Volunteer

Third Party Fundraising Ideas

We hope you’re excited to start planning your fundraiser! Below are some ideas to help you get started.

Tried and True

Bake sale: enlist some expert bakers and sell baked goods in your local community.
Bingo night: get unique prizes donated, charge a per-board fee, and let the fun begin.
Car wash: for this classic fundraiser, ask for suggested donations instead of charging a price.
Challenges: challenge another school, business, or team to raise more money. Ask a local radio station to promote your challenge for free on the air. This fundraiser is perfect for clubs that are active across different colleges and universities.
Concession stands: ask a local sports team concession stand give a percentage or dollar amount to NECHV from the season’s sales.
50/50 drawing: the opportunity to win a cash prize makes this a popular fundraiser. Sell raffle tickets, and at the time of the drawing, half of the proceeds go to the winner, and half go to NECHV. This can be built into any event that you hold, and is especially great for sporting events.
Ice cream social: scoop a variety of flavors and toppings for a work, school, or community event.
Pancake breakfast: serve up sweet flapjack stacks at your church, community center, or workplace. Don’t forget the bacon.
Party with a purpose: in lieu of birthday or wedding gifts, ask guests to donate funds or supplies to NECHV.
Percentage of sales: ask a local business, restaurant, or retail location to donate a percentage of sales to NECHV, then promote it to drive traffic.
Silent auction: ask local businesses or craftspeople to donate products or gift certificates for services and let the bidding begin! This is a popular tactic to make an event even more successful.
Spaghetti dinner: host a spaghetti night at your church or community center.
Tee shirt sales: are you hosting a sports event, or another themed event? Design special tee shirts to commemorate it and donate the profits to NECHV.

Workplace Fun

Boss for a day: sell raffle tickets that entitle the winner to be boss for a day, or to an extra vacation day or other perk.
Breakfast with ______ : put together a breakfast with your CEO, local celebrity, or public figure. See if a local restaurant will donate the meal, and sell tickets to benefit the Center.
Brown bag lunch day: have everyone bring their lunch and donate the money they would have spent to eat out to NECHV.
Coin drive: set up coin jars in your office or business and set a goal. Or, have a coin drive competition with paper money counting against teams – sabotage the other jars! Winning team gets a prize.
Parking space auction: who doesn’t want that prime spot at work?
Recycle: collect old cell phones or other devices and ink cartridges that can be recycled for money.

Big and Bold

Block party: an old-fashioned block party on your street or in a parking lot can draw a huge turn-out. Ask a local DJ to donate a few hours, recruit neighbors to BBQ, offer face painting, games, and more to raise money.
Bowling night: team up and register for a bowling tournament. Donate the entry fees to NECHV.
Car smash: got an old car that just won’t go? Smash it! Sell swings of a sledgehammer to “knock out Veteran homelessness!”
Craft fair: solicit makers to create military themed crafts and sell them to benefit NECHV. Makes a great holiday event!
Game night: host a game night at your home or community center with an entry fee.
Golf tournament: play a round of golf for Veterans. Ask NECHV representatives for advice about setting up a tournament.
Happy hour: ask your favorite local bar or restaurant to host a happy hour benefiting NECHV.
Hot dog cookout: have a tailgate party or pregame cookout. Create specialty hot dogs and sell them to benefit NECHV.
Karaoke night: let loose and sing a song that moves you, all while supporting a good cause. Ask for a donation for every song sung.
Movie night: rent a projector and watch a favorite film in your own backyard, school, community center, etc. Sell admission tickets, buttery popcorn, candy, and soda, all to benefit NECHV.
Music event: set up a battle of the bands, DJ scratch contest…whatever you’d like! Encourage people to give to the performer they like best, then collect the funds for NECHV.
Sports tournament: host a dodge ball game or basketball game with ticket sales benefiting NECHV. Encourage teams to dress up in themed attire to add to the festive atmosphere.