Charity fundraising events are a fun way to get your friends, family, and wider community together to support a good cause. There are lots of different ways you can go about this, so here are some great ideas and tips to suit every individual, timeframe, and budget.
It is essential that any face-to-face event complies with COVID-19 restrictions in your state, so ensure you factor a safe head count into your event planning.
1. Facebook birthday fundraiser
You’ll be surprised how much money you can raise for your favourite cause using Facebook’s ingenious birthday fundraiser feature. Social media is a great way to spread awareness about all kinds of issues, including children living in poverty, and it’s really easy to set up. Two weeks out from the date, you’ll receive a notification from Facebook, giving you the option to fundraise for your birthday.
Fundraising Tip
You can boost your fundraiser and generate more awareness around your cause by including personal stories and pictures that are compelling, inspirational, and impactful.
2. Fundraise in lieu of gifts for special occasions
Instead of receiving gifts for your special occasion, ask your loved ones to go online and purchase a charity gift from our ‘Gifts for Good’ catalogue instead. It’s a simple and easy way to raise funds with minimal fuss.
You may even decide to put together a charity gift list that your friends and family can tick off to provide children in developing communities with many forms of support.
Fundraising Tip:
You can also do this for other special occasions like weddings, kitchen teas and baby showers, where in place of wishing wells or gift registries you ask guests to donate to your chosen cause.
3. Trivia night
Get your wider community together and challenge them to trivia. Trivia nights are one of the classic fundraising ideas and an inexpensive way to host a charity event. Host one at your house, online, or partner with a local restaurant or pub (depending on COVID-19 restrictions in your city).
All you need to do is pick a fun theme, promote it on social media and through word-of-mouth, and charge each team a participation fee. You can also reach out to local businesses to ask for prize donations. Throughout the night, remind attendees of the cause and encourage them to make further contributions.
Fundraising Tip:
Theme your trivia night around topics that will excite your group. For example, if it’s a family event, a great question might be, “Guess what Disney movies the following five songs are from?”
4. School fundraiser
School fundraisers are a great way to raise money and awareness among your local community. You can run raffles, flea markets, bake sales, craft stalls, and host fun challenges people can pay to play.
Fundraising Tip:
Boost funds raised by charging a gold coin donation to participate.
5. Parents night out
Give mums and dads in your local area a break one night by hosting a movie and games night for the kids. Charge a small participation fee and ask everyone to contribute a snack to share with the group. You can partner with a local organisation like a school or playgroup for a big night of fun.
Fundraising Tip:
Immerse the kids in another world by theming the games and decorations around the movie.
6. Neighbourhood concert
Take your fundraiser to your street and host your very own charity fundraiser concert. You can host a talent show, or invite local musicians to perform, and charge a small entry fee. Add a sausage sizzle, a bake sale, and a community garage sale to make it fun for all ages and boost funds raised.
Fundraising Tip:
Advertise your fundraising event a few weeks in advance and promote your cause on social media to attract interest. Don’t forget to obtain the right permits from your local council.
7. Scavenger hunt
For a more active fundraising idea, organise a scavenger hunt around your local neighbourhood or park. A scavenger hunt is a fun way for kids and adults of all ages to get outside and spend time together. Have people sign up in teams of 2-4 and pay a team fee to participate. Set up challenges and clues for teams to work their way through, and give out prizes for winning teams.
Fundraising Tip:
Use each checkpoint as an opportunity for teams to learn more about your cause.
8. Recipe book
Ask students at your local school to contribute family recipes, either as a Word or PDF document, and create a recipe book that can be purchased online by parents and community members. You’ll be surprised at the variety of delicious recipes that people contribute.
Fundraising Tip:
People like to see how their donations will make an impact, so be sure to include an introduction explaining where the funds will go. For example, “For every four books sold, we will purchase one Food for Thought Bundle which includes a gift of two water filters, four fruit trees, and four packs of seeds will provide clean water and lifelong nutritious foods for families”.
9. Car wash
Another simple yet practical fundraising idea is a charity car wash. Everyone needs a good car wash once in a while, so why not host one in the car park of your local sports club or school? All you need is a team of helpers, street signs, and some eco-friendly cleaning supplies. It’s a great way to spread awareness of the work your charity does, while cooling off on a hot summer afternoon.
Fundraising Tip:
Make sure you put up some eye-catching signs to catch the attention of passing drivers.
10. Physical challenges
Themed fun runs, walks, and rides are tried-and-tested charity fundraising ideas that are a lot of fun, generate awareness, and get entire communities involved around a common cause while promoting an active lifestyle. You can register for events like Tough Mudder and ask people to sponsor your team.
Fundraising Tip:
You can also host your very own physical challenge event and bring some fun for the families in your local community. Remember the ALS ice bucket challenge? Let your imagination run wild.
