Raising money for a community project can be fun and bring people together for a shared goal. Whether it's for a new playground, community garden, or local campaign, good fundraising can help you reach your community goals.

Steps for raising money

• Identify the project needs:

  • Clearly explain what your project is about and what you want to achieve.
  • Work out how much money you need to complete the project and set a target.

• Engage the community:

  • Get community members involved in planning to gain support and ideas.
  • Use local meetings, social media, and newsletters to share information.

• Choose fundraising methods:

  • Think about different ways to raise money. These ways can include online fundraising with organisations like backabuddy, bake sales, car washes, doing laundry for people or cleaning houses, street food and snack sales, tutoring, babysitting, and cooking for schools.
  • Approach local businesses for donations.

• Organise fundraising events:

  • Plan events that can attract many people, like charity runs or auctions.
  • Make sure the events are well-advertised and easy for the community to attend.

• Track and communicate progress:

  • Keep the community updated about the fundraising progress and how the money will be used.
  • Celebrate important steps and thank donors and volunteers.

More information

For more resources and ideas on community fundraising, contact local non-profit groups or community leaders who have experience with successful fundraising.

Get your community involved

Is there a community-driven group or caring business in your area? A dedicated group of committed people can effectively solve local problems.

Think about starting or joining community groups like a street WhatsApp group, residents' association, or community policing forum (CPF) to get help and to stay informed and involved in local issues.

• How to set up a community group

• How to start a WhatsApp group

• How to start a residents' association

• How to set up a community policing forum

• How to set up a neighbourhood watch

• How to organise community action

• How to use media to create pressure for change

Know your rights – how local government works

It’s important to understand how your local government works so that you can work with them to support what they are doing while your community continues to keep them accountable and deliver services on time. Remember you have a constitutional right to many of the services provided by local government, as well as to accountability and transparency, wherever you live and regardless of how much you earn. It is also where money collected from taxes and rates goes.