.png){kind=icon}
.jpg){kind=small}
.png){kind=small}
Choosing an Event
Large or small, unique or time-tested the ideas are endless. Whether you are repeating a successful yearly event, thinking about holding a one-time small fundraiser or wanting to include the entire community in a big bash…
Some questions to get you started
- What is your goal for this event? Have fun, raise money, raise awareness, bring a community together, have a certain number of participants?
- Who do you want to reach (audience/participants)?
- how many people could you realistically get to participate?
- How much do you hope to fundraise?
- How many people will you need to help you?
- How much work/hours are you/your team prepared to take on?
- Do you have people on your team who have experience planning events?
- For larger events - How many volunteers would you be able to involve?
- How much time do you have to prepare for this event?
Event Ideas
In the Community | At Your School | At Work | In Lieu of Gifts |
- A-Thons – walk, swim, bike, swim, dance etc.
Walk, bike, or skip for a great cause! A-thons are well known, popular events that can involve many people in your community. Friends, family and the public can sponsor participants based on how long they perform the activity or for reaching a specified goal/score. The more participants you get, the more money you can raise. This event can involve people of all ages and can be a lot of fun!
Tip: You can set up your very own online fundraising collection page for the Red Door through Canada Helps.org Giving Pages
- Tournaments – hockey, golf, arm wrestling, billiards, trivia or games nights.
Sporting events and tournaments appeal to many people and can be fun events to organize. There are a lot of ways to raise money: individual/team fees to participate, ticket sales to view the event, sponsorship of teams or event, sale of food or merchandise. Organize it yourself or contact your local community league for sponsorship or support.
- Admission Events - galas/dinners/bbq, concerts, art show, theme party, movie night
Big or small, your event can help the Red Door in a BIG way. From a fancy gala dinner to a backyard bbq, a simple party to professional concert, the ideas are endless. Bigger events like concerts are great to attract media publicity and to spread the word about the Red Door. Sales, auctions or raffles add fun and fundraising potential to any event.
- Sale/Auctions - bake sale, neighbourhood yard sale, car wash, craft show, silent auction, raffles
A classic way to get your community involved! Getting your neighbours together to host a joint yard sale, side-walk craft or bake sale, can be a great way to come together and rally around a good cause.
There so many great ways to bring your school together to support the Red Door, whether it’s organizing a fun event, holding school-wide fundraising drives, or collecting money to get your teachers to sing or perform a silly skit. The more creative the better!
- Events - talent shows, fashion shows, school dance, movie night, teacher show
- Drives – food/clothing drive, loonie drive, pay-to-wear-days
- Sales – bake sale, lemonade, book/dvd/video game sale
Tip: Choose one of our Gifts to Empower and make it a collection goal for your event.
At Work
Workplace fundraising is a positive, rewarding and fun way to motivate and engage your co-workers, promote team-building and make a big difference in the lives of families in your community. Get creative with an event that involves your boss. Choose one of our Gifts to Empower and make it a collection goal for your department ie. "Change for a children lunches”.
- Donate your Lunch Money Day
- Inter-department fundraising challenge
- Pay to: dress down for a day, leave early on Friday, etc.
- Matching Gifts
- “Gifts to Empower” Exchange
- Holiday Family Sponsorship
Ask your friends and family to make a donation to the Red Door instead of gifts for a birthday, anniversary or other life event.
- Birthdays/Anniversaries
- Holidays
- Wedding Registry
Tip: You can set up your very own online fundraising collection, or registry page for the Red Door through Canada Helps.org
