Beginner’s guide to running a corporate charity fundraiser

Many charities rely on the support of generous businesses, giving companies the chance to contribute to philanthropic causes. Not only does this help the charity but can also have huge benefits for your business.

Corporate fundraisers aren’t always easy to get right without the proper preparation. So what do you need to know? 

In this article, we’ll answer your questions about running a corporate fundraiser.  

Why do a fundraiser? 

There are plenty of reasons why your business should do fundraisers, including: 

  • To demonstrate values Ethics are becoming increasingly important for consumer decision-making. Fundraising gives you the perfect opportunity to show your customers what causes your business stands for by raising money. 
  • To build morale – Doing a fundraiser gives your staff the chance to socialise and collaborate in a novel context. You can use this opportunity to encourage members of different teams to mix and further promote company-wide cohesion. 
  • To promote learning – Taking on a fundraising project requires your staff to apply their existing skills in new contexts or develop new abilities altogether. This lets them hone their toolset and bring more to their normal role.  

What are the rules for fundraisers? 

Regardless of what method you use to raise funds, you need to make sure you’re following the rule of law. There are several principles you should follow to make sure your fundraising is legal, including: 

  • Plan out your fundraising effectively 
  • Supervise your fundraisers carefully 
  • Comply with data protection laws 
  • Follow recognised standards like the Code of Fundraising Practice 
  • Be open and accountable 
  • Five business fundraiser ideas 

There are plenty of ways that you can raising money as a business. Consider employing the following tactics: 

  1. Fancy dress day – Pick a theme that matches your organisation and have colleagues come into work in costume.  
  2. Sports t-shirt day – Encourage your staff members to wear the shirt of their favourite sports athlete or the team they support, for example the shirt of Liverpool’s Virgil Van Dijk
  3. Bring your dog to work day – Invite love and laughter into the workplace in the form of these furry bundles of fun. 
  4. Office raffle – Get a selection of prizes and have staff members purchase tickets with the chance to win something big.  
  5. Christmas jumper day – Have your staff wear their wackiest seasonal jumpers to help celebrate everyone’s favourite time of year. 

Running a corporate fundraiser isn’t easy, but by following our advice above you can make sure things run smoothly.