Let’s take a look at some of the most innovative, thoughtful and successful charity fundraisers around the world.
Out of the kindness of their hearts, people and organisations raise money for causes in need every single day.
We look at everything from country-wide fundraisers from large corporations to small but mighty funds created from kindness and love that made their mark throughout the years.
- Let’s take a look at some of the most innovative, thoughtful and successful charity fundraisers around the world.
- 10. Climb with Charlie – an incredible feat for charity
- 9. Race for Life – millions raised for life-saving research
- 8. Oscar’s Everest Walk – one to be proud of
- 7. Live Aid – one of the most incredible charity fundraisers around the world
- 6. Comic Relief / Red Nose Day – a great one for kids
- 5. ALS Ice Bucket Challenge – awareness for motor neuron disease
- 4. A Tribute to Heroes – in the wake of 9/11
- 3. The World’s Biggest Coffee Morning – bringing communities together
- 2. Movember – participation around the world
- 1. The Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity – Poland’s biggest non-profit
10. Climb with Charlie – an incredible feat for charity
In 2021, Irish journalist Charlie Bird announced that he had motor neurone disease, a disease that affects thousands all over the world.
As a result, Charlie Bird decided to organise a walk to the top of Croagh Patrick in April 2022 to raise money for two different charities – the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association and Pieta, a mental health charity.
Joined by friends, family, and numerous well-known Irish celebrities, Charlie Bird raised over €3.3 million as a result of his efforts.
9. Race for Life – millions raised for life-saving research
Race for Life is a series of events organised annually by Cancer Research UK to raise money for research into 200 different types of cancer.
For the last 20 years, more than 8 million people have taken part in the events around the UK and have funded more than £57 million to fund Cancer Research’s life-saving work.
8. Oscar’s Everest Walk – one to be proud of
Oscar Burrow, a 6-year-old boy from Lancaster in England, vowed to climb 12 of the highest mountains in Great Britain to reach the height of Mount Everest in order to raise money for charity.
Oscar decided to take on this incredible challenge after his friend’s sister passed away from cancer. In August 2023, Oscar completed the 12 mountains, raising a total of £37,830 for Derian House Children’s Hospice in Chorley, Lancashire.
7. Live Aid – one of the most incredible charity fundraisers around the world
Live Aid was a music-based benefit concert that took place on 13 July 1985 at London’s Wembley Stadium and the John F. Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. However, concerts inspired by the event took place in many places around the world.
Originally organised by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure to raise money for relief of the 1983-1985 famine in Ethiopia, $127 million was eventually raised for the cause.
The start, and perhaps most memorable take from Live Aid, was the success of the charity single ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas’ in December 1984, performed by several iconic singers.
6. Comic Relief / Red Nose Day – a great one for kids
First launched back in 1988, Red Nose Day is an annual fundraising campaign to help end child poverty around the world.
Built on the success of Live Aid, Red Nose Day involves people around the world donning red noses and carrying out charity fundraisers for the cause. Most schools in the UK will sell sponge red noses that kids will wear on the day of the event.
Millions are raised yearly, with a record £108.4 million in 2011.
5. ALS Ice Bucket Challenge – awareness for motor neuron disease
The Ice Bucket Challenge took the world by storm back in 2014. The challenge involved participants being filmed having a bucket of ice thrown over them and then nominating friends and family to do the same.
The purpose was to promote awareness of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as motor neuron disease. While money went to several different charities, millions were raised for the cause.
4. A Tribute to Heroes – in the wake of 9/11
America: A Tribute to Heroes was a benefit concert created by the four major broadcast networks in the US – Fox, ABC, NBC, and CBS.
Broadcast live across the networks in the aftermath of the 11 September terrorist attacks in 2001, it featured several huge entertainers performing to raise money for the victims and their families.
In the end, more than $200 million was raised and donated to United Way’s 11 September Telethon Fund.
3. The World’s Biggest Coffee Morning – bringing communities together
The World’s Biggest Coffee Morning was started by Macmillan Cancer Support in 1991. It encourages people around the UK to host coffee mornings with friends, colleagues, family, and more to raise money for the cancer charity.
Since 1991, the charity event and participants from all over the UK have raised over £113 million for Macmillan Cancer Support.
2. Movember – participation around the world
Movember was started by friends Travis Garone and Luke Slattery in a pub in Melbourne, Australia, in 2003.
It requires men to grow a moustache for the month of November, getting everyone they know to donate to their effort.
The idea is to raise awareness for men’s health, specifically prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health, and suicide prevention.
This is one of the most incredible charity fundraisers around the world that people around the world take part in, raising millions for related charities.
1. The Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity – Poland’s biggest non-profit
Poland’s The Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity aims to support and improve medical care in public hospitals around the country.
It’s the biggest non-profit charity in the country. Jerzy Owsiak founded it as a massive one-day telethon to raise money and awareness for children’s health. It also raises funds for medical equipment and supplies for public hospitals.
In its first year, the charity raised around €1.5 million but continues to smash records each year. It received a whopping €32.7 million in donations in 2023.