In the current climate, where everyone is struggling and yet charities are still crying out for support, getting creative may be the only way that others are willing to give you a bit of sponsorship money. Unusual fundraising ideas can also be the difference between a forgettable fundraiser and one that captures hearts as well as their wallets.
By tapping into the stories people enjoy—whether from books, films, or television—fundraisers can create memorable experiences that inspire generosity. For charities like Macmillan Cancer Support, which continue to provide physical, emotional, and financial support to so many of those affected by cancer and their families, they still deserve our fundraising efforts, even during a time when several people are financially floundering in some way.
Different Fundraising Ideas
Image provided by Unsplash (Matias North)
Reading Marathons with a Twist
Instead of traditional readathons, consider page-count challenges, where you could gain sponsorship based on the number of pages read within a specific time frame.
You could create reading teams named after famous literary groups like The Fellowship of the Ring, The Marauders or The Bloomsbury Group and then get participants to track their progress on social media, sharing favourite quotes and reflections while tagging the charity that they are raising money for.
Book-to-Trail Expeditions
Book fans could select a popular adventure novel and design a hiking route that mirrors the journey of the protagonist. For example, if you are a Lord of the Rings fan you could create a “Hobbit’s Journey” hike featuring checkpoints named after locations from Tolkien’s world. At each stop there could be related activities linking to the stories where those participating could collect stamps to help gather sponsorship based on milestones completed.
Fantasy World Fitness Quests
Create themed outdoor fitness challenges inspired by epic quests. A Journey to Mordor challenge could track participants’ walking or running distances on a virtual map of Middle-earth, with donation milestones unlocking new territories. As participants progress, they receive digital badges and story segments, keeping engagement high throughout the campaign.
Image provided by Unsplash (Teslariu Mihai)
Film Location Scavenger Hunts
Design scavenger hunts themed on famous movies or shows either in the locations where they were filmed or create hunts that reflect fictional settings.
Participants could then solve clues which lead to those locations while collecting sponsorship along the way. For areas where film or literature locations are lacking, you could create something based on a different theme or genre, such as a Mystery Movie Manhunt or something Sherlock Holmes inspired for example.
Binge-Watch Fundraisers
You might consider hosting a sponsored binge-watching event where participants can collect donations based on the number of episodes they watch.
You could add challenges like themed costumes, trivia quizzes between teams, or a commercial break workout. You could then post updates on social media adding hashtags relating to the shows used to gain momentum and potentially more sponsorship.
Reality Show Competitions
Developing fundraising versions of reality shows are currently quite popular. For example, a Great British Bake Off-style competition could feature amateur bakers creating themed desserts, with friends and family members being able to donate to taste and vote. Similarly, you could do a Survivor: Office Edition type of challenge where workplace teams compete in weekend outdoor challenges while raising funds.
Character Costume Challenges
Maybe you could complete a character costume challenge where people dress up as different characters from the same book or series for a day. This idea would work particularly well if you worked in a library, bookshop or publishing. People could pay to dress up or could ask for sponsorship to complete silly challenges relating to the theme throughout the day.
Image provided by Unsplash (Ali Elliott)
Book-Themed Orienteering
If you enjoy the outdoors, consider designing an orienteering course with checkpoints featuring riddles or challenges based on a specific set of books or genres.
Those taking part could then work their way around the course, solving puzzles and activities, collecting more sponsorship for each checkpoint they pass.
Author-Inspired Athletics Challenges
You could create sporting events inspired by famous authors. For example, a day dedicated to Jane Austen could include regency-type games from the period, perhaps adding in a modern athletic twist.
However you decide to raise money, ultimately we need to remember that it will be for a worthy cause. By weaving beloved stories and literature-themed activities into fundraising efforts though, you can potentially create more memorable fundraising days.
Ultimately, these story-inspired initiatives don’t just raise money—they create communities united by shared imagination and compassion.
Have you taken part in any unique fundraising events recently? If so, I would love to hear more about them.
Did you enjoy this article? Then PIN it for later…
