Community fundraising is the highest-leverage channel for small, volunteer-led Australian charities, trivia nights, fetes, sausage sizzles, and EOFY appeals turn existing relationships into dollars faster than any paid channel.
- Low-overhead formats (sausage sizzles, trivia nights, school fetes, restaurant percentage nights, P2P appeals) lean on volunteer time and local businesses to keep costs near zero.
- DGR-endorsed charities should pair every appeal with the '$2 or more tax-deductible' line and push hard before 30 June, when donors want their gifts locked in before the financial year closes.
- Ticketing and raffle platforms that skim 3 to 5%+ per transaction eat into every $5 ticket and every table booking, run events on a $0-fee platform and keep the difference.
- Raffles in Australia are state-regulated minor gaming, clear your state or territory regulator before selling a single ticket.
- Worth considering if you want to move beyond one-off events and build a recurring calendar anchored to EOFY, spring fetes, and end-of-year giving.
In this article:
What community fundraising looks like in Australia
Community fundraising in Australia runs on trivia nights, sausage sizzles, school fetes, gala dinners with silent auctions, sports-club events, and EOFY appeals. It is the work of bringing neighbours, local businesses, and supporters together to raise money for a local cause, and small, volunteer-led not-for-profits (NFPs) have a structural edge here because relationships and proximity drive the dollars, not reach or paid media.
Two things are worth knowing before you plan your first event.
First, tax-deductibility. Donations of $2 or more to a DGR-endorsed charity are tax-deductible for the donor (ATO, Not-for-profit organisations). Ticket purchases, raffle tickets, and auction items where the buyer receives a benefit are not. Only charities with DGR (Deductible Gift Recipient) endorsement from the ATO can offer tax-deductibility, being registered with the ACNC does not automatically mean you are DGR-endorsed. Donors can verify DGR status via ABN Lookup.
Second, fundraising is regulated state by state, not federally. Before you run a public appeal, check the relevant regulator in your state or territory. The ACNC's state-by-state fundraising guides are a good starting point (ACNC fundraising guidance).
The ideas below are sized for that reality: 75+ relationship-first community fundraisers grouped by format and season, each paired with the free Zeffy tool that runs it for $0. Multiply your fundraisers. Not your fees.
Quick-Win Community Fundraisers (Under $100 to Start)
These are the ideas a solo founder or volunteer parent can execute this weekend. Low setup, high familiarity, and you keep every dollar when you collect with Zeffy.
1. Classic bake sale
Set up a folding table outside a busy local business with baked goods donated by volunteers. Price items at $2 to $5 to keep impulse buys flowing. Run a simple 'round up for the cause' prompt at checkout. You can take card payments at your bake sale straight from a volunteer's phone, so the cash-only crowd doesn't walk away.
2. Community car wash
Partner with a petrol station, church, or school car park. Charge $10 per car and offer a $15 'deluxe' with interior vacuum. Most volunteer teams can wash 40 to 60 cars in a four-hour Saturday.
3. Donation jars at local businesses
Branded jars on counters at the café, newsagent, hardware store, and bakery. Pair each jar with a one-page sign showing exactly what $1, $5, and $20 fund. Rotate jars monthly to keep them visible.
4. Community garage sale
Collect donated items from supporters and run a multi-family garage sale on a single lot. Charge sellers a small table fee or ask for a percentage of proceeds. Easy to repeat seasonally.
5. Penny drive (or spare change collection)
Classroom, office, or congregation competition: whichever group fills their jar highest wins a pizza party. Coin counting is painless at most banks or with a coin counter.
6. Casual clothes day
Schools and workplaces pay $5 to wear casual clothes on a designated Friday. P&Cs and workplace giving coordinators run these constantly, zero overhead, instantly recurring.
7. Local business matching challenge
Ask a single neighbourhood business to match the first $500 to $1,000 raised in a week. The match urgency does the marketing for you.
8. Lemonade stand network
Recruit five to ten kid-led stands across the neighbourhood on the same Saturday. Supply each with cups, a sign, and a QR code that drops donors into your Zeffy donation form.
9. Pop-up flower sale
Buy wholesale stems Friday, bunch them Saturday morning, sell them outside a farmers' market by noon. Margins clear $200 to $400 on a $75 buy.
