35 fundraising ideas to celebrate 35 years

For 35 years, ADSS has been supporting local people affected by dementia and the people who care for them. Every fundraiser, no matter how big or small, helps ensure more families receive the support, guidance and hope they need.

Whether you're organising your Charity of the Year, planning a team-building event or simply looking for fresh fundraising inspiration, we've brought together 35 ideas to help your colleagues have fun, give back and make a lasting difference.

Which one will your team choose?

Take on a challenge

Challenge events are a fantastic way to bring colleagues together, boost team spirit and achieve something extraordinary, all while raising vital funds for people affected by dementia.

Idea 1: Marathon

Go the distance. Train together, support one another and cross the finish line knowing every mile has made a difference.

Idea 2: London to Brighton Cycle

Take on an iconic ride. Gather your team, conquer the miles and enjoy an unforgettable fundraising challenge together.

Idea 3: Trek

Reach new heights. From Snowdon to the Yorkshire Three Peaks, a sponsored trek is perfect for teams who love the outdoors.

Idea 4: Skydive

Take the ultimate leap. An unforgettable experience that's guaranteed to get hearts racing and sponsorship rolling in.

Idea 5: Dragon Boat Race

Paddle together, succeed together. Teamwork is everything as you race towards the finish and your fundraising goal.

Idea 6: Tough Mudder

Get muddy for a great cause. Tackle obstacles, cheer each other on and celebrate an incredible team achievement.

Bring the office together

The best workplace fundraisers don't need months of planning. These simple ideas are easy to organise, encourage everyone to get involved and bring a little fun to the working day.

Idea 7: Office Olympics

Go for gold without leaving the office. Organise fun challenges like paper plane throwing, desk chair relays or speed typing, and let departments battle it out for the title of Office Champions.

Idea 8: Quiz night

Put your knowledge to the test. Host a lunchtime or after-work quiz, charge an entry fee and add a raffle or refreshments to raise even more for ADSS.

Idea 9: Dress down day

Swap suits for something more casual. Ask colleagues to donate for the chance to ditch the business attire or add a fun fancy dress theme to make it even more memorable.

Idea 10: Office bingo

Eyes down for a full house! A bingo session is quick to organise, easy for everyone to join and guaranteed to bring plenty of laughs to the workplace.

Idea 11: Guess the baby photo

Can you match the baby to the colleague? Ask everyone to submit a childhood photo, charge a small entry fee and see who knows their teammates best.

Idea 12: Desk decorating competition

Let creativity take over the office. Whether it's seasonal, colourful or completely quirky, invite teams to decorate their workspace and vote for a winning design with donations deciding the champion.

Food & drink fundraising

Good food has a wonderful way of bringing people together. Whether it's a quick coffee break or a themed evening, these fundraising ideas are easy to organise and guaranteed to get colleagues talking.

Idea 13: Afternoon Tea

Tea, cake and good company. Invite colleagues to enjoy an afternoon of homemade treats, with donations helping to support local people affected by dementia.

Idea 14: Bake Off

Ready, set, bake! Put your baking skills to the test and crown your workplace Star Baker, with colleagues donating to sample and vote for their favourites.

Idea 15: Curry Night

Spice up your fundraising. Host a curry night at work or a local restaurant and enjoy great food while raising money for a great cause.

Idea 16: Pizza lunch

Swap your packed lunch for pizza. Bring the team together over a slice or two and ask for a donation to enjoy a relaxed lunchtime fundraiser.

Idea 17: Coffee morning

Put the kettle on. Sometimes all it takes is coffee, cake and conversation to bring people together and make a real difference.

Get Competitive

A little friendly competition can go a long way. Whether you're battling it out on the golf course, football pitch or office leaderboard, these fundraising ideas are a great way to unite colleagues and raise money for a worthwhile cause.

Idea 18: Golf Day

Tee off for a great cause. Bring together colleagues, clients or suppliers for a day on the course, with competitions, prizes and fundraising along the way.

Idea 19: Football tournament

Kick off your fundraising. Organise a five-a-side tournament and let departments or local businesses compete for the championship trophy.

Idea 20: Padel tournament

Serve up some friendly competition. One of the UK's fastest-growing sports is perfect for bringing colleagues together while supporting ADSS.

Idea 21: Step challenge

Every step makes a difference. Challenge individuals or teams to clock up the most steps over a week or month and see who reaches the top of the leaderboard.

Idea 22: Fantasy Football

Turn matchday into fundraising day. Set up a workplace fantasy league, charge an entry fee and crown your office football expert at the end of the season.

Celebrate throughout the year

The calendar is full of opportunities to fundraise. From festive favourites to seasonal celebrations, these simple ideas help keep your team engaged while supporting local people affected by dementia.

Idea 23: Christmas Jumper Day

Add some festive fun to the workplace. Encourage colleagues to wear their favourite Christmas jumper in return for a donation and spread some seasonal cheer.

Idea 24: Summer garden party

Make the most of the sunshine. Host a garden party with food, games and refreshments for colleagues, clients or the local community.

Idea 25: Halloween fancy dress

Get spooky for a good cause. Invite everyone to dress up, decorate the office and vote for the best costume with a charitable donation.

Idea 26: Pancake Day challenge

Flip your way to fundraising success. Hold a pancake-making or pancake-flipping competition and see who can claim the title of office champion.

Idea 27: Valentine's raffle

Share the love this Valentine's Day. Organise a themed raffle with donated prizes and give colleagues the chance to win while supporting a great cause.

Make it meaningful

The most successful partnerships are about more than raising money. These ideas help engage your colleagues, raise awareness of dementia and create a lasting impact in your workplace and community.

Idea 28: CEO challenge

Lead from the front. Challenge your CEO or senior leadership team to take on something bold and inspire the whole organisation to get behind them.

Idea 29: Payroll Giving Week

Small donations. Lasting impact. Run a dedicated campaign to encourage colleagues to sign up for Payroll Giving and show how regular giving changes lives.

Idea 30: ADSS Auction

Bid for a great cause. Auction donated prizes, experiences or vouchers and invite colleagues, clients and suppliers to get involved.

Idea 31: Team volunteer day

Give your time. Change lives. Spend a day volunteering with ADSS and experience first-hand the difference your support makes to local families.

Idea 32: Make miles matter

Every mile counts. Walk, run or cycle your chosen distance and turn every mile into vital funds for people affected by dementia.

Idea 33: Pedal for a purpose

Get on your bike for a great cause. Whether it's a solo challenge or a team ride, every pedal stroke helps support local people living with dementia.

Idea 34: Family fun day

Fun for everyone. Bring colleagues, families and the local community together for a day of games, food and entertainment while raising funds for people affected by dementia.

Idea 35: Create your own

Make it uniquely yours. Whether it's something adventurous, creative or completely unexpected, we'll help you turn your fundraising idea into reality.

Need help bringing your idea to life?

Whether you're planning your first fundraiser or your biggest Charity of the Year campaign yet, our fundraising team is here to help with ideas, resources and plenty of encouragement - email fundraising@adss.org.uk.