From raffles to running, Water First supporters have found many creative ways to give back over the years. Fun and engaging, these fundraising efforts could be something as large as a national campaign, or as simple as a community bake sale. They are donor-initiated, citizen-led, and wholly appreciated by Water First – and they work! Even small fundraisers can have a big impact.
What is a third-party fundraiser?
A third-party fundraiser is any fundraising activity not initiated by Water First. Either a part of or the total amount of money raised is given back to Water First.
Take a look at just some of the third-party fundraisers Water First supporters have taken part in recently. We hope they inspire you to think of Water First during your next community event, or to put together a fundraiser of your own!
Sharing talent and treasure
Leonardo Thomson, a Water First supporter in Edinburgh, Scotland found a creative way to use his talents when he raised money by playing the bagpipes in the streets each weekend to delighted and generous passers-by.
“I chose to raise funds for Water First because I was extremely impressed with their focus on education programs to address the complex water challenges many Indigenous communities in Canada face. What made Water First stand out to me is that they are so vocal about their mission. It’s deeply comforting knowing that every penny will go towards such a fantastic initiative!”
Giving dirty water the kiss-off
Cheekbone Beauty donated a portion of proceeds from the sale of special lip glosses developed for their #GlossedOver campaign. With clever names like Luscious Lead, E. Coli Kiss and Mercury Shimmer, the lipglosses called attention to the importance of providing safe drinking water to Indigenous communities, and asked consumers, “Would you put it on your lips?”
Run with it
The Fraser Valley Running Club supported Water First by donating $10 from every registration to their Virtual Trail Camp event. Motivating campers to participate in weekly challenges that could be done anywhere, the fundraiser brought awareness to Water First’s work while encouraging participants to be active. Before the runners even made it to the finish line, more than $1300 had been raised!
Hold a raffle? That’s the ticket!
Dirt First Garage in Vancouver held a raffle with all proceeds going to support our work. The prize? A custom 1978 Yamaha SR500. Not surprisingly, all the tickets sold out and a total of $15,000 was raised for Water First – now that’s what we call a win-win situation!
Other ways to give:
- Speak to your community service clubs! Rotary, Kinsmen, 100 Women Who Care, and Kiwanis are just some of the organizations that raise money for charities.
- Already have a small business? Consider holding a fundraiser through your company and donating a portion of proceeds from a specific product or during a set period of time. It could look something like this:
- Until October, Phil’s Photos will be donating 20% of every purchase of his beautiful prints to Water First. Show him some love by snagging a print through his recently launched online store, and help support our work addressing water challenges in Indigenous communities.
- Planning a garage sale, bake sale, or community bbq? Consider donating a percentage of the proceeds raised – and don’t forget to “advertise” your event on community sites for maximum exposure.
Be sure to tag us in posts about your fundraiser or give us a heads-up so we can give you and your third-party fundraiser the shout-out you deserve!