10. Coffee and donuts morning
Saturday morning at a community centre or park entrance. Donated pastries from a local bakery, $3 coffee, $5 combo. Volunteers chat with neighbours about the cause while pouring.
11. Plant cutting and seedling swap
Ask gardeners in your network to pot cuttings from their houseplants. Sell each for $3 to $8 at a one-afternoon swap. Pairs beautifully with a quick member sign-up table.
12. Book swap with a donation entry
Free book swap, suggested $5 donation at the door. Low pressure, high foot traffic, easy to host at a library or church hall.
13. Birthday-month fundraiser
Invite supporters to ask their friends for $25 donations in lieu of birthday gifts. Provide a one-click setup link so they spend less than three minutes launching their page.
14. Sausage sizzle at Bunnings
The archetypal Australian community fundraiser. Registered community groups can book a weekend sausage-sizzle site at their local Bunnings through each store's community program. Sell a sausage in bread for $3 and a drink for $2. Accept cash and card via tap-to-pay on a volunteer's phone. A well-run Saturday typically takes $800 to $2,000 for your cause.
Food and Dining Fundraisers
Food fundraisers convert because everyone needs dinner anyway. Lean on local restaurants and home cooks to keep your overhead near zero, and sell tickets to your gala or festival for free on Zeffy so the full ticket price lands in your account.
1. Restaurant percentage night
Pick a Tuesday or Wednesday (slow nights restaurants want to fill) and partner with a local spot that donates 15 to 25% of the evening's sales. Promote it to your list and ask supporters to bring three friends. Most restaurants ask for a four-week lead time and a one-page printed flyer at the door.
2. Community potluck dinner
Charge $15 to $25 per family for a shared meal where every household brings a dish. Adds cultural depth when neighbours share recipes and stories tied to each plate. Sell recipe books at the end for an extra revenue stream.
3. Food truck rally
Invite four to eight food trucks to a car park for a Saturday afternoon. Charge trucks a flat $100 to $200 booth fee. Add a licensed bar if your state or territory allows.
4. Chilli cook-off
$10 entry to compete, $5 entry to taste and vote. Local restaurants compete against community home cooks. A trophy for 'People's Choice' generates social media every time.
5. Pancake breakfast
Saturday morning at a community hall or fire station. Volunteer-cooked, $8 to $12 per plate. Pairs with a silent auction in the same room.
6. Trivia night
One of the most reliable fundraising formats in Australia. Teams of 6 to 8 pay $15 to $25 per head, run at a pub or community hall. Add heads-and-tails, a best-table-name prize, or a silent auction to lift the per-head take. Easy to run monthly with a rotating theme.
7. Pie auction
Volunteer bakers donate pies. Auction them off live at a community event with a fast-talking auctioneer (or a community pillar willing to ham it up). Average pie clears $40 to $80.
8. Coffee tasting with a local roaster
Partner with a neighbourhood roaster for a $25-ticket cupping. They donate the coffee; you provide the room and the audience. Beans for sale at the door, with split proceeds.
9. Progressive dinner
Entrées at one supporter's home, main at the next, dessert at the third. Charge $50 to $75 per seat. Hosts cover the food as in-kind giving; tickets are pure margin.
10. Taco or pizza throwdown
Local restaurants compete in one category. Attendees buy $1 tasting tickets and vote with their taste buds. Easy on the volunteer team, big on attendance.
11. Community brunch
Sunday brunch with a guest speaker tied to your cause. $35 to $50 per ticket. Pairs well with a paddle raise.
12. Soup and bread night
Buy a handmade pottery bowl ($15) and a soup-and-bread dinner is included. Bowls double as the keepsake. Local potters often donate to the cause.
13. Dessert auction
Volunteers contribute showstopper desserts. Auction each cake or pie live. Combine with a sit-down dinner for the full evening.
Community Events and Festivals
Festivals scale your reach by inviting the whole neighbourhood at once. Plan four to six months out, recruit ten to twenty volunteers, and sell tickets to your event for free on Zeffy.
1. Community carnival
Classic ring toss, balloon darts, duck pond, face painting, mini sports games. Charge $1 to $3 per game or sell a $15 wristband for unlimited play. Local businesses sponsor individual booths. Plan for 200 to 600 attendees over a Saturday afternoon.
