Summer Fundraising Ideas

Summer is right around the corner which means plenty of opportunities to get up, get outside and have some fun—all for a good cause! Here are some fundraising ideas to get you closer to your goal.  

  1. Put in Miles on the Longest Day of the Year 

Take advantage of the longest day of the year and pledge to walk your longest training walk on Tuesday, June 21st. Because it’s a weekday, you may have to break it up into a few walks that day. Share your mileage on social media and encourage people in your network to sponsor each mile. Take it a step farther and choose a theme for your miles! Miles 1-3, superhero-themed. Miles 4-6, 90s-themed, and so on! Bonus: Go live on social media during your walk to thank donors for all their support! 

  1. Host a Garage or Book Sale  

Time for a summer refresh? Clear out your clutter and put it up for sale. You can host a sale by yourself or with a group of friends with all proceeds going towards your 3-Day fundraising efforts. Make signage and put out a donation bowl so attendees know you are raising money for a great cause!  

  1. Get Sporty 

Play ball! Turn your hobby into a fundraising event. Whether you play baseball (host a Home Run Derby), basketball (host a 3-on-3 tournament), tennis or pickleball (try a round robin tourney), or enjoy indoor sports like bowling (highest score wins), there’s an option for everyone. There are plenty of online resources to help you create and structure your event. Once planned, post on community boards like the Nextdoor app to spread the word.  

Not interested in team sports? Host a charity fitness class at a gym or studio! Cycling, dancing, or HIIT, the options are endless and oh so fun.  

  1. Ready, Set, Bake! 

Do people beg you for your chocolate chip cookie recipe? Or maybe your signature brownies? Share the love and offer to bake a treat for every donation you receive above $100. Take it a step further and let donors choose between 2-3 options as a thank you for donating to your fundraising efforts.  

  1. Share Thanks on Social Media 

Choose a period of time where every donor at $50 or above gets a special shout-out on your social media channels! Share a post about how much you love them, a funny photo of you together or a favorite memory you have. You can get even more creative and offer to make up a song or dance, or do a drawing for your biggest donors. You don’t have to be good at any of those things—it’s even funnier if you’re not! It’s a fun way to make your donors feel special!  

  1. Use our Social Fundraising Toolkit 

Are you looking for more ways to fundraise on social media, or maybe need some help finding the right ways to ask for donations? We’ve got you covered with this new social fundraising toolkit! You can find awesome tips, images and fill-in-the-blank prompts to get you at and above your fundraising goal, all right here: The Susan G. Komen 3-Day Social Fundraising Toolkit (the3day.org) 

Don’t see something that could work for you? Use these ideas as a starting point to help brainstorm how you could incorporate fundraising into your summer plans. Remember, it doesn’t have to be overwhelming! Every dollar adds up. As always, reach out to your 3-Day coach at any time for more support or take to your city’s Facebook group to get advice from your fellow participants!