As a non-profit lodge, we provide some financial support to our projects through the business, but overheads are high so we also need to fundraise to support projects to improve, replenish materials and equipment, and cover transport and maintenance costs.
If you are Volunteering, there’s many items to bring to make an impact to the projects you work with. We encourage our volunteers and interns to set themselves a goal of $200 to contribute the community based projects that you will work with to cover logistical costs. There are many fun ways to fundraise and other ways to support.
- Personal fundraising and sponsored event
- Helping us to find corporate partnerships
- Researching and applying for grants
- We can receive direct donations through Chuffed.org.
All of our projects benefit from fundraising, whether it’s for books, pens, or building new school blocks, building improvements, or transport. Here are some ideas for fundraising before you visit:
- Sponsored activates, such as runs, walks or swims- get creative and make it fun!
- Host a fundraising event, such as an auction, games night, coffee and cake morning or cocktail party.
- Community classes – share your skills for a donation or fee.
- Build an email campaign and send to friends and family.
- Hold a discussion about the project you wish to support at a local community centre, your work place or uni.
- Research & contact major donors for funding & grants.
Why is it important to fundraise?
While we strive to make our projects as financially sustainable as possible, running workshops, maintaining facilities, and supporting community initiatives often comes with significant costs. Accessing national funding or grants in Malawi can be challenging, so every donation makes a meaningful difference.
As a registered non-profit, we reinvest any profits from Butterfly Space Eco Lodge back into our community projects. However, after covering essential operating costs, there’s often little left to expand or enhance what we do. Equipment, transport, and even basic building maintenance all add up quickly.
That’s where fundraising makes a real impact. Donations help us purchase vital equipment, organise engaging workshops, and improve our facilities so we can better serve the community. Sometimes they even fund a special outing for one of our community groups! If you’re volunteering with us and have a specific goal or passion project in mind, funds raised can be directed to help make that vision a reality.
Our Wish List
Below is a list of some useful items we would like for our community projects, so if you can source any of these, have them spare, or wish to fundraise to buy them, the project will benefit!
COMMUNITY INFORMATION AND INTERNET ROOM
- Flash Drives/phones/ tech equipment
- Stationary /art materials
- Musical instruments
- Laptops and associated equipment (mouses, flash drives, earphones etc.)
- Software for computers (Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Cloud)
- Audio interface for recording
- Raspberry Pi
- Mobile phone repair tools (Pandora box, Avengers dongle)
- Tablets, to provide more access to educational material via
- Library books, especially reference books
NURSERY SCHOOLS
- Kids books
- Educational Posters
- Arts and crafts materials
- Play parachute
- Deflated balls & pump
- Learning materials & Toys
- Stickers
- Kids clothing
- Coloured construction paper
BABY BASKETS
- Baby clothes
- Baby toys
- Baby blankets
- Reusable nappies
- Nipple pads
- Soap
- Bras
- Pants
- Sanitary pads
MEDIA ROOM
- Flash drives, batteries, micro cards
- Mixing desk
- Basic digital cameras, video cameras, voice recorders
- Documentaries and interesting films to screen and add to our collection
- Music catalogues
- Tripod
- Manuals and textbooks on the ins and outs of recording, film, photography etc.
STEPPING STONES
- Coloured chalk
- Colouring books
- Skipping ropes & other sports equipment
- Posters for classrooms
- Stickers with stepping stones logo
- Old mobile phones that can run WhatsApp
- Old working computers & Tablets
- SD memory cards
- Educational resources, for the teachers – reference books, maps, teaching aids
- Projectors , Raspberry Pi,
- Power banks
THE LODGE
- Laptops & Phones
- First Aid kits
- Yoga mats
- Hammocks
- Board Games for the bar
- Hardware tools
- Kitchen utensils
- Metal coffee press
- Office equipment
- Pens
- Flags
E.A.R.T.H WORKSHOPS
- Pruning saws
- Secateurs
- pruning knife
- battery operated projector for educational movies
- Laptops
- smartphones
DISABILITY CENTRES:
- Tablet/ smart phones
- Raspberry Pi
- Micro SD memory card (for raspberry Pi)
- Disability aid equipment, handles for walls, crutches, wheelchairs etc.
- Carpentry tools
- Gardening tools
- Toys, books, arts and craft materials (for the nursery school)
- Mini USB projector
- Bluetooth Speaker
SCHOOL GARDENS AND PERMACULTURE CLUBS:
- Seeds for the gardens (remember we are in the tropics, so seeds that like the climate!)
- Garden tools such as loppers, secateurs, and gardening gloves.
- Relevant books on permaculture.
- Personal Protective Equipment.
- Materials for environmental demonstrations.
Setting up your fundraiser:
- Plan which fundraising methods do you plan to use (e.g., online campaigns, events, sponsorships).
- Think about what you want your money to be used for and discuss your goals with your project coordinators.
- Use our charity bank account. Contact us for the details Charity Commission details through this link.
- When you are ready, fill out our fundraising form below!
Donate Now!
Please support our projects. Without the generosity and support we have received over the years, we wouldn’t be able to do what we do!
Thank you, from all of the Butterfly team!
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT
If you have other ideas, something specific, or want more information on postage and donations, please click the link below and we will get back to you as soon as possible!