2. Block party
Close one street with a council permit, bring grills, a jumping castle, and a stage. Free entry, donation jars at every station. Best for 150 to 300 attendees. Eight to twelve weeks lead time.
3. Seasonal festival (spring fair, autumn harvest, winter market)
Anchor on a season. Vendor booths at $50 to $150, ticketed entry at $5 to $10, food and drink margin on top.
4. Movie night in the park
Hire an inflatable screen ($400 to $700) or borrow from a local theatre. Free entry, $5 popcorn, $3 soft drink, blanket-and-chair donations welcomed. 100 to 400 attendees on a warm Friday.
5. Community picnic
Ticketed family picnic at a park. $10 adults, $5 children, under 5 free. Games, lawn sports, a single food truck. Profit margin sits in the food and merch.
6. Heritage celebration
Spotlight one community's culture: food, music, dance, craft demonstrations. Strong fit for organisations serving specific cultural groups. 300 to 800 attendees over a weekend afternoon.
7. Neighbourhood Olympics
Team-based field games (tug of war, relay races, three-legged race). Teams of six pay $60 to $120 entry. Trophy and bragging rights to the winners.
8. Kite festival
Open-field event with kite-building stations ($10 per kit), competitions, and food vendors. Visually spectacular for social media.
9. Lantern walk
Evening procession through a park or neighbourhood, paper lanterns sold at $10 to $15 each. Quiet, beautiful, family-friendly.
10. Touch-a-Truck
Borrow a fire truck, dump truck, police car, and tractor. $5 entry per child. Big draw for families with children under 10.
11. Neighbourhood garage sale day
Coordinate dozens of supporter households to hold garage sales the same Saturday. Sell a $20 map of participating addresses. Generates foot traffic and turns supporters into hosts.
12. Outdoor concert series
Three-evening concert series in a community space. Local bands play for free. $10 entry, bar margin, merch booth.
13. Pet parade
Costume contest for dogs (and the occasional brave cat). $15 entry per pet, $3 spectator donation. Pet-supply businesses are eager sponsors.
14. Community trivia night
Teams of six at $90 per table. Run it at a brewery or community hall. The pub trivia format is plug-and-play.
15. Stargazing night
Partner with a local astronomy club to bring telescopes. $10 entry, hot chocolate sales. Best in autumn and winter for early sunset.
16. School fete
The most universally recognised Australian school fundraising format. Run by the P&C or P&F on a Saturday morning, with stalls operated by parent volunteers: cake stall, plant stall, white-elephant stall, showbags, rides, and games at $2 to $5 per item. A well-run primary-school fete is often the P&C's single largest income event of the year. Justice Connect has free guidance for school fundraising if you're starting from scratch.
Sports and Active Fundraisers
Athletic events recruit fundraisers as well as donors, which is why peer-to-peer is the right engine here. Launch a P2P walk-a-thon on Zeffy and every participant becomes their own fundraiser.
One thing worth flagging for sports clubs: most clubs cannot get DGR endorsement directly, which means donations to your club aren't automatically tax-deductible for the donor. The Australian Sports Foundation (ASF) is the DGR umbrella that gives sports fundraising tax-deductible status. If tax-deductibility matters to your donors, run your appeal through ASF (ATO DGR overview).
1. Fun run or 5K
$25 to $40 per registration, ask each runner to raise an additional $100 from their personal network. T-shirts and race bibs included. Eight to twelve weeks lead time. Strong fit for almost any not-for-profit.
2. Bike-a-thon
Per-kilometre pledges from each rider's network. 40 to 80 km routes for serious riders, 10 to 15 km family routes. Local bike shops sponsor support stops.
3. Golf day
Foursome entries at $400 to $800 per team. Hole sponsorships at $100 to $500. Add a silent auction and dinner for the full revenue stack. Six-month lead time, ideal for community foundations and Rotary partnerships.
4. Obstacle course team challenge
Tyre runs, rope climbs, crawl tunnels. Teams of 4 to 5 pay $80 to $150. Prizes for fastest team, best costume, and best team spirit keep it inclusive.
5. Sports tournament (netball, pickleball, touch footy, five-a-side)
$200 to $400 entry per team. Pickleball has grown fast across Australia. Run at a school gym or community park.
