13 charity fundraising ideas for small businesses

Looking for some simple and budget-friendly ideas for charity fundraising? If you’re running a small business, you may be thinking about hosting charity raffles, organising team volunteer days, or offering skill-sharing workshops. Fun activities like these can bring your employees together and make a real difference – especially around events like the International Day of Charity on 5 September.

These charity events are important for your customers and brand reputation, too. Today’s consumers want their favourite brands to make a positive impact. According to the 2024 ESG Monitor, 60% of UK consumers expect companies to actively contribute to society, and 70% want transparency about how these contributions are made. Similar trends are observed worldwide, indicating that global audiences are motivated by a deeper purpose, rather than merely seeking value for money.

Employees also share these values. Many derive their motivation from meaningful work, particularly in startups and SMEs. And if you’re a founder, you can support this by aspiring to create a business that benefits both people and the planet.

With International Day of Charity 2025 on 5 September, you can turn good intentions into tangible action. In this article, you’ll find 13 straightforward and low-cost charity fundraising ideas for your small business – all helping you make an authentic, purposeful impact.

1. Host a ‘round-up for charity’ campaign

Encourage customers to round up their transactions and direct the spare change to charity. For instance, if a purchase totals £3.60, they can round it up to £4.00, with the 40p difference going to a chosen cause. While each individual contribution may seem small, these amounts can accumulate quickly and make a huge impact.

Consider using these apps to integrate round-ups into your checkout process:

• Pennies – A digital charity box that lets customers round up or top up their purchases with a small donation at the point of sale, in-store and online.
• GiveTap – Enables contactless and QR code donations. Ideal for events, pop-ups, and on-the-go businesses.

2. Set up a charity snack stall

How about creating a cosy charity stall in your office, shared workspace, or at a local event? You can offer tea, coffee, and tasty snacks in exchange for donations that support a good cause. It could be as simple as setting up a tray of flapjacks and a kettle in your staff kitchen, or even a cheerful pop-up table with baked goodies in your building’s reception.

• How sustainable office catering supports local businesses
• Supporting charities with vacant commercial space
• How 1st Formations supports the local community

Place a jam jar beside your snacks for people to drop in cash, or present a QR code to scan and easily donate online. All proceeds go to your chosen charity – this way, everyday treats become meaningful contributions.

3. Turn team socials into fundraisers

Team socials are a great way to build culture, so why not make them count for charity, too? Host an internal event like a pub quiz, board game night, office pool tournament or bake-off, and invite employees to participate with a small donation to enter. Just £10 per person can make an enormous difference.

Add friendly competition and small prizes to raise funds. This can strengthen team connections and involve everyone in a fun, meaningful way.

4. Match employee charity donations in September

To mark International Day of Charity, encourage team members to donate to a cause they care about and match each contribution, pound for pound. It shows that you support what matters to your people. It also inspires more employees to give, knowing their donation will have double the impact.

Don’t forget to set a matching cap or match contributions to preferred charity partners to stay within budget.

Setting up Payroll Giving

For staff to make charitable contributions, and for you to match them, you’ll need to set up Payroll Giving. Choose an authorised agency to set up the scheme and make the appropriate deductions before payday.

The agency will collect donations before tax (but after National Insurance contributions) and pass them to the charity.

Note that some agencies may charge an admin fee, so double-check this before committing. Admin fees are typically deducted from employees’ donations, or you (the employer) can pay them directly, meaning the charity receives a higher donation.

5. Donate a percentage of your sales

Think about committing a portion of your revenue to a charity of your choice. For example, you might choose to donate a percentage of your total sales for September or from sales made specifically on 5 September. This approach makes every purchase contribute to a greater cause, giving customers a reason to feel good about how and where they spend their money.

Spread the word about your donation on your website, emails, and social media. This way, you’re letting your customers know they can make a difference by doing business with you. Plus, you’ll enjoy increased visibility, strengthen customer loyalty, and build trust simultaneously.

6. Offer a skill-for-charity workshop

Your team has valuable skills that could benefit others. Why not share this expertise for a good cause? You could host a virtual or in-person training session, webinar, or workshop focusing on areas such as marketing tips, financial planning, branding advice, and more. In exchange for attendance, ask participants for a small donation.

Hosting a skills workshop for charity is an excellent way to connect with a wider audience, offer real value, and raise funds – all while showcasing your team’s strengths. We recommend using Eventbrite to create events for free, organise registrations, and collect donations easily.

7. Launch a social media challenge with a fundraising twist

Create a fun and shareable social media campaign linked to a specific hashtag and theme (for instance, #CoffeeForACause or #StepUpAndGive). For every post that uses the hashtag and tags your business, you can donate a small amount to your chosen charity.

Embrace your creativity with exciting themes like dress-up days, remote work selfies, or team talent shows. It’s a chance to let your imagination run wild!

8. Run a charity raffle using donated prizes

Engage local partners, employees, and customers to contribute prizes such as gift cards, services, or unique experiences. You can then sell raffle tickets to ignite excitement within your team and reach out to the wider community.

Have you considered a digital raffle? FCA-compliant tools like RallyUp, Trellis, and Raffall make hosting a virtual raffle and boosting participation easy. Enjoy customisable branding options, celebrate winners in real-time, and tag contributors to amplify your message.

9. Create a Give Up to Give Back day

Invite your team to give up something they enjoy just for one day (like a takeaway coffee, a favourite treat, or even screen time). Encourage them to reflect on the value of what they’ve chosen to forgo and donate that equivalent amount to a charity of their choice.

