Published On: 2025-09-08Categories: Blog
Published On: 2025-09-08Categories: Blog
Published On: 2025-09-08Categories: Blog

A fundraising idea for your University Society

Every autumn, university societies across the UK kick-start their activities with freshers’ week, new members, and plenty of exciting plans. But alongside all the socials, events, and competitions, most societies also face one shared goal: fundraising. Whether you’re raising money for charity, supporting your society’s own activities, or contributing to your student union’s wider initiatives, finding the right fundraising idea can be tricky.

That’s where Collective Sales comes in. We’re here to make fundraising for university societies simple, profitable, and importantly completely risk free.

fundraising ideas

Fundrasing for university societies

  • Charity fundraisng

    Many societies run at least one event per term to support a chosen charity. From bake sales to fun runs, these activities are an important of campus life and community impact.

  • Covering society costs

    Whether it’s transport to competitions, equipment, or subsidised socials, societies often need extra funds to give members the best experience possible.

  • Student union approvals

    Most student unions require societies to run fundraising ideas that are safe, transparent, and manageable, which can sometimes limit creativity.

Is your society on the lookout for fundraising ideas that tick all the boxes: achievable, union friendly, and appealing to supporters? If so keep reading and discover how Collective Sales can help.

Why product fundraising with Collective Sales is perfect for university societies

Collective Sales is a UK-made candle fundraising scheme designed for youth groups, charities, and yes university societies. Here’s why your society will love working with us:

Completely risk-free

  • No upfront payment is needed
  • Unsold candles can be returned free of charge
  • You set the price (we recommend £15-£18 per candle) and keep 100% of the profit above our £10 cost.

Union friendly

  • Clear pricing, no hidden costs.
  • Simple to explain and transparent for student union approval.
  • Straightforward to organise, even for busy student committee members.

Achievable and profitable

  • Every candle sold raises £6–£10 for your society or chosen charity.
  • It is very possible to raise hundreds of pounds in just a few weeks.
  • Candles make great gifts, so supporters may be happy to buy more than one.

Customisable with your society logo

One of the biggest advantages? We can put your society’s logo on the candle box. Imagine your university crest or society logo on a high-quality candle, it’s a brilliant keepsake for members and makes your fundraiser even more attractive.

How it works

  • Order candles

    Decide how many you’d like (no upfront payment).

  • Sell to supporters

    Family, friends, the wider community, and campus networks.

  • Keep the profit

    Pay the invoice within 28 days, after keeping your share.

  • Return unsold stock

    Free and easy if you don’t sell everything.

planning a fundraiser

Our fundraising initiative is designed to be straightforward, so your committee can focus on the fun parts of running your society. We offer fundraising advice and tips on our blog, we also offer a free fundraising Toolkit. We aim to be your societies helpful fundraising partner!

What makes our fundraiser stand out?

  • More meaningful than a bake sale

    A supporter isn’t just donating; they’re buying something beautiful and long-lasting.

  • More profitable than a quiz night

    Events are fun, but they require quite some planning and it might be difficult to reach your fundraising target.

  • Risk-free compared to other fundraisers

    Many fundraising schemes upfront costs or unsold stock sitting in someone’s room. With Collective Sales, there’s no financial risk: if you don’t sell everything, you simply send the candles back for free.

The supporters perspective

Supporters want to help you reach your goal but they’re also mindful of how and where they put their money. We are confident your supporters will love to buy a Collective Sales candle. Heres why:

  • They’re beautiful, useful and high-quality, not a throwaway item. 
  • They make perfect gifts, especially in autumn and winter. 
  • Buying a candle means supporting a cause and receiving something tangible in return 

This dual benefit is powerful: people aren’t just “donating,” they’re actively supporting your society while treating themselves or their friends.

So, how much can your group raise?

Realistic fundraising for university societies

The amount you can raise depends on your society size and enthusiasm. To give you an idea:

  • A society of 20 members: Sell 50–80 candles (a very managable goal of roughly 2-4 candles per member) → raise £250–£500.

  • A society of 20 members but with a bigger fund target: Sell 100–160 candles → raise £625–£1,000.

🔗 Check out our profit calculator on our How It Works page to see how much money you can raise with your society

Because candles are easy to promote online, societies can reach friends, family, and alumni, not just their campus peers. 

Remember you don’t pay for the candles before you place an order. We send you the candles, you sell them for a price that you choose, and when you’ve sold them you pay the invoice! It’s an easy, risk free and flexible way for you to reach your fundraising goals!

Want to learn more about how your society can raise money for your chosen cause with Collective Sales as your helper?

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