Fun fundraising incentive ideas

Looking for ways to get people engaged and excited about your fundraising event? Adding incentives for participants can help motivate others to join in and help raise more funds for your cause, such as St. Jude. Here are a few fundraising incentive ideas to get you started.

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St. Jude patients Azalea and Maelin-Kate

St. Jude patients Azalea (left) and Maelin-Kate
 
 

Why fundraising incentives are important

Fundraising incentives are important because they:

  • Encourage participation.
  • Motivate people to meet donation goals.
  • Provide a personal reward for contributors’ hard work.

Offering incentives for participants may also increase the amount of money raised as people can be more motivated to “win a prize” at the end of the fundraising period. Incentives may also draw in participants from varied backgrounds which could create more exposure for your cause. 

 
 

5 fun incentive ideas for fundraising

If you have limited time or resources, then the incentive options you’re able to offer may feel limited too. To help get you started, we’ve put together a list of simple, fun and engaging incentive ideas for fundraising. 

 

1. Treats

Treats such as candy, sweets and baked goods are tasty incentives for participants of all ages. Bake sales are the perfect example of using delicious foods as an incentive for donations. Consider partnering with people in your community who enjoy baking to get free treats which you can then give away as prizes for participants who contribute to or meet a fundraising goal.

Be sure to provide an ingredient list with any edible incentives so that those who may have allergies are aware.

 

2. Gift cards

Using gift cards to create excitement for your fundraising event is another way to engage participants and encourage them to donate. When participants have the opportunity to potentially win a gift card from their favorite store, they may be more motivated to help you raise donations for your chosen cause. 

Local shops, restaurants or movie theaters may be willing to donate gift cards for your fundraiser.

 

3. Toys and games

Toys and games are fun options if you’re fundraising with families, schools or children’s groups. Incentive prizes for kids can range from small items like balls and action figures to larger or more expensive items like board games, video games and bikes.

To encourage families to attend fundraising events, bounce houses, face painting and “special guest” appearances from princesses and superheroes are fun options. 

 

4. Free products

Offering free products as incentives for fundraising efforts can be a highly motivating option. Trendy items like the latest tumbler or golf clubs might catch the attention of participants and encourage them to fundraise more for your cause. Local favorites, one-of-a-kind items or signed memorabilia may also garner attention from participants. 

 

5. Events/experiences

Events and experiences work as incentives because they’re often things participants wouldn’t buy for themselves. Event or experience incentives can range from pizza parties, escape rooms, laser tag or local events for groups. Look around in your area for local businesses that offer experiences or events and see if they’d be willing to partner with your fundraiser. 

 
 

Looking for more fundraising resources? 

Our fundraising guide is full of helpful tips and ideas to help get you started!

See Our Fundraising Guide

 
 
 
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Patient Story: Eliza

The mother of St. Jude patient Eliza discusses her and her daughter's experiences at St. Jude.

 

Meet St. Jude patient Eliza and her family 

Eliza's mom and dad felt hopeless when their 4-month-old "ray of sunshine" was diagnosed with retinoblastoma, an aggressive eye cancer. St. Jude gave them hope and years of memories ahead.

Thanks to our supporters, St. Jude provides customized care for some of the world's sickest children regardless of their race, ethnicity, beliefs or ability to pay. Your donation helps St. Jude give kids with cancer the chance they deserve.

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Make an impact on the children of St. Jude

Because of your support, we can provide children with cutting-edge treatments not covered by insurance, at no cost to families. Unlike other hospitals, the majority of funding for St. Jude comes from generous donors. Join us, and be part of our mission to save more lives.

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