20+ Walkathon Fundraiser Ideas for Every Cause

The best part? A shoe drive fundraiser won’t cost your organization money—in fact, it’ll help you raise more. All you have to do is request that community members bring gently worn, used and new shoes, sneakers, or athletic shoes they no longer wear to the walkathon.

These fundraisers work because so many people have extra pairs of shoes lying around their homes that they would be willing to donate! A shoe drive fundraiser gives them the perfect way to dispose of shoes they don’t want in a sustainable, eco-friendly way. And, you’ll only increase the number of pairs you receive when you make it easy to donate by accepting shoes at an event that your community members are attending.

Most Profitable Walkathon Fundraiser Ideas

Corporate Donations

Your supporters can give even more to your walkathon without spending more. How? With corporate matching programs!

These programs vary in their requirements and potential impact but ultimately come in three varieties that are relevant for walkathons:

• Matching gifts. When a supporter donates, they can see if they’re eligible for their employer’s matching gift program and request a donation match. This means that when someone pledges to donate during your walkathon, their contribution can be doubled at no additional cost!
• Matching fundraisers. Some businesses will match the donations their employees make and the amount they raise for nonprofits. For example, if a supporter collects $500 in pledges during your walkathon, they can submit a fundraising match request to their employer, bringing a total of $1,000 to your organization!
• Matching challenge. Rather than having individual donors apply for matching gifts with their employers, partner with one business that agrees to match all gifts given during a specific period. This will challenge and inspire your donors to give more before the end of your walkathon.

Additionally, if you have volunteers working your walkathon, encourage them to explore volunteer grants. Volunteer grants are like matching gifts, only for volunteer hours served. For each hour your supporters volunteer—or after hitting a certain number of hours volunteered—their employer will donate to your nonprofit.

Google Ad Campaign

For your walkathon to make money, you need to market it. However, event promotion also costs money, cutting your total funds raised. Fortunately, the Google Ad Grant is a free way to market your walkathon to thousands.

The Google Ad Grant is a corporate philanthropy program offered by Google that provides participating nonprofits with $10,000 in free advertising credits to create search results ads. These ads appear at the top of Google search results when users enter keywords relevant to your nonprofit.

To apply for the Google Ad Grants program, your nonprofit needs to:

• Be a valid nonprofit organization in your country. This means being a 501(c)(3) organization for U.S. nonprofits.
• Be an eligible nonprofit organization type. All nonprofits except for schools, healthcare organizations, and government entities are eligible. However, fortunately for schools and healthcare organizations, their fundraising branches may be able to apply for the Google Ad Grant.
• Have a functional website with valuable content. The Google Ad Grant is a tool for promoting your website, so make sure your website has quality content that you can direct Google Users to.

It may take a week or two to complete the application process and hear back from Google, so make sure to get started with the Google Ad Grant far in advance of your walkathon.

eCard Campaign

Do you know what makes someone more likely to attend an event? A personal, memorable invitation—like an eCard!

eCards are digital greeting cards your nonprofit can send via email, text message, and even social media. Essentially, they consist of a fun, decorative image and a short, personalized message from your nonprofit.

Before your walkathon, send out eCards to your supporter base to invite them to attend as participants or get them excited about pledging donations. Feature an image of your walkathon space if you have a beautiful venue, a fun graphic image related to a walkathon (like running shoes), or a photo representing the cause your walkathon will support.

Check out this example of an invitation eCard from Vineyard Church:

Walkathon Fundraiser Ideas for Cancer

Pink Party

The American Cancer Society estimates that over 300,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in women this year. That means more and more people’s loved ones are going to struggle with a life-threatening illness and unexpected costs for treatment. Between raising money to help cover medical bills and inspiring donors to support life-saving research initiatives, breast cancer can unlock a philanthropic spirit in communities country-wide.

A walkathon supporting breast cancer survivors could have a pink theme to help people demonstrate their dedication to the cause and rally for support. Your organization can sell pink items like t-shirts, wristbands, and bandanas so that everyone who attends can represent the fight against breast cancer. These events can offer a powerful platform for people to share their stories and speak with others affected by the illness.

