Sun shining, school holidays, and sausage sizzles on every corner can only mean one thing - summer has arrived!

With the festive season now behind us and summer in full swing, many Australians are still feeling the spirit of generosity that defines this time of year. If you’ve got a fundraiser underway or plans for one soon, it’s the perfect time to harness this lingering goodwill and raise the much-needed funds to support your goals.

Get started with our Fundraising Campaign Planning Checklist.

Fundraising Over Summer

There are many ways to raise extra money over the summer, but there’s nothing better than a fundraising event to drive donations and boost spirits even further!

We’ve seen clubs and athletes host some incredible events to raise awareness of and drive donations towards their ASF fundraiser. While there are plenty of great year-round creative fundraising ideas, here are some summer-specific ones you can plan.

1. Summer Fete

2. Sausage Sizzle in the Sand

If a summer festival is a bit out of reach, scale things down by hosting a beach barbecue. Is this still a bit too ambitious? You can always lean into an Aussie-favourite sausage sizzle with just one item on the menu.

If the beach isn’t nearby, then turn this into a parkside picnic instead.

Whichever makes the most sense for your location, share the details and a save-the-date well in advance, and include the relevant links to your fundraising page for anyone willing to donate to your campaign.

How to Host a Sausage Sizzle

Kick things off by connecting with local businesses or organisations known for hosting sausage sizzles, like hardware stores or community groups. Ask if they’d be willing to partner with you or provide support, such as hosting the event at their venue or promoting it to their customers. You can also approach local butchers, bakeries, and supermarkets and ask for donations. Many are happy to contribute sausages, bread, or other essentials to community fundraisers, especially if it gives their business exposure.

When sending out emails and promoting your event online, you can also add a call-out for anyone else who’s keen to bring something to the table (literally).

Summer heat can be unpredictable at times, so be prepared for all possible weather outcomes. Borrow a gazebo and umbrellas from friends or family, and make sure you have enough water and SPF to keep your attendees hydrated and protected from the sun.

3. Ice Cream Van

A low-fuss fundraiser that works for clubs and individuals alike, nothing screams summer like the sound of an ice cream van coming up the road. There’s no shortage of ice cream vans in communities around the country, so do some research to find who operates in your local area and get them on board with your fundraiser.

Agree on what works best for everyone involved, whether that’s free scoops, a sweet deal, or another irresistible ice cream offer. As we always recommend, make sure there’s a collection bucket and lots of signage with links to your fundraising page so that everyone can easily donate while they enjoy their sweet treat.

For organisations that are fundraising, pick a day when your club is typically busy, such as a game or training day, and organise the van to arrive then. For individuals, find a spot that gets heavy foot traffic; the more people who pass by, the more reach your fundraiser will have!

If you want to put a healthy twist on this idea, you may also like to look into whether there are any mobile smoothie trucks in your area!

4. Charity Match

Hit the ground running by hosting a charity match fundraising event over the school holidays. This is a great fundraiser idea for sports clubs since they’ll already have everything they need to make it happen; kit, equipment, pitches, and players.

This is a fantastic way to get people at every level of the club and local community involved, and you can even hold multiple matches if you have interested players. Teams can be formed of coaches, kids, parents, players, and even local business owners, all coming together for a fun summer’s day on the field raising money for a good cause.

While the crowd is cheering along from the sidelines, stay on top of promoting your fundraiser by sending around donation collection buckets adorned with a QR code to your online campaign. That way, anyone who doesn’t have cash can still support your cause! 

5. Car Wash

Cool off from the heat and raise funds at the same time with a community car wash day. This doesn’t take much in terms of supplies; a hose, car soap, microfibre towels, some large sponges, and a wheel brush should just about do it.

Car washes are ideal for both individuals and clubs, as you can have as few or as many volunteers as you can get to help out on the day. That being said, the more car washers you have, the more cars you can clean, and the more opportunity there is to get donations for your campaign.

Share the details in advance so that your community knows where to go for a custom car wash, and make sure your ASF QR code is visible so drivers can donate while they wait!

Making the Most of the Season

Over summer, Australians are outside looking for a fun way to soak up the sunshine, so it’s no surprise that this is when we see an increase in donations each year.

By planning your fundraising around the changing seasons, you can make the most out of each, generating the funds you need to achieve your sporting goals. And, when you fundraise with ASF, you can streamline the process for everyone.

Sign up with the ASF today to start fundraising online, and don’t forget that it’s the only way to make tax-deductible donations to sport in Australia!