6. Dance-a-thon
Six-hour dance marathon. Participants raise pledges per hour danced. Great fit for youth-serving organisations and student groups.
7. Swim-a-thon
Pool-based pledge fundraiser. Swimmers collect per-lap pledges. Partner with a community pool or aquatics centre. Strong with aquatic clubs and swim teams.
8. Yoga in the park
$15 to $25 per mat. Local instructor donates time. Pairs with a healthy-snack stall and merch sales.
9. Hiking challenge
Distance-pledge format on a local trail. Participants log kilometres over a month and collect from sponsors. Low-cost, broad appeal.
10. Field day for adults
Kick-to-kick, sack races, water-balloon toss for grown-ups. $30 entry per person, bring your own drinks if allowed. Picks up Gen X and millennial donors who don't show at galas.
11. Rowing or kayak-a-thon
Pledge-per-kilometre rowing event on a lake or river. Great for waterway-adjacent organisations and watershed groups.
12. Local CrossFit or F45 charity workout
Partner with a local CrossFit box or F45 studio. Participants pay $30 entry, raise pledges. The community there is already familiar with charity fundraising events.
Arts, Culture, and Entertainment Fundraisers
1. Community talent show
Open mic for singers, dancers, comedians, and magicians. Charge performers a $10 entry and audience $15 to $20. Categories for family acts, friend groups, and teens vs adults keep it lively. Sell tickets for free on Zeffy.
2. Art auction
Local artists donate one piece each. Run as a silent or live auction at a gallery or community space. Average donated piece clears $150 to $500.
3. Gallery walk
Coordinate with multiple galleries or studios for a single evening. Ticketed entry at $20 to $30 includes wine and small bites at each venue. Galleries benefit from foot traffic; you benefit from the ticket margin.
4. Concert series
Three-band evening at a community venue. $15 to $25 entry. Local bands play for the cause. Bar margin on top.
5. Theatre performance
Partner with a community theatre for a benefit night. They donate ticket proceeds or a percentage. Two to three months lead time.
6. Poetry slam
$10 entry to compete, $10 to attend. Cash prize for the winner, larger margin to the cause. Best in coffee shops and small bars.
7. Craft fair
Local artisans rent booths at $50 to $100 each. Free entry for shoppers. Add a food truck and a kids' craft corner to extend dwell time.
8. Photography exhibition
Local photographers donate prints in a themed exhibition. Silent-auction the prints or sell at fixed prices. Beautiful for a single-evening reception.
9. Film screening
Partner with an indie theatre for a benefit screening of a cause-aligned film. $15 to $25 tickets, Q&A with the director or a local expert.
10. Storytelling night
Older community members or local figures share stories tied to your neighbourhood's history. $15 family entry, refreshments sold separately. Connects generations and surfaces stories worth preserving.
11. Open mic comedy night
Local comedians, $10 to $15 entry. Best at breweries or comedy clubs willing to donate the room.
12. Battle of the bands
Four to six bands compete; audience votes with $1 ticket purchases per vote. The winning band gets a recording session or studio time donated by a local producer.
Auction Fundraisers
Note on raffles in Australia: Raffles are regulated state by state as minor or community gaming. In Victoria, the VGCCC (Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission) requires a Minor Gaming Permit for prize pools above $20,000, and cash is prohibited as a prize. In NSW, NSW Fair Trading regulates community gaming. In Queensland, large raffles are called 'art unions' and are managed by the OLGR (ACNC Queensland fundraising guidance). Prize-value thresholds, permit requirements, and prize restrictions vary by state or territory. Check your regulator before selling a single raffle ticket. Zeffy does not currently offer raffle ticketing in Australia. Use a specialist raffle provider or your state's minor-gaming permit process.
1. Silent auction
Solicit 30 to 100 items from local businesses and supporters. Display items on tables with bid sheets, or run digital mobile bidding so attendees bid from their phones during a gala or dinner. Platforms like GalaBid are purpose-built for AU charity galas with mobile bidding.
2. Live auction with paddle raise
Five to ten high-value items auctioned live by a charismatic auctioneer or community member. Follow with a paddle raise where attendees pledge specific dollar amounts to a focused appeal.
