10 Effective Fundraising Activities That Support Families and Research for Cerebral Palsy

Raising a child with cerebral palsy involves expenses that most families never anticipated. Therapies not covered by insurance, adaptive equipment with price tags reaching thousands of dollars, home modifications, specialized educational services, and countless other needs create financial strain that can feel overwhelming.

Beyond individual family needs, advancing research that might prevent CP or improve treatments requires substantial funding. Raising awareness so that people with CP receive understanding and inclusion in their communities takes resources. Supporting organizations that advocate for disability rights and services demands financial backing.

Fundraising for cerebral palsy addresses all these needs. Whether you’re a family seeking resources for your own child, someone wanting to support a loved one with CP, or a community member hoping to make a difference, effective fundraising activities exist at every scale from small local efforts to major coordinated campaigns.

The fundraising ideas that follow range from large organized events to grassroots activities anyone can start. Each has proven successful in raising money and awareness for cerebral palsy causes.

Activity 1: Participating in STEPtember, the Global Walking Challenge for CP

STEPtember represents one of the largest and most successful cerebral palsy fundraising campaigns worldwide, raising over $1.3 million in 2025 alone with participation from more than 13,000 people.

The concept is elegantly simple. Throughout September, participants commit to taking 10,000 steps per day (or completing equivalent adapted activities for those who can’t walk) while raising money through sponsorships from friends, family, and community members.

What makes STEPtember particularly powerful is its inclusivity. The campaign was specifically designed to be accessible to people with disabilities. Those who use wheelchairs can participate by wheeling equivalent distances. People with limited mobility can adapt the challenge to swimming, cycling, or other activities matching their abilities. The focus is participation and fundraising, not athletic achievement.

Teams form around workplaces, schools, families, or friend groups, creating social connection alongside the fitness challenge. The team element provides motivation, accountability, and shared purpose that individual challenges often lack.

Registering for STEPtember is straightforward through the Cerebral Palsy Alliance website. Participants receive fundraising tools, tips, and support materials. Personal fundraising pages make it easy for sponsors to donate online, and the campaign provides regular updates and encouragement throughout September.

The funds raised support cerebral palsy research, family support services, therapy programs, and equipment provision. Participants aren’t just getting fit; they’re funding services and research that make real differences for people with CP.

For families affected by CP, STEPtember offers an opportunity to turn their daily reality into community engagement and fundraising. For others, it provides accessible entry into supporting CP causes through an achievable, healthy challenge.

The campaign’s growth year over year demonstrates its effectiveness. The combination of personal challenge, team support, and clear connection to CP creates a fundraising model that works.

Activity 2: Organizing Community Walk Events and Fun Runs

Walking events and fun runs represent some of the most common and successful fundraising activities for cerebral palsy organizations. United Cerebral Palsy affiliates and local CP support groups organize these events in communities across the country.

The basic structure involves participants registering for the walk or run, usually with an entry fee, and then raising additional funds through sponsorships from friends and family. Events typically include 1-mile, 5K, and sometimes 10K distances, ensuring options for various fitness levels.

Successful walk events require significant planning. Securing permits for public spaces, arranging timing systems, recruiting volunteers, obtaining sponsor support from local businesses, promoting the event, and managing logistics on event day all demand coordination. However, established CP organizations often provide toolkits and support for communities wanting to organize local events.

What makes these events effective fundraisers is the combination of entry fees, sponsorships, and often corporate matching. A company might sponsor the event directly, covering costs so that all entry fees and donations go directly to the cause. Participants then raise money from personal networks, multiplying the impact.

Beyond fundraising, walk events build community. Families affected by CP meet each other, often for the first time. Community members learn about cerebral palsy through participant stories and information booths. Local media coverage raises awareness beyond event attendees.

Many walks incorporate celebration and education. Entertainment, food vendors, information tables from therapy providers and equipment companies, and speakers sharing CP experiences create festival atmospheres that feel celebratory rather than charity-focused.

For families with children with CP, walk events provide opportunities to be visible and celebrated rather than isolated. Seeing hundreds of people walking to support CP research and services creates powerful emotional experiences and genuine community connection.

