Making the most of fundraising events
In week 6 making the most of events, which attract large amounts of people was highlighted in Enthuse’s Charity Pulse Report 2025 as key to current and future fundraising
This week we wanted to take a look at JustGiving’s Event Fundraising Report 2025, which gives fantastic information on how to fundraise from events. Just Giving is a platform for online giving to help people to raise money for the charities and people they care about the most.
Here’s our summary and findings from the report. To download the full report please click here JustGiving Event Fundraising report 2025
There has been a rise in people taking part and donating to charities through sports events. This includes cycling, swimming, walking and treks, with running being the most popular in terms of people taking part and for donations. For those not of the running persuasion walking comes is the second most popular!
See pages 5-7 of the report
Running has grown since COVID and participation in marathons are taking in the most donations. Charities do face difficulties in securing places in the larger events, such as the London Marathon due to competition for places, however there are a number of other less well known events that maybe worth taking a look at. Organisations like Run for Charity can help your charity to identify and access places at these events.
Half marathons are currently the most popular events amongst supporters.
See page 8 of the report
Virtual fundraising events are worth considering for now and the future. These can include anything conducted online from individual running/walking challenges to online auctions.
See page 10 of the report
Charities are starting to see an increase in online social fundraising challenges, where supporters reach out to their own online networks to promote your events/challenges.
See pages 14-15 of the report
Mass participation event insights show that older supporters raise more donations when taking part in sporting events, however there are also a growing number of younger people taking part in these events. There has also been a growth in women and young people taking part in 5 – 10K runs. By keeping in touch with these trends it can help grow your supporter base and if kept engaged with your cause, donations grow with age. We think it may be worth looking out for local sporting events that supporters can take part in, for example the Big Half.
See page 18, 20 and 21 of the report
Our three featured funders of the week are
Mrs Maud Van Norden Charitable Foundation
Provides small grants to UK registered charities in the following areas:
- Armed services and ex-services, particularly the wounded and suffering
- Care and homeless in the community
- Medical research
- The disabled
- Youth welfare and education
Please visit the website for more information
Swire Charitable Trust
Provides grants to UK registered charities under the programme areas of
- Improving life chances
- Supporting the UK’s biodiversity
- Connecting people to nature
- Regeneration through restoration
- Supporting and developing heritage skills
Please visit the website for more information
London Catalyst
Provides grants to UK registered charities to address factors that influence health outcomes including
- Poverty
- Housing
- Education and employment
- Discrimination and isolation.
Please visit the website for more information
Whilst we make every effort to ensure the information is correct, we advise you to check details on funders websites yourself
Have you used events to fundraise and are you happy to share your experience? Are you planning to make more use of events to fundraise? Please let us know what you think and if you have any comments about this post by completing the short survey below
If you missed last week’s Fundraising News please click here to view