee.
• Wacky desk race: Transform your office chair into a racing machine and zoom around the office to compete for office bragging rights and a homemade trophy.
• Job swap for a day: Let the interns run the meeting, while you sit at their desk, seeing how the other side of the business works. Or get some insight into the work of someone in another team, and learn more about your company while raising valuable support.
• Lucky-dip jar: Fill a jar with mystery prizes and charge a small fee for each dip.
• Themed bake sale: Perhaps the most popular charity event there is, colleagues, friends, and family will relish the chance to get baked goods at a great price for a superb cause.
• No-phone day: Ask colleagues to sponsor you for a full day going entirely unplugged.
• Dress-down or dress-up day: Come into work in casual wear for a small fee, or take it to another level and have everyone come in dressed for a wacky theme, like ‘TV show characters’ or ‘Your favourite animal’.
• Office trivia night: Quiz teams pay to enter, and the winner goes home with all the bragging rights.
• Sponsored haircut or beard shave: This works best for that one colleague you’ve never seen without a beard, or the colleague with the longest hair, and a small stunt can have a big payoff.
• Guess the sweets in the jar: A charity classic, this inexpensive game is always a popular choice.

Quirky fundraising ideas for kids and schools

These quirky fundraising ideas for kids and schools are easy to organise and a great way to get everyone involved in supporting your chosen cause.

• Non-uniform or fancy dress day: Everyone pays a small fee to ditch the school uniform in favour of casual wear or crazy costumes.
• Penalty shootout: Get the teachers in goal and have pupils pay a small fee to get a turn shooting; every goal nets a prize.
• Talent show: Have the kids take the reins and showcase their weird and wonderful talents, from tap dancing to singing, dancing, magic tricks or comedy routines.
• Teachers-in-charge swap: Pupils make a small donation to let a teacher take on a fun challenge chosen by the whole class.
• Sponsored spelling bee: An educational and fun idea that will see funds raised for every correct spelling.
• Odd socks day: A small, low-effort way to raise extra support for charity and a bit of excitement with the kids.
• Playground obstacle course: Set up a mini assault course at break time, and have pupils give a small donation to take part.
• Silent lunch: See how long a whole class can stay quiet. This is a favourite among many teachers.
• Guess the teacher’s baby photo: A school favourite that never gets old.
• Teacher pantomime: Have the teachers dress up and act out a pantomime during the lunch break, with pupils making a small donation to see their sternest teacher dressed as Tinkerbell.
• Sports events: Have charity tournaments, with students playing basketball, football, or any other sport, with a prize for the winning team, and funds raised via spectator entry fees.

Take a look at our guide here for more fundraising ideas for kids.

Social-media-friendly quirky fundraising ideas

If your fundraiser lives online, make it something people want to watch and share around. These unique fundraising ideas are built for video, and a good clip keeps support flooding in long after the challenge is over.

• Viral challenge: Put your own spin on a trending viral challenge, like 2014’s viral ice-bucket challenge.
• Themed livestream: Game, cook, or craft live while viewers donate to keep you going. You could even pair this with one of the other challenges, like a livestreamed ultramarathon with donations for every mile.
• Dare-for-a-donation: Let followers vote on dares, like eating challenges or wacky stunts, and post the results.
• Pick my next look: Let your followers pay to choose your hair colour, outfit, or costume, and go outside in it for a whole day, sharing the results.
• React to old photos: Pick out some of your funniest and most memorable moments and share them with your audience.
• Create for those who donate: If you like to draw, you could use your social media to commission artwork for people in exchange for a charitable donation.
• Collaborate with others: Social media is a great way to expand your network and could help you team up with other fundraisers for double the reach.
• Online quiz: Use your platform to stage an online quiz, with teams playing along and marking themselves, all in exchange for a small entry fee.
• Virtual auction: If you have items you want to get rid of, use your platform to auction them off, with proceeds going to your chosen charity.
• 24-hour challenge: Stream a full-day challenge, be it staying in the gym for an entire 24 hours or eating a meal every hour for a whole day.

Seasonal quirky fundraising ideas

Some of the easiest and most unique fundraising ideas fit naturally around the seasons. Tie your fundraiser to a season or holiday and people will already feel involved.

• Christmas jumper day: The classic, and still one of the easiest ways to rally support behind your cause.
• Easter egg hunt: Be it in the playground or in the office, who doesn’t want to find a bit of chocolate?
• Halloween sponsored spookiness: This could mean a fancy dress day or a day spent transforming the classroom, office, or house into a haunted mansion.
• Summer fun day: Get outside with sponsored races and games for all ages, like the classic egg-and-spoon race or an obstacle course.
• Sponsored New Year’s resolutions: Ask friends, family, or colleagues to sponsor you in your New Year’s resolution, whether it’s learning a new skill, exercising regularly or taking on a personal challenge.
• Valentine’s Day speed-dating: Host a speed-dating event in the office, with willing participants paying a small fee for the chance to meet members of other parts of the company.
• Pancake Day flip-off: See who can flip the most pancakes in a minute, or who can flip theirs the highest while landing it in the pan in one piece.
• Bonfire Night firework walk: A fun autumn stunt for groups of all ages: watch the fireworks and support a meaningful cause at the same time.

Turn your quirky idea into a fundraising page

Whichever of these quirky fundraising ideas you’ve picked, turning it into support for your cause takes minutes. Just follow these steps:

• Pick your idea: Choose whatever cause means something to your group, and whichever idea suits your budget, time, and nerves.
• Set a target and a date: A clear goal gives people a reason to donate sooner rather than later.
• Tell your story: Explain why the cause matters to you. Sharing why the cause matters to you helps supporters connect with your story and understand the impact of their donation.
• Share the link: Post your page everywhere, as the more people who see it, the more opportunities you’ll have to build support for your cause.

Ready to get started? Start your fundraising page today and you’re ready to go. If you’re fundraising in the UK, don’t forget, turning on Gift Aid means eligible UK taxpayers can add an extra 25p for every £1 donated, at no extra cost to them.

Still need more inspiration? Head over to our site to find more fundraising ideas here.

Quirky fundraising ideas: your questions answered

If you’re excited to start on your own quirky fundraising idea, but still have a few questions, take a look below:

What are some unusual fundraising ideas?

Some of the most popular unusual fundraising ideas include sponsored silences, guess-the-baby-photo competitions, wacky races, fancy dress workdays and endurance challenges. The best option is one that suits your audience, is easy to organise and gives supporters something memorable to get behind.

What is the most successful quirky fundraising idea?

There’s no single winning idea, but bold fundraising ideas such as skydives, long-distance treks and sponsored head shaves often raise impressive amounts because supporters can clearly see the challenge involved. The most successful fundraiser is usually one that you’re genuinely excited to take on.

How can I raise a lot of money quickly for charity?

Pick a bold, share-worthy challenge, set a target and deadline, and let your story be known. Share your page widely, with regular updates as you go, and remind supporters to add Gift Aid when they donate.

What are good fundraising ideas for a small group?

Small groups often find success with unique fundraising ideas such as quiz nights, office bake-offs, sponsored step challenges and dress-up days. They’re easy to organise, encourage participation and work particularly well when everyone contributes towards a shared fundraising goal.

What are creative ways to raise money for charity in the UK?

Creative fundraising can include seasonal events, social media challenges, sponsored swaps and other unique fundraising ideas that encourage people to get involved. Match the fundraiser to your audience, make donating simple and focus on creating something supporters will want to share.