December is a highly-anticipated month for many nonprofits, filled with the warmth of holiday spirit and a tremendous potential for raising funds. With 30% of annual giving occurring in December, a well-constructed holiday fundraising strategy can generate significant revenue to launch your organization into the new year.
Fortunately, there are plenty of ideas for your nonprofit to implement during the holiday season. To help your fundraising efforts accelerate quicker than Santa’s reindeer, we’ll walk through some popular Christmas fundraising ideas that will make for an unforgettable and impactful year-end:
- Online Christmas Fundraising Ideas
- Food and Drink Christmas Fundraising Ideas
- Creative Holiday Fundraising Contests and Games
- Christmas Fundraising Event Ideas For Your Community
- Holiday Fundraising Services and Workshops
- Bonus: Nonprofit Christmas Fundraising Tips
This December, strengthen your relationships with supporters and raise funds with creative, engaging holiday fundraiser ideas that will put everyone in a festive mood while powering positive change in your community. Let’s get started!
Online Christmas Fundraising Ideas
Give your supporters the opportunity to contribute to your nonprofit’s cause while cozied up in their homes with virtual Christmas fundraisers. After all, 63% of donors prefer to give online. In addition to added ease and convenience, taking your fundraising online allows you to reach supporters from all across the country and even the world.
1. Christmas eCards
Christmas cards are a well-known tradition and ideal for staying in touch with family members and friends. This holiday season, make it simple and convenient for your supporters to connect with their loved ones and contribute to your nonprofit’s cause through Christmas eCards.
With the help of online eCard software, your organization can easily create branded holiday eCards to sell on your website. This also works for any holiday throughout the year, including Valentine’s Day, Easter, Mother’s Day, and Father’s Day. You can create designs that capture your nonprofit’s cause and allow supporters to add personalized messages for the recipient.
With eCardWidget, you can also offer tribute gifts. That means your donors can give in someone else’s name and send them an eCard. This serves as both a Christmas card and a present. For example, Habitat for Humanity South Africa effectively implemented this strategy on its website as part of its Christmas fundraising.
Follow their lead by creating your eCards. Check out our convenient templates that make anyone look like a professional designer!
2. Christmas Online Auction
Compared to in-person events, online auctions are much more cost-effective and capable of attracting more bids from supporters. Include a variety of auction items in your Christmas-themed auction, from your nonprofit’s branded holiday merchandise to vacation packages and gift cards.
To procure these items, consider asking local businesses and individual donors to donate services or goods for your auction. For unique and high-cost items like vacation packages, you can partner with a consignment company. In this setup, you’ll only pay the provider a fee if the item sells.
3. Virtual Holiday Raffle
Similar to online auctions, your nonprofit can enhance your fundraising results by holding a virtual holiday raffle. You can raffle off enticing Christmas-related items such as wreaths, ornaments, sweaters, gift baskets, and holiday event tickets. This idea provides another opportunity to build relationships with local businesses that can benefit your nonprofit for years to come.
To maximize your success, set up a page on your website dedicated to selling raffle tickets. As you promote your holiday raffle, link to this page in all your communications to encourage participation from your supporters.
4. Matching Gifts
Throughout the year, matching gifts hold significant potential for boosting the impact of your supporters’ donations. Since giving ramps up for the holidays—with 10% of annual giving occurring in the last three days of the year—December is the perfect time to ensure that you’re making the most of your donors’ contributions by refining your matching gifts strategy.
The key to generating matching gift revenue is making it easy for supporters to discover if they’re eligible. Add important details about matching gifts in your year-end communications. Consider using matching gift software so donors can easily check their eligibility with just a few simple clicks on your website.
5. Virtual Christmas Movie Night
Offer your supporters comfort, nostalgia, and connection by hosting a virtual Christmas movie night. Raise funds by selling virtual tickets to your showing. To make the experience even more engaging for your online moviegoers, allow them to vote from a selection of holiday movies to decide which one they’d prefer to watch most.
6. Christmas Text-to-Give
Christmas is also an opportune time to launch a text-to-give campaign. During this heightened season of generosity, facilitate giving for your nonprofit’s supporters by providing them with a holiday-related keyword to text to a designated number. This will take them to your mobile-friendly donation page, where they can make a contribution to your organization.