3. Online auction
Run the auction entirely online over a one- to two-week window. Expands your bidder pool beyond who can show up on Saturday night.
4. Experience auction
Auction donated experiences: a private dinner with a local chef, a day on a supporter's boat, a backstage tour. Experiences often outperform physical goods.
5. Service auction
Lawyers, accountants, photographers, tradespeople, and graphic designers donate hours of service. Strong with professional networks and chambers of commerce.
6. Mystery box auction
Wrapped boxes containing donated items of varied value. Bidders gamble on what's inside. Adds entertainment to a long evening.
7. Dessert auction
Volunteers contribute showstopper desserts. Auction each cake or pie tray live at a community dinner.
8. Pie auction
Volunteer bakers donate pies. A fast-talking auctioneer, or a community pillar willing to ham it up, auctions them off. Average pie clears $40 to $80 and the room loves it.
Educational Workshops and Classes
1. Cooking class
Local chef teaches a two-hour class. $40 to $60 per seat, ingredients included. Recurring monthly works well.
2. Gardening workshop
Master gardener leads a hands-on session on container gardening, native plants, or composting. $25 to $40 per attendee.
3. Repair café
Skilled volunteers help neighbours fix electronics, furniture, clothes, and bikes. Pay-what-you-can starting at $10 per item. Recurring monthly with a built-in supporter community.
4. Financial literacy session
A local accountant or financial planner leads a free or low-cost session on budgeting, tax basics, or first-home buying. Suggested $20 donation at the door.
5. Craft class (knitting, pottery, calligraphy)
Two-hour skills class led by a local artisan. $30 to $50 per seat, materials included. Strong with library and community centre partnerships.
6. Photography workshop
Half-day workshop on smartphone photography, portrait basics, or landscape composition. $50 to $100 per attendee.
7. Tech help session for seniors
Volunteers help older neighbours with smartphones, email, and video calls. Suggested $15 donation, often paid by family members. Builds intergenerational ties and goodwill.
8. Language exchange
Pair native speakers with learners. $10 entry, refreshments at a café. Recurring weekly or monthly turns into a community fixture.
9. Historical walking tour
Local historian leads a walking tour of significant neighbourhood sites. $20 to $30 per ticket. Pairs well with a partnership with the local historical society.
10. Home maintenance basics
Local tradesperson teaches a session on minor plumbing, wall patching, or seasonal maintenance. $25 to $40 per seat. Practical and well-attended.
Seasonal and Holiday Fundraisers
Anchoring an event to a season makes the promotion easier: everyone already has the holiday on their calendar. Use Zeffy's online store for event merch to sell branded items year-round.
The single most important AU seasonal moment is EOFY. Every Tier-1 Australian charity runs a dedicated End of Financial Year appeal in May and June, because donors want their tax-deductible gifts locked in before 30 June. If your charity is DGR-endorsed, EOFY is your biggest fundraising window. The canonical trust line for your donation page: 'Donations of $2 or more are tax-deductible.' Donors can verify your DGR status via ABN Lookup (ATO not-for-profit hub).
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| Spring | Plant and seedling sale | April-May, before Mother's Day |
| Spring | Easter egg hunt with ticketed entry | Saturday before Easter |
| Spring | Mother's Day brunch | Sunday morning, second week of May |
| Summer | Ice cream social | Late June through August evenings |
| Summer | Outdoor movie night | July-August Fridays |
| Summer | Fourth of July pancake breakfast | Morning of July 4 |
| Fall | Pumpkin patch and corn maze | Weekends in October |
| Fall | Harvest festival | Mid-October Saturday |
| Fall | Trunk-or-treat | Weekend before Halloween |
| Winter | Holiday market and craft fair | First two weekends of December |
| Winter | Tree lighting ceremony | First Friday of December |
| Winter | Ugly sweater party | Mid-December Friday or Saturday |
Online and Hybrid Community Fundraisers
Virtual and hybrid events keep your geographic community connected to supporters who have moved away, and pull in donors who can't show up in person.
1. Virtual gala
Live-streamed program with paddle raise and online auction. $25 to $75 virtual tickets, donor packages mailed in advance for the at-home experience.
2. Online auction
One- to two-week bidding window, broader reach than a one-night event. Pair with social media countdowns.
