Mother’s Day provides a special opportunity to honor the incredible women who’ve shaped our lives. But what if we could extend this gratitude beyond our own families, turning our appreciation into support for a cause close to our hearts?
This Mother’s Day, your organization can celebrate moms everywhere while also fundraising for your mission with a creative Mother’s Day fundraiser. Last year, people spent an astounding $35.7 billion on Mother’s Day, which is an 86.75% increase since 2009. Why not give them a chance to make their gifts extra meaningful while also supporting charity?
Here’s what we’ll cover so you can make the most of this flower-filled holiday:
- Mother’s Day Fundraising FAQ
- The Most Thoughtful Mother’s Day Fundraiser
- Classic Mother’s Day Fundraising Ideas
- Creative Mother’s Day Fundraising Ideas
From thoughtful cards to family-friendly events, we’ve got you covered! This year, make Mother’s Day memorable for moms and impactful for your organization.
Mother’s Day Fundraising FAQ
When is Mother’s Day?
While this time-honored tradition occurs on a different date each year, Mother’s Day in the U.S. is always on the second Sunday in May, and it’s never too early to start preparing!
What are the most popular Mother’s Day gifts?
While some people get incredibly creative with their Mother’s Day gifts, the classics are always popular. According to a survey by the National Retail Federation, 74% of people buy their moms greeting cards, 74% of people buy flowers, and 60% pay for special outings like brunch.
What’s more, consumers search for thoughtful gifts. Survey respondents indicated that the most important factors in purchasing a Mother’s Day gift are uniqueness (47%) and those that create a special memory (42%).
We’ll share plenty of Mother’s Day fundraising ideas centered around these classics while also offering some unique ideas moms are sure to love!
What makes Mother’s Day a good fundraising opportunity?
Mother’s Day presents a unique opportunity for fundraising due to its universal appeal and deep emotional resonance. Here are several reasons why Mother’s Day is an excellent time for fundraising:
- Increased Willingness to Spend: Just like other gift-giving holidays such as Christmas, people spend money on gifts for Mother’s Day. Fundraisers can tap into this willingness to spend by offering meaningful ways for donors to honor their mothers by purchasing items or experiences where proceeds benefit a good cause.
- Emotional Connection: The day is rooted in expressing love for mothers. Fundraising campaigns that align with these feelings can motivate people to give in honor of someone they care about.
- Wide Audience Appeal: People of all ages and backgrounds celebrate Mother’s Day, providing a broad audience for your fundraiser. Almost everyone has a mother figure in their life, making it easier to engage a wide demographic.
Choose fundraisers that align with these benefits, and you’re sure to lead an emotionally inspiring campaign.
The Most Thoughtful Mother’s Day Fundraiser: Donation eCards
Holidays like Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and Mother’s Day are perfect times to send personalized greeting cards to loved ones. In fact, Americans purchase an incredible 113 million cards for the holiday every year.
Donors are probably already planning to get their moms a greeting card, so let them make it even more meaningful by having the proceeds go to your charity.
Virtual greeting cards, or eCards, open your fundraiser to everyone, including those who can’t be with their moms on Mother’s Day. Donors can buy the cards ahead of time and schedule them to be sent on Mother’s Day.
With eCardWidget, you can even enable tribute donations, so donors can give in their moms’ names, transforming it into a thoughtful, personalized gift! Then, they can either send the card via email or print it out to hand to their moms on Mother’s Day.
How To Launch Your Mother’s Day eCard Fundraiser
Using our fundraising eCard tools, create your Mother’s Day donation eCards in a snap with these three easy steps:
- Create Mother’s Day-themed designs that convey warmth, appreciation, and the spirit of the occasion. In your design, use flowers, hearts, and family illustrations. Then, pair that with a simple “Happy Mother’s Day” or a heartfelt message. You might offer both sentimental and humorous messages, so donors can pick eCards that reflect their relationships.
- Embed our widget into your organization’s website or Shopify storefront. Either set a specific price or allow custom donations. You can also enable tribute donations and add suggested giving amounts.
- Donors purchase your eCards to send to the mother figures in their lives. They’ll add the recipient’s contact details, write a personalized message, and provide payment details. They can send it instantly, or schedule it to deliver on Mother’s Day.
Your organization receives the proceeds, and donors send extra thoughtful cards. For a visual tour of our platform, check out this video:
This Mother’s Day, use this low-cost fundraiser to break down geographical barriers. If all goes well, transform your eCard fundraiser into an annual tradition, inspiring people to show appreciation for their mothers for years to come.
Classic Mother’s Day Fundraising Ideas
Celebrate Mother’s Day in a traditional way with some classic Mother’s Day fundraisers. From flowers to brunches, these ideas are based on time-tested traditions.
Mother’s Day Flower Fundraiser
Flower sales skyrocket on Mother’s Day. In fact, around 30% of annual flower sales occur around this holiday, so use this as an opportunity to make some money for your mission.