This option is most effective when implemented along with other fundraising initiatives, such as an in-person event, so keep text-to-give in mind as you peruse the rest of these nonprofit Christmas fundraising ideas.
7. Virtual Christmas Story Time With Santa
Set up a virtual event where Santa reads holiday stories to children. Families pay a fee to join, and children can even interact with Santa at the end with a short Q&A. You could also add themed story times, like holiday stories from different cultures. This holiday fundraiser idea works well in person too!
Food and Drink Christmas Fundraising Ideas
When people think of Christmas, the holiday’s traditional food and drinks often come to mind. There’s nothing like a delicious meal or mouthwatering sweets to bring people together, so incorporate these Christmas fundraiser ideas in your holiday strategy to attract supporters and leave a lasting impression this winter.
8. Holiday Candy Grams
As Christmas approaches, candy canes begin to pop up everywhere. Spread the holiday sweetness by organizing a candy gram fundraiser for your nonprofit, giving supporters the opportunity to send candy to their loved ones while supporting your mission. All you need is candy and some paper for personalized messaging slips to get started.
To take this holiday fundraiser idea to the next level, create a page on your nonprofit’s website to sell candy grams online. Get creative with your candy choices by considering peppermint bark and fudge for candy grams as well.
9. Hot Chocolate Stand
Add some warmth to your supporters’ holidays by organizing a hot chocolate stand for your Christmas fundraising. This is an easy and cost-effective way for your nonprofit to engage with people in your local community—all you need is a table, some cups, and plenty of hot chocolate.
Diversify your hot chocolate flavors and offer peppermint or gingerbread hot chocolate to further entice your supporters. Additionally, consider selling branded seasonal merchandise, such as mugs or mittens, at your stand to improve your fundraising potential.
10. Christmas Sweets Sale
If candy canes and hot chocolate aren’t enough for your nonprofit, you might be interested in hosting a Christmas sweets sale to cover all of the iconic holiday treats of the season. To gather enough Christmas sweets to sell, reach out to your staff, volunteers, and supporters to see if they’re willing to contribute some of their favorite seasonal treats for the sale.
When you have everything arranged, be sure to promote your upcoming Christmas sweets sale through multiple channels, from email to social media posts to flyers. On the day of the sale, set up a donation box at the sale for individuals who may be interested in contributing more to your nonprofit’s cause.
11. Holiday Recipe Book
This Christmas fundraising idea can be a perfect addition to your sweets sale or an engaging standalone fundraising initiative. Enlist your staff and supporters to contribute special holiday recipes for your recipe book, then sell copies of the book on your website to raise funds and offer a thoughtful gift option for your supporters to buy this winter.
You can also create eCards to help you maximize your recipe book marketing efforts. For instance, your nonprofit can add Christmas eCards to your website and encourage supporters to send them to their friends and family for free. In addition to their personalized messages, you can include a sample recipe from the cookbook and a link to purchase it online.
For example, California Wines made the most of holiday eCards to promote its monthly newsletter by offering a cocktail recipe book to eCard recipients.
12. Cookie-a-Thon
To offer your supporters a more hands-on way to contribute to your mission, gather them together to bake in a holiday cookie-a-thon. Like other popular a-thons, this peer-to-peer Christmas fundraising idea leverages the personal networks of your supporters to acquire support for your organization.
Your fundraising software should enable cookie-a-thon participants to create individual fundraising pages they can link to when reaching out to friends and family. This allows them to secure pledges and donations for however many cookies they bake during the event. All you need to provide is cookie dough!
Once the cookies have come out of the oven, you can sell them to raise more funds or use them in a cookie-eating contest to increase engagement.
13. Breakfast with Santa
Nothing screams Christmas morning like a festive holiday breakfast. Invite your supporters to bring their families and enjoy breakfast together with special guest Santa to get in the holiday spirit. Charge a fee for entry and collect extra donations at the event.
For breakfast items, keep it simple with a pancake or waffle bar. All you’ll have to buy is pancake mix, and you can have supporters lend their griddles or waffle makers. Alternatively, you can partner with a local restaurant or catering company that’s willing to donate food to your Christmas fundraiser.
