Fundraise for Merlin - Do your own thing

Planning an Alpine bike challenge, run across the desert, or Atlantic rowing challenge? Or maybe a coffee morning, cake sale or zumba party then look no further than raising money for Merlin!

Planning your fundraising

Fundraising is incredibly rewarding and although it may take time to organise an event or activity, it will give you an enormous sense of satisfaction. We are here to support you and look forward to working with you to make your event the best it can be. Follow our fundraising tips for success!

Before your event

Request your fundraising guide – get in touch with our fundraising team and request your guide. It is packed with tried and tested fundraising tips, and everything you need to help you prepare for your event. Or you can download it here.

Plan your fundraising – sit down and plan what you are going to do and when you are going to do it. Start talking to your friends and family and see if they can help. Book a venue, source raffle prizes, book the DJ! Contact us to request fundraising materials.

Set up your online giving page -  visit JustGiving or Virgin Money Giving, or for a new way to fundraise set up an online guess2give sweepstake.

Publicise your event – now is the time to tell everyone about it. Ring the local paper, get it in your work newsletter or on the intranet, put posters up in local town.

Keep it safe and legal – check you have done everything to ensure your event or activity complies with fundraising law. Take a look at our Keeping it safe and legal information.

After the event

Your event is over – pat yourself on the back for all your hard work! There are a few things left to consider, most importantly sending us your hard earned sponsorship money and donations, and thanking those who helped you put your activity or event together.  Make sure you send a thank you email, pen a letter or call anyone who helped you get your event off the ground.

We’d also love to hear how your event went.  Why don’t you send us an email about your event including any photos of you fundraising for Merlin? We’d love to include you on our list of inspirational fundraisers.

You can get in touch on email at challengingyou@merlin.org.uk or send a letter to the Fundraising Team, Merlin, 12TH Floor, 207 Old Street, London, EC1V 9NR.

Collecting your sponsorship money – take a look at our guide for collecting in your money.

Gift Aid Eligibility – Find out how to make your donations eligible for gift aid.

Banking – Find out how to send your donations to Merlin