COVID can’t stop you from hosting the best fundraising event of the year. We have 13 awesome fundraising ideas during COVID that will help you make the most out of your fundraising event!

Guests and venue fundraising ideas during COVID:

1. An unforgettable Peerspace venue

It won’t take much convincing for donors to come to your event if you have a fantastic venue booked! Peerspace offers an array of event venues that would be perfect for socially-distanced, COVID-conscious fundraisers. Check out all of these event venues near you, featuring spacious neighborhood galleries, airy hidden rooftops, and more! Peerspace makes booking a space as easy as the click of a button so you can focus on organizing all your other fundraising ideas.

2. An exclusive affair

Instead of your event feeling “limited” on the number of guests, spin it in a different light — it’s exclusive! Create an invite-only black-tie event, open only to your organization’s most valuable supporters. Or make the entrance to the event a fundraiser in its own right by having guests pay for a seat or table at your exclusive event. To entice people in, you’ll want to make sure to advertise how gorgeous the Peerspace venue is and all the accolades of the amazing chef catering your party!

3. Virtual options

If it’s important not to exclude anyone from your fundraiser, having virtual attendance options available to guests is also essential. You’ll want to make sure the space you rent has a tremendous A/V system for your virtual guests, which is something Peerspace’s Concierge service can help you with. Consider including activities during your fundraising event that virtual participants can be involved with, too, so they feel genuinely connected to the party.

4. Encourage supporting, not just attending

The goal of your fundraiser isn’t to have the most attendees. It’s to raise the most money you can for a great cause! Please don’t get too focused on attendance numbers but instead remind supporters that during COVID, you need their support more than ever. When you send out invitations, make sure to list an option that says something along the lines of, “I may be unable to attend, but I can offer support. I have included a donation of _____.”

5. A unique theme

Every great party comes with a great theme. There are so many options for themes, whether you want to have your party revolve around an upcoming holiday, a past decade, the current season, or a foreign land. Make your party stand out by incorporating a truly unique theme. Here are some of our ideas: pop art, luxury cars, denim and diamonds, or farm to table!

6. A socially-distanced auction

If one of your fundraising ideas during COVID is a silent auction, make sure you book a Peerspace venue with enough room to socially distance all the auction items and their bidders! Another option would be to host a live auction, with bidders seated around tables six feet apart from one another. This shouldn’t be too difficult, especially if everyone is seated for dinner. After, you can jump right into the auction!

Fundraising ideas during COVID: hired hands

7. A stellar guest speaker

Having a keynote speaker at your auction can really draw in the crowd, and if you make sure everyone is spaced appropriately, this could be a fun COVID-safe option! Forbes has a great article to walk you through the steps of finding and booking a guest speaker to match your needs and organizational goals.

8. Capture the moments

Hiring a photographer is not only a great way to get pictures of your guests having fun — but it will also be hugely helpful when you promote your next fundraiser! Showing off all the fun activities, happy (masked) faces, and great decor of your party will have people itching to attend the event next year, even if they missed out this go-round. If you are looking for photographers in your area, Peerspace has articles on the best event photographers in cities across the country, like Kansas City, Honolulu, and Chicago.

9. COVID-conscious catering

When it comes to catering, steer clear of buffet set-ups where everyone is touching the same serving utensils and standing closely together in a line. Instead, consider hiring a caterer with wait staff to bring guests their food. Peerspace Concierge can help pair you with a caterer in your area that matches your budget, style, and taste!

Fundraising ideas during COVID activities

10. Move around!

If you are looking for fundraising ideas during COVID that go beyond a typical fundraising dinner event, consider hosting a virtual 5k run/walk! This is a great way to involve the whole community in your fundraising efforts. Don’t forget to let racers know that the proceeds from the race will be fundraising money for your cause and include a T-shirt with your logo to increase brand awareness. 

11. Get competitive!

Host a trivia game during your fundraising event and include trivia questions about your organization. You can ask questions like what year were you founded, who is the current CEO, and what’s your mission statement. This can be a creative way to increase knowledge about your cause and what you do while keeping all your guests happily entertained!

12. Embrace your inner artist

Let your creative juices flow at the fundraiser! Ask guests to donate a specific amount to join in on a paint and sip party. Every guest should receive paintbrushes, paints, a canvas, and a wine glass. During the event, serve wine to your guests as an artist walks them through the steps of creating a masterpiece. It would be great to have the theme of the painting match your organization’s goals, and you can hang the finished products around the office!

13. Sit back and relax

Fundraising activities don’t have to be jam-packed with fast-paced activities. Invite guests to relax and watch a movie. Ticket sales for a “Movie on the Lawn” event can be a unique and fun way to fundraise for your organization. Consider playing a documentary that speaks the cause of your organization and invite the documentary makers to attend. After the movie, host a roundtable discussion or a Q&A with the documentary makers themselves!

Find unique fundraising event spaces on Peerspace