7 Ways to Raise Money for Cancer Research

Inspiration can come from any number of places. Often, those hosting a fundraiser in honor of a loved one will design an event around an activity the person who passed enjoyed. For example, in April 2024, the Hartz family hosted Race for Hope 2024, a charity go-kart race in memory of their adrenaline-loving son, Miles, who passed away due to osteosarcoma in 2023. The event raised over $72,000 for osteosarcoma research.

There are plenty of other ways to raise money for charity, too. Here are seven more cancer fundraiser ideas to get you started.

1. Host a Tournament

Charity tournaments are a great way to raise money for cancer research while also satisfying people’s competitive nature. To organize a fundraiser tournament, look to your contacts list and community’s interests when selecting a tournament venue. While golf tournaments — like the annual Give Kids a Shot tournament hosted by the Alwan family — are common, they are not the only game in town.

A few OSI Board of Ambassadors members are capitalizing on the current pickleball craze by planning a pickleball tournament in Los Angeles to raise money for osteosarcoma research.

You do not need to limit yourself to sports, either. In June 2024, Megan and Dan Tigue hosted a billiards tournament in memory of Miles Hartz, their nephew. You can even start a charity event featuring family-friendly activities, such as potato sack races, hula hooping, dancing, and more.

2. Organize a Walkathon Fundraiser

One of the most common ways to raise money for charity is a community walk/run — and for good reason. They attract attention and almost everyone can participate!

The Wampler family hosted their first 5K in 2018 to honor their daughter who passed from osteosarcoma at age 10. Lizzy’s Walk of Faith has grown every year. Since its inception, the Lizzy’s Walk of Faith Foundation has contributed over $126,000 to the OSI and more than $314,000 to other childhood cancer nonprofits.

Bonus: Design shirts for your event that participants can wear again and again to continue to create awareness around your cause.

3. Sell T-shirts

Another option is to skip the walk and go straight to selling T-shirts (or other items) with proceeds going to cancer research. That’s what the Team Izzy Foundation did. It raised more than $15,000 selling T-shirts during its first Go Gold campaign in 2023. Plans are already underway for another Go Gold campaign this September.

4. Hold a Coin Drive

This is one of our top fundraising ideas for kids, because it is so easy. All you do is put jars out for people to drop change into. It works well at places where money changes hands, like at a pizzeria or ice cream shop. You will need to get the business owner’s approval to put out your jar and a plan for how the money will be safeguarded and collected.

This fundraising idea works even better when there is some friendly competition involved. In 2023, Sarah Bright got her son’s school involved in a coin drive in September, which is Childhood Cancer Month. She worked with school administration to have a jar placed in each classroom and invited students and teachers to drop change in over 11 days. The class that raised the most money at the end won a pizza party, donated by the school’s parent organization. Coins for a Cure raised more than $2,000 for the OSI!

5. Fundraise on Facebook

Sometimes, all it takes to raise money for a good cause is to ask! Facebook and crowdfunding websites like GoFundMe make it easy to raise money for charity. In 2023, the OSI received over $18,000 in donations that were raised via Facebook. Starting your own fundraiser only takes a few clicks!

6. Add the OSI to Your Estate Plan

Another impactful yet simple way to raise money for charity is to include a nonprofit organization that supports your cause in your estate plans. You can specify that the organization receive a certain amount of money or a percent of your estate upon your passing. Robyn Roth and Mack McKinley have included the OSI in their estate plan as a way to honor their beloved Neapolitan Mastiffs who passed away from canine osteosarcoma.

Before her passing at age 67 in November 2022, osteosarcoma survivor Katharine (Katie) Newton included a $10,000 donation to OSI in her estate plan to support osteosarcoma research.

7. Share a Personal Passion

Sometimes people find inspiration for unique fundraising events within their own lives and interests. Take Justin Peyret and Kevin Lynch. Passionate about cycling, Justin and Kevin have just completed a 200-mile bike ride in honor of their longtime friends’ daughter Lydia, who survived two bouts with osteosarcoma. Supporters opted either to cycle with Justin and Kevin or sponsor their ride.

Similarly, personal trainer Brad Linder and osteosarcoma parent Lotta Meyer hosted a charity workout event in 2023 to raise money for the OSI. Lotta, whose son Jarred is living with osteosarcoma, led the workout and Brad set up the donation and registration page and brought in his equipment for the class.

Thank You, Donors!

Whether you choose to align your fundraiser around your own passions or those of the osteosarcoma patient you are honoring, we are grateful to everyone who supports osteosarcoma research by giving to the Osteosarcoma Institute. We would love to be included in your fundraising efforts. For ideas, guidance on how to organize an event, or assistance pulling together the details, please email Development Manager Vanessa Peterson at giving@osinst.org.