14. Apple Cider Kits
Everyone loves a warm holiday drink for cozy winter nights! Create kits that include all the spices needed to make apple cider: cinnamon sticks, cloves, star anise, and a dash of nutmeg, all packaged in a festive jar. After supporters buy theirs, they can add fresh apple juice, simmer, and enjoy the comforting, spiced flavors of the season.
A kit like this also makes for a thoughtful gift idea that brings the smell and taste of the holidays to recipients’ homes.
Creative Holiday Fundraising Contests and Games
Encourage your supporters to get involved and vie for first place by organizing a Christmas-themed contest—all to benefit a worthy cause. There are a variety of contests that appeal to different skills and ages, so consider your nonprofit’s supporter base as you review these Christmas fundraising contest ideas.
15. Snowman-Building Contest
If your local area experiences a decent amount of snow during the holidays, a snowman-building contest is a stellar way to enjoy the winter weather, strengthen bonds within your community, and generate valuable revenue to drive your mission.
The location should be your primary consideration when planning a snowman-building contest. There must be enough space and snow for competitors to craft their artwork. Make the experience more enjoyable for participants and spectators alike by coupling this event with a hot chocolate stand.
16. Gingerbread House Contest
For your nonprofit’s design-savvy (or just gingerbread-loving) supporters, consider hosting a gingerbread house contest to raise funds at year-end. Since this event appeals to participants of all ages, consider creating categories for individuals, teams, children, and adults.
Once your competitors have finished building and decorating their gingerbread houses, you can display them publicly, feature pictures on your social media accounts, or even auction them off to collect additional funds.
17. Christmas Trivia Contest
A Christmas-themed trivia contest provides a compelling opportunity for people to gather in support of your nonprofit’s mission and demonstrate all of their holiday-related knowledge.
From the name of Santa’s fastest reindeer to the number of sides a snowflake has, there are countless questions you can gather in the name of Christmas fun. If possible, you can even find ways to tie your nonprofit’s cause to some of your trivia questions to center your supporters’ attention on the purpose of your fundraising.
18. Tree Decorating Contest
Christmas trees are one of the most recognizable symbols of the holidays. Depending on your nonprofit’s resources, there are several ways you can host a tree decorating contest as part of your fundraising strategy this winter. For instance, you can provide trees to each decorating team that pays an entry fee to sign up, or you can call for participants to send in pictures of their ornamented trees at home.
Your nonprofit can then assemble a judging team to evaluate tree entries based on quality, creativity, and festivity. You can also let your supporters make the final decision by allowing them to pay a small fee to vote for their favorite entry.
19. Christmas Caroling Contest
For those of your supporters who yearn for the spotlight, organizing a Christmas Caroling Contest can be an effective and festive holiday fundraiser idea. As you promote your upcoming contest and invite supporters to pay an entry fee to register, remind them that all ages and singing abilities are welcome. What matters most is that everyone has an enjoyable experience while powering your nonprofit’s impact into the new year.
20. Christmas Cookie Eating Contest
A little friendly competition can turn your Christmas fundraising into a memorable experience for your nonprofit staff and supporters alike. Gather as many festive cookies as possible and invite those who are interested in competing to pay an entry fee to register. Determine the winner based on who eats the most in a specified amount of time or who eats a set amount of cookies the fastest.
Remember to have a CPR-certified volunteer or staff member present to ensure that your holiday eating contest runs smoothly and safely. To further engage your competitors and spectators, consider selling snacks and branded merchandise at the event as well.
21. Holiday Trivia Night
Test supporters’ holiday knowledge with a trivia night. This is a fun way to bring people together and put them into the festive spirit. Participants can form teams, enjoy holiday treats, and compete to answer questions about holiday traditions, movies, music, and decorations.
Here are some holiday trivia questions you could ask:
- In the song “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” what gift is given on the 10th day? (Answer: Ten lords a-leaping)
- What is the traditional name for the day after Christmas in the UK and other Commonwealth countries? (Answer: Boxing Day)
- What popular holiday plant is known for its white or red leaves and is commonly associated with good luck and love? (Answer: Mistletoe)
- What beverage company is credited with popularizing the modern image of Santa Claus in red and white? (Answer: Coca-Cola)
Make the night extra special with themed decorations, prizes, and a hot cocoa bar!