Superhero Walk

Each year, more than 15,000 children are diagnosed with cancer in the U.S. Families, friends, loved ones, fellow victims, and empathetic community members rally around these children to demonstrate their support and try to raise money to help with medical expenses or fund research. These kids are superheroes, so it only makes sense that fundraising walkathon participants should dress up as superheroes!

Participants will love the opportunity to inspire the children to keep fighting by dressing up as superheroes and walking to raise money. Partner with your local children’s hospital to take superhero requests so kids can be sure to see pictures and videos and (if possible) witness in person their favorite heroes coming together to support them.

Inform race participants about the requested superheroes and sell superhero costumes, such as masks and shields. Community members will jump at the chance to participate in this fundraiser and bring a smile to a child’s face!

Kid’s Face Painting Event

People of all ages should be included in your walkathon. The more people you can appeal to, the more money you can raise to help your cancer-related cause.

Children are affected by this disease just like adults, whether they’re fighting it themselves or seeing a loved one fight it. Kids should get the chance to support your cause, too! Look for opportunities to get kids involved in your walkathon event, like a face painting booth.

Offer face painting to all race participants, and you’ll likely see more kids who want to step up and participate in the walkathon. This will turn your cancer walkathon into a family event and show how entire families are working together in the fight against cancer.

Lantern Release

Cancer has taken so much from so many people. Your walkathon event is a great opportunity for your community to come together for a meaningful memorial event. Hosting a lantern release after your walkathon is a popular way to do just that.

Your organization can sell lanterns at the event for people to release in remembrance of their loved ones. Before getting started, get clearance from the proper local authorities.

With this fundraising idea, you can raise support through the walkathon’s registration fee and get a small boost from selling lanterns. Some participants and community members might even want to make “In memory of” donations to your organization to show their support further.

T-Shirt Sale

Sell matching t-shirts at your walkathon to present a united front against cancer and build a stronger community among your walk participants.

These t-shirts should be branded to your organization and convey your cause with a creative graphic design. When people see the shirts, they should know:

• Who organized the event
• What cause your organization supports
• What event you hosted

This will ensure that long after the walkathon ends, participants will remember your organization and continue supporting your mission. Branded merchandise is also a great way to raise awareness for your cause. Everyone who sees your t-shirts should learn enough to find you online and get involved.

Walkathon Ideas for Churches

Candlelight Celebration

The premise behind a candlelight celebration is for walkathon participants to purchase a candle and carry it during the walkathon or place it along the side of the walking path to light the way. All you need for this idea are candles to sell to congregation members. Many churches also choose to use their walkathon fundraiser as an opportunity to pray as a group.

The candles offer an opportunity for participants to light a candle in memory of a loved one, in honor of a mission project, or merely to demonstrate their faith. Congregation members will love the opportunity to feel connected to one another and support your church in the process.

Color Run

Add a fun twist to your walkathon to engage congregation members (or students at a Christian school!).  Encourage participants to wear all-white clothes and show up ready to be covered with colored powder by eager volunteers.

Set up multiple color stations along your walkathon path. At these stations, volunteers can dispense the colored powder from condiment bottles or spray bottles. Alternatively, you can have powder bottles along the path that participants pay to pick up and blast each other with.

Angel Festival

An angel festival is the perfect walkathon fundraiser idea for the holiday season, allowing congregation members to dress up as angels for the event.

This idea doubles as a costume contest that can be held at the end of the walkathon. Earn extra money for your church by allowing walkathon participants and spectators to vote for their favorite angel costume by donating money to your organization. Each dollar can count as a single vote for their favorite angel. Parents will want to vote for their children, and friends will vote for one another, guaranteeing a fun competition for your community and an extra source of revenue for your church!

Roadside Caroling

Host your walkathon during the Christmas holidays and promote it as a caroling walkathon. There are two ways you can accomplish this walkathon:

• Place carolers in groups along the walkathon path to sing to walkathon participants as they pass.
• Organize volunteers or participants into groups along the walkathon path, ready to lead the walkers in singing a popular carol along each stretch of the path.

