Make your next celebration extra meaningful by fundraising with your friends, family, or community, for a cause you love.

Step One

Figure out what you want to fundraise for! 

The Yellowknife Community Foundation mostly has endowment funds. When you give to an endowment fund, your donation is invested, and the earnings are used to support charities and community projects every year. An endowment fund is a good choice if you want your gift to create long-term, ongoing support for your community.

If you give directly to another Northwest Territories charity or non profit organization, your donation is often used right away to meet their immediate needs. Both are great options!

Step Two

Decide on an event. 

Fundraising is not just about raising money! It’s also a great way to bring people together, build community spirit, and make a positive impact.

Below are some ideas that are fun, inclusive, and easy to adapt to your interests, skills, and resources. All proceeds from your event can be donated to your organization or cause of choice. We encourage you to get others involved too!

  • Host a Bake Sale: Sell homemade treats at a school, workplace, or community event.
  • Organize a Garage Sale: Collect unwanted items from friends and neighbors to sell.
  • Plan a Car Wash: Gather a group to offer car washes for donations.
  • Host a Community BBQ or Potluck: Charge a small fee or suggest donations.
  • Coordinate a Charity Walk or Run: Encourage participants to collect pledges.
  • Set Up a Birthday Fundraiser: Ask for donations instead of gifts for your birthday.
  • Run a Trivia Night: Host a quiz night at a local venue and charge an entry fee.
  • Host a Talent Show or Open Mic Night: Showcase local talent and collect donations at the door.
  • Coordinate a Recycling Drive: Collect bottles, cans, or electronics to exchange for cash.
  • Plan a Movie Night: Show a popular film at a local venue and ask for donations as admission.
  • Run a Fitness Class: Have a local trainer or instructor (or you) host a class for charity.
  • Sell Tickets to a DIY Workshop: Teach a skill like cooking, knitting, or painting for a fee.
  • Host a Game Tournament: Organize a video game, board game, or sports tournament with an entry fee.

Step Three

Do it!

This checklist is designed to guide you through planning and running a successful fundraiser for your chosen cause. It covers everything from choosing your idea and setting a goal to promoting your event and thanking supporters afterward. Whether you’re organizing something small or large, this step-by-step guide will help you stay organized, engage your community, and make a positive impact.

Ellie Rivera held a Halloween party in 2024 and raised over $1,000 for the Yellowknife Community Fund!

We’d love to celebrate your efforts and highlight your amazing fundraising event! After your event wraps up, send us photos, a brief description of what you organized, and any memorable moments you’d like to share. We’d be thrilled to showcase your story on our website or social media to inspire others and show the impact of your contribution.

Additional Resources

We’ve provided some Canva templates for fundraising event ideas. (You need to have access to a Canva account to be able to edit these!)