Tasty treats, unique finds, and a creative buzz fill artisan markets—and they’re full of potential for charities looking to promote their cause and raise funds. Pair that lively, community-centred atmosphere with a meaningful mission, and it’s a win for everyone. Local makers enjoy greater visibility and sales, your organisation generates support and awareness, and visitors have a great time discovering their next favourite thing.

A fresh take on the classic bake sale fundraiser, artisan market fundraisers help you build local relationships and grow your community of supporters. Add online shopping into the mix, and you can extend that sense of community well beyond the day of the event.

Many charities are getting creative with venues, such as teaming up with breweries or cideries to host makers markets. These settings offer steady footfall, a laid-back atmosphere, and a chance to reach new audiences—especially younger people who may not attend traditional fundraising events but are drawn to local goods, street food, and craft drinks. Partnering with a community-focused business can also help cut venue costs and create opportunities for joint promotion.

A hybrid artisan market combines the buzz of an in-person event with the convenience of online shopping. It’s a great way to showcase local creators while offering attendees fun, low-key ways to engage and support your organisation. To make it work, you’ll need an approach that makes it easy for stallholders to take part and offers clear fundraising opportunities.

At your physical event, stallholders sell their own goods, manage stock, and handle transactions. To support your cause, they might:

• Pay a flat stall fee
• Donate a portion of their sales (often 10–20%)
• Contribute an item to a raffle or prize draw

This setup keeps things simple—stallholders are responsible for their own sales and tax, while your organisation benefits financially and builds relationships with makers and visitors alike.

The online portion of your fundraising sale works a little differently, in that your stallholders would be invited to provide a small number of items for online fundraising. These could be:

• Donated items, where the full sale amount supports your organisation
• Consigned items, where the charity fulfils the order and shares proceeds based on a pre-agreed split.

These items are listed only on your fundraising sales page, which helps keep things separate and clear. Before, during, and after your in-person market, you’d be promoting these special items as “online exclusives” to encourage interest and help generate sales.

As you put everything together, be sure to reserve a high-footfall spot for your charity’s stall or table. Make your setup as consistent with your branding as possible to boost recognition, using reusable elements like a custom gazebo, tablecloth, or even feather flags.

Use the space to collect donations, hand out brochures, sign up volunteers, or sell branded items. A friendly face and clear signage with a QR code linking to your donation page can go a long way in building community support.

A hybrid artisan market can be a powerful and memorable fundraising event, but it’s important to plan with care. Start small, communicate clearly with your stallholders, and choose a sales model that suits your charity’s capacity. With the right mix of organisation and creativity, your event can celebrate local talent, bring your community together, and raise meaningful funds for your mission—both online and in person.

The Eventgroove fundraising platform helps you launch and manage a wide range of campaigns—from sales fundraisers to donation pages and peer-to-peer events—with built-in marketing tools to help you reach more supporters. Plus, our integrated printing services make it simple to order large posters, along with branded postcards, invitations, and more.