3. Live-streamed talent show
Performers contribute video segments or perform live. Audience donates throughout via a pinned link.
4. Virtual trivia night
Teams join from their living rooms via video call. $60 to $90 per team registration. Easy to host, no venue costs.
5. Online cooking class
A chef leads a live cooking demonstration. Attendees prep ingredients at home. $25 to $40 per household, ingredients list sent with confirmation.
6. Hybrid gala (in-person and livestream)
Anchor event in-person, livestream for remote supporters. Sells two ticket tiers and doubles your potential audience.
7. Virtual fitness challenge
Participants log kilometres, workouts, or yoga sessions over a month. Per-activity pledges from their networks.
8. Online giving day
24-hour focused fundraising push with hourly matching gifts from local business sponsors. Pairs naturally with social media ambassadors. For more depth on the virtual format, see our guide to online fundraising.
Peer-to-Peer Community Campaigns
Peer-to-peer turns your supporters into your fundraisers. The average personal fundraising page raises three to five times more than the same donor would give directly. Launch a P2P walk-a-thon or any of the campaigns below on Zeffy.
1. Birthday fundraiser
Supporters ask their networks to donate $25 in lieu of birthday gifts. Provide a one-click setup link.
2. Memorial campaign
Families create pages in memory of a loved one. Often tied to a specific cause the person cared about. Handle with care and clear communication.
3. Team challenge
Friend groups, coworkers, or sports teams compete for top fundraiser. A public leaderboard drives the friendly rivalry.
4. Ambassador program
Recruit 20 to 50 supporters to each raise $500 over a quarter. Provide them with talking points, social copy, and weekly check-ins.
5. Social media challenge
Anchor on a viral hook (push-up count, mileage, ice-bucket style). Participants donate to enter and nominate three friends.
6. Giving circle
Ten to fifty donors each contribute $100 to $1,000 annually. The group meets quarterly to decide together where the pooled funds go. Builds long-term loyalty.
7. Anniversary fundraiser
Supporters fundraise around personal milestones, wedding anniversaries, sobriety milestones, business anniversaries. Authentic and emotionally resonant.
8. Monthly challenge
Supporters commit to a personal challenge for a month (running daily, no-spend, vegetarian) and raise pledges per day completed.
What makes community fundraising different
Community fundraising is the work of bringing neighbours, local businesses, and supporters together in person to raise money for a local cause. It is defined less by the revenue model than by the relationships: the donor often knows the volunteer who organised it, the business that sponsored it, and the person the funds will help.
The benefit isn't just the dollars. Local connections built through community events turn one-time givers into regular givers and build the foundation for everything you'll fundraise next year.
What this looks like in Australia
Rather than case studies from overseas organisations, here are the archetypal AU formats that show up again and again across the sector:
A trivia night at a Sydney sports club. Teams of 6 to 8 at $20 per head, held on a Thursday night at the club's bistro. Heads-and-tails at interval adds $300 to $500 on top of table fees. Total: $2,000 to $4,000 for a 100-person room.
A spring fete at a Melbourne primary school. Run by the P&C on a Saturday morning in October, with a cake stall, plant stall, white-elephant stall, rides, and face painting. Often the school's single largest P&C income event of the year.
A silent auction at a Brisbane charity gala. 30 to 60 items from local businesses, mobile bidding via GalaBid or similar, paired with a live auction of five to eight high-value experiences. Paddle raise at the close of the live auction. Per-head revenue: $150 to $400.
An EOFY appeal by a DGR-endorsed community charity. Email campaign in May and June, with a clear '$2 or more is tax-deductible' line, a specific target ('Help us reach $20,000 before 30 June'), and a countdown to the financial year-end. Donors respond to the urgency of the tax deadline.
How to plan your community fundraiser
Set a specific goal
'Raise $8,000 to fund 100 backpacks for children starting primary school' outperforms 'raise money for the program.' A specific number with a specific outcome tied to it gives volunteers a story and donors a finish line.
Choose the right event for your community
Match the event to the audience you actually have. A neighbourhood with lots of young families wants a Saturday-afternoon carnival, not a black-tie gala. An ageing congregation wants a Sunday brunch, not a 5K. The right event is the one your existing supporters will actually show up to.
