Fundraising events must not be complex or expensive to create meaningful impact. Often, it’s the simplest fundraising ideas that generate the most powerful results.
No matter the size of your charity, these easy-to-run events help bring people together and raise important funds for your cause. The key is empowering your supporters to become active participants. When people are invited to walk, cook, swap, or stream for good, they become more than donors: they become advocates.
Here are 10 real-life examples of successful charity fundraising events that prove just how impactful "easy" can be.
1. Organise a charity run, walk or sports challenge
2. Launch a peer to peer trekking or adventure challenge
3. Create a virtual steps challenge
4. Partner with companies for a solidarity campaign
5. Host a clothing swap for good
6. Launch a food-themed fundraising campaign
7. Stream for good: fundraise live with your community
8. Join a local music festival to raise funds and awareness
9. Involve storytellers in your fundraising events
10. Celebrate birthdays and special moments with a cause
Active, inclusive, and easy to replicate, sporting events remain one of the most effective formats for community fundraising. From solo jogs to team bike rides, these events get people moving and help share your cause with others.
In the UK, Against Breast Cancer hosts the Breast Walk Ever. It consists of a scenic charity walk that invites people of all ages to support breast cancer research. Discover the event!
In Finland, Sylva organises a challenge called Syöpäsykkeli. A long-distance team bike challenge raising funds and awareness for young people affected by cancer. Click here to check out their fundraising platform.
Sports-based events like runs, walks, or bike rides are ideal for bringing people together around a shared goal. These team-driven challenges are simple to organise, easy to scale, and adaptable to all fitness levels. Making them a favourite among schools, businesses, and community groups.
Trekking events and adventure challenges are powerful ways to turn personal achievement into collective impact. These peer to peer campaigns tap into people’s desire to push their limits, connect with nature, and contribute to a greater cause. They’re also ideal for peer to peer fundraising, as participants spread the word, and rally their networks in support of their challenge.
The Humundi Race is a team-based, multi-sport fundraising challenge in the Belgian Ardennes. Teams of 3 to 6 take on trail running or hiking (from 10 to 30 km), 7 km of kayaking, and a zipline descent, while raising funds for sustainable agriculture projects in Africa and Latin America.
Oxfam Belgium organises the iconic Oxfam Trailwalker, where teams walk 25 or 100km in under 30 hours to fight global inequality. Explore the challenge
In France, the Fondation Saint-Pierre organises The 24h Saint Pierre. A festive and family-friendly charity race to fund projects for hospitalised children. Check out their fundraising platform.
Digital and accessible, step challenges are a great online fundraising format for remote teams or hybrid communities. Anyone with a smartphone or pedometer can participate, and the format is easy to roll out with minimal resources.
With a powerful peer to peer fundraising platform, participants can track their progress and sync with apps like Strava. They can also share updates with their networks, making it easy to boost motivation, visibility, and collect online donations.
Check out “Steps for Cancer Support” in Switzerland. A motivating virtual challenge where participants rack up steps and donations to help people affected by cancer. Click here to step into the campaign
Corporate partnerships bring fresh energy and visibility to your fundraising. When employees join donation drives or team challenges, and companies match gifts, your charity can reach new audiences and build trust. Partnering with a well-known brand also helps boost your credibility and impact.
A great example is the CAP48 100km challenge. Companies can invite their employees, partners or clients to walk or run 100 km together, either remotely or on-site, to support autism research. It’s a perfect way to strengthen team spirit while contributing to a vital cause.
Encourage your supporters to declutter their wardrobes and give clothes a second life, all while supporting your cause. With a focus on sustainability and solidarity, participants organise an in-person or online clothes swap event among friends, colleagues, or their local community.
The concept consists of swapping fashion, donating to charity, and raising awareness for your cause! Explore UNICEF Hungary's #Fashion4Children, where supporters host fun and sustainable clothing swap events to raise funds for children in need.
iRaiser’s tip: Offer participants the option to create their own fundraising page to collect donations during their event, using an online peer to peer platform!
Food is a universal language: it brings people together, sparks conversations, and creates memories. A cooking-themed fundraiser is a delicious way to raise awareness, share knowledge (about nutrition, sustainability, or global issues), and collect donations. It works both online and in-person, especially in schools or universities.
Discover Cook&Share by students from the Warsaw School of Economics. A food-driven fundraiser combining recipe sharing, social media engagement, and in-person events to fight hunger through Polish Humanitarian Action.
Streaming platforms like Twitch, YouTube or Instagram Live offer an exciting space to connect with online donors. Whether it’s gaming, music, fitness, or creative arts, live streaming allows supporters to engage authentically with your cause in real-time, and encourage others to give. This approach is particularly effective when integrated with peer-to-peer tools and influencer engagement.
Doctors Without Borders France (MSF) created Stream for Humanity, encouraging streamers to go live and raise funds for humanitarian aid, collecting more than 3.5 million euros!
iRaiser’s tip: Recruit influencers or micro-streamers from your network. Provide them with a campaign toolkit to help them create content for social media platforms. Include graphics, talking points, or donation links to make their lives easy and their streams impactful.
Music brings people together, and that makes festivals the perfect place to mobilise your community and reach new supporters. More and more events are opening their doors to charities through dedicated “impact villages” or partnership zones.
Whether you set up a booth with fun activities, run a raffle, or use QR codes to collect donations, festivals offer powerful visibility and engagement. Bonus: they’re ideal for meeting younger, value-driven audiences.
Here are some inspiring examples:
Solidays Festival, organised by Solidarité Sida, blends music and activism with thousands of attendees discovering and supporting causes.
At Delta Festival, the Monde des Possibles gathers charities committed to social, environmental, and humanitarian work. A unique space for impact and successful fundraising.
Want to make your event emails more effective? Download our whitebook: "25 Ready-to-Use Email Templates for Your Fundraising Events." Inside, you’ll find email templates designed for sports events, music festivals, and charity gaming events. Helping you recruit participants, engage and promote your events effectively.
A storyteller programme is a powerful way to engage those with firsthand experience of your cause. These individuals, often those impacted by the cause, can share their personal journeys to connect with your audience on a deeper level.
Explore how UK for UNHCR’s Storyteller Programme puts refugees and former refugees at the heart of awareness-raising efforts. They share their stories at virtual webinars and in-person events, such as fundraising galas and conferences, where they inspire others to take action or donate.
By including storytellers in your events, you amplify authentic voices, build empathy, and drive stronger engagement with your cause. It’s a meaningful way to deepen connections and boost support.
Supporters often look for ways to give more meaning to their personal milestones. By inviting them to fundraise on their birthday or in memory of a loved one, you open the door to emotional, heartfelt donations with strong storytelling potential.
Discover the inspiring example of The League Against Cancer. The charity empowers its supporters to celebrate a birthday, a wedding, or honour a loved one by creating their own personal fundraising page. Check out their platform.
In conclusion, organising simple yet impactful fundraising events can transform how you engage your community and raise funds. From charity walks and peer to peer fundraising challenges to virtual events and partnerships with businesses, there are endless ways to activate your supporters.
Remember, the key to success lies in making your supporters feel like active participants in your cause, not just donors. Empowering them to share their stories and get involved can create lasting connections and amplify your impact.
Ready to start today and engage your community? Explore our article: 5 steps to get started with your fundraising event for actionable tips and strategies that will help you plan and carry out a successful event.