Best Fundraising Platforms for UK Charities: 2026 Comparison

Fundraising does not always need to involve organising a large event, booking a venue or coordinating dozens of volunteers.

Some of the most practical easy fundraiser ideas can be run online and remain available for supporters to participate in over a longer period. This can be particularly useful for UK charities, schools, community groups, sports clubs and other organisations with limited time or resources.

Instead of relying entirely on one-off events, organisations can create fundraising opportunities that supporters can access when it suits them.

Here are some simple fundraising ideas to consider and how they can complement your wider fundraising activity.

What Makes a Fundraiser Easy to Manage?

An easy fundraiser should reduce unnecessary administration without making the supporter experience more complicated.

That does not mean the campaign requires no work.

Your organisation will still need to create the fundraiser, explain its purpose, promote it and communicate with supporters. The difference is that some fundraising formats can continue accepting participation without requiring your team to organise a physical event every time someone wants to contribute.

When considering fundraising ideas, look at:

• how quickly the campaign can be set up
• how much volunteer or staff time it requires
• whether supporters can participate online
• how easy it is to share
• whether it requires a physical venue
• how payments are handled
• how much ongoing administration is involved

The right option will depend on your organisation and audience.

1. Create an Online Donation Campaign

One of the simplest fundraising approaches is an online donation campaign built around a specific purpose.

Instead of asking supporters to contribute generally, explain what the campaign is trying to achieve and why their support matters.

For example, a community organisation might raise money for new equipment, while a charity could create a campaign around a particular project.

Supporters can access the campaign online and contribute without attending a physical event.

A clear campaign page can also be shared through email, social media, newsletters and other communications.

2. Run a Seasonal Giving Campaign

Fundraising does not always need its own event.

Existing moments throughout the year can provide a natural reason to communicate with supporters.

Christmas, Giving Tuesday, anniversaries and important dates connected with your organisation can all provide opportunities for a focused online campaign.

The advantage is that your organisation can create a fundraising message around something supporters already recognise rather than building an entirely new event.

Keep the campaign focused. Explain why you are fundraising, what supporters can do and when the campaign runs.

3. Encourage Birthday Fundraisers

Supporters can turn personal occasions into fundraising opportunities.

Instead of receiving traditional birthday gifts, someone could ask friends and family to support a charity or cause that matters to them.

This gives existing supporters an opportunity to introduce your organisation to their own networks.

Your organisation can make the process easier by providing campaign information, approved images and suggested messages that supporters can personalise.

4. Try a Simple Fundraising Challenge

Challenges can give supporters something specific to do while raising money.

It could involve walking, running, cycling, reading, giving something up or completing another activity connected with your cause.

Participants can then ask friends and family to support their challenge.

The activity does not necessarily need to happen at a single venue or on one day. A challenge that supporters can complete independently may require less event management than organising a traditional physical fundraiser.

5. Use Peer-to-Peer Fundraising

Peer-to-peer fundraising allows supporters to become fundraisers for your organisation.

Rather than relying only on the charity to reach potential donors, participants share the campaign with their own friends, relatives, colleagues and communities.

This approach can work alongside challenges, birthdays, walks, runs and other activities.

The organisation provides the overall campaign and resources, while individual supporters help extend its reach.

6. Create an Online Auction

If your organisation has access to donated products, services or experiences, an online auction can provide another fundraising option.

Items might include restaurant experiences, holidays, artwork, sports memorabilia, services or products donated by local businesses and supporters.

Instead of requiring everyone to attend a physical event, supporters can browse items and bid online.

Online auctions still require preparation, particularly when sourcing items and arranging fulfilment, but digital bidding can reduce some of the administration associated with paper bid sheets and physical auction tables.

7. Add Fundraising to an Existing Event

You may not need to organise another event at all.

If your organisation already runs an annual dinner, school fair, awards evening, sports day or community gathering, consider whether fundraising can be incorporated into it.

Depending on the event, this might include donations, an auction, ticket sales or another suitable fundraising activity.

Using an existing event means your organisation already has an audience and a reason for people to participate.

8. Run a Prize Draw or Raffle Where Permitted

Raffles and prize draws can provide an engaging way for supporters to participate in fundraising, but UK organisations need to understand the applicable rules before launching one.

