Author: Chloe Colquitt

Fundraising is about much more than just raising money. It’s about creating unforgettable experiences that engage supporters and leave a lasting impact. And on that note: welcome to the exciting world of mystery box fundraising! In today’s article we’re putting a spotlight on this fun and unique fundraising idea, which is rapidly growing in popularity. Keep reading to find out why mystery box fundraisers work so well, and discover how you can create your own mystery box event in our step by step guide.

What is a mystery box fundraiser?

Firstly, let us explain exactly how a mystery box fundraiser works.

Simply put, a mystery box fundraiser is where participants purchase a box that contains a surprise item (or various items). The contents of the box are unknown to the buyer until they receive and open it, hence the term “mystery box.” 

The idea is to create an element of surprise and excitement for the participants – making it more attractive to potential donors.

To enter a mystery box fundraiser, individuals are usually required to pay a fixed amount of money, which typically ranges from a few dollars to hundreds of dollars, depending on the value of the items inside the box. The prizes that are included in the mystery box can vary greatly, ranging from lower value items such as a retro sweet hamper, to high-value items such as electronics, gift cards, or even vacations.

Of course, to encourage people to part with their hard-earned money, most mystery box fundraisers are centered around a theme, which gives the participant at least some indication that they’ll actually enjoy what’s in the box – but more on themes later. Remember: the success of a mystery box fundraiser is not just about the items inside the box. It’s also about the perceived value of the box compared to the price paid, and the overall execution of the event.

How popular are mystery box fundraisers?

Mystery box fundraisers have quickly become one of the most popular fundraising activities for organizations and causes of all sizes. The unique and exciting nature of mystery boxes creates a sense of anticipation and surprise for participants, making them an ideal fundraising tool.

At Givergy, we’ve seen firsthand the incredible success that can be achieved through a well-executed mystery box fundraiser. Our clients have reported that their mystery box events have been among their most successful fundraising activities to date, generating impressive funds while providing a super fun and memorable experience.

The popularity of mystery box fundraisers has been further fueled by the growth of online marketplaces, which offer an easy and convenient way to purchase and distribute mystery boxes. Through these online marketplaces, organizations can reach a wider audience and generate more funds through their mystery box fundraisers than ever before.

How can I organize a mystery box fundraiser?

Sold on the idea of the mystery box, but need some inspiration on where to start and how to create your own epic fundraising event? We’ve got you covered! Read our step by step guide below and kick-start your mystery box fundraiser today.

Step 1: Set your goals

The first step in creating a successful mystery box fundraiser is to set your goals. Determine how much you want to raise and who your target audience is, as this will impact the rest of your decisions.

Step 2. Choose your theme

Once you have your goals in mind, it’s time to choose a theme!

There are so many themes you can choose for your mystery box fundraiser, depending on your audience and the type of items you have available. Here are some popular themes to consider:

• Seasonal: Create mystery boxes that are tailored to a specific season, such as a winter-themed box with cozy items like hot cocoa mix, fuzzy socks, and a holiday candle.
• Beauty and wellness: Fill your boxes with beauty and wellness products like face masks, essential oils, and yoga accessories for a relaxing and rejuvenating experience.
• Food and drink: Offer mystery boxes filled with gourmet snacks, craft beers, or artisanal cheeses for foodies and beverage enthusiasts.
• Hobby-specific: Create boxes tailored to specific hobbies like gardening, hiking, golf or crafting, filled with items that enthusiasts will love.
• Entertainment: Offer mystery boxes filled with entertainment-themed items like movie tickets, popcorn, or gaming accessories like a new controller or headset.
• Celebrity or TV show: one for the superfans! You could theme your box around a specific celebrity, musician or even favorite TV show. Items could include back-stage passes, a video message from the celebrity or cast, or even items from the set. 
• Travel-themed: Create a mystery box with items related to travel, such as a travel pillow, luggage tag, and passport holder, for those with wanderlust.
• Self-care: We could all do with a bit more self care in our lives right? Offer a box filled with self-care items like candles, bath bombs, and relaxation tools for those looking to pamper themselves.

Remember to be creative and have fun with your theme. And always ensure that the items you include are high-quality and desirable to your audience.

Step 3: Decide the box details

Now you have a theme, it’s time to decide the finer details of your fundraiser. This includes the number of boxes you will sell, the price per box, and how the boxes will be distributed.

Step 4: Secure your items

The success of your mystery box fundraiser will depend on the quality and appeal of the items you include in the boxes. Reach out to local businesses and ask for donations or consider purchasing items at a wholesale price. Givergy can also help you source consignment items to include in your mystery box with a wide range of artwork, sports memorabilia, and even travel packages or unique experiences. These items are less likely to fit inside of a box, but if you include them as vouchers or tickets, they’re sure to bring about just as much excitement! 

