The holiday season will be here before you know it, and with it, the push for end-of-year donations. Anyone working or volunteering with nonprofits knows what a scramble it can be. There’s pressure to bring in the same or more than last year, which means the need to surprise and delight donors with new Christmas fundraising ideas.
If you’ve been feeling more pressure post-pandemic, you’re not alone. Individual charitable giving dropped slightly in 2023, making the holiday fundraising season even more important. But there’s hope on the horizon, suggesting that people are still primed to give. When Charity Navigator ran its last giving survey in 2023, 57% of donors reported planning to give the same or more than the previous year.
The spirit is still strong, and great Christmas program ideas still make all the difference. If you’re ready to inspire your community and boost your coffers for next year, here are six big ideas to maximize holiday giving.
Markets and Auctions
You need donations. Your community needs gift ideas. Why not solve both problems at once with a holiday-themed sale event?
It’s a win-win. Your local market can scratch the “shop local” itch, inspiring many people when gift season arises. Did you know that 81% of people want to buy locally? But often the convenience of big box stores wins out. Give people a place to shop where the proceeds will help their neighbors, and everyone benefits.
Here are a few options to get you started:
- Flea markets: With the colder months coming and people spending more time indoors, fall is an inspiring time to declutter. Encourage your community to bring in their unwanted stuff — assuming it’s in good condition — and host a local flea market. Market it as the perfect place to find something for a gift exchange or a way for kids to shop for affordable presents.
- Silent or live auctions: Auctions can be highly lucrative charity marketing ideas. The biggest challenge is finding appealing items for people to “fight” over. Consider requesting donations from community businesses, like a makeover at a local salon or a gift card to a nearby restaurant.
- Art shows: Solicit donations from community artists and create a pop-up gallery. You can go in almost any direction with this, from a no-frills kids’ art display to a full-scale gallery evening, complete with wine and hors d’oeuvres.
- Holiday bazaars or craft fairs: Who doesn’t want to buy their loved ones a handmade gift? Get your crafters together and organize a holiday-themed fair.
- German-style Christmas market: Common in Europe but less well-known in the U.S., these outdoor Christmas markets will surprise and enchant your neighbors. You’ll need an open space, vendors, and some seasonal refreshments. Bonus point for traditional-style market stalls like these from the Denver Christkindl Market:
For a successful fair, start planning as soon as possible. Once you line up vendors, you can feature them in your advertising.
Festivals
Fun fairs and festivals aren’t just for the summer months. The holiday season is the perfect time to host an indoor or outdoor celebration with games, contests, live performances, and even rides.
Festivals are perfect if you have extra volunteers during the holiday season. Some will be excited about the preparation aspect: calling potential vendors, booking entertainment, and securing supplies. The more they can get for free or at a discount, the more festival income will go to your mission.
Other volunteers can help you run the event itself. You can take admission at the door and have pay-to-play opportunities throughout the day. Carnival games, Santa photos, and holiday-themed guessing games are just a few ideas to start you off. And don’t forget the tip jars, labeled with descriptions of the projects that contributions will fund.
Services
Small services make great Christmas fundraising ideas because many people can take part, including staff, volunteers, and program participants. Think of what your people can do and offer to provide that service in exchange for a small Christmas donation. Options include:
- Wrapping Christmas presents
- Packing shipping boxes
- Decorating mailboxes
- Stamping Christmas card envelopes
Choose a minimum donation, attract volunteers, and you’re good to go. This is an excellent option for hands-on service organizations that work with youth, older adults, or people with disabilities. The whole family can get involved by accepting donations or providing the service itself.
Think of where in your community you might host a service like this. Going door-to-door can work where it’s safe, or you can set up shop at a community center or library.
Location-themed services offer even more ideas. Could you offer to wrap gifts at a local mall or carry people’s presents to their cars?
Performances
Have talented people in your organization or community? Themed performance events like these make fun Christmas fundraising ideas:
- Talent shows: Kids and adults can prepare songs, dances, and skits to share with neighbors. Sell tickets and offer holiday treats at intermission!
- Nativity plays: Churches and faith-based Christian organizations can connect deeply with their donors by staging a traditional play: shepherds, wise men, Joseph and Mary, and, of course, the baby Jesus.
- Christmas concerts: Are there bands, orchestras, or vocal groups in your area that would participate in a concert? Local arts groups are often open to charity fundraising ideas because they need money, too. All participating groups can benefit if you split the proceeds.
- Caroling: Visit local businesses or neighborhoods and sing holiday songs to raise people’s spirits. Downtown streets get lots of foot traffic, as do shopping malls. Don’t forget to secure the manager’s permission.
Remind your community that event tickets make great holiday gifts. One survey found that 92% of Americans prefer experiences over physical presents. Attending your performance can allow families to spend time together and support a cause they care about.
Contests
There’s nothing wrong with a little friendly competition, especially for charity. This may be the season of peace on earth and goodwill toward all, but people will still turn up for the chance to win a prize.
Compete in Person
In-person competitions can stand alone or be part of a larger event. Raffles and giveaways work well during festivals, fairs, and holiday markets. They can even have the added benefit of convincing people to stay longer to find out if they won.
