Fire Department Fundraiser Ideas

Keeping fire departments well equipped and funded is critical for ensuring the safety of your community. However, not all fire stations or departments receive government funding for all of their expenses. Some departments are staffed partially or entirely with volunteer firefighters and need to hold regular fundraisers to purchase their equipment and support their operations.

This is why it's so important for communities to support their local fire departments and contribute to fundraisers. Raising money for firefighters translates to improved community safety and better working conditions for firefighters who put their lives on the line every time a fire breaks out.

That said, fundraising events designed with a community's interests in mind tend to raise more money and attract more interest. In this article, we'll examine some classic event ideas that generate large donations for emergency services. We'll also look at how to host a successful virtual or hybrid fundraiser campaign using platforms like PayBee. By introducing online tools into the fundraising process, you can market your event to larger audiences, encourage more community support, and ultimately increase the donation gifts your fire station or department receives.  

Classic Fundraiser Ideas for Fire Departments

Some fundraising ideas never go out of style. Despite the fact that modern online fundraising tools can attract plenty of donations through virtual and hybrid events, there's something about a good old-fashioned in-person event that brings out the best in your community. If you're looking at raising community spirit in addition to funds for your FD, consider the following:

Bake Sales

Who doesn't appreciate a classic bake sale? A fire department bake sale fundraiser can be held anywhere -- at a community fair, festival, or even at the firehouse itself. If any of your staff are particularly adept at baking, consider creating fire department-themed baked goods. Fire truck-shaped cookies, cupcakes in the shape of hydrants, or red vines doubling as fire hoses all provide a fun touch to your offerings -- and remind your supporters of where their donations are going!

Car Washes

Car washes are a staple for school and church fundraisers -- but there's something especially fun about being able to hold your car wash fundraising event at a firehouse. Before you do so, however, be sure to learn and comply with all safety and legal issues involved with holding a car wash at your workplace. Plan a route for the cars entering your station or yard so your official firefighter duties don't get impeded. Use road barriers if needed.

As with all car washes, preparation is key. Work out the type of equipment you'll need (soap, sponges, car wax, squeegees etc.) and have it easily accessible for your volunteers. Have refreshments on hand for your workers and donors. Organize your workers so each vehicle gets cleaned ASAP. And of course, market your car wash well in advance of the event (a few weeks or a month), so the community knows what to expect. Use a mix of social media posts and offline marketing (banners, balloons, flyers, posters etc.) to attract business.

Consider using your firehouse car wash as an opportunity to build awareness of fire safety. Pass out pamphlets or share QR codes leading to websites detailing how to handle fire-related emergencies. This added touch lets you fulfill your educational responsibilities while giving the car wash its own unique identity. 

Firefighter Raffles and Auctions

By now, you should know that both raffles and auctions are some of the most popular and profitable events you can offer. And with the increased use of online fundraising tools, like those provided by the PayBee platform, you can hold your next raffle or auction in an in-person, virtual, or hybrid format, allowing you to attract more donors. 

To maximize interest and contributions, offer this activity during a larger event, such as a carnival, concert, or luncheon. Promote it well in advance on social media and highlight any special auction items that you feel will be particularly appealing to your target audience.

Since this auction is meant to raise funds for the fire station, consider offering items or experiences related to the firehouse. You might auction off one of your community rooms to be used for a private event such as a birthday party. Or maybe you could offer a ride along in your fire truck or let people bid on a chance for a fire truck to appear at their next special event. Fire departments have the ability to offer many once-in-a-lifetime experiences, so be sure to leverage this to your advantage during your next auction or raffle.   

Themed Online and Offline Events to Raise More Money

The firefighting profession continues to hold a certain fascination for the general public, something that can be effectively leveraged at your event. Try engaging your community with the following: 

Themed Events and Competitions

Earlier, we mentioned auctioning off fire department-specific experiences like fire truck ride alongs or parties. You can take this a step further by building an entire event or activity around your fire department.

Consider creating a version of the obstacle courses firefighters train on. This might include anything from crawling through a narrow tube to chopping through a plywood board to dragging heavy weights designed to mimic human bodies. If your intended audience is younger, you can create more child-friendly firefighter-themed obstacle courses using inflatables. Charge a registration fee for each different course and let your participants exercise their love of physical fitness.  

If you find you have more success with food-based fundraisers, a chili cook-off is a fun competition that's often associated with fire stations. Allow people to compete against each other with pots of their homemade chili. For an entry fee, each contestant can provide samples of their chili to community members (who can also donate to sample the food and vote on their favorite chili). Have a nice prize ready for the person with the most votes -- and be sure to have plenty of water on hand to keep everyone hydrated!

Social Media Campaigns and Online Fundraisers

Your campaign doesn't have to be limited to in-person events. Some of the most creative fundraising events take place online via social media campaigns. Consider holding a crowdfunding campaign that collects relatively small online donations from a wide pool of supporters, allowing you to raise more money. You can build your online campaigns around a specific goal -- like raising money for a new equipment or repairs to the firehouse. People tend to give generously when they see others rallying around a common purpose, so make sure your needs are clearly stated and that you provide a fundraiser thermometer to show how close you are to your goal.

Partnerships with Local Businesses

Partnering with local businesses and gaining sponsors helps build community spirit. You could offer a Sponsor-a-Firefighter program that allows a business to support a new firefighter's training and equipment needs. Another possibility is to create an "Adopt-a-Hydrant" program where a business sponsor funds the care and maintenance of a fire hydrant (or other vital piece of firefighting equipment). Participating businesses can be awarded plaques and mentioned in e-newsletters and online write-ups, providing them with positive publicity. 

