Mother's Day fundraising ideas for charities and not for profits

For charities and not for profits, this creates a natural opportunity to connect giving with something deeply personal.

The most successful campaigns don’t just sell products, they give supporters a way to honour, remember or celebrate someone meaningful.

A quick note: Mother’s Day can be a sensitive time for some people. Use inclusive language like “mother figures” or “someone special”, and consider offering options to give “in memory” as well as “in honour”.

Fundraising approaches that work

1. Story-led appeals

Mother’s Day is ideal for storytelling.

Share:

• A story of a mother your organisation has supported
• A family impacted by your work
• A supporter story about someone they’re honouring

The goal is to connect:

love and care → your cause → the impact of giving

2. Email and social campaigns

Mother’s Day campaigns work best when they’re multi-touch but simple.

A basic structure:

• Launch email (introduce the campaign)
• Reminder email (closer to the day)
• Final call (last chance to give)

Support this with:

• Social posts featuring stories and dedications
• Clear links to donate

Our sibling enterprise, GiveNow, has a wonderful resource to get you started, Beginner's guide to digital fundraising.

3. Hold a raffle

Ask a local business to donate a gift voucher for a:

• dinner for two,
• local retailers for small gifts and coupons, or
• a local day spa to donate a free treatment.

Hold a raffle and sell the tickets for $1 or 6 for $5, for example. During the raffle, also sell drinks and snacks at a profit to generate for extra funds.

Tip: Consider combining a raffle with another of these fundraising events, such as a craft fair, for maximum benefit.

Explore more resources about hosting an event.

4. Corporate or partner campaigns

Partner with aligned businesses to:

• Match donations
• Donate a percentage of Mother’s Day sales
  
• Promote your campaign to their audience

This can significantly extend your reach and maybe tap into a new market.

Explore more resources about partnerships

Top tips for a strong campaign

1. Focus on emotion first

Mother’s Day is about connection. Lead with:

• Gratitude
• Care
• Memory

Not:

• Transactions or urgency alone

2. Keep the journey easy

• Make donating quick (especially on mobile)
• Avoid too many steps
• Clearly explain what happens after giving

3. Use inclusive language

Not everyone celebrates Mother’s Day in the same way.

Include options to:

• Honour a mentor, carer or role model
• Give in memory
• Support others in place of giving a gift

Take the next step

If you’re planning a Mother’s Day fundraiser, it’s also a good time to think about how it fits into your broader funding mix. Alongside community fundraising, many organisations successfully combine: donations and appeals events like Mother’s Day campaigns grants and funding opportunities.

That’s where the Funding Centre can help.

If you’re not yet a member, you can learn more about Funding Centre membership plans and pricing.

If you’re already a member, now’s a great time to search for current grant opportunities or update your preferences so you don't miss an opportunity.