The requirements can differ depending on how the raffle or lottery is structured, how tickets are sold and the type of organisation running it.

Do not assume that because a fundraising platform offers raffle functionality, every type of raffle is automatically permitted.

Check the current requirements that apply to your organisation and fundraising activity before proceeding.

9. Ask Local Businesses to Support Your Campaign

Fundraising does not have to depend entirely on individual supporters.

Local businesses may be willing to contribute prizes, sponsor an activity, support a community campaign or help promote your fundraiser.

Think about businesses that already have a connection with your organisation, supporters or local community.

Make the request specific.

Rather than simply asking a business to "support us", explain what you are organising and what type of contribution would be useful.

10. Encourage Team Fundraising

Supporters can also fundraise as teams.

Families, workplaces, school classes, sports teams and community groups can work towards a shared fundraising goal.

This can work particularly well with challenges and peer-to-peer campaigns because participants can encourage one another while promoting the fundraiser to different networks.

It can also reduce the feeling that one person is responsible for generating all the support.

11. Create an Evergreen Giving Campaign

Not every campaign needs a strict start and finish date.

An evergreen campaign can remain available for people who discover your organisation throughout the year.

For example, your organisation might maintain a campaign explaining a particular ongoing need or area of work and give supporters a straightforward way to contribute.

You can continue promoting it through relevant website content, email communications, social media and supporter conversations.

Evergreen does not mean forgotten.

Review the campaign periodically to make sure the information remains accurate and the fundraising message is still relevant.

12. Give Previous Supporters Another Way to Participate

Sometimes the easiest audience to reach is the community you already have.

People who previously attended an event, volunteered, participated in a campaign or supported your organisation may be interested in getting involved again.

That does not mean repeatedly asking the same people for money.

Instead, provide different ways to participate.

Someone who attended a fundraising dinner might prefer an online auction next time. A volunteer might enjoy joining a challenge. A previous participant could become a peer-to-peer fundraiser.

Different fundraising formats give supporters choices.

Combine Online and Event Fundraising

Online fundraising does not have to replace physical events.

The two can work together.

A charity might run an online campaign before an event, use mobile fundraising during the event and continue accepting support afterwards.

Similarly, an auction can open before guests arrive at a fundraising dinner, allowing supporters more time to browse and participate.

This approach can extend the fundraising window without requiring your organisation to organise additional physical events.

Keep the Supporter Experience Simple

The fundraiser may be easy for your organisation to manage, but it also needs to be easy for supporters to understand.

Before launching, test the experience yourself.

Can someone quickly understand what they are supporting?

Is it clear what they need to do?

Does the campaign work properly on a mobile phone?

Are there unnecessary steps?

Can supporters easily share it?

Reducing friction can make a simple fundraising idea much more practical.

Do Not Try Every Fundraising Idea at Once

A long list of easy fundraiser ideas does not mean your organisation needs to use all of them.

Choose fundraising methods that fit your supporters, available resources and overall objectives.

A small charity with limited volunteer capacity might begin with a straightforward online campaign. A school could combine ticketing with an auction at an existing event. A sports club might find a peer-to-peer challenge more appropriate for its community.

Start with what your team can realistically manage.

You can then use what you learn to improve future campaigns.

Build Fundraising That Goes Beyond One-Off Events

Large fundraising events can create excitement and bring supporters together, but they require time and organisation.

Adding simpler online campaigns gives supporters additional opportunities to contribute between major events.

An evergreen donation campaign, online auction, peer-to-peer challenge or seasonal appeal can complement your existing fundraising calendar without requiring another large event every time you want to engage supporters.

The goal is not to remove the human side of fundraising. It is to make participation easier and give supporters more ways to get involved.

Make Your Next Fundraiser Easier With GalaBid

GalaBid helps organisations bring fundraising activities such as auctions, raffles, ticketing and donations together in one place.

Supporters can participate from their own devices without needing to download an app, while real human support is available 24/7. Funds never touch GalaBid, helping organisations maintain a direct payment relationship with their supporters.

Ready to explore your next fundraising idea? Discover GalaBid and see pricing for your region.

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