You might partner with a local florist, offering options for pick-up or delivery on or before Mother’s Day. Alternatively, set aside some money to buy bouquets wholesale. Then, set up a booth at a local farmer’s market or a popular grocery store and let people know that each sale supports your mission. To go virtual with this fundraiser, you can set up an online store to sell flowers.
Whether you sell roses, lilies, carnations, or tulips, you’ll put a smile on moms’ faces with this fundraiser.
Bake Sale
Moms love sweet treats just like the rest of us! A Mother’s Day bake sale fundraiser is a delightful way to raise funds by tapping into the universal love for homemade treats.
Your volunteers and team members can bake a variety of goods, like:
- Cookies and brownies
- Gourmet cupcakes
- Artisan breads
- Mother’s Day-themed treats, like heart-shaped cakes or lavender-infused cookies
Promote the sale through social media, local community boards, and word of mouth, encouraging people to purchase these delicious items as gifts for their mothers.
Mother’s Day Brunch Fundraiser
Brunch offers an enjoyable way to celebrate mothers while supporting a charitable cause. Your organization or group can choose a local venue like a restaurant or outdoor garden. Then, offer a sumptuous menu of breakfast and lunch favorites, such as pancakes, omelets, salads, and quiches. Top it all off with tasty mimosas or tea.
Sell tickets in advance with options for individual seats or family tables. You can enrich the atmosphere with Mother’s Day decorations and live music. Not only will this Mother’s Day fundraiser bring families together to enjoy a memorable meal, but it’ll also raise substantial funds for your mission.
Garden Party
This Mother’s Day fundraiser elevates the traditional brunch. Host a garden or tea party in a beautiful outdoor setting. Charge admission and offer light refreshments, entertainment, or even a silent auction.
Live classical music, poetry readings about motherhood, and an array of exquisite teas and pastries can enhance the experience. You might also add an element of surprise by setting a secret location, revealed only after tickets have been purchased. You can even create custom event invitations that attendees can send to their moms.
Through careful planning and promotion, a Mother’s Day garden party can become a cherished annual tradition that keeps donors coming back each year.
Paint-and-Sip Night
Host a themed paint-and-sip night, where participants can create art while enjoying wine or cocktails. Guided by a professional artist, attendees paint a predetermined piece, often with a Mother’s Day theme, such as floral compositions or abstract representations of motherhood.
This Mother’s Day fundraiser capitalizes on the trend of people wanting to give unique experiences to their moms on this special day. Beyond ticket sales, you can generate more revenue by selling additional drinks.
Handmade Gift Market
Showcase local artisans with a handmade gift market. Your market should feature a wide range of unique, handcrafted gifts ideal for mothers, such as:
- Handmade necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and rings
- Pottery and ceramics, including beautifully crafted mugs, bowls, vases, and decorative items
- Artisanal foods like chocolates, jams, honey, and baked goods
- Artwork like paintings, prints, and photographs from local artists
- Bath and body products, like handmade soaps and lotions
Set up your market in a community center or park. By charging vendors a booth fee or taking a small percentage of sales, you can raise money, support local businesses, and provide a one-stop shop for thoughtful Mother’s Day presents.
Mommy and Me Photo Shoot
Capture the special bond between mothers and their children through professional photography sessions. Partner with local photographers who will provide their services at a discount for a good cause. Then, participants can purchase photo session packages with the proceeds going to your organization.
Mother’s Day 5K
A Mother’s Day 5K turns pavement into a party, where sneakers hit the ground not just for fitness but to honor the supermoms in people’s lives. Transform your event into a celebration of motherhood by adding elements like:
- Supermom capes for all running moms to wear
- Special race bibs designating “mom,” “grandma,” or “mom-to-be”
- A “stroller division” for moms running with little ones
Every registration contributes to a great cause, and every participant receives a commemorative T-shirt or medal. You might even create special award categories. With a charity fun run, everyone can make memories and a difference in one fun-packed morning!
Family Picnic
Depending on where you live, the weather warms up around Mother’s Day, making it the perfect time to get outside. Host a family picnic day in a local park. This laid-back, family-friendly event can include live music, fun games, and activities tailored for all ages, making it the perfect way to enjoy quality time while supporting a great cause. Be sure to offer picnic baskets for pre-order.
Jewelry Fundraiser
Jewelry is one of the most popular Mother’s Day gifts. Pattern, a global eCommerce accelerator, tracked consumer demand on Amazon over the course of a year. During their study, necklaces saw a 56% increase in demand the week before Mother’s Day. Meanwhile, bracelets saw a 17% increase, and bracelets saw a 10% increase.
