Community Fundraising Ideas for Charity Hospice - How to Make a Big Impact

Community fundraising is the simple, human act of neighbours helping neighbours. It turns everyday moments like school fairs, coffee mornings, and sponsored walks into support for a cause that matters. If you’ve ever wondered what community fundraising is, it’s this: people gathering around a shared purpose, giving what they can, and keeping charities rooted in local compassion. Beyond raising money, local community fundraising builds relationships, sparks conversations, and helps people feel part of something bigger.

The ideas below are practical, inclusive and adaptable. They showcase community fundraising ideas for charity that fit different ages, abilities, budgets and comfort levels, from traditional favourites to creative, modern approaches. You’ll also find quick tips on safety, compliance and digital set‑up, so you can move from idea to action with confidence.

• Bake sale or community café. Keep prices friendly; add a gluten‑free or vegan table so everyone feels welcome. Offer a pay‑what‑you‑can jar.
• Open a garden or plant sale. Invite green‑fingered supporters to share seedlings and advice; add a children’s craft corner or a bug‑hunt trail.
• Quiz or bingo night. Charge team entry, add a raffle, and ask a local business to donate a prize. Consider a family round so all ages can play.
• Neighbourhood walk or fun run. Mark a short, accessible route with rest stops. Encourage memory pins or dedication ribbons to make every step meaningful.

Tip: Keep costs low, share roles across volunteers, and use QR codes alongside cash to make donating easy. A simple welcome desk, a few volunteer marshals and photo consent forms are all you need to keep the event smooth and friendly. Celebrate success with certificates, photos and a warm thank‑you – gratitude inspires the next gift.

Recent event ideas from Hospice in the Weald: Open Gardens across Kent & East Sussex, a Hospice Run on Tunbridge Wells’ closed roads (with 5K/10K/half and a family fun run), Carols at Christmas at Tonbridge School, and even a Skydive at Headcorn Aerodrome – all simple formats you can adapt locally.

Spark empathy and action with creative school fundraising days

Schools are brilliant at bringing people together. The best community fundraising ideas for schools are playful, inclusive and linked to learning.

• Colour day or dress‑as‑you‑like day. Ask for small donations; create a photo wall to showcase the day.
• Read‑a‑thon or kindness‑a‑thon. Pupils collect pledges for chapters read or acts of kindness completed. Celebrate effort, not speed.
• STEM for good. Older students design bird boxes or bee hotels from reclaimed materials and sell them at a mini eco‑market.
• Sports for all. Set up stations – walk, wheel, skip, throw – so every child can take part.

Tip: Invite a short assembly slot to explain the cause in age‑appropriate language. Tie activities to curriculum themes (literacy, PSHE, science). Provide a parent letter template and a Gift Aid form for eligible donations.

• Lunchtime mile (the 1%). Encourage staff to walk 1% of their day together; add light sponsorship and a shared tracker.
• Coffee morning rota. Each department hosts monthly bakes, book swaps or craft stalls.
• Skills for good. Offer professional skills – design, IT, printing, or logistics – for a day to support your charity operations.
• Payroll giving + match‑funding. Pre‑tax giving adds up; inviting leadership to match donations multiplies impact.

Tip: Choose activities that fit your culture and budgets; share progress on your intranet; and celebrate every team, large or small. Provide an easy donation route (we recommend JustGiving) and a short thank‑you message you can personalise and send within 48 hours.

Tap into national moments with a local focus

Awareness days and seasonal milestones are ready‑made hooks. Add your local heartbeat so the mission stays centre stage.

• Mother’s/Father’s Day dedications. Create a remembrance wall or a family walk with dedication tags.
• Carers’ Week. Host a thank‑you board at the reception; invite donations in honour of an unpaid carer.
• Back‑to‑school swap. Run a pre‑loved uniform or textbook exchange with pay‑what‑you‑can donations.
• Seasonal celebrations. Halloween trails, carol evenings, or a New Year’s wellbeing challenge can all work.

Tip: Pitch a short story to the local press or parish magazines. Ask a business to sponsor refreshments or match the day’s donations. Keep it inclusive and low‑cost so more people can join.

• Birthday or memorial pages. Invite friends to donate instead of gifts; share a photo and a few lines about why the cause matters.
• At‑home challenges. Try something like ‘Read 10 books in a month’, practise daily yoga, finish a craft project, and share weekly updates.
• Livestream & game for good. Host a quiz or mini‑concert; add a donation link on screen.

Tip: Set up a clear page on JustGiving, Enthuse or CAF Donate. Add a photo, a specific target, and short updates so supporters can follow progress. Place QR codes on posters, emails and social posts, enable contactless where possible, and offer postal or bank‑transfer details for those who prefer offline options. Post little and often: a friendly update with a picture, a milestone, and a clear invitation to give.

Quick setup checklist (UK)

• Write a short case for support. Say who you help, what you do, and how donations will be used.
• Open a dedicated bank account and handle money safely. Use sealed tins, two‑person counting, simple records and prompt banking.
• Know the rules. Check local‑authority licences for public‑place collections; follow Gambling Commission guidance for raffles/lotteries; and align with the Fundraising Regulator’s Code.
• Build in basic safety. Do a brief risk assessment, confirm public‑liability insurance with the venue in writing, and name on‑the‑day contacts so roles are clear.
• Create simple brand and thank‑you tools. Prepare logo files, colours and a poster/social template; thank donors quickly and warmly.

Keep the heart of it in view

Community fundraising is about impact, empathy and belonging. It’s also about joy. Every fundraiser, big or small, helps keep vital services accessible to the people who need them most. Start with what your community already does well, add a dash of creativity, and let connection do the rest. That’s how small acts become lifelines.

Need a hand? Talk to Hospice in the Weald

Hospice in the Weald’s community fundraising team has deep, hands‑on experience helping local groups turn good ideas into safe, successful events. From shaping concepts and sense‑checking licences and Gift Aid, to sharing templates, materials and on‑the‑day tips, the team offers friendly, practical advice. If you’d like guidance or you’re interested in partnering to host an event through Hospice in the Weald, we’d love to hear from you.

Email fundraising@hospiceintheweald.org.uk or call 01892 820533. You can also explore ways to fundraise for us and see our upcoming dates for fundraising events.