10 Easy Fundraising Ideas to Benefit Animals in Need

Raise Money to Help Animals

If you’re looking for something to do to better the lives of the animals in need in your community you can organize simple and low-cost fundraisers to help raise money for dog and cat shelters.

By raising money to help animals you are depositing funds into your good karma bank. This is also a great way to teach your children the importance of giving and helping others. Another perk will be keeping the kiddies occupied, engaged and entertained while doing something good for our furry friends.

Ice Cream Party

Who wouldn’t like to spend a hot, sunny Saturday eating ice cream and keeping the kids busy having fun? If you can, invite a few artistic friends, supply water-based paints that are safe for skin and also do some face-painting.

Swellphotography via Shutterstock

Raffle

For every event, ask for donations to raffle off. You’ll be surprised how many people will give up some loot if they know the money raised will go to a good cause. U.K. Sculptor Angela Turner of Cavacast said, “In England we have what’s called a Tombola. You have a bucket full of numbered tickets that people buy. If their number matches a prize on the table they win it.”

“For the prizes we ask for damaged collectibles from stores,” added Turner, “then fix them up and sell them.”

chrisdorney via Shutterstock

Bake Sale

Provide homemade dog treats and cat snacks. Rustle up some willing participants to bring along their own home-cooked savory morsels for the humans. And ask local restaurants for donations. You can ask all of the participants to bring a taster plate and give prizes for the best baked goods.

via Shutterstock

Throw a BBQ

Offer to help community members and businesses network in a fun and friendly way. Come up with a suggested cover charge and encourage all of the participants to bring flyers and business cards to exchange. You can serve alcohol and non-alcohol drinks and don’t forget to throw some vegetables on the BBQ for your vegan friends.

via Shutterstock

Arts and Crafts Day

Round up parents and kids for a day of making crafts. Set up a picnic table or two with chairs and supplies including paper, glue, scissors, pens and pencils, markers and crayons. Have the adults walk around and help the kids.

An alternative is an art sale — round up artworks from neighbors and their kids, and set the yard up with display tables and prices. Have index cards on hand for kids to sign their names like professional artists.

Irina oxilixo Danilova via Shutterstock

Organize a Run

Massachusetts artist and fundraiser Melody Lea Lamb organizes 6.1-mile runs every year to raise funds. “I promote the race online via social media during my daily training period and ask people to sponsor me,” she says. “As the money begins to come in I keep a record of the funds raised. The money that comes in via PayPal (online donations) I send directly to my charity of choice. The checks and cash I receive go into my own account then I send the charity a check. The fun part is running the race. The final step is sending a thank you letter to all of the wonderful people who contributed.”

andrewjsan via Flickr

Dog Wash

Offer a fun outdoor day of splashing, playing, and washing local dogs. Have a hose handy. An above-ground mini pool and sprinkler can add to the fun. And don’t forget to tell everybody to come in bathing suits and plan to get wet.

BaLL LunLa via Shutterstock

Yard Sale

Gather sellable items from your own closets and those of your friends, family, and neighbors. Contact local papers and tell them this is to raise money for the local animal shelters. Post flyers in all of the local pet stores. People love freebies, so be sure to send them home with something inexpensive like a gift bag with dog bones or cat treats.

Alexey Stiop via Shutterstock

Photo Shoot Party

Invite everybody’s pets over. Create an email list at the door. Have volunteers on hand to take photos of the guests and their pets at the event. Afterwards email photos to the party participants. Another option is to have a volunteer manning a computer to download the digital camera photos and create photo CDs to hand out at the gathering.

via Shutterstock

Games Day

Host a games day in your backyard or a nearby park. This is great fun for the wee kiddos, and you’ll have a blast watching them have fun as you raise money. Fill the day with fun activities like a hoola hoop contest, bobbing for apples, a ring toss, or a scavenger hunt.