A-Z Fundraising ideas at work

A: Auction of promises

Ask colleagues to come up with a promise – such as getting coffee for the whole team for a week or getting your boss to wear fancy dress or do a job swap. Auction the promises over the company intranet or on the staff noticeboard.

B: Bingo

There are more than three million regular bingo players in the UK, so you're bound to get a full house. Kelly's eye, lucky seven, knock at the door, legs 11. Bring back the ol' bingo lingo!

C: Card games evening

Bridge, rummy, whist, pontoon, poker or even snap or Top Trumps. A card games night could be a big deal.

D: Darts marathon

Take on the Macmillan Darts Marathon. Team up with your colleagues to create a team of dart champions and see who has the best throw!

E: Entrepreneurs' day

Get workmates to share their bright ideas this month and host your own version of Dragons' Den. Ask for a small fee per entry and set up your own panel of discerning dragons. Award the winners a small prize and send the money you raise to Macmillan.

F: Flamin' footwork

Fire walking. Don't try it at home. But how about calling in the experts? They can teach you to stroll barefoot over red-hot embers – and it won't be sole destroying. Plus, it'll impress people into donating loads of money.

G: Guinness World Record

Why not break a world record? No, seriously, why not? Have you seen the records there are? Perhaps you could break the record for the number of strangers high-fived in a minute (21). Get friends, family or colleagues to donate for the chance to witness these strange record-breaking feats.

H: HMRC help

It's no secret. At Macmillan, we love the taxman almost as much as we love our supporters. That's because for every one pound you donate, HMRC will give us an extra 25p, (providing you are eligible) at no cost to you. Find out more about Gift Aid.

Sign an online Gift Aid declaration

I: In it to win it

As the old saying goes, you've got to be in it to win it. Whether it's the Grand National or the latest reality show, a sweepstake is a great way to keep interest levels high while raising money.

J: Job swap

Sponsor your manager to do a stint on reception. Or how about auctioning the big boss's job for a couple of hours? People are bound to pay good money for the perks of being top dog in the workplace.

K: Keep fit

There are so many benefits to combining physical activity and fundraising. Not only will you be raising cash for a worthy cause, but you'll also feel healthier yourself. Come up with your own challenge or find a Macmillan event to suit you.

L: Last hour's pay

Donate your last hour's pay each month – and encourage others to follow your shining example. Ask your employer to match your donation.

M: Matched giving

Ask your employer to match the cash you raise through your fundraising activities. This will help you rocket towards your target, raise shed-loads for Macmillan – and make you both feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

N: Night at the races

Organise a horse racing evening at a local venue. You can show horse races by video, elect a ‘bookie’ and raise money from ‘bets’ and tickets.

O: Office Olympics

Try your hand at speed typing, synchronised chair swivelling or precision elastic band flicking. These are just some of the events where you can go for gold – and clinch the title of Office Olympics champion.

P: Payroll giving

Do you know if your company offers Payroll Giving? It is a super simple, tax-effective way for employees to give to Macmillan directly from their pay cheque.

Q: Quotes quiz

Reckon you know your Rambo from your Roger Rabbit? Can you tell the Wombats from the Wombles? Collect a whole load of movie quotes and song lyrics – then test your workmates. For a price, of course. And maybe for a prize.

R: Rowing challenge

Why not get a rowing machine in the office lobby or on the shop floor. Turn your team of staff into a relay team and keep going for a certain amount of time / set distance.

S: Stairway to cash

Why spend hours doing step-ups in the gym? Ditch the lift and take the stairs. Get sponsored per step. If you work in a high-rise block, you'll be quids in and super-fit.

T: Through the keyhole

Who lives in a house like this? Let's see what your home says about you with a Through the Keyhole special. Take some photos and get your colleagues to do the same. Then guess who lives where. Simple.

U: Unwanted gift swap

Did you receive bath salts from Aunty Doris again at Christmas? Then why not round up all your colleagues to do a big unwanted gift swap? Everyone can pay £1 to pick a new present, and someone’s bound to go for your bath salts. It's probably best not to invite Aunty Doris, though.

V: Valued customers

If you regularly ask for customer feedback, get customers involved in fundraising by suggesting your company makes a donation for every customer survey returned.

W: Wear your team shirt

Have your colleagues donate £2 to Macmillan so that they can wear their team shirt to work for big sporting events. You can also download our poster to encourage others in the office to get involved. 

X: X-Factor

Bring the X-Factor to your workplace. Everyone's got a party piece they'd love to show off for a good cause. Let the bosses stand in judgement – or how about having a good old-fashioned clap-o-meter?

Y: Yogathon

Clear a space in the office (and in your mind) and embark on a yoga challenge. Whether it is the lotus, the tree or even the warrior, see how far these poses can stretch your colleagues' donations.

Z: Zzz…

Time is money. So, give up some valuable sleep and it'll pay dividends. Challenge colleagues to roll into work early for a week and get your managers to sponsor you. Or do the opposite and raffle/auction off a duvet day instead.