Leveraging Holidays for Fundraising Success

Raising money for your firefighters might be important year-round, but certain fundraisers attract more attention if you can attach them to specific seasons and holidays. People tend to be more generous at key points in the year, and if you can make some of your fundraising events an annual spring, fall, summer, and/or winter tradition, then you can really leverage the holidays for fundraising success. Here are some suggestions:   

Seasonal Events and Festivals

The start of a new season tends to spark special community events families and community members want to participate in. Summer and spring are often marked by fairs. Fall brings harvest festivals. And winter offers holiday markets.

See where your fire department can fit in during these seasonal events. Perhaps your volunteers can run game booths during fairs where you can promote fire safety and educate people about their fire department. Some of your multi-talented firefighters might perform at a festival where they can collect donations, sell raffle tickets, and run auctions. And you can sell FD-branded products (such as an annual calendar) during holiday markets, and use the profits to fund your operations.

Alternatively, the seasons offer opportunities for fire stations to host their own seasonal events. The chili cook-offs described earlier are very popular during the fall and winter season. Summer is a great time to hold a BBQ event. To make the fundraiser truly your own, consider showcasing a fire truck at your event so people can get an up-close and personal look at your vehicles -- which also serve to remind them of what they're supporting with their donations.    

Holiday Specific Fundraisers

Fire stations have been known to host popular Easter egg hunts that can double as fundraising events. Some fire stations can also become haunted houses during Halloween, making them an integral part of any fall festival. Then during the winter months, your volunteer fire department can sell fresh Christmas trees to the community to support your team and maintain your building.

(Incidentally, some fire departments also host a controlled Christmas tree burning during the holidays to show the risks of keeping a tree up too long in the household. This is an excellent opportunity to provide fire safety education to the community and reduce the risk of house fires -- while also impressing the importance of having a well-funded fire department). 

Keep in mind that Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Hanukkah tend to be holidays where community members practice the most generosity. Giving Tuesday, a global day of giving held on the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving, is also a time when charities and nonprofits collect some of their biggest donations. Holding your fundraising events during these dates can help tap into the giving spirit. 

Encouraging Community Participation to Foster Greater Support

Receiving monetary donations from the community isn't the only way a fundraiser can benefit your fire department. Fundraisers are also excellent opportunities to engage with your community by offering volunteer and educational programs. 

Volunteer Programs and Community Outreach

Did you know that, according to the National Volunteer Fire Council, 65% of firefighters (roughly 676,900) in the US are volunteers? However, this number is dropping even as demand for firefighters increases -- meaning that your community events can be an effective recruiting device for new volunteers interested in serving their community as firefighters.

Educational Workshops and Safety Demonstrations

Educating your community about fire safety is an integral part of offering effective firefighting services. Earlier, we discussed how some fire departments host controlled Christmas tree burnings to lower the risk of house fires during the holidays. However, safety demonstrations can take many other forms and be offered year-round.

Many fire stations offer community outreach programs for child safety seat inspections, fire extinguisher training, and home safety training. All of these programs can be shared during fundraisers and other community events.

Improving Your Campaign to Raise More Donations for Firefighters

While the need for a well-equipped and trained fire department continues to be of paramount importance for all communities, not all fire stations receive adequate funding for their services. This makes hosting successful fundraisers vital not only for firefighters but also for the communities they serve. Event planners need to offer classic fundraisers with a track record of success as well as new themed events that attract attention, engage the community, and build monetary support.

To fully support firefighters, be sure to employ an effective fundraising platform like PayBee. Our user-friendly online tools make organizing in-person, virtual, and hybrid galas easier and faster. You'll be able to engage supporters from practically anywhere and assess your fundraising performance to create more effective events moving forward.

But don't just take our word for it. Sign up for a free demo of PayBee's platform and experience first-hand how engaging our virtual auctions and games can be. Ask event-related questions to our team of experts and get connected with our partner network to gain all the tech support and event planning expertise you need. See how our software can enhance your campaigns by contacting us and signing up today!  

FAQs

How can social media campaigns effectively support galas? 

Social media is an effective way to market galas and raise awareness of your organization and its needs. However, you'll want to craft engaging content and post it on channels that will reach your target audience. Spend time researching the type of social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc.) that your donors and supporters frequent. Design content that appeals to your community. For instance, you can promote items for your upcoming charity auction that relate to your audience's interests. Encourage readers to register for your gala, donate to your cause, bid in your auction etc. Include links to your donation pages, registration sites, silent auction etc. to make it easier for users to fulfill your calls to action. 

What are the best practices for organizing a successful charity auction for a fire department? 

Start planning your auction months in advance of your event to give you plenty of time to prepare and gather items. Have a clear understanding of your audience's interests so you can offer items they'll want to bid on. Hire a professional auctioneer who can consult on your event and offer suggestions for more effective strategies. Network with local businesses and existing sponsors to obtain auction items for free or for a discounted price. Consider offering unique experiences like ride alongs that your department can provide. If you decide to use a consignment service to provide high-end items like vacation packages, make sure you're aware of all the rules so you don't end up paying for expensive items. Market your auction months in advance with social media campaigns and email blasts to sustain interest in the auction and attract guests.

How can educational workshops and safety demonstrations be integrated into galas? 

Workshops and fire safety demonstrations can be both entertaining and educational, allowing you to promote them as events and activities in your larger fundraiser. That said, you'll want your event staff to follow any safety requirements for potentially hazardous demonstrations such as Christmas tree burnings. Impress upon your audience that these are not simply entertaining displays but educational courses to prevent future fire-related disasters.