Try hosting a jewelry fundraiser for Mother’s Day. You can collaborate with local jewelers to create custom jewelry pieces, with a portion of proceeds benefiting your cause. Kendra Scott, a popular jewelry company, also offers jewelry fundraisers. Through the Kendra Gives Back program, you can organize a fundraiser where 20% of purchases made during the event directly benefit your cause.
Check out this Facebook post from The Princess Project San Diego, which recently hosted a successful fundraiser at their local Kendra Scott:
Potted Plant Sale
Spruce up moms’ gardens with this Mother’s Day fundraiser! From vibrant flowers and succulents to aromatic herbs, potted plants make thoughtful gifts that keep on giving. This event taps into the popular tradition of giving plants to honor mothers while also supporting your cause. Not to mention, it also works well as a spring or Easter fundraiser!
Purchase directly from wholesalers, or coordinate with a local garden center that will give you a portion of each sale. Alternatively, gardening enthusiasts or gardening clubs might donate or sell their plants to you at a low cost. You can even purchase flower bulbs from a fundraising company.
Creative Mother’s Day Fundraising Ideas
While most moms love flowers, greeting cards, and jewelry, others might appreciate some of these more unique ideas. Try out these Mother’s Day fundraising ideas that are sure to draw a crowd.
Double the Love: A Mother’s Day Match Challenge
This Mother’s Day fundraising idea is simply a matching donation challenge with a fun name. Here’s how it works:
- A corporate sponsor or major donor will pledge to match a portion or all of the donations made to your nonprofit during a specified time.
- You’ll invite donors to give in their moms’ names, letting them know their gifts will be automatically doubled.
- Once the fundraising goal or deadline is reached, the sponsor will contribute to your nonprofit.
When people know their gifts will have twice the impact, they’ll be incentivized to give. In fact, 360MatchPro’s matching donation challenge guide shares that 84% of donors are more likely to donate when a match is offered, while 1 in 3 donors will donate even more than originally planned.
Yard Clean-Ups
Spring cleaning is upon us, and you can celebrate by turning it into a Mother’s Day fundraiser for your cause. Yard clean-ups are a practical service where volunteers beautify community members’ yards for donations. Rejuvenate people’s yards by:
- Mowing lawns
- Weeding gardening beds
- Spreading mulch
- Planting flowers and shrubs
Not only will donors appreciate the thoughtful gift idea for the moms in their lives, but volunteers will enjoy the fun opportunity to support your cause.
Pop-Up Wine Pull
Among those who plan to buy alcohol for Mother’s Day, 58% of consumers say their top choice is wine. Turn the gift-buying process into a fun game of chance with a pop-up wine pull.
Set your event up in a high-traffic area like a local business or community center. Then, encourage participants to buy tickets to randomly select a wrapped bottle of wine, with the thrill of potentially choosing a high-value bottle. Your selection should include a range of values, from more affordable wines to a few high-end bottles. According to OneCause, the average wine pull is priced at around $25.
Mom’s Cookbook
Create a recipe exchange where participants donate to receive a collection of treasured family recipes contributed by members of your community or organization. People will send in their recipes. Then, you’ll compile them into a digital or printed cookbook to sell.
Mom-Themed Quiz Night
Put your community’s mom knowledge to the test with a mom-themed trivia night. Focus on fun-filled categories like famous mothers from history, literature, and pop culture. Participants will form teams, pay an entry fee, and battle it out for the ultimate prize. Your event will be all about team spirit, friendly competition, and honoring moms!
Mom-Themed Obstacle Course
Transform Mother’s Day into an exhilarating adventure with a mom-themed obstacle course fundraiser. Participants will tackle a series of fun, challenging obstacles designed to playfully mimic the hurdles of motherhood.
From navigating a stroller through an obstacle-filled “supermarket” to assembling toys against the clock, this Mother’s Day fundraising idea is sure to get a few laughs while celebrating moms in your community. Entry fees contribute to your cause, making every leap, dash, and giggle a step towards making a difference.
Final Thoughts: Inspiring Generosity on Mother’s Day
Mother’s Day is more than just a day for flowers and chocolates. It’s a moment to acknowledge the profound impact of mothers in our lives. This time-honored tradition has been around for over a century, and it’s not going anywhere. The sooner you can associate it with your cause, the better!
Once you choose your favorite Mother’s Day fundraising idea, check out these resources to maximize your campaign’s results:
- Fundraising Flyers: Examples & Tips to Make Yours Stand Out. Effective marketing can make all the difference for your Mother’s Day fundraiser. This guide shares tips for creating flyers to post around your community for your Mother’s Day fundraiser.
- Father’s Day Fundraisers That Your Community Will Love. Father’s Day is just around the corner. Make dads feel just as special as moms with these thoughtful fundraisers.
- How to Thank Donors: Sincere Ideas To Win Donors’ Hearts. After your Mother’s Day fundraiser wraps up, try these donor appreciation ideas to say thanks to anyone who contributed.