Here are some other contest-based Christmas fundraising ideas:
- Holiday bake-offs
- Christmas tree decorating contests
- Ice sculpture competitions
- Gift-wrapping races
- Gingerbread house contests
- Polar plunges in chilly lakes
- Best Santa Suit at the Fun Run
For some inspiration, check out this charity Santa suit run from Spain.
Use Social Media
Social media contests can spread the joy even further. Engage both local and non-local donors with photo- and video-based competitions, such as:
- Window dressing contests
- Dance contests with holiday music
- Holiday character impersonations: Best Rudolph, Santa, Heat Miser, Buddy the Elf, the Grinch, and more
- Family photo competitions
- Pet costume contests
Think about what platform would suit your contest best. TikTok is an excellent platform for video contests if you have a presence there. Instagram is perfect for photos. And there’s always Facebook, where you can post everything from video links to articles.
Get the buzz going as soon as possible. Announce the contest and why you’re running it, including any relevant details about the program that donations will benefit. This part makes a great lead-in to your fundraising ask.
If the entry fee is a donation, include a link to where they can donate. Add any other rules for the contest and instructions for submitting an entry.
Keep the publicity going across all your socials. Remind people of entry deadlines, share submissions, and then announce the winner.
Parties and Events
The holidays are synonymous with parties. A 2023 survey showed that the average American attends five holiday gatherings at five different houses — and 62% still wish they were visiting more people.
Grant their wishes by hosting a social event with ticket sales to benefit your organization. These Christmas fundraising ideas will get your donors to mix, mingle, and connect over their passion for your cause:
- Family Christmas parties: Make your gathering kid friendly with games, crafts, and snacks. A Santa appearance is always a hit, whether he passes out candy canes or small gifts.
- Parents’ night out: For more of a gala atmosphere, host an adults-only party with cocktails and upscale appetizers. You could even contract with a qualified childcare provider and auction off a night of babysitting.
- Benefit tournament: Basketball, baseball, volleyball, tennis… Whatever is popular in your community, invite community members to organize teams and compete. Encourage teams to pick a holiday theme and dress the part. Who wouldn’t pay to see Santa’s elves play volleyball against the reindeer?
- Pet parades and meetups: Animal shelters and rescues can invite local pet parents to dress up their furry friends and join the fun. You can even have a prize for best holiday costume or a “silly pet tricks” division. Or, take some inspiration from this pet adoption center and offer photos with Santa:
Fun announcements like these are crucial to success. You want people to mark their calendars before they fill up with social commitments.
Requests for Donations
Events are important for Christmas giving and community-building, but don’t be afraid to do some ask-based fundraising. Charitable requests have been a traditional part of Christmas for centuries, as Charles Dickens reminded the world with his famous novella. But don’t worry, your donors will be more open to your requests than Scrooge.
Send an Email Blast
With the rise of easy online payment systems, it’s no wonder nonprofits take in 26% of their online revenue in December, including 5% on December 31. Get your donors in the spirit with a holiday marketing email that reminds them: ‘Tis the season to help others in need.
Start early with a holiday-themed email template, like this one from the Constant Contact library:
These emails are great opportunities to publicize your online and in-person Christmas event ideas. Remind people they can still donate even if they can’t attend.
Spread the Word in Person
If you have regular in-person contact with your supporters, give them regular opportunities to donate. Churches can remind people at services and in bulletins. Arts organizations can make announcements before performances.
Displays can encourage cash and non-cash donations. Popular options include:
- Angel trees: Decorate a tree with individual donation requests, such as requests for toys or clothes for families in need.
- Gift drop boxes: Put out cardboard boxes and accept donations of toys, winter coats, or food that you can distribute.
- Thank-you gifts: Order branded gifts like teddy bears or calendars and give them out in exchange for a small donation.
It’s okay if you already see these around your community. People can give in more than one place.
Remind Donors About Giving Tuesday
It’s never too soon to get started with your Giving Tuesday marketing. You want to get on people’s radar before they decide where their Giving Tuesday funds will go, and yours won’t be the only message they receive.
Get a head start by emailing and posting on social media a few weeks before Thanksgiving. Be encouraging and inspiring, offering tidbits about the many programs donations have supported over the past year.
Plan another sequence of messages for the day itself. Automate your emails and schedule social media posts to go out early in the day before people have received dozens of other requests.
Giving Tuesday generated $3.1 billion in 2023 alone. Get your hat in the ring early to get the biggest piece possible.
Make the Most of Your Christmas Fundraising Ideas
Now that you have some fun and inspiring options to work with, sit down with your development team and talk about which ones will work best for your community. Aim for one live event and consider whether you want to add an online event, but don’t overwhelm your group. One great event is better than multiple not-so-great ones.
Once you have your big idea, you can start dividing up the tasks and securing the details, like where it will happen and who your featured vendors will be. You’ll want a few big draws before you start publicizing.
Remember, whatever Christmas fundraising ideas you choose, you’ll want to stay connected with donors and supporters year round. Plan email address collection as part of your donation or sign-up process so when you start doing great things with people’s contributions, you can tell them all about it.
Next, check out our Holiday Marketing Quickstarter.