Organizing a walk requires advance planning (typically 6-12 months), but the impact makes the effort worthwhile. For those not ready to organize, participating in existing walk events provides simpler ways to fundraise and contribute.

Activity 3: Hosting Benefit Galas and Formal Fundraising Dinners

Benefit galas represent high-impact fundraising events that can raise substantial sums in single evenings. These formal events typically include dinner, entertainment, speakers sharing personal CP stories, auctions (live and silent), and direct donation appeals.

Galas target a different donor base than walk events. Ticket prices for galas typically range from $100 to $500 or more per person, attracting donors with higher giving capacity. Corporate tables purchased by businesses bring groups of employees and clients, expanding reach.

The expenses involved in hosting galas (venue rental, catering, entertainment, printing, advertising) mean that careful budget management is essential to ensure significant net proceeds. Securing sponsors to cover event costs allows all ticket sales and donations to benefit the cause directly.

Successful galas create emotional connections between attendees and the cause. Video presentations featuring families affected by CP, speeches from individuals with CP or their parents, and clear communication about how funds will be used inspire generous giving.

Auction items drive significant revenue at many galas. Donated items from businesses and individuals create opportunities for competitive bidding. Experiences (vacation packages, tickets to sporting events or concerts, exclusive dining experiences) often generate more excitement and higher bids than physical items.

Live auctions with professional auctioneers and “fund a need” segments where attendees make on-the-spot donations without receiving anything in return can be highly effective when well-executed. Clear communication about specific funding needs (a year of therapy for one child costs $X, adaptive equipment costs $Y) helps donors understand the impact of their gifts.

Organizing galas requires committees with diverse skills including event planning, business connections for soliciting sponsors and auction items, marketing expertise, and relationships with potential attendees. Major CP organizations have staff supporting gala planning, but volunteer committees do most of the work.

For families affected by CP, galas provide platforms to share stories and educate communities about cerebral palsy in dignified, celebratory settings. Being honored at galas or sharing experiences from stages validates family journeys and builds understanding.

Activity 4: Capitalizing on Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month in March

March is Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month, providing a dedicated time when CP-focused fundraising and awareness efforts receive heightened attention. Coordinating fundraising activities during March leverages existing awareness campaigns and media attention.

Schools, workplaces, and community organizations often participate in awareness month activities. “Wear green days” where people wear green (the CP awareness color) in exchange for donations create simple, highly visible fundraising opportunities. Organizations can charge $5 to wear green instead of standard dress codes, with proceeds benefiting CP causes.

Educational fairs during March combine awareness and fundraising. Information booths about CP, demonstrations of adaptive equipment, presentations from therapists and specialists, and personal story sharing educate communities while fundraising through entry fees, vendor participation fees, or direct donation solicitation.

Social media campaigns during March reach wide audiences with minimal cost. Families sharing daily facts about CP, personal experiences, or fundraising appeals benefit from heightened attention to CP topics during awareness month. Hashtags like #CPAwarenessMonth, #CerebralPalsyAwareness, and #WearGreenForCP connect posts to broader conversations.

March fundraising parties transform awareness into action. Host parties with green themes where attendees make donations to participate. Birthday parties for children with CP during March can include “in lieu of gifts, please donate to cerebral palsy research” components, turning celebrations into fundraising opportunities.

Bake sales, car washes, and other traditional fundraisers gain additional meaning when explicitly connected to Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month. Clear signage explaining the CP connection and providing information educates while fundraising.

Corporate matching programs often have special provisions for awareness months. Employees fundraising during March might receive higher corporate matching rates, doubling or tripling donation impact.

The concentrated attention during March creates momentum that individual efforts throughout the year may lack. Planning fundraising for March allows families and organizations to ride the wave of existing awareness and media coverage.

Activity 5: Launching Online Crowdfunding Campaigns for Specific Needs

Crowdfunding platforms like GoFundMe, GiveForward, and similar sites have transformed fundraising by making it accessible to anyone with internet access and a compelling story.