Step 5: Create your marketing plan

To generate interest and excitement for your fundraiser, you’ll need to create a marketing plan. Use social media, email newsletters, and other channels to promote your mystery boxes and create a buzz around your fundraiser.

Step 6: Prepare your boxes

Once you have your items and your marketing plan in place, it’s time to prepare your boxes. Make sure to carefully package each item and create a system for ensuring that each box is filled with the correct items, so that they reach your participants safely.

Step 7: Distribute your boxes

The final step is to distribute your boxes. You can sell them online, at events, or through other channels. Be sure to clearly communicate the details of your fundraiser and the value of your mystery boxes to potential buyers.

Start your mystery box fundraiser today

A mystery box fundraiser is an innovative way to encourage participation and engagement from your supporters. With the element of surprise and the chance to receive a valuable prize, your supporters will be excited to take part and make a contribution to your organization. Plus, the unique and interactive nature of the fundraiser makes it a great way to build community and create a buzz around your cause.

If you’ve ever been involved in fundraising before, you know it’s a challenge. Getting everyone together, putting in the hours, collecting donations, organizing sponsors. It can be a nightmare. However, one of the biggest challenges is coming up with an idea that everyone agrees on and is excited about. There’s nothing worse than planning an event with someone against the idea, they tend to drag their heels a bit. So get an idea that everyone is excited about. If you’re struggling for inspiration, here are some unique and quirky fundraising ideas you can put on the ideas board.

Google Ads

This one may be a little strange to start with and perhaps confusing. But for a lot of nonprofits, online ads are a great way to raise extra money with minimal effort. What’s more, some platforms will reduce the cost of hosting adverts due to the fact that it is for a non-profit. You’ll be amazed at how a simple ad can run in the background and slowly generate money. There isn’t much more to it. Set it up and watch donations trickle in. 

T-shirt fundraiser

People love to not only donate to their favorite causes, but they also love to show everyone else that they’re supportive of one. Whether it’s buying a keychain, car sticker, poster or yes, a t-shirt. If it’s to help out their favorite non-profit then it’s the perfect item to purchase. They may have already donated recently but by selling a t-shirt back to them can make you some extra profit. But that’s the key, making a profit. See if you can get the t-shirts made up relatively cheap, perhaps print them yourself at a local business, then sell them at all of your other non-profit events. Don’t forget to have an online shop that supporters can purchase from too.

Phone a thon

Grab a team of people and start dialing! But let’s put a spin on it too. Your team of people can call local and national businesses asking them to donate to your non-profit but why not have a few people write emails and contact some on social media too? There are so many ways to get in touch with businesses these days, not just by calling them on the phone. So make sure you make the most of it. As for the length of time in your phone a thon? We suggest either 24 hours or 26 hours. That way in the 24-hour slot, you have the opportunity to contact every company no matter what time zone they’re in – that’s right, think beyond the 9-5 in your state!

Buy a brick

If you’re fundraising for a new building or outhouse or something to do with construction, this is the perfect fundraiser. Get people to buy a brick or anything else that’s to do with the construction of the building. Perhaps someone wants to buy a window, a sink, some insulation, or even a roof. There are plenty of ways to grow this in order to maximize the number of funds donated. But if you’re part of a community that wants to help but struggles financially, buying a single brick can help get everyone involved.

Paper airplane competition

We absolutely love this one and you’ll be amazed at how competitive people can get. We suggest hosting this type of fundraiser as part of a bigger event that requires a donation to enter – perhaps at half-time at the local school football game or during intermission of a talent show. Let people know before the event starts so they have plenty of time to craft their plane using paper. You could hand them a piece of paper upon entering the event or leave them on seats for people to find. You might even print the information on the piece of paper, so it has a purpose too. Just don’t forget to collect the paper afterwards otherwise you may end up with a severe little problem on your hands.

Reverse raffle

This is another perfect idea to go alongside your evening entertainment. Perhaps you are running an auction or a gala, perhaps it’s an award or talent show. Raffles are pretty common but let’s face it, they’re over relatively quickly and often fall flat beyond that. Why not have the excitement last longer and host a reverse raffle? That’s right, reverse. Instead of pulling out winners from the bowl of numbers, you’re pulling out losers. The last number in the bowl is the winner. If you have multiple prizes you can say every 5th or 10th ticket is classed as a winner. Make the order of prizes known in advance so there can be no cheating. But we personally think this is a great way to keep the excitement going all night.

Envelope fundraiser

Do you have a stand or a dedicated space to raise some money alongside others at an event? An envelope fundraiser is a great way to receive donations by doing little work and allowing people to donate what they want. Have a wall filled with envelopes from 1 to 99. The idea is that you pick an envelope and whatever number is on the front is the value of money the donator puts inside. This gives people the freedom to donate a reasonable amount of money – something that won’t break the bank or change found in their wallet. But it also means that if you fill the wall with donations you can collect thousands of dollars in just one afternoon.