Recruit volunteers early
Start eight to twelve weeks out for a mid-size event. Define roles in writing (setup lead, registration, food, cleanup, photography), recognise contributions publicly, and follow up with a thank-you within 48 hours. For step-by-step tactics, see our guide on recruiting volunteers.
Promote locally first
Community noticeboards, suburb-specific Facebook groups, the local council newsletter, noticeboards at the library or shopping centre, and ambassador supporters who share to their personal networks. Add a partnership with two or three local businesses willing to display flyers. For more channels, see our guide to promoting a fundraiser.
Day-of execution
Arrive two hours before doors open. Brief volunteers in a 10-minute standup. Assign one person to handle cash and card payments, one person to greet, one person to photograph. Keep a sign with your donation QR code at every station.
Follow up within a week
Personalised thank-yous to sponsors, volunteers, and major donors. Share photos and the total raised publicly. See our thank-you letter templates for ready-to-send copy. The follow-up is what turns a one-time event into an annual tradition.
Frequently asked questions
What is community fundraising?
Community fundraising is a form of fundraising where supporters, local businesses, and neighbours come together in person (or online) to raise money for a local cause or not-for-profit. It includes events like trivia nights, school fetes, sausage sizzles, silent auctions, fun runs, and peer-to-peer campaigns. The defining feature is the relationship between the people involved: the donor often knows the volunteer who organised the event and the people the funds will help.
How do I start a community fundraising event from scratch?
Start with a specific dollar goal tied to a concrete outcome. Choose a format that fits your existing audience (a school P&C suits a fete; a sports club suits a trivia night or golf day). Set your date six to twelve weeks out, recruit volunteers with defined roles, and open ticket or registration sales as early as possible. Use a free platform like Zeffy so none of your ticket revenue is skimmed by fees. Promote through suburb Facebook groups, the local council newsletter, noticeboards, and word of mouth from your core supporters.
Do I need a fundraising licence in Australia?
It depends on your state or territory and the type of fundraising you run. Most states require a fundraising authority or registration if your annual fundraising appeal raises above a threshold (for example, NSW requires an authority if you raise more than $15,000 per year, though ACNC-registered charities are automatically deemed to hold a NSW authority from 1 April 2026). Check the relevant regulator for your state or territory: NSW Fair Trading, Consumer Affairs Victoria, Queensland Office of Fair Trading, or the ACNC's state-by-state fundraising guides. Fundraising through ticket sales, auctions, and P2P campaigns has different rules from running raffles (which are regulated separately as minor or community gaming).
Are donations to my community fundraiser tax-deductible?
Only if your organisation is DGR-endorsed by the ATO. Being registered with the ACNC as a charity does not automatically mean your donors can claim a tax deduction, you need separate DGR endorsement. Donations of $2 or more to a DGR-endorsed organisation are tax-deductible for the donor (ATO DGR information). Importantly, ticket purchases, raffle tickets, and auction items where the buyer receives a benefit are not tax-deductible, even if your organisation is DGR-endorsed. Donors can verify your DGR status at ABN Lookup.
Can I run a raffle as part of my community fundraiser in Australia?
Yes, but raffles are regulated separately from general fundraising as minor or community gaming, and the rules vary significantly by state or territory. In Victoria, the VGCCC requires a Minor Gaming Permit for prize pools above $20,000, and cash is prohibited as a raffle prize. In NSW, community gaming is regulated by NSW Fair Trading under the Community Gaming Act 2018. In Queensland, large raffles are called 'art unions' and are managed by the OLGR. Check your state or territory gaming regulator before selling any raffle tickets (VGCCC community gaming). Note that Zeffy does not currently offer raffle ticketing in Australia, use a specialist raffle provider or follow your state's minor-gaming permit process.
How much does it cost to run a community fundraiser with Zeffy?
Nothing. Zeffy charges no platform fee, no transaction fee, and no credit card fee for charities and not-for-profits. Every dollar raised through Zeffy's ticketing, donation forms, auctions, P2P campaigns, and membership tools goes directly to your organisation. Zeffy's free model applies unconditionally, it is not funded by optional donor fees or a tip added to the checkout. Over 100,000 not-for-profits globally have raised more than $2 billion on Zeffy without paying platform fees.
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