Many festive-minded congregation members will love the opportunity to sing and be sung to as they walk to support your church, increasing the number of participants in your fundraiser. If you live in a small town or tight-knit neighborhood, this is an easy way to get the whole community into the holiday spirit!

Pancake Party

Here’s a pro fundraising tip: You can improve any event by offering pancakes as a reward when it’s over! And walkathons are no exception.

Have volunteers from your church organize a pancake breakfast for participants to enjoy after the race. Depending on when you schedule your walkathon, the meal could be promoted as a brunch or breakfast-for-dinner party. Either way, offer all the classics like pancakes, eggs, bacon, and juice to entice more people to attend.

The cost of breakfast can be built into the registration fee for participants, but you can also charge a small fee to others who just want to attend the pancake party. Don’t forget to set up collection plates at the breakfast for additional donations, just in case members of your congregation and walkathon participants want to contribute more.

School Walkathon Fundraiser Ideas

Obstacle Course

Need to add some extra challenges to your walkathon to get your students excited? Try incorporating fun obstacles at regular intervals along the walkathon path. Consider classic obstacles like:

• Rope climb
• Tire run
• Mud crawl
• Stair climb
• Beam walk

Students will be raring to go and prove that they can overcome any obstacle you throw at them! Let supporters make bonus pledges based on the number of obstacles their student can complete! Don’t forget to remind students to donate their gently worn, new and used shoes to your school’s shoe drive fundraiser so you can raise even more!

Block Party

Turn your walkathon into a party for your entire community with this walkathon fundraising idea!

While the walkathon happens on your school track, turn your parking lot into a party for other students and community members. Allow community members to purchase tickets to participate in entertaining activities such as:

• Water balloon toss
• Face painting
• Cakewalk
• Minigolf
• Giant checkers
• Lifesize Pac-Man

Community members will love the chance to come together to play games and have fun. Sell concessions to increase the time (and money) people spend at your block party and give walkathon participants something to look forward to after completing their walk.

Freeze Tag

Want to encourage more students to engage with your school’s fundraiser? Try turning your walkathon into a giant game of freeze tag.

Before the event, allow students to purchase “freeze” and “unfreeze” cards to use during the game. During the walkathon, students can “freeze” a fellow participant (who then must remain still until unfrozen). Students can become unfrozen by using one of their “unfreeze” cards or receiving an “unfreeze” card from a fellow participant.

Students will want to purchase more cards to ensure they can keep walking, get ahead of their friends, and raise money for their school.

Selfie Walk

Increase involvement in your walkathon with a fun twist that boosts your event’s online visibility by hosting a selfie walk! This idea is particularly effective for middle school and high school walkathon events.

The premise behind a selfie walk is quite simple. Participants must take pictures of themselves at checkpoints during the walkathon and post them online to verify their progress. You can set up photo stations along the path with props and checkpoint markers.

When participants post the pictures, they can even use a custom hashtag! Pledgers (and walkathon supervisors) can then keep tabs on participants with these image updates. Encourage family and friends of your participants to comment and like posts to show their support and offer encouragement! Participants will love the opportunity to share with their social networks that they are supporting their school and having fun while doing it!

Costume Party

Who doesn’t love dressing up in a costume? Try hosting a Halloween walkathon where participants come dressed in their favorite costumes! There are several ways to ensure the success of this walkathon twist:

• Host a costume contest after the walkathon, where people vote with dollars for their favorite costume.
• Hold the event during a school day. You may be surprised by how many students are willing to pay to get out of class!
• Sell basic costume items so all students have the chance to participate.

Students will be excited to participate in your walkathon when you incentivize them with getting out of class or the chance to win a costume contest. Ensure you promote it with signs and announcements in your school so everyone knows about the opportunity. Plus, you can pair this idea with a shoe drive fundraiser for even more revenue!

Unique Walkathon Fundraiser Ideas

Trivia Checkpoint

Incorporate a trivia game into your walkathon to give your participants a chance to show off their knowledge. At intervals throughout the walkathon, invite participants to answer a series of trivia questions about a specific subject. If they’re correct, they can keep going. If not, they should complete a challenge, like doing a certain number of push-ups, before continuing.