Put the fun back into fundraising!
Put the fun back into fundraising! We hope that you’re feeling inspired about your next event. If you’d like to support disadvantaged children, or help families impacted by disasters and emergencies, consider partnering with ChildFund for your fundraising event.
There is a name from 2020 that will never be forgotten, and it’s George Floyd. His death was the catalyst for worldwide anti-racism protests, and social media outcry in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.
While Minneapolis is far from our shores, Floyd’s death has initiated deep reflection on racism in Australia, and a yearning to listen and learn about the experiences of First Nations people. It’s difficult to know where to start, and to find trustworthy sources of information. We’re here to help.
We have compiled a list of podcasts, children’s books, young adult books, documentaries, films and non-fiction books that you can use to learn more about racism in Australia, from both our nation’s past and present.
Podcasts
In the podcast Always was, always will be our stories, listen to inspiring conversations from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander role models and trailblazers from all walks of life who share their stories and experiences. Host Marlee Silva, aims to continue the tradition of Indigenous storytelling to bring hope to people for the future.
Hosted by Nakkiah and Miranda, the podcast Pretty for an Aboriginal does not shy away from tough topics. Nakkiah and Miranda shed light on conversations that Australians often avoid, including race. They challenge perceptions of, and about, First Nations people and encourage open, intellectual conversations about society, politics and culture.
AWAYE! shares stories about the diverse and fascinating world of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island arts and culture around Australia. This podcast also showcases the best radio broadcasters around the world who provide educational, reflective and thought provoking conversations about Indigenous culture globally.
From the podcast series, Ways to Change the World, this episode features Adam Goodes, a former AFL player who was the victim of racism during his AFL career. In this podcast episode, hear Adam Goodes talk about his identity, his experience with racism, and his inspirational fight for First Nations rights in Australia.
Dr Elder Colin Jones is a well-respected cultural and medical educator who runs cultural immersions for doctors. In this podcast, Dr Jones provides insight into racism in Australia under colonisation and sheds light on the terrible mistreatment Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people continue to experience.
Children’s books
6. My Place For Younger Readers by Sally Morgan
Sally Morgan’s book explores her childhood and what it was like growing up in Perth, Western Australia. It tells the story of her realisation about the truth of her culture, her family and her heritage. A great book to teach children about the richness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, and it’s also filled with lots of great illustrations.
7. Finding Our Heart by Thomas Mayor
An educational resource for young Australians that provides understanding about Australia’s past and the need to have a unified future that supports every Australian, regardless of race. Author Thomas Mayor provides a story about the Uluru Statement which outlines the need to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in the nation’s constitution. A serious issue told in a way that children will love and learn from.
8. Respect by Aunty Fay Muir and Sue Lawson
With its exquisite illustrations, Respect follows the life of a young girl as she is introduced to the different elements of her Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history and culture. This story focuses on the importance of family, of respecting all cultures and the need to listen, learn and share.
9. Playground: Listening to Stories from Country and from Inside the Heart by Nadia Wheatley
A fascinating story into the childhoods of First Nations people, both traditional and contemporary, this book draws upon a wide range of memoirs and oral histories to provide children with insights into Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture. Children will learn about a range of personal experiences, encouraging them to embrace the beauty of diversity.
Young Adult Books
10. Becoming Kirrali Lewis by Jane Harrison
Set within the cultural explosive shifts of the 1960s and 1980s, this novel depicts the story of a girl who leaves her home in rural Victoria to study law in Melbourne. Adopted by a white family at birth, she knows little about her culture, but undergoes a life-enhancing journey which helps her to understand her identity as a young First Nations woman in Australia.
Beth Miller died in a car crash, however she still roams the earth. The only person who can still see and hear her is her detective father as she helps him solve a mystery. This novel tackles grief, love, violence and racism in a gripping murder mystery story.
Told through the eyes of Ruby, this novel explores the cultural difference and untold history of First Nations people in Australia. Ruby’s own awakening to her culture is central to the story, which overlaps with historical moments within our nation such as the 1967 Aboriginal Citizenship Referendum and the buy-back of pastoral leases.
13. Sister Heart by Sally Morgan
This story follows a young girl who is taken from the north of the country and sent to the distant south. Highlighting the horrendous injustice and experiences of the Stolen Generations, the book teaches us about one of the world’s most confronting periods of history and the impact that it has had on First Nations people.
14. Njunjul the Sun by Meme Mcdonald
When a 16-year-old Aboriginal Australian boy leaves home to go to the big city, he goes on a journey of self-discovery about his identity to learn more about his people, culture and identity.