Cutest pet contest

Do you know someone with a pet? Well, then it probably doesn’t come as much of a shock that they’re very fond of their family animal and will do anything to show off how amazing they are. So having a cute pet contest is the perfect way to get people swarming to take part in your fundraiser. Have them enter their pet into the contest at a price, perhaps $5-10 and then the winner can collect a cash prize. It’s really simple, and you can have the public vote on social media so that this uses as little of your time as possible.

Rubber duck race

If you live near a river or stream, we urge you to host a rubber duck race. It is probably the most thrilling challenge you will ever host. Participants buy a rubber duck from you, the duck is marked with a waterproof marker (usually a number that corresponds to an entrants name). All ducks are released into the water at the same time, this usually happens on a bridge of some sort. A net is downstream waiting to collect them all but the first duck to cross the finish line is the winner! It’s such a thrill!

Everybody wants to have a golden ticket. Even if they don’t know what it is, you know that if there were tickets available you would want the golden one. This is why there’s always so much buzz surrounding a golden ticket when you announce one. We must admit that a golden ticket fundraiser tends to work best alongside other fundraising events, so keep that in mind. It doesn’t mean you should always have it as a sideshow, but having it as the main event can leave people slightly alienated because of the initial high cost. Once people are in the mood for donating, a golden ticket fundraiser is more attractive.

What is a golden ticket fundraiser?

A golden ticket fundraiser involves a lot of money – of course, it’s a gold ticket, not a bronze one! But this means selling tickets for higher prices and in turn, giving our rewards that cost more money. It’s a high-risk high-reward event essentially. This is why we mentioned bolting it onto another fundraiser because not everyone is going to want to take that risk.

It’s important to note that just because you’re hosting something with high risk and high rewards, it doesn’t have to mean high financial risk. We’ll get into this later on with some golden ticket fundraiser ideas, but think outside the box a little for now and we’ll circle back. 

People buy tickets to your golden ticket fundraiser and then they win. Most of the time we suggest making this a ‘luck’ based win, as this will make everyone feel as though they have a fair chance. Nobody can buy more than one ticket and with a random draw that’s on display for everyone – the result cannot be disputed either.

Why would you host a golden ticket fundraiser?

There are many reasons to host a golden ticket fundraiser but ultimately, you’re trying to raise money. But perhaps you have been donated a high-value item for your prize draw – significantly higher than any other item. You could make this your golden ticket fundraiser item. Have people buy separate tickets for this fundraiser and select someone at random to win.

You might host a golden ticket fundraiser in places like schools or sports teams. It’s something that every pupil or team member will want, such as a new pair of cleats or books for a year. The golden ticket can allow them to have something they’d typically only dream of. That’s why you’d host a golden ticket fundraiser because it’s a huge attraction for a lot of people – giving your other events a lot of awareness and attendance also.

What events can run alongside a gold ticket fundraiser?

The best thing about a golden ticket fundraiser is that while they will potentially grab the most headlines and conversations throughout your community, they don’t need to be the main event. It’s a situation where everyone might turn up to purchase a ticket and have a chance at winning the golden ticket fundraiser, but it’s not the only thing going on.

With some sideline events such as a wine pull, you may find that nobody is really interested in them. So instead of making money, they tend to take up room in at your silent auction event. The golden ticket fundraiser will always attract attention, but what other events should you run alongside them? We suggest events that require a ticket to attend. These work best because you double down on your profits. If you’re hosting a gala, add a golden ticket fundraiser onto the side, that way you make a profit on the gala and the fundraiser. 

That doesn’t mean you can’t host a golden ticket fundraiser for events that don’t require tickets such as bake sales, but it does lessen the chances of people buying more than just a ticket to the fundraiser. Anything is better than nothing, so whatever you do, consider this idea.

Winning ideas for a golden ticket fundraiser

If you haven’t had a big ticket item donated to your cause it can be difficult to fund a golden ticket fundraiser. But, all you need to do is select something, work out how much you need to break even, and sell your tickets accordingly. Don’t sell tickets for a cruise at just $10 each and at the same time, don’t sell a dinner for 2 at a local restaurant at $100 a ticket. Here are some ideas that you can use for the winning ticket – expensive and more budget-friendly.

• Holiday for two
• Spa days
• Luxurious dinner
• Bottle of wine
• Gift basket
• Principle for the day
• Coach for the day
• Lunch with a favorite teacher
• New sports gear
• New books
• Large Walmart voucher
• Dance lessons
• Cooking classes
• Hot air balloon rides
• Helicopter experiences
• Fast car driving experience
• Theater trip to NYC