Successful Fundraising Ideas for Groups and Clubs

Scavenger Hunt Fundraiser Idea

How to put on a successful scavenger hunt fundraiser

The best thing about hosting a scavenger hunt fundraiser is that it can take place anywhere you want it to, and there are no set rules that you need to follow. People love to take part in scavenger hunts because they are highly interactive and require both teamwork and skill. Whether it’s searching for different items, solving clues, or completing challenges, everyone who participates is actively involved in the experience.

The more adventurous you can make your scavenger hunt fundraiser, the better. Of course, you can always do an indoor scavenger hunt, but if you really want people to get excited about your event, do it outdoors over a large area. Set it up so that participants have the opportunity to explore a new location, discover hidden gems within their own community, or learn interesting facts about landmarks and historical sites. The possibilities are endless!

Here are a few scavenger hunt fundraiser ideas that could be a lot of fun

Themed Scavenger Hunt

Create a themed scavenger hunt based on popular movies, books, or historical events. For example, you could organize a Harry Potter-themed hunt where participants search for magical artifacts or solve wizarding challenges. Offer themed prizes or merchandise for the winners.

Mystery Scavenger Hunt

Create a mystery-themed scavenger hunt with a storyline, characters, and plot twists. Participants can role-play as detectives, solving clues, interrogating suspects, and unraveling the mystery as they progress through the hunt. Offer mystery-themed prizes or experiences for the winners.

Photo Scavenger Hunt

Create a photo scavenger hunt where participants must take photos of specific items, landmarks, or actions. Set up a list of photo challenges, such as finding a certain type of flower, posing with a stranger, or recreating famous movie scenes. Participants can share their photos on social media with a designated hashtag.

Historical Landmarks Scavenger Hunt

Explore a historic area or city and create a scavenger hunt that highlights significant landmarks, monuments, and historical sites. Participants must locate each landmark based on clues or descriptions provided.

Zoo or Wildlife Park Hunt

Host a scavenger hunt in a zoo, wildlife park, or aquarium, where participants have to solve clues or learn facts about different animal species. Create clues related to animal habitats, behaviors, or unique characteristics. This is a great idea for school-related fundraising.

Shopping Local Businesses Scavenger Hunt

Work with the local business community to have the scavenger hunt run through their stores. Each participating business hides a unique clue that participants must solve. You could ask that each participating business give a donation to your club or group in return for the promotional awareness that your scavenger hunt event will provide.

Outdoor Adventure Scavenger Hunt

Organize a camping or hiking scavenger hunt in a scenic outdoor location. Participants navigate trails, locate hidden checkpoints, and complete outdoor-themed challenges while enjoying the beauty of nature. You can set this one up using tagged GPS coordinates.

Steps for a Successful Scavenger Hunt Fundraiser – Planning, Organizing and Execution

Select an outdoor venue suitable for a scavenger hunt. It could be a park, a campus, a zoo, a section within your city, your entire town, or any area with enough space and interesting landmarks.
Decide on the format of your scavenger hunt. Will it be a traditional hunt with physical items to find, or will participants solve clues to reach various checkpoints? There are scavenger hunt apps available where people can check in at different locations or find stashed items through geocaching. If you have a website, you can use QR codes at certain locations where people can get clues to the next stop. Each QR code takes them to a unique landing page on your website that provides the clue. You can also provide all your clues through text messaging.
Create a list of items or clues for participants to find. Make them challenging but achievable.
Determine the duration of the scavenger hunt. Will it be a few hours or a full-day event?
Decide how participants will be grouped into teams. You can assign teams randomly, let participants form their own teams, or group people by age, organization, or skill level.
Set up your website to accept registrations and decide if you want to collect a participation fee or ask for donations. You can also use an event registration platform such as Eventbrite.
Promote your scavenger hunt fundraiser through various channels such as social media, email newsletters, posters, flyers, and local community websites. Be sure to mention that all proceeds go to support your group or club.
If your scavenger hunt will take place in a public park or another venue that requires permits, be sure to obtain them in advance.
Prepare the necessary materials for the scavenger hunt, such as clue cards, web pages, maps, pens, and any prizes or rewards for participants.
If your scavenger hunt involves checkpoints, set them up in advance and assign volunteers to manage each station. Provide volunteers with instructions on how to assist participants and verify completion of tasks.