Virtual Fundraising for Reach

Virtual fundraising is a way to raise funds for Reach whilst the current lockdown measures are in place in the UK and Ireland. The ways in which we connect with friends, family, colleagues, and loved ones has completely changed and this has changed the way we fundraise too.

We’ve loved seeing all the inventive ways our supporters and members have taken on challenges, shared their skills, have kept connected and continued to raise for Reach!

If you are looking for ways to raise money during the lockdown, or if your event has been cancelled or postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak, here are some fun ways to fundraise, in a socially distanced way of course!

Download our Fundraising FAQs and A-Z of Fundraising guides to help you.

Here’s some ideas to get you going!

Virtual party

If your party plans have been scuppered during lockdown, don’t be down hearted you can still celebrate and raise funds for Reach. Choose an idea from the list below (or create your own!) and ask people to donate the cost of a drink or a present (if it’s your birthday) to join you the party.

Virtual party ideas

• Host a quiz
• Have a disco
• Meet for cocktail hour – everyone make their favourite cocktail and meet to enjoy them together
• Black tie party – get dressed up and meet online!
• Dinner party – log in and eat together
• Guess the baby picture
• Film night – use Netflix party to watch a film at the same time

How to host a virtual birthday party

• Choose a party idea and choose a time and date
• Set up your Givey fundraising page and update with the details of your party. Share the link with friends, family and colleagues and ask them to donate the cost of drink, plate of food or present
• Celebrate your birthday!

Check out these tips on how to make your fundraising page stand out.

Here’s JustGiving’s guide on how to set up Zoom or Houseparty 

Game and raise funds!

Charity gaming events are a great way for you to have fun and raise some money for a good cause at the same time.

Check out this amazing guide  to find out everything you need to know, from setting up a Twitch account to how you link your fundraising page to promoting on your social media platforms!

What is gaming for social good?

This usually involves the individual broadcasting their gameplay live through a streaming platform such as Twitch or Mixer. This behaviour is already ingrained in the gaming community, as supporters are used to donating to streams they follow to make sure they can keep broadcasting.

A livestream is where media is being broadcasted in real-time. Most Vloggers and Gamers use livestreaming as a way of getting closer and more interactive with their supporters. Livestreaming platforms are sites specifically designed to facilitate live broadcasting. Sites such as Twitch, YouTube Gaming and Mixer have received acclaim for being easy to use and provide open methods of communication for users to be able to live-chat to their supporters at the same time.

Donate your commute for a week!

Donate the money you would otherwise spend on your commute to work to Reach. You can do this for a week, a month – or even until lockdown restrictions are lifted. Why not encourage your friends, family or colleagues to do the same, and set up a team!

• Set up your fundraising page, you could use Givey or Just Giving.
•  Here’s how to set up a team through Just Giving if you are doing it with your colleagues.
• Donate the money you would have spent on your commute for a week, a month, or even until lockdown is over. You can do this as a daily transaction, or in one go.
• Share your Givey fundraising page with family, friends and colleagues via email, group chats, and social media and ask them to donate their commute too!

Challenge yourself to a target distance in a month

If you walk, jog or cycle, or if your challenge has been postponed or cancelled, or you just want your daily exercise to mean more, you could take the challenge of setting yourself a target distance for the month.

• • Choose your challenge
  • Set up your Givey fundraising page here. Share your link with family, friends and colleagues via email, group chats, and social media and ask them to sponsor you.
  • Take on your challenge! Share it on social media, make sure you tag us so we can celebrate with you!

Check out these tips on how to make your fundraising page stand out.

Got Strava? You can Link your account to your JustGiving fundraising page and update your sponsors on how you’re doing.

The list goes on …

Virtual film night, host a cocktail party, virtual Pub Quiz, a bake off party, virtual book club

Whatever you decide, check out our guide to hosting an event online below to make your fundraising event a success!

Most of all have fun!