The trivia game also opens up a new avenue for pledge collection. Participants can collect pledges based on how far they walk and how many questions they answer correctly.

Puppy Party

Puppies can improve almost every event, including your fundraisers. Turn your walkathon into a puppy party to encourage greater participation and get everyone excited on the big day.

Partner with a local animal shelter to bring dogs to your walkathon. The promise of puppies will attract more participants and inspire them to walk farther. After all, walking long distances with a puppy trotting alongside you is easier.

Make sure to bring dog toys and treats that participants can purchase to entice the dogs to run alongside them. Have plenty of food and water on hand for them and handlers from the shelter to help in case any dogs get over-excited. As a bonus, don’t forget to offer walkathon participants a chance to adopt the dogs from the local shelter.

Virtual Road Race

People from all over the world can participate in your walkathon when you make it virtual. The process of a virtual road race is simple:

• People register on your organization’s website.
• The participants collect pledges and donations.
• They walk a predetermined distance (1 mile, 5K, 10K, marathon).
• The participant tracks their distance and time on their phone, smartwatch, or other device.
• They report their distance to you and their pledgers.
• Your organization raises money!

This unique idea your organization to a broader audience and allows all your supporters, no matter where they are, to help you raise money!

Snowcone Social

Getting people to participate in outdoor walkathons when it’s hot outside can be difficult. To entice people to attend and participate in your walkathon fundraiser, host a snowcone social during the event. Even in the heat of summer, people will jump at the chance to join in your walkathon if there is a promise of snowcones!

Get volunteers from your organization to make and distribute various flavors of snowcones to your participants. This is an easy, refreshing snack idea because participants can eat their snowcone while they walk without slowing their pace. They will get an extra boost of energy from the cool snowcone and be encouraged to walk farther, especially if there’s another snowcone booth further down the track!

Wine Walk

Host a 21-and-over walkathon for adults in your community to pay for a glass of wine, walk around a track, and chat with their friends. This fun alternative to a beer run will attract adults in your community who want an easy, relaxing way to raise money for your organization.

With a wine walk, ensure the participation fee includes the first glass of wine. But allow participants to purchase a limited number of extra drinks to raise even more money for your organization! This walkathon fundraiser idea will easily attract people and allow community members to have fun with their friends, all while raising money for a great cause!

Walkathon FAQs

What is a walkathon fundraiser?

A walkathon fundraiser is a peer-to-peer fundraising event where participants raise funds for a cause they’re passionate about by collecting pledges for donations based on how far they walk.

How does a walkathon fundraiser work?

While walkathons may differ in format based on the organizer’s preferences, they generally follow these steps:

1. Participants sign up to participate in your walkathon and commit to raising funds on your organization’s behalf.
2. Participants collect donation pledges from their peers per unit of distance walked. For example, a donor might pledge $5 for every mile walked.
3. On the day of the walkathon, participants will walk a pre-set course while tracking their distance.
4. After the walkathon event ends, donors fulfill their pledges based on the distance the participant walked. In the example above, if the participant walked 5 miles, then the donor would give $25 to the organization.
5. The hosting organization receives the funds and puts them toward its mission or cause.

What types of organizations can host a walkathon?

While all types of organizations can host a walkathon, they are most popular among nonprofits, schools, school-adjacent organizations (like PTAs and booster clubs), and faith-based organizations.

Additional Resources

Walkathons are a tried-and-true fundraising idea that will pull in the revenue you need to power your mission, making them a staple in many organizations’ fundraising toolboxes. However, because they’re such a popular fundraiser, your community may grow weary of seeing them in your events calendar. Spice up your next walkathon with these ideas and keep your community excited about participating year after year.

If you want to learn more about fundraising events for nonprofits, check out these resources:

• 25+ Seasonal Fundraising Event Ideas to Stock Your Calendar. Explore a list of fundraising events with ideas for any time of the year!
• 100+ Amazing and Unique Fundraising Ideas for Everyone. Looking for ideas that will help your organization stand out? Explore our guide for your next event.
• 30+ Fun and Easy Fundraising Ideas for Kids to Raise More. If your nonprofit works with children, you’ll want to host kid-friendly fundraisers. Take a look at these ideas!