Many of us often get the urge to help people in need. Sometimes though, we end up unsuccessful in doing so. Common hindrances include lack of funds, manpower, or simply ideas on how to raise the money necessary for an outreach project.

Like the old saying goes, “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.” If you’re really determined to provide assistance to the needy, any of these top ten fund raising ideas will go a long way. Choose the activity that will best be applicable to your community.

10. Concert for a Cause

Putting on a show for the sake of the poor or marginalized in or outside our community is no longer a new concept. We’ve seen events like these featured on news and current events programs, especially when celebrities are involved in the project. In most cases, this is the hard part of organizing the show: getting a famous line up.

There are lots of stars who are willing to perform for free, or at least for a minimal fee. Getting in touch with them though is another matter. An alternative to this is to put up a show that’d be interesting, with or without the presence of big names in the entertainment industry. After all, your audience should understand that the primary goal of the show is to help.

9. Blank-a-thon

The main idea here is to come-up with a prolonged event in which a massive amount of people can take part. Traditional options include walk-a-thon, run-a-thon, or bike-a-thon. Whatever the activity, your participants have to pay a set registration fee.

You can also try-out more adventurous options. Choose one that is applicable to your community. For instance, if drinking of beer is a well-loved local activity, then hold a beer-a-thon. You can also earn from beer purchases on top of the registration fee. Come-up with games and activities that include drinking beer. You can also invite event sponsors, like beer companies, to provide beverages or to create an exhibit in the venue.

8. Scrap Selling

This is the most usual type of fund raising event conducted in schools and some offices. It involves gathering of recyclable materials, which can be traded for money. Scrap items include polymer and glass bottles, tin cans, newspapers, and plastic containers.

In a school setting, an instructor may require students to bring in a minimum number of materials before a set deadline. Of course you need to inform them of the project weeks or months before the deadline. Short notice may force them to buy these pieces, which is counterproductive. You may also look for volunteers in your community to collect the materials on a regular basis, before they’re thrown away by their owners.

7. Artists’ Auction

An alternative to putting on a show is auctioning donated items by celebrities. You can ask artists to give some of their personal belongings, like watches, lamp shades, or sunglasses. The items need not be their most expensive things. Their fans are likely to buy them despite their obscenely high price, knowing that they belonged to their idols.

You can encourage more buyers by selling movie and TV show memorabilia. Instead of plain personal belongings, ask the artists to donate things that they used in their past projects. For instance, a singer may give a jacket that he wore during his first major concert.

6. Bake Sale

Do you enjoy baking? This simple passion can also be turned into a fund raising activity by selling easy-to-prepare products for profit. Pastries, cakes, and cookies can all be made for this purpose. You can ask for the help of other volunteers to make and sell the products.

One piece of advice though: make sure that the products are of good quality. As much as possible, you want the buyers to enjoy their overpriced cookies despite the fact that they are buying them to help the needy. One negative word about your products can easily stop others from buying them.

5. Overpriced Dinner

You can bring option 6 a notch higher by providing a whole meal for your sponsors, an overpriced dinner to be exact. Think of a dish that can be produced at a low cost and in large quantities. Spaghetti is one of the dishes you may want to consider. It is easy to prepare and definitely not expensive, yet the guests will not feel robbed after the fund raising event.

4. Games and Raffle

A raffle is another classic. Have a large bulk of numbered tickets printed and look for volunteers to sell them. Search for interesting prizes that won’t cost much. You may want to consider a game like Bingo if you want a more dynamic activity. Likewise, you need to prepare prizes for the winning bingo players.

3. Car Wash

Do you have participants willing to get wet during the fund raising activity? Better yet, are they mostly good-looking people? If your answer to both questions is “yes,” then a car wash may be your best option. You can simply borrow the pressurized equipment of your neighbors who clean their cars regularly. If not, a simple pail will do. Hunks and babes in their summer outfits will serve as enough advertising for your program.

2. Dress-Down for a Fee

Wearing a formal and uptight uniform can really be wearisome if worn on a daily basis. Business attire is equally tedious. If you intend to break this routine by having a dress-down day, you can use the opportunity to support a noble cause. Ask your employees to pay two bucks or so in exchange for the comfort of wearing a jeans and shirt. You can hold this protocol as long as it takes for you to raise enough funds.

1. Prison for a Day

It may not be factual to say that most of us dream of staying in a prison for one night. Strangely, there are people who are actually willing to pay for a night’s stay in prison. This idea has been done before in Pennsylvania, when they opened a new prison in Adams County. You can always mimic the same activity in your locale, whether the prison is newly opened or not.

The guests will be allowed to check-in to a minimum security prison for a fee that covers their meals. The real feeling of being an inmate is simulated, including the routines one goes through in a day. This simulated activity may also serve as training for prison guards. Commemorative shirts may also be sold to raise funds.

These are just some of the possible activities you can try to gain the funds you need in no time. You can also devise your own fund raising program for any social event you usually hold. Just remember that the key to the event’s success is getting volunteers and participants who know the real objective of helping by heart and Practicing the virtue of Charity .