Families of children with CP frequently use crowdfunding to raise money for specific needs like adaptive equipment not covered by insurance, therapy programs, service dogs, home modifications, or experimental treatments. The personal nature of crowdfunding (you’re supporting this specific family’s specific need) resonates with donors in ways that giving to large organizations sometimes doesn’t.

Successful crowdfunding campaigns share certain elements. Clear, specific fundraising goals with detailed explanations of need create transparency that donors appreciate. “$15,000 for a wheelchair accessible van” is more compelling than “help our family.”

Compelling storytelling through written descriptions, photos, and especially videos creates emotional connections with donors. Sharing who your child is as a person, what they love, what they struggle with, and how the specific need will improve their life helps donors understand impact.

Regular updates throughout campaigns maintain engagement. Posting progress updates, thanking donors publicly (while respecting those who give anonymously), sharing milestones, and continuing to tell your story keeps campaigns visible in social media feeds and encourages continued sharing and donations.

Social sharing drives crowdfunding success. Each donor who shares campaigns with their networks expands reach exponentially. Asking explicitly for shares often matters more than asking for donations because shares access entirely new donor pools.

Setting realistic yet meaningful goals matters. Goals should cover actual needs but shouldn’t be so high that they seem unattainable. Some campaigns use stretch goals, setting initial goals that cover essential needs and then stretch goals for additional wishes if initial goals are exceeded.

Timing crowdfunding campaigns strategically increases success. Launching campaigns during giving seasons (November through December), around Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month, or in connection with specific events creates urgency and visibility.

The transparency of crowdfunding can feel vulnerable. Sharing financial needs publicly and allowing everyone to see donation totals and who’s giving creates exposure some families find uncomfortable. However, this vulnerability often creates powerful community responses, with people stepping up to help in unexpected ways.

Crowdfunding has funded wheelchairs, communication devices, therapy equipment, accessibility modifications, and even adoptions of children with CP by providing platforms where individual stories inspire giving.

Activity 6: Organizing Athletic Challenge Fundraisers Like Bike Rides and Marathons

Endurance athletic events provide fundraising opportunities while demonstrating that physical challenges and disability inclusion aren’t contradictory concepts.

The Athletes for Accessibility campaign exemplifies this model, raising $17,000 through bike events and over $20,000 from marathon participation in 2024-2025. Participants train for significant athletic challenges while raising sponsorships supporting cerebral palsy causes.

Bike rides particularly lend themselves to CP fundraising because adaptive cycling equipment allows many people with CP to participate. Hand cycles, tricycles, and tandem bikes make cycling accessible across ability levels. Organizing rides that include both standard cyclists and adaptive cyclists creates inclusive events demonstrating what inclusion looks like.

Marathon and half-marathon fundraising involves participants committing to race distances and securing sponsorships based on their training commitment and race completion. Major marathons often have charity partnerships where runners gain entry by committing to fundraise minimum amounts for designated charities. Boston Marathon, Chicago Marathon, and many others include cerebral palsy organizations among charity partners.

Swim-a-thons adapt the endurance challenge concept to pools, where participants swim specified distances (often cumulative laps over hours) while spectators and supporters donate. Swimming’s accessibility for many people with physical disabilities makes swim-a-thons particularly appropriate for CP fundraising.

Organizing athletic fundraisers requires understanding of event logistics, safety considerations, and often permitting for road closures or park usage. However, many communities have existing bike routes, running races, or pools where smaller-scale events can be incorporated without extensive organization.

The training aspect of athletic fundraising creates sustained engagement. Participants spend months preparing, creating multiple opportunities to share their training journey and fundraising appeals with their networks. Training updates on social media keep causes visible for extended periods rather than just single-event promotion.

Inclusion of people with CP as participants rather than just beneficiaries sends powerful messages. When someone with CP completes a 5K using a walker or when a cyclist with CP finishes a distance ride, it challenges assumptions about disability and celebrates achievement while raising money.

Corporate teams participating in athletic fundraisers bring workplace engagement to CP causes. Companies forming teams for races or rides build employee engagement while supporting communities.