22. 12 Days of Giving Challenge
Create a 12-day countdown where each day features a different “giving” activity or goal, like donating $15, volunteering for an hour, or collecting 10 food items. Each day, highlight a different aspect of your organization or a specific need. This provides supporters with a variety of ways to give and turns charity into a game!
23. Serve-a-Thon
During November and December, volunteering goes up by 50%. Capitalize on this by hosting a serve-a-thon. This Christmas fundraising idea empowers people to give back to their community during the holiday season by volunteering to complete service projects, like:
- Preparing meals
- Distributing winter clothing
- Decorating community centers
Participants can ask family, friends, or employers to sponsor their volunteer hours, which raises funds for the cause while maximizing community impact. Many companies offer volunteer grants, matching the hours employees spend volunteering with a financial donation to the hosting nonprofit. Some companies even allow employees to take paid time off to volunteer, making serve-a-thons a rewarding, hands-on way to spread holiday cheer and bring additional funding to your cause.
You can leverage a volunteer grant and VTO database to locate these workplace giving opportunities. We recommend 360MatchPro. You can embed the tool into your organization’s website to let supporters research their employers’ programs:
24. Holiday Card Design Contest
Challenge your supporters’ creativity this Christmas by holding a holiday card design contest. Rather than charging for design entries, inspire as many people in your local community or around the world to submit their holiday card designs for free.
Allow your supporters to vote on their favorite holiday cards in exchange for a small donation to your nonprofit. Award prizes such as branded merchandise to the top designers, then consider converting the winning designs into eCards to sell online to raise more funds.
Since they’re versatile, eCards can improve different aspects of your Christmas fundraising strategy. Sell them in exchange for tribute gifts, create holiday event invitations, or encourage people to send free eCards to spread awareness.
For contest-type events, try creating eCards that participants can send to invite family, friends, and acquaintances to join as fellow team members or competitors.
Christmas Fundraising Events For Your Community
A well-planned Christmas fundraising event can go a long way toward building lasting relationships with your nonprofit’s supporters for the upcoming year and beyond. Events are a great way to spend time with your supporters in person and foster a sense of community, so let’s explore several holiday event ideas.
25. Holiday Markets
A holiday market is a festive event where local artisans, crafters, and small businesses come together to sell unique, handmade goods perfect for holiday gifting. Attendees can browse stalls filled with ornaments, holiday decorations, baked goods, and artisanal products, enjoying a cozy atmosphere with seasonal music and warm drinks.
The Chattahoochee Nature Center hosts an annual holiday market that’s a huge hit in its community:
It’s a great way to support local vendors while spreading holiday cheer and offering shoppers an alternative to traditional retail.
26. Christmas Movie Marathon
A Christmas movie marathon brings people together to watch beloved holiday films like Home Alone, Elf, and A Christmas Carol.
Set up a cozy space with blankets, popcorn, and hot cocoa, creating a relaxing environment for families and friends to enjoy these timeless films. You might host your movie night at a local community center or your nonprofit’s facility. This Christmas fundraising event can be ticketed or donation-based.
27. Christmas Light Tour
Organize a Christmas light tour to guide groups through beautifully decorated neighborhoods or local light displays. Rent a bus or create a caravan where participants can marvel at the festive decorations while sipping hot cocoa or singing carols. This holiday fundraiser is a wonderful way to enjoy the magic of the season.
28. Holiday Parade
Parades are deeply ingrained in American culture as evidenced by major parades like the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Rose Parade, and New Orleans Mardi Gras parades. Fun fact: the 2023 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade racked up a record 28.5 million viewers!
Capitalize on this tradition by hosting your own holiday parade! It doesn’t need to be large-scale. Your goal should be to bring community members to enjoy:
- Local high school marching bands
- Dance groups
- Festive floats with holiday themes
- Costumed characters like elves, snowmen, and reindeer
- Santa’s sleigh finale
Know that you’ll need to get permission before planning your parade, lining up sponsors, and accepting entry fees. If all goes well, your event may turn into an annual holiday fundraiser that grows each year!
