Fundraising ideas

Where to start

The best fundraising ideas are often the simplest eg:

• arrange a quiz night at your local pub
• organise a summer BBQ
• ask your local supermarket if you can pack bags in return for small donations from shoppers
• plan a karaoke night and charge people for singing a song - charge a bit more if they sing out of tune!

Ideas to inspire you

If you lead a busy life, try and think of something which isn't going to take too much of your time. Organising a party for 300 people when you've got a full-time job and two kids might be a little ambitious. The simplest ideas often work the best.
Kelly, Cumbria

Here are just a few of the ways that people have raised money for us.

Sports mad?

• Dig out your walking boots
  Set the date, set the distance, and do a sponsored walk.
• Anyone for a quick dip?
  Try a sponsored swim at your local swimming pool.
• Have a tee party
  Organise a golf day at your local golf club.

Food lover?

• Feeling portly?
  Shed pounds whilst raising pounds for the NAS by taking part in a sponsored slim.
• How many pounds?
  Bake a cake and run a competition to guess the weight.
• Be healthy
  Get sponsored to give up chocolate for a month.

Party animal?

• Host a dinner party
  Get food and wine donated or ask people to bring a course each and make a donation.
• Roll back the years
  Hold a 50s rock 'n' roll dance, an 80s disco or a party to celebrate your favourite decade and charge for entry.
• Tee hee
  Hold a comedy night and donate the proceeds from ticket sales to the NAS.

Celebrating?

Got a milestone birthday or anniversary this year? Mark your big year with the challenge of a lifetime. Whether you decide to abseil from a tall building or leap from a plane, we guarantee you an experience you'll never forget!

• Fed up with acting your age?
  Then don't! Try anything from a sponsored swim with sharks to staying in a haunted house. 
• Still got a full head of hair?
  Shave it off for autism. For the not so brave, shave your beard or moustache instead.
• No hair?
  Get sponsored to wear a silly wig.
• Change your life - and those of people with autism
  Set a New Year's resolution: give up smoking, lose weight or get sponsored to learn a new language.

Get your kids involved

Fundraising isn't just for grown ups. With bags full of imagination and energy, fundraising is perfect for kids. Remember, always tell an adult what you are doing and show them our safety and legal information.

• Has your school got talent?
  Find out by hosting a talent show, including music, dancing, acting, comedy, etc.
• Smarty pants
  Fill a large jar with smarties and charge others to guess how many are in the jar. The winner wins the smarties!
• Helping hands
  Help around the house. Ask your parents to pay you for doing odd jobs.
• Ssshhhhhh
  Hold a sponsored silence. Parents love this one. Can you guess why?

Take part in an organised event

• Fancy running, cycling, swimming or trekking?
  We've got an event for everyone, whether you're a beginner or really experienced. Take on the challenge.

Have fun! Think about what you and your friends enjoy doing - if you like a good natter, a sponsored silence might not be the thing for you. If popping down the pub is your idea of a good night out, what could be a better way to raise cash than through a pub quiz?
Stephen, Berkshire

Create a fundraising web page

It's really easy to set up your own fundraising page online and only takes a few minutes. Create your page today at www.justgiving.com/nationalautistic or www.virginmoneygiving.com

Tell us what you're doing

If you're raising money for the NAS, we'd love to hear from you. Just email fundraising@nas.org.uk