Charities are an integral support structure within our communities and are essential for providing aid for the destitute and needy where the state provides insufficient support. Charities can also promote a certain ideology, or belief system which is nonetheless just as successful. In this article I will attempt to explore fundraising options for Charity organisations, and how to make a difference.

The first thing to decide is what charity you want to fundraise for. Do you want to support research into a certain medical condition? A foreign country? A religious organisation? The charity that you choose will be a major factor in how much public support you receive in your local area. Examine the general status quo and issues that come up in the community a lot, for example; if your neighbourhood is a heavy recruitment area for the armed forces, and then consider a charity that provide support for ex-servicemen, etc. You should note that ideology based charities with religious foundations often make potential participants feel excluded.

Once you have decided on your chosen charity, the next step you will want to take is increasing awareness in the community. This can be achieved by placing bold and eye catching posters in the local area, in supermarkets, notice boards, social clubs, highways etc. If your local community has a notice board on-line or community forum then use the internet to draw local people to the event too. Getting local schools, colleges and churches involved might help you get an even bigger crowd to your event which ultimately leads to more money being raised for charity.

In terms of events there is a plethora of events that you can organise, the only limit is really your imagination. You could organise a charity bungee jump, when you are attempting to get adults involved you want to have an event that would be fun even without the charitable intentions, as this alone (unfortunately) isnt enough to draw people to your event. Try and think of something that is directly related to the charity that you are fundraising for, for example if you were supporting Cancer Research, you could have a sponsored head shave, which is relatively cheap and provides for quite a spectacle. DIY ideas can be just as good, you can produce your own chocolate bars for a cheap cost, branding them selling them and branding them for your chosen charity.

Make sure your idea is open, easily accessible and something that everyone can partake in if they wish to. As well as providing money for a good cause, fundraising events are a great way to create community solidarity and public participation in positive activities.