The Ultimate Christmas Fundraising Guide: 6 Fast and Profitable Holiday Fundraiser Ideas

Why Christmas Fundraising Works

Data from GivingTuesday and National Philanthropic Trust shows that nearly one third of all annual charitable donations occur in December. Donors are already in a giving mindset, which means your campaign does not need to work as hard to convert. Seasonal themes make campaigns more relatable, which increases engagement rates. Donors are also more likely to give spontaneously during this time if presented with easy and compelling opportunities.

Planning Your Holiday Fundraiser

Successful Christmas fundraisers are built on timing, clear goals, and a simple structure. Choose one to three ideas that match your capacity and audience, set a clear financial goal, and lock in sponsorships early. Promote early and often through email, social media, and direct outreach. Layer in upsells like raffles, wine pulls, or donation prompts to maximize revenue.

Recommended Timeline

1. Holiday Raffle or Gift Basket Drawing

Raffles are a simple way to generate reliable holiday revenue. Bundle prizes such as gourmet baskets, donated merchandise, or gift cards. Offer multiple prize tiers to appeal to different donor levels. Begin ticket sales at least three weeks before the drawing. Keep ticket prices in the five to twenty dollar range and sell both online and in person to increase reach. Promote through email and SMS to capture last minute buyers.

2. Christmas Ornament Sale

Selling holiday ornaments is ideal for schools, churches, and small nonprofits. Use custom printed or engraved ornaments that include your organization’s name or logo. Offer personalization for a higher donation amount. Promote them as keepsakes or gifts to reach both local and remote supporters. Pair this with an online store or donation landing page to make purchasing easy.

3. Wine Pull with a Holiday Twist

A wine pull fundraiser combines simplicity with strong donor appeal. Collect donated bottles from local supporters or retailers. Wrap them in festive holiday paper to maintain the mystery. Set a fixed donation amount such as twenty five dollars and let guests pull a random bottle. Include a few premium bottles to create excitement. This fundraiser works well at holiday galas, winter markets, or virtual events.

4. Holiday Silent Auction

Silent auctions are an effective way to capture donor attention during the giving season. Offer themed baskets, local experiