Fall fundraising ideas seem to always be on the mind of development professionals, regardless of the season. It’s the time of year when nonprofits ramp up their fundraising efforts ahead of the end of year rush, and often the first season in the new fiscal year, meaning the fundraising team is extra enthusiastic about starting the year off new goals.

So, how do you get creative with fall fundraising ideas? Get your supporters and staff involved in peer-to-peer (P2P) fundraising for your nonprofit! P2P fundraising means you’re asking individuals — volunteers, board members, staff, donors, whoever! — to reach out to their networks to help raise funds for your organization. Here are five ways to incorporate peer-to-peer fundraising into your fall fundraising ideas:

Take Advantage of the Back to School Spirit

One classic sign of fall is the signal that it’s back to school for students across the world. As schools seek more opportunities to get students engaged in the community, many schools try to incorporate volunteerism into their curriculum. But, if your nonprofit is small or has limited volunteer opportunities, this may leave you excluded from receiving their support.

However, there’s a ripe opportunity here to get creative and encourage P2P fundraising among classes or schools in your region. Ask them to compete to raise the most funds in a team fundraiser, with a leaderboard to showcase who has the most “philanthropic spirit.” Also, remind school administrators that P2P fundraising is more cost-effective for them, and still teaches students the same great tenants about civic duty. Make it fun by hosting social media contests:  Consider non-tangible prizes, like a field trip to your animal shelter or a visit from your executive director, as prizes for the winning fundraisers.

Don’t Forget Fall Food Festivals

Nothing rings in the fall season quite like the smell of fresh-baked apple pie and pumpkin bread. There is no shortage of bake sales and cook-offs to help you get creative with your fall fundraising ideas.

Have you considered a virtual bake sale? Or, encourage your favorite chefs to have a “fall soup” competition, with donors voting by donating to their favorite soup fundraiser on a team leaderboard. Chefs can help by spreading the word about your nonprofit and encouraging their friends to vote with their funds on their fundraiser page.

Make Fall Holidays More Meaningful

Labor Day, Columbus Day, Halloween, Veteran’s Day and Thanksgiving all occur back-to-back in the fall months. What holidays would be the most meaningful for your organization to incorporate into fundraising appeals? If you’re a veteran’s organization, consider encouraging your top supporters or board members to create P2P fundraisers to help raise funds for your important work.

Don’t be afraid to get creative with your fall fundraising ideas! For Halloween, consider a virtual haunted house – encourage P2P fundraisers to design their dream “haunted house” and get donors to vote by donating to their favorite fundraiser. Then, let the winner turn your warehouse or office into a haunted house. “Charge” admission by asking haunted house visitors to make a donation to your team’s general fund when they arrive for the haunted house.

Consider the Importance of Tailoring Fall Messaging

Your organization likely has changing needs in the fall as the weather gets colder. You may need a new heating system at the animal shelter. Or, you may need warmer coats or blankets for clients at your homeless shelter.  Whatever your needs are, P2P fundraising can amplify your messaging.

Let your individual fundraisers know about time-specific needs. Ask them to fundraise using a personal story, like a family that needs coats. Most people donate because they feel an emotional tie. So, encourage supporters to personalize stories as much as possible.

Ask Supporters to Host Gatherings

“Small groups.” “Small gatherings.” “Harvest dinners.” Whatever you call them, your organization has likely considered these before to bring together groups of supporters in an intimate setting to raise funds for your nonprofit.

These small gatherings can be very effective. And, fall is the perfect time to consider this creative fall fundraising idea! Now that school is back, dinner parties are a great way to break up the monotony of a routine schedule. Make sure to capitalize on this opportunity by encouraging your party hosts to set up a fundraiser for attendees to give. Plus, it’ll help you track how much support this ambassador was able to raise for your organization.

Join #GivingTuesday on Mightycause.

One creative way to boost your P2P fundraising success is to join #GivingTuesday on Mightycause. Whether this is your first year participating or you’re a seasoned #GivingTuesday fundraiser, asking your network of supporters to start a fundraiser for you for the giving event is a great way to boost your chances of success.

On #GivingTuesday, activate your supporters who’ve created a fundraiser you with helpful tips and encouraging emails to let them know how close you are to hitting your goal. Promote the fundraisers on social media and via email and work with the organizer to ensure they stay on track and keep donors engaged to make it your most successful #GivingTuesday ever!

Next Steps

Still not sure about your fall fundraising ideas? Contact us at support@mightycause.com and talk to a crowdfunding specialist to help you strategize for your fall fundraiser today.