“Fun-raising” Ideas

United Way campaigns can be a fun, team-building project that brings employees together in addition to doing something good for the community.  The following list of activities can be used to enhance any workplace campaign.  Many are low-cost and can be easily planned and done on any size budget.  Ideas can be mixed and matched to fit in your company’s culture and operation.  But don’t feel like you have to go it alone!  Our United Way staff and volunteers can assist you.  Just call Sarah Moen at Lake Area United Way at (219) 923-2302, extension 306 for additional help.

Baby Picture Contest.  Try your luck matching baby pictures of fellow co-workers.

Bed Races.  A great activity for hospitals or medical clinics.  Each department forms competing teams to push their department head through a designated course.  Participants raise funds by collecting pledges, paying an entry fee, or betting on who they think will win.

Book/DVD/Video Sales.  Have co-workers bring in their unused books, DVDs and videos and sell them to raise money for United Way.

Bowling for Dollars.  Recruit some teams and have a group bowling night, raising money via entry fees or per-pin donations.

Casino Night.  Invite employees and their families to an after-hours event at the company, with food and games for the entire family, all benefitting the United Way.

Casual Dress Days.  Sell United Way casual day stickers allowing employees to dress down on certain days, or use as incentives to encourage non-givers to make a donation.  If you already do casual days, try something different like Stupid Hat Day, Zany Tie Day, Outrageous Socks Day, or Favorite Sports Team Day.

Chair Massage.  Bring in a massage therapist for a day and allow all those who donate at a certain level to sit down to a relaxing chair massage.

Chili Cook-Off Contest.  Employees cook their favorite version and enter it into the contest.  Participants pay to sample all of the entries and to vote on the winning dish.  Give out ribbons or small toy trophies to the top 3 chefs. 

Comedy Hour/Talent Show/American Idol Contest.  Imagine how amazed and surprised your boss, fellow co-workers and you will be seeing how talented Bob in accounting really is when given an opportunity to perform and entertain in front of family and friends!

Company Softball Game.  Maybe it won’t be the Chicago Cross town Classic between the Cubs and White Sox, but a friendly contest might just bring out the team spirit you are looking to create.

Cookbook.  Collect the favorite recipes of your co-workers.  Publish them along with photos of family and friends.  Sell cookbooks to benefit United Way.

Craft Sale.  Give your fellow co-workers a chance to share their hobbies and creative talents.

Diet for United Way.  Hold a contest to see who can lose the most weight over a specified time period.  Each person pays a set amount for every pound lost or gained.

Duck Tape the Boss to the Wall.  We found one more use for this incredible invention.  Sell strips of duck tape for $1 a foot and then have fun taping the boss to a wall all in good fun to raise money for United Way!

Dunk Tank.  It’s amazing how people will pony up for the chance to dunk their boss!  3 balls = $5.

Formal Dress Days.  Tired of casual Fridays?  Dress to the nines instead with prizes for the fanciest dresses and snazziest tuxedos!

Games of Chance.  Put your money on a number and spin the wheel for prizes.  Or have a jar of candy, coins, marbles, or perhaps something made by your company.  Have folks guess the number of pieces in the jar.

Garage Sale.  Have employees clean out their closets and set up a company-wide garage sale to benefit the United Way.

Jail ‘n Bail.  Transform an office into a jail cell and arrest prisoners.  Have them make phone calls to fellow members to “bail” them out.

Karaoke Party.  Participants ask co-workers to support them by pledging a certain amount of money to sing and perform their favorite song.

Kiss a Pig Contest.  Have the office hold an election and vote on their favorite candidate to kiss a pig or frog.  Charge $5 a vote.  This is Lake County so encourage people to vote early and as often as they like!

Miniature Golf.  Set up a mini-golf course in the office, using office chairs or cones as water hazards and sand traps.  Use mouse pads as tee offs and coffee mugs as golf holes.  Enter teams at $5 or $10 a person and hold a fun office golf tournament!

Penny War.  Set out mason jars or milk jugs and have a friendly competition between departments or floors to see who can accumulate the most money.  Each penny counts as 1¢. But there’s a catch!  Silver coins and dollar bills actually count against each team.  This will no doubt result in some good-humored departmental sabotaging.  Treat the winning team to a free pizza party or breakfast with the boss!

Pet Photo Contest.  Employees post a picture of their pets and co-workers pay a small amount to vote for the cutest, ugliest, funniest and the one who looks most like their owner.

Pie in Face Contest.  Everyone who gives is entered into a drawing to see who gets the chance to throw a cream pie in the face of their department head or the top boss.  Have trouble getting more people to give?  This one will have ‘em standing in line!

Raffle.  Have someone donate a prize or raffle off a paid day off.  To enter the raffle, you must turn in a pledge form with a minimum pledge.

Scrabble for United Way.  Have a Scrabble tournament and the number of points you score equals your pledge to United Way.

Scavenger Hunt.  Employees have to find unusual items around the office or well-known landmarks in the community.  You can plant items for employees to discover.  Teams can be formed and pay an entry fee to participate. 

Special Delivery.  Sell flowers or deliver candy.

Spelling Bee.  Hold an old-school spelling bee contest with participants paying an entry fee and observes wagering on the winner.

Tailgate Party.  Hold an office tailgate party at lunch, complete with grilled hot dogs, chips, and a can of pop.  Recruit volunteers to grill and wrap the dogs and work the sales counter.  If your office is big, take advance orders and deliver them right to people’s desks.

Treasure Chest/Let’s Make a Deal.  Contestants pay money for an opportunity to draw the key that will unlock a box full of prizes.  Only one key is the right one.

Tricycle Races.  Set up a relay course in the company parking lots and have contestants race through while being times.  Observers can wage money on their favorites with the proceeds going to benefit United Way.

Trivial Pursuit/Jeopardy Game Show.  Have a game show with contestants and an audience paying to watch or participate.