Soapbox Engage Blog

Spring is a time of newness, rebirth, and hope. People often feel more energized and full of life as we come out of the dark, dull, cold winter months and into warmer, brighter spring days. And you can take advantage of this as fundraisers!

Even though end-of-year fundraising tends to be the most profitable overall, spring brings some key events that nonprofits can leverage in your fundraising efforts, too. Plus, people have cabin-fever and are itching to get out and about.

Holidays like Easter, Purim, Passover, Mother's Day, and Nowruz can elicit a season of generosity. People who practice Lent often incorporate acts of service, generosity, and charity. Those who get big tax returns might have a wad of cash burning a hole in their pockets.

With these things in mind, we rounded up some fun and effective fundraising ideas that any nonprofit can incorporate into their spring fundraising plans.

Table of Contents

1. Lent Impact spring fundraiser
2. Leverage International Women's Day for your fundraising this spring
3. St. Patrick's Day spring fundraising
4. Spring clean for a good cause
5. Hatch some great funds with an Easter egg fundraiser
6. March Madness fundraising ideas

Lent Impact spring fundraiser

Lent usually begins at the end of February or the beginning of March. Many faith traditions encourage people to abstain from things during this 40 day season and emphasize charity and generosity.

Many people give up things like sodas, sweets, or other treats during this season. If you know a large portion of your support base practices Lent, challenge them to make an impact by not just abstaining but giving that money to a powerful cause. Instead of just skipping Starbucks, create ways for people to give that money they would have spent to a specific need or program. Those $4 lattes add up fast for your nonprofit!

This kind of fundraiser tends to work best when used for a specific project or program. Instead of inviting people to just give their Starbucks money to your nonprofit, it's far easier for donors to envision giving up lattes for 40 days to build one well in Africa or provide school supplies for a specific classroom. Use the set period of time to accomplish a set goal.

In addition to your 40-day challenge, consider adding a fish-fry fundraiser or some other dinner party to raise a little extra cash for your cause.

Leverage International Women's Day for your fundraising this spring

March 8 is International Women's Day. Even if your nonprofit isn't female-focused or doesn't directly work in women's issues, it's possible to tactfully leverage this day for successful fundraising. Invite your donors to honor the women in their lives by giving in their honor.

Host a dinner to celebrate and honor the women in your community and nonprofit. Invite your donors to participate and celebrate the strong women in their own lives.

Offer opportunities for donors to share photos, stories, and memories of strong women they love on your social media pages (for a small donation, of course).

Host an educational event and bring in an author, speaker, or educator to share a topic related to women's rights, gender equality, or influential women in history (extra points if the speaker is a woman). Many people are eager to attend high-value educational events for a small fee, especially when they know they're supporting a good cause.

St. Patrick's Day spring fundraising ideas

Most people think of Guinness, stew, fun, and parties when they think of St. Patrick's Day. But this holiday can actually present a powerful and fun fundraising opportunity. Leverage the "luck of the Irish" for your charity this year!

Is your donor base more into fun and fitness? Host a "Leprechaun Dash" fundraising run as a charity event! This can be a very effective in-person or virtual fundraising opportunity.

The Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) hosts an annual St. Patrick's Day fundraiser selling shamrocks. They also turned it into a major social media campaign to raise awareness about muscular dystrophy. In 2017, more than 19,000 people used their Facebook frame, and they gained nearly 2 million social media impressions and sold over 15 million shamrocks.

You might not be able to sell shamrocks just like the MDA. Still, your nonprofit could partner with a local coffee shop to fill the Leprechaun's pot-o-gold or ask people to donate to paint the rainbow. Get creative, and don't be afraid to have some fun!

Spring clean for a good cause

Many people get inspired to spruce up their homes and tackle some things on that "honey-do list" when the weather gets nicer. Nonprofits can take advantage of this spring cleaning craze and do some great fundraising!

Many people do a bit of closet cleaning as they put away their winter wardrobe and get out their spring clothing. Others might have bags of toys and other items they're just dying to get out of their homes. They may be happy to donate their gently used items to your charity yard sale.

If yard sales aren't your jam, many people are happy to make a donation to your nonprofit in exchange for some help tackling their spring cleaning list! Round up some volunteers for a day of yard work, housework, and other spring cleaning tasks for a great cause. And the Soapbox Engage Forms app can really streamline this fundraiser by helping you sign up both volunteers and gathering people's "to-do" items!

Hatch some great funds with an Easter egg fundraiser

Families love to have fun and make memories. What better way to leverage that and raise some money than to host a charity Easter egg hunt! Either charge a fee for participation or suggest a donation from attendees.

If you want to get extra daring, put different donation amounts inside the eggs. Kids love hunting for candy, and parents get to donate the total amount at the end. Just make sure the numbers can't get too outrageous… that might deter people from participating in the future.

If Easter egg hunts aren't up your alley, host an egg decorating party and invite the Easter Bunny to come for a photoshoot! For a virtual fundraising option, consider having a virtual egg decorating tutorial. Participants can pay in advance to receive the kit and log in from the comfort of their homes to learn how to dye and decorate the perfect Easter egg.

March Madness fundraising ideas

The NCAA March Madness basketball tournament takes center stage every spring. Even if you don't follow basketball, most people are eager to get in on the excitement by filling out a bracket. Many people are happy to pay a little money to a great cause to enter a bracket pool, especially if there's a sweet prize for the person with the most accurate bracket.

Beware of the sports gambling, lottery, and raffle laws in your state for this fundraising idea. One safe alternative is to run this fundraiser as a raffle where winners receive non-cash prizes.

Maybe bracket-busting isn't your thing. You can still get in on the March Madness fundraising by hosting a watch party for a popular game. People love cheering on their favorite team with fellow fans! Consider partnering with a local bar or restaurant and negotiate an agreement like a percentage of the tips or the money from a specific drink go to your charity.

We hope we've proven that spring can be a fun and exciting time for fundraising. There are loads of great events, holidays, and opportunities to leverage for your charity. And we've just scratched the surface! You're only limited by your imagination and creativity to create some amazing fundraising ideas. With the right ideas and the suite of Soapbox Engage apps, the sky's the limit!

Here are three resources to help take your spring fundraising efforts to the next level.

• 9 Must-Have Features for your Nonprofit's Online Donation Page: No matter what time of year it is, every nonprofit needs a powerful online donation page because online giving continues to grow in popularity. This blog will walk you through a quick "donation page check-up" to ensure you've got all the essential features.
• 8 Tips for Hosting a Virtual Fundraising Event: Outdoor fundraising events in the spring can be risky with unpredictable weather patterns. Create a backup plan to turn your events into virtual fundraising opportunities. This blog includes eight great tips to help you host an effective and fun virtual fundraising event.
• 5 Workplace Fundraising Ideas That Energize Teams to Give: Spring is often a time when employers are working to keep their employees engaged (the sunshine is calling, and people are starting to look forward to summer vacations). Many companies are also more interested in embracing the value of corporate social good. Leverage this dynamic to help employers host successful workplace fundraising campaigns.