Dress-up contests will draw people to your event, especially kids and families.
An animals theme will attract lots of people, especially families, to your animal charity fundraiser. The attention-grabbing theme lends itself well to an event, or can make a quieter fundraising campaign more noticeable. Through your event, you'll raise awareness about your organization as well as funds.
Parade
Hold a community animal parade. Have people pay an entry fee to walk their pets in the parade. Give prizes for the cutest pet, most obedient, the pet with the best tricks, the biggest, the prettiest, and the best costume. Families will love this event.
Marathon
Hold a marathon for people to join with their pets, paying an entry fee that goes to your charity. Let people enter without a pet if they choose, to generate a greater turn-out. Post colorful banners and signs along the route to generate awareness of your organization.
Costume Ball
Plan a costume ball in which people dress up as the animal of their choice. Give prizes for best-dressed, funniest, most beautiful, and scariest. Create a family friendly event with foods, games, and crafts for kids. Auction donated prizes in a silent auction and play songs with an animal theme for people to dance to.
Reading to Dogs
In many communities, libraries or school groups hold a "reading to dogs" program in which young children read books to therapy dogs. These dogs have very calm temperaments and are trained and certified to provide comfort to people. The children practice their reading skills without feeling self-conscious, with the non-judgmental company of the dogs. Find community members with well-trained therapy dogs to use in the program. Then have parents give a donation for their children to participate in a Saturday morning reading program.
Bake Sale
Bake goods to sell at local events. Set up a table to display goodies for humans and animal companions alike, along with plenty of information about your charity. Make your pet treats interesting and healthy, giving people a reason to choose your homemade snacks over store-bought ones. Alternatively, host your own bake sale event and ask community members to bring baked goods to donate.
Family Fun Weekend
Include some or all of the bake sale, parade, or party activities in a family fun weekend. Create a stage area where people can sing karaoke to animal themed songs, and book local bands. Have volunteers dress up as animals and roam around entertaining people. Organize a story time in a quiet corner, and have a craft booth as well as lots of games. For instance, you could set up an obstacle course for people and their pets to run through together. If you have an animal shelter, have volunteers walk some of the well-behaved pets around to generate interest.
Tags: their pets, about your, bake sale, community members, dogs program