5 Fundraising Ideas That Work for Expat Communities and Their Families Back Home
Expat communities often raise money for a charity in their new country or back home, and relatives in the UK are usually keen to be involved as well. Formats that work across distance are the easiest to run, whether guests join in person, by video call or by sponsoring someone who takes part on the day.
The best ideas keep the effort low for organisers and make it simple for people in different time zones to chip in, so here are some that have worked well.
1. Host a Quiz Night on Video Call
Set the quiz for a time that suits both countries, then let teams of relatives and friends log in from their own homes alongside the local community. One hospice’s first virtual quiz attracted teams from as far afield as Vietnam, so distance matters little once everyone has a screen. Charge a donation per team, share the joining link in advance and ask a friend with a good voice to host.
2. Hold a Matching Event in the UK
While the expat group runs its own event, relatives can host a second one in the UK on the same day and add the two totals together. Families expecting a larger guest list sometimes book marquee hire in London for a garden party, which keeps all the guests together on the lawn. Swap photos and running totals across the two events during the day so each group can see the other’s turnout.
3. Organise a Sponsored Walk
Because each walker covers the distance close to home, a sponsored walk suits a community spread across a wide area. Pick one weekend, agree a distance and let sponsors in both countries pledge a small amount per mile. A single online giving page makes it simple for relatives in either country to donate, and a group photo from each walk puts faces to the total. Short routes keep it open to children and older relatives.
4. Open Garden Days With Tea and Cake
One British-run group in France encourages members to open their gardens each year to raise money for children and young adults with serious illnesses or disabilities, with visitors exploring the grounds over refreshments. A terrace, village hall or community garden can work just as well for an expat group, and relatives back home can send family recipes to bake on the day, sponsor a seat or donate in someone’s name.
5. Publish a Community Recipe Book
Ask families on both sides to send in a favourite recipe with a few lines about who cooked it and when, then collect the entries into a printed booklet or a download. Relatives often hold the older family recipes, so the book ends up covering dishes the community hasn’t tasted in years, and each sale carries a story with it. Sell copies at the other events on this list as well as online, and put the charity’s name on the cover.
Agree on one charity before announcing anything, then set a single total that both countries are working towards and give each side a few clear jobs. A quiz or a walk is enough to test the interest, and a larger event can follow once the group has seen what it can raise.