Documentaries
15. Kanyini
In this compelling documentary, Bob Randall, a First Nations man who was a member of the Stolen Generations, shares his life story to bring awareness to this horrific period in the history of our nation. Now living beside Uluru, Bob takes the audience on a spiritual journey, explaining the many challenges faced by his people, and how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people can move forward.
16. The Australian Dream
Delve into the inspiration and remarkable journey of former AFL player Adam Goodes on his fight to end racism towards First Nations people in Australia. Once a victim of a racist attack at an AFL game, Adam Goodes has used his platform for good. This bold documentary explores race, identity and belonging in Australia.
17. After the Apology
Following the historic Sorry speech by Kevin Rudd in 2008, this documentary follows the story of four grandmothers as they challenge government policies to bring their grandchildren home. With the rates of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in out of home care increasing, this documentary challenges modern day racism and government regulations that impact our First Nations children and communities.
18. Utopia
A region known as Utopia in Northern Territory is the poorest place in the country. This documentary by award-winning journalise John Pilger examines the injustices experienced by First Nations people, including the disproportionately high rates of deaths in police custody.
19. In My Blood It Runs
Told from the perspective of a 10-year-old boy, this award-winning documentary depicts the struggle to balance his traditional Arrernte/Garrwa upbringing with a state education. A powerful treatment of the injustices faced in our modern day education system and the lack of opportunity for First Nations children, this documentary is an eye-opening experience for all.
Films
Samson and Delilah is a “survival love story” of two 14-years-olds who escape their remote community and travel to Alice Springs. This film, winner of a Cannes Film Award, provides a glimpse of bleak urban and rural life for First Nations people living on the margins, a view not often portrayed in mainstream popular culture.
Rabbit Proof Fence is a film adaptation of Doris Pilkington’s novel, about her mother Molly’s experience as a young girl. A compelling story, the film follows sisters Molly and Daisy, and their cousin Gracie, who are taken from their homes and are forced into a re-education camp. They escape the camp and follow the State Barrier Fence of Western Australia (often referred to as the rabbit proof fence) on a 2,400 kilometre journey back home.
Set in the late 1920’s in the Northern Territory outback, a First Nations stockman kills a white station owner in self-defence and is forced to go on the run with his wife. The powerful storytelling is hard-hitting and reveals the significant injustices faced by Aboriginand Torres Strait Islander people in the beginning of the twentieth century.
A classic Australian film which follows the story of Charlie, a First Nations man who feels increasingly lost between two cultures. As the government increases its hold over his community’s traditional way of life, Charlie heads into the wild to live life on his own terms.
Loosely based on a true story, The Sapphires depicts the journey of four Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, who are discovered by a talent scout and form a singing group. They travel to Vietnam in 1968 to sing for the troops deployed to fight in the war. The film explores the struggles faced by a First Nations family, torn apart during the Stolen Generations, and reunited by a love of music.
Non-fiction books
25. The Tall Man by Chloe Hooper
The Tall Man is the story of a First Nations man who swore at police and then 40 minutes later lay dead in his cell. Located in Palm Island, Hooper explores the injustice between cultures in Australia, especially in regard to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander deaths in custody.
26. Because A White Man’ll Never Do It by Kevin Gilbert
In an expose of the past and present, Gilbert draws the reader’s attention to key themes in the Australian government’s approach to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. From land theft, oppression and denial of human rights, to paternalism and ridicule, this is the First Nations experience of colonisation. Gilbert leaves us with a provocative vision for reconciliation.
27. Orphaned By The Colour Of My Skin: A Stolen Generation Story by Mary Terszak
Terszak provides an in-depth and authentic autobiographical account of her experience of being part of the Stolen Generations. The compelling voice of a grandmother reflecting on her life experiences, perceptions and personal stories is a unique psychological breakdown of an individual’s experience of racism in Australia.
28. Growing Up Aboriginal In Australia by Anita Heiss
This award-winning book provides a compilation of diverse voices to answer one question, “what is it like to grow up Aboriginal in Australia?” Hear from 52 Australians of very different backgrounds. The full breadth of society is represented in this collection of essays, which chronicles the experiences of young and old, rural and urban, rich and poor.
29. Dark Emu by Bruce Pascoe
Dark Emu reconsiders the “hunter-gatherer” approach to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture in pre-colonial Australia. Pascoe examines evidence of agriculture, engineering and building construction, highlighting the need to critically review the colonial accounts of First Nations life before settlement.
Learn more about racism in Australia, and take action to build a better world
We all need to do our part to build a better, more inclusive world. The first step is to arm ourselves with knowledge, and educate ourselves to become active anti-racists.
To be an anti-racist doesn’t necessarily mean taking to the streets in protest. It certainly does mean actively seeking the truth, reviewing what we think we know, and listening to the lived experiences of the people who have suffered or struggled against racism in Australia.