29. Christmas Party
Invite people to don their favorite ugly Christmas sweaters and holiday-themed costumes for an evening of fun, games, and seasonal music. Activities can include a holiday costume contest, a hot chocolate bar, holiday treats, a festive photo booth, and themed party games. Don’t forget to charge an entry fee! You can even send invitations with festive designs.
30. Santa Meet-and-Greet
Host a Santa meet-and-greet where families can bring their kids to visit Santa, take photos, and share holiday wishes. Charge a small fee for entry or photos, with proceeds going to your nonprofit. To make the experience extra special, consider having Santa hand out small treats or keepsakes.
31. Christmas Scavenger Hunt
A Christmas scavenger hunt can make for an exciting and memorable fundraiser that appeals to people of all ages. You can easily tailor this event to your nonprofit’s priorities and your supporters’ preferences.
For instance, you can encourage individuals outside of your local area to pay entry fees and participate in a photo scavenger hunt, where participants try to snap pictures of all the Christmas-related items on your scavenger hunt list.
32. Polar Plunge
To engage those who are particularly eager to embrace the winter weather this Christmas, consider hosting a polar plunge to raise funds for your nonprofit. Your peer-to-peer participants will secure pledges from their friends and family for however long they can last in a body of icy water. Give them a chance to channel their inner polar bears—all for a worthy cause.
33. Santa Fun Run
A warmer but equally effective Christmas peer-to-peer fundraising idea is a Santa fun run. To understand the appeal, just picture a horde of Santas dashing through the snow—a Christmas sight like no other.
Your participating Santas will raise money on your nonprofit’s behalf by collecting pledges for donations from their personal networks. This event presents additional fundraising opportunities through selling snacks, refreshments, and branded merchandise as well.
34. Ice Skating Event
Ice skating is one of the most popular winter activities. Contact your local ice rink to see if they’d be interested in hosting a proceeds night. Then, a percentage of your supporters’ ice skating entry fees can go right back to your organization.
This type of event also pairs well with other Christmas fundraising ideas. Consider selling hot chocolate that people can enjoy when they get off the rink or other holiday-themed snacks. Just make sure you check with the ice rink ahead of time before selling anything at their venue.
35. Christmas Bingo
Bingo fundraisers are fun for the whole family, so why not add a Christmas touch? Transform bingo into a Christmas game by using Christmas-themed bingo boards, playing Christmas music during the event, and offering Christmas-themed prizes.
To raise money for your cause, sell tickets for entry. You can also collect additional donations at the event and host a raffle that will allow you to maximize your donation revenue.
36. Holiday Open Mic Night
Organize a holiday-themed open mic night, inviting community members to perform holiday songs, read poetry, or share festive stories. Charge an admission fee, and offer seasonal snacks and drinks to enhance the cozy atmosphere. This is a great Christmas fundraising idea that helps local talent shine while attendees enjoy a community-centered evening.
37. Toy Drive
If your charity serves underprivileged children or families, consider hosting a toy drive as your Christmas fundraiser. Instead of contributing money, community members can donate in-kind gifts like toys, books, games, clothing, and other essentials. This allows supporters to directly contribute to a meaningful holiday experience for families in need.
For example, First Baptist Church of Woodstock runs a program called Caring Christmas. The church partners with local schools and organizations to identify families in need. The children’s parents are interviewed and given the chance to learn more about God.
Once approved, children’s gift requests are listed for church members to browse. Members then purchase these gifts and bring them to the church, where volunteers wrap and distribute them at a festive holiday party for the recipients.
Holiday Fundraising Services and Workshops
The holidays may be the happiest time of year, but for many, they’re also the busiest time of year. Offer time-saving services to lighten supporters’ load and creative workshops that let them embrace the festive spirit. Here are some holiday fundraising services and classes that are sure to be a hit.
38. Gift Wrapping Service
Set up a gift wrapping station at a popular community spot or during local events where people can bring their holiday gifts to be wrapped for a small donation. Recruit volunteers with wrapping prowess to power this holiday fundraiser.
In addition to charging a fee for each wrapped gift, you can place a donation box at your station. You might also place brochures related to your nonprofit’s mission for anyone who wants to contribute more. Don’t forget to thank your volunteers for lending their wrapping expertise!