The act of sacrifice is a great way to spark reflection and unite everyone with a sense of purpose. You can then boost engagement by sharing fun, downloadable templates or simple surveys for everyone to share their ‘Why I Gave Up’ stories at work or online.

10. Share a fundraising tracker

Make donations visible by creating a real-time tally of funds raised in your workplace on a whiteboard or wall mural, or virtually through your intranet or messaging app like Slack or Teams.

Why not make it interactive and a little competitive? Use individual or departmental leaderboards to encourage your staff to raise more and offer the winner a small prize, such as a shopping voucher or free lunch.

11. Launch a limited-edition product

Another excellent charity fundraising idea for your small business is to launch a temporary product or service that supports a charitable cause. You could: 

• Create a new coffee blend that’s only available in September (think autumnal flavours like pumpkin spice and gingerbread) 
• Offer a special edition subscription bundle, such as 3 months for the price of 2 (ideal for digital services) 
• Offer one-day website makeovers, logo refreshers, or brand consultations if you run a creative agency
• Introduce a limited-edition gift with purchase (suitable for bricks-and-mortar and online stores) 

A portion of the revenue generated through these initiatives would then go to a selected charity. These limited offerings not only raise donations but also demonstrate commitment and innovation.

12. Volunteer for a day

Allow employees to volunteer during working hours. They should be paid as usual, but instead of performing their daily tasks, they will be helping their local community. This could involve volunteering at a local food bank, an animal rescue service, or participating in an environmental clean-up.

Individual team members can select their preferred charity or partner with one on a corporate level. Afterwards, share stories and photos on your business’s social channels to highlight and showcase your team’s generosity in action.

What’s in it for your business? According to the Royal Voluntary Service, 62% of UK employers offer their teams paid volunteering days, with many saying it’s a “strategic lever for performance”. Of the organisations that make full use of their volunteering days:

• 53% see higher employee motivation
• 52% foster a stronger sense of wellbeing and engagement
• 49% benefit from an enhanced reputation
• 37% see employee skills and confidence improve

13. Launch a charitable email campaign

Use your next email campaign to spotlight a cause. Share why your business is supporting a specific charity, include a short personal message or story, and invite recipients to donate or get involved.

Tools like Mailchimp and MailerLite make it easy to create simple, effective emails with built-in tracking. Keep the layout clean and include a clear call-to-action (CTA) button (for example, ‘Donate £5’).

Remember to set a deadline to build urgency, such as targeting the International Day of Charity on 5 September. It’s a low-cost way to engage your audience, show your values, and turn email into meaningful impact.

Real businesses that are making a difference

Looking for real-world inspiration? Explore these three UK-based stories from businesses leading the way with meaningful, creative fundraising initiatives. 

Innocent Drinks – The Big Knit

Innocent’s beloved Big Knit campaign partners with Age UK to support older people in winter. Volunteers nationwide knit thousands of tiny woolly hats that top Innocent smoothie bottles. For every bottle sold with a hat, Innocent donates 25p to the charity.

This initiative is a heartfelt expression of compassion and creativity, and has also made a significant impact by raising more than £3 million since 2003. This impressive sum reflects the nation’s unwavering support and highlights Innocent’s commitment to making a difference.

Ella’s Kitchen – This Pack Gives Back

As an SME and certified B Corp, Ella’s Kitchen builds purpose into every part of its business. One of its most meaningful commitments is its ongoing partnership with Action for Children.

‘This Pack Gives Back’ is one of Ella’s Kitchen’s annual campaigns. It helps fund vital services for vulnerable children and families across the UK, including early years support, healthy eating advice, and mental health resources. Each Christmas, the company gives its Sweetcorn and Carrot Melty Sticks a seasonal makeover and donates 30p from every special pack sold.

Ella’s Kitchen has raised an incredible £166,500 in the past two years alone through this initiative, proving that everyday purchases can drive real, long-lasting impact.

1st Formations – Supporting women through education

At 1st Formations, we have embedded charitable giving into the core of our business through a long-term partnership with the WONDER Foundation. This international charity empowers women and girls through education, and here’s how we aim to make a lasting difference:

• 20% of our annual profits go directly to the WONDER Foundation, with the support of consistent funding for education programmes and community projects.
• We host regular internal fundraising events, such as office pool tournaments and pub quizzes, with staff donating £10 each to enter. These social initiatives bring the team together while raising additional funds.
• Every employee is entitled to two paid volunteering days per year. This involves spending time at WONDER’s Baytree Centre in Brixton, offering hands-on support, and sharing professional skills in areas like marketing and operations to help the charity grow its reach and impact.

Since our partnership began in 2020, we’ve been delighted to raise over £75,000 for the WONDER Foundation.

Start making meaningful change in your business today

Giving back takes a willingness to act with purpose. From donating profits to volunteering your time or hosting a team quiz night, small businesses have an incredible opportunity to make a meaningful impact through charity fundraising.

The most important step is the first one. Select one idea from the list, such as organising a staff social event where entry fees are donated to a cause that resonates with your team. This straightforward and uplifting approach will unite your team members and help foster a culture of giving.

Dreaming of setting up your own purpose-led business? Our experts at 1st Formations can help you get up and running in under 24 hours. As the UK’s leading company formation agent, we proudly support social impact initiatives and ethical entrepreneurs who are ready to make a difference.