Activity 7: Creating Virtual Fundraising Events and Gaming Marathons

Digital platforms have created entirely new fundraising possibilities that reached prominence during pandemic lockdowns and continue to offer accessible, low-overhead fundraising options.

Virtual game nights hosted via Zoom or similar platforms bring people together for trivia competitions, virtual escape rooms, online game tournaments, or bingo nights. Participants pay entry fees to play, with proceeds benefiting CP causes. The social connection and entertainment value make these events appealing beyond just donating.

Gaming marathons, where gamers stream themselves playing video games for extended periods (12, 24, or even 48 hours) while viewers donate, have raised substantial sums for various causes. Platforms like Twitch facilitate this fundraising model, with some gamers establishing regular charity streaming events.

Virtual talent shows allow people to showcase skills (singing, dancing, comedy, magic) via streaming platforms, with audiences donating to vote for favorites or simply to support the cause while being entertained.

Online auctions using platforms dedicated to virtual auction hosting make silent auctions accessible to wider audiences than in-person events. Items can be displayed with photos and descriptions, bidding happens over days or weeks rather than single evenings, and winners can arrange shipping rather than requiring attendance to collect items.

Virtual fitness challenges create friendly competition while fundraising. Participants track walking, running, cycling, or other activities using fitness apps, competing for most miles or most steps while raising sponsorships. The distributed nature means anyone anywhere can participate without requiring travel.

Webinar fundraisers featuring expert speakers addressing CP-related topics (therapy techniques, educational advocacy, adult services, healthcare navigation) offer value to attendees while charging registration fees or requesting donations. The educational content provides something beyond asking for money, making donations feel like payments for valuable information.

The low overhead of virtual events (no venue rental, no catering, minimal supplies) means higher percentages of money raised goes directly to the cause. A $20 virtual event ticket might deliver $18 to the cause compared to in-person events where expenses claim larger percentages.

Virtual events also offer accessibility advantages. People with mobility limitations, those living in areas without local CP organizations, families who can’t arrange childcare to attend in-person events, and geographically dispersed supporters can all participate in virtual fundraising.

The learning curve exists for virtual event technology, but many platforms now offer user-friendly options. Organizations and families comfortable with technology can launch virtual fundraisers with minimal investment beyond time and promotion.

Activity 8: Hosting Traditional Grassroots Fundraisers in Local Communities

Sometimes the simplest, most traditional fundraising activities work beautifully, especially for families and small groups starting grassroots efforts.

Car washes combine easy organization with broad appeal. Gathering a group of volunteers, securing a visible location (shopping centers often allow fundraising car washes), advertising locally, and spending a weekend washing cars raises money through combination of donation-based pricing and sheer volume. Clear signage explaining that proceeds support cerebral palsy causes educates community while fundraising.

Bake sales at schools, churches, workplaces, or community events require only home-baked goods, tables, and donation jars. Parents of children with CP often organize bake sales where classmates and colleagues can support families they know directly.

Garage sales and rummage sales turn donated items into fundraising opportunities. Communities can organize multi-family sales where each family donates items and all proceeds benefit CP causes. The social aspect of organizing and running sales builds community connections.

Restaurant fundraising nights partner with restaurants who agree to donate percentages of sales from specified nights to designated causes. Family and supporters eat at the restaurant, mention the fundraiser, and the restaurant donates portions of their bills. This requires minimal organization (just arranging with restaurants and promoting the event) while raising money and driving business to community establishments.

Dinner theater events combine entertainment with dining. Community theaters or volunteer performers present shows, and dinner (catered or potluck) accompanies performances. Ticket sales cover both entertainment and food while supporting CP causes.

Bowling fundraisers, golf tournaments, and similar recreational events with entry fees create social fundraising opportunities. These events work particularly well for families with wide networks of friends and extended family willing to participate in recreational activities while supporting causes.

Holiday craft fairs before Christmas allow crafters to sell handmade items with tables fees or percentages of sales benefiting CP fundraising. Shoppers find unique gifts while supporting causes, crafters gain sales venues, and CP organizations raise funds.