39. Christmas Wreath Sales
For this Christmas fundraising idea, sell beautifully crafted holiday wreaths with options for various sizes and styles to appeal to different tastes. Partner with a local florist or arrange a volunteer crafting day to make the wreaths. Promote these wreaths as perfect gifts or holiday decor with all proceeds supporting your nonprofit’s mission.
40. Holiday Ornament Workshop
Host a holiday ornament-making workshop where attendees can create unique, personalized ornaments to gift or keep as mementos. Provide materials like glass or wood ornaments, paint, glitter, and other decorative items, and guide them through creative techniques.
41. Holiday Ornament Sale
Sell festive holiday ornaments that are handcrafted or donated by local artists. Offer a range of options, from traditional styles to modern designs, ensuring there’s something for everyone.
42. Festive Cooking or Baking Class
Offer a hands-on cooking or baking class where participants can learn to make popular holiday treats, such as cookies, gingerbread, or festive meals. Charge a fee for the class, emphasize that proceeds benefit your cause, and let participants leave with recipes and their tasty creations.
43. Christmas Floral Arrangement Workshop
Host a floral arrangement workshop focused on Christmas themes, teaching attendees to make beautiful arrangements or wreaths. Provide seasonal flowers, greenery, and decorative elements, guiding participants through the process of making something they’ll be proud to display at home.
44. Holiday Light Installation Services
Did you know that 90% of U.S. houses are decorated with Christmas lights each year? Help your community out by decorating their homes for them. In exchange for a small donation, a team of volunteers or professionals can safely install lights for people, spreading holiday cheer while helping your nonprofit raise funds.
45. Letters from Santa Fundraiser
Families love the magic of Christmas, and a personalized letter from Santa adds a special touch for children.
Offer personalized letters from Santa with each letter containing custom details (like the child’s name, age, and requested toy) provided by the parents. A small donation will cover the cost of each letter, and your volunteers or staff members can craft the letters.
Bonus: Nonprofit Christmas Fundraising Tips
Now that you have enough Christmas fundraising ideas to fill up Santa’s toy bag, lay the groundwork for success by optimizing your nonprofit’s fundraising strategy for the holidays. Maximize your Christmas fundraising results by following these best practices:
- Update your nonprofit’s website. This winter, make it easy for your donors to give by ensuring that your donation page is mobile-responsive, accepts multiple secure payment methods, and features a convenient option to opt into your recurring gifts program.
- Segment your donor messages. Take advantage of your donor data by segmenting your supporters based on relevant characteristics such as giving history and communication preferences. Effective segmentation allows you to send targeted messages that resonate with each individual donor.
- Promote across multiple channels. Reach as many new and existing supporters as possible by promoting your fundraising initiatives through your nonprofit’s social media accounts, website, email newsletter, and direct mail.
- Share your nonprofit’s impact. Help your supporters feel proud and fulfilled by keeping them updated on the positive impact they made possible through their contributions.
- Follow up with supporters. Remember to regularly thank your supporters for their gifts and involvement with your nonprofit. For instance, sending personalized donor recognition eCards around Christmas can cultivate strong donor relationships that will last far beyond the holidays.
While these best practices are especially important for your Christmas fundraising success, turn these into habits to bring into your future fundraising endeavors. This way, you’ll improve your results year after year.
Next Step: Start Spreading Holiday Cheer
This winter, make the most of these valuable holiday fundraiser ideas to generate momentum that will set your nonprofit up for a fruitful new year. If all you want for Christmas is to boost your organization’s efficiency and success, unwrap these helpful resources:
- How to Make Every Word Count in A Donation Thank You Letter. Learn how to make your donors feel appreciated and valued at year-end with this guide.
- Top Fundraising Software Solutions for Your Nonprofit. Ensure that your nonprofit is equipped with all of the necessary fundraising tools to succeed this holiday season by reviewing these top software solutions.
- 25+ Lovely Valentine’s Day Fundraising Ideas + Bonus Tips. Make the most of your nonprofit’s holiday fundraising at other times of the year, such as Valentine’s Day, with these ideas.
