FUNdraising Ideas
Whether you’re fundraising with friends, family or colleagues – there are plenty of great ideas to choose from that will suit you.
Below is an A–Z selection of ideas to inspire you. Alternatively, why not come up with an archaeological or historical theme to suite your interests? If you think of a new and exciting idea, please tell us about it.
And remember, whatever you choose to do there are lots of different ways to raise funds from your event – including entry donations, sponsorship, raffles, auctions and competitions on the day.
Just use your imagination and have lots of fun.
| Inspiration | Make it archaeological |
|---|---|
| Arts and crafts sale | Include demonstrations of traditional crafts |
| Back to the Shop Floor | Get those unit directors digging again |
| Barn dance | Keep it traditional |
| Battle of the bands | |
| Bonfire party | Get everyone dressed in period 17th century costume |
| Book club | Use books with a historic theme |
| Book sale | Use books with an historic link – start with Kate Moss’s Labyrinth or the Horrible Histories. Sell fiction, non-fiction and text books with an historical theme |
| Bowling tournament | Go for a Tudor themed event, dressed as Francis Drake |
| Cake sale | Use ancient cake recipes and see what reaction you get |
| Car wash | |
| Ceilidh | Get everyone dressed as a Celt or Roman – if you want to spice things up a bit |
| Cheese and Wine tasting | |
| Chess tournament | Use a Norse style chess set and dress up as Viking |
| Christmas party | |
| Concerts | |
| Dance-a-thon | Use the opportunity to perform some dances from a particular period in history |
| Dress down day | |
| Face painting | |
| Fancy dress competition | Have a Time Team theme |
| Fashion show | Use fashions from different periods of history or prehistory |
| Film nights/festivals | Put on a series of films about archaeology and history: perhaps Gladiator, Spartacus or Ben Hur, or Beowulf and Grendel? You could also ask the British Film Institute for ideas. |
| Garden party | |
| Hiking/walking tour | Try and get access to a historic garden near you or an area rich in archaeology and history conducted by a local expert |
| Hold a dress up day | Pick an historical theme |
| Jumble sale | |
| Late for meeting box | |
| Management jargon box | |
| Murder mystery night | Use an Agatha Christie/Max Mallowan theme |
| Music nights | |
| Netball/ golf tournament | Get everyone in fancy dress it will add to the fun |
| New Year ball | |
| Non-uniform day | Pay £1 not to wear a uniform to work or school |
| Pantomime/play | Choose a Norse saga or make up your own |
| Picnic in the park | Use Mrs Beeton’s original book and lay on a picnic feast |
| Pool or darts match | |
| Pub crawl | Dressed as historic characters or archaeologists and collect as you go |
| Pub quiz night | Themed around archaeology and history |
| Raffles | |
| Recycle mobiles | |
| Rounders competition | |
| Rugby competition | |
| Sponsored abstinence day | Chocolate, cigarettes, caffeine |
| Sponsored class silence/leg wax/skip/slim/walk | |
| Summer BBQ or Fete | |
| Swear box | |
| Swim-athon | |
| Tea dance | |
| Tennis competition | |
| Text book sale | |
| Themed feast | Roman/Anglo-Saxon/Tudor/Victorian |
| Themed party night | 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s … or why not go ancient |
| Toga party | |
| “Treasure” hunt | Dressed as Lara Croft or Indiana Jones |
| Triathalon | |
| Tug of war | |
| Vicars and tarts | |
| Video games competition | |
| Yacht or boat race |