The grassroots nature of these events means individuals and small groups can organize them without major organizational backing. While they may raise smaller amounts than major campaigns, the accessibility and community connection make them valuable, and multiple small events add up to significant funding.

Activity 9: Securing Corporate Sponsorships and Matching Gifts

Corporate support dramatically increases fundraising impact, and many businesses actively seek community causes to support as part of corporate social responsibility programs.

Direct corporate sponsorships involve businesses donating money to CP organizations or events in exchange for recognition and visibility. Gala sponsors might receive table reservations, logo placement on promotional materials, and public acknowledgment. Walk event sponsors get banner placement along routes, logo printing on participant shirts, and media recognition.

Approaching businesses for sponsorships is less intimidating than many people assume. Start with businesses you have connections to (employers, businesses owned by family or friends, companies you patronize regularly). Personal connections increase positive responses dramatically. Prepare clear requests explaining what sponsorship entails, what recognition sponsors receive, and how funds will be used.

Sponsorship packages at multiple levels allow businesses with varying budgets to participate. Title sponsor, platinum, gold, silver, and bronze levels might range from $10,000 to $500, ensuring opportunities for businesses of all sizes.

Corporate matching gift programs double or triple employee donations. Many companies match employee charitable contributions dollar-for-dollar or better. Determining whether donors’ employers offer matching programs and providing information about submitting match requests increases fundraising without additional donor cost.

Some companies offer volunteer time off, where employees can take paid time to volunteer for charitable causes. CP organizations can benefit from this professional expertise volunteered by corporate employees for event planning, marketing, website development, or other specialized needs.

In-kind donations from businesses reduce event costs, allowing more fundraising dollars to reach the cause. Restaurants donating food, printers donating materials, venues donating space, or businesses providing goods or services for auctions all contribute value without requiring cash sponsorships.

Business payroll deduction programs allow employees to make ongoing small donations through automatic paycheck deductions. These programs create sustained funding streams rather than one-time gifts.

Approaching corporate sponsors requires professionalism. Formal sponsorship proposals, follow-through on promised recognition, and post-event reporting showing sponsorship impact help build lasting relationships that continue across multiple years and events.

Activity 10: Applying for Grants From Cerebral Palsy Organizations

Beyond event fundraising, substantial funding exists through grants from national and regional organizations supporting families affected by cerebral palsy.

The Cerebral Palsy Foundation offers various grant programs addressing research, adaptive equipment, and family support. Application processes vary by program, but most require detailed applications explaining needs and how funding will be used.

United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) affiliates across the country provide direct services and also offer grant programs for families within their service areas. Local UCP affiliates may provide equipment, therapy support, respite care, or emergency financial assistance. Connecting with local UCP chapters provides access to these resources.

The UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundation provides grants specifically for children’s medical needs not covered by insurance. While not CP-specific, many families of children with CP have successfully obtained grants for equipment, therapy, or other medical expenses. Applications detail medical needs, insurance coverage and gaps, and financial information.

Children’s Hemiplegia and Stroke Association (CHASA) provides grants for children with hemiplegia (one-sided weakness), a common presentation of cerebral palsy. Their grant programs may fund therapy, equipment, or other needs.

Various community foundations offer disability-related grant programs. Researching community foundations in your region and exploring their grant programs may uncover local funding opportunities.

Grant applications require time and documentation. Most request medical documentation of diagnosis and needs, estimates or invoices for requested items or services, insurance explanations of benefits showing non-coverage, and financial information demonstrating need. Gathering this documentation takes effort but can result in significant funding.

Not all grant applications succeed, but each rejected application provides learning for stronger future applications. Reading application questions carefully, providing requested documentation completely, and writing clear compelling narratives about need and impact improves success rates.

Some families find grant writing difficult and may benefit from assistance. Hospital social workers, CP organization staff, or community volunteers sometimes help families with applications. Don’t hesitate to ask for help if paperwork feels overwhelming.

Grant funding typically addresses specific expenses (equipment, therapy, modifications) rather than providing flexible funds families can allocate however needed. Understanding what each grant program funds helps target applications appropriately.

Making Your Cerebral Palsy Fundraising Efforts Count

Regardless of which fundraising activities you choose, certain principles increase effectiveness and impact.

Connect fundraising clearly to cerebral palsy causes. Donors give more generously when they understand exactly what they’re supporting and how their donations will help. Vague requests for donations generate less response than specific explanations of need and impact.

Include people with CP in fundraising planning and execution when possible. Their perspectives ensure activities are respectful and mission-appropriate. Their presence at events provides education and dispels stereotypes about disability.

Tell stories. Individual narratives about specific people with CP create emotional connections that statistics and general information cannot. Stories demonstrate real impact and help donors see their contributions as supporting actual people rather than abstract causes.

Thank donors meaningfully and specifically. Generic thank-you emails are better than nothing, but personal acknowledgment, specific mention of how donations will be used, and follow-up reporting on impact build lasting donor relationships and repeat giving.

Use resources and toolkits provided by major CP organizations. The Cerebral Palsy Foundation, United Cerebral Palsy, and CP Alliance offer fundraising guides, materials, and support. Taking advantage of existing resources saves time and increases professionalism.

Combine fundraising with education. Events that teach communities about CP while raising money serve dual purposes, advancing both funding and awareness goals simultaneously.

Set realistic goals based on your capacity and networks. Small, successful fundraisers build confidence and capacity for larger efforts. Starting with achievable goals and expanding over time creates sustainable fundraising programs.

Consider sustainability. One-time fundraisers generate immediate funds but require starting over repeatedly. Establishing annual events, ongoing giving programs, or sustained campaigns creates predictable funding streams.

The needs created by cerebral palsy are substantial and ongoing. Families face lifelong financial challenges. Research advancing prevention and treatment requires sustained funding. Organizations providing services need reliable support. Advocacy efforts demanding rights and inclusion require resources.

The ten fundraising activities outlined here provide multiple pathways to supporting cerebral palsy causes. From joining major coordinated campaigns like STEPtember to organizing local grassroots events, from launching online crowdfunding to partnering with local businesses, options exist for every skill level, time commitment, and comfort zone.

What matters most isn’t choosing the “perfect” fundraising activity but rather taking action in whatever form makes sense for your specific situation, skills, networks, and capacity. A small neighborhood bake sale organized by a family raises both money and awareness. A corporate team participating in an athletic challenge brings workplace engagement to CP causes. An individual sharing their crowdfunding campaign on social media educates their entire network about cerebral palsy.

Every fundraising effort, regardless of size, contributes to a larger movement supporting people with CP and advancing research, services, and inclusion. Every dollar raised helps a family afford needed equipment or therapy. Every person educated through fundraising events becomes someone who better understands and can advocate for people with disabilities.

Cerebral palsy fundraising isn’t just about money. It’s about building awareness, creating community, celebrating people with CP, and working toward a world where every person with CP has the resources, support, and opportunities they deserve. Whether you’re organizing a major gala or simply sharing information about CP causes with your networks, you’re contributing to that mission.

The fundraising approach that works best depends on your specific situation. Consider your available time, organizational skills, existing networks, and comfort with public fundraising. Start with what feels manageable. Small successful efforts build confidence and capacity for potentially larger initiatives over time. Or perhaps one small, meaningful fundraiser is exactly right for you, and that’s perfectly valuable.

Use the resources available from major CP organizations like the Cerebral Palsy Foundation, United Cerebral Palsy, and CP Alliance. These organizations provide fundraising toolkits, promotional materials, guidance, and sometimes direct support for people organizing events or campaigns. Taking advantage of existing resources makes fundraising more effective and less overwhelming.

Remember to connect fundraising clearly to cerebral palsy causes, tell specific stories about real impact, include people with CP in planning when possible, and thank donors meaningfully. These principles increase effectiveness across all fundraising activities.

Every person reading this has the capacity to support cerebral palsy causes through fundraising in some way. Whether that means participating in existing campaigns, organizing new efforts, or supporting others who are fundraising, your involvement matters. The collective impact of many people taking action creates the resources that change lives and advance the mission of ensuring that people with cerebral palsy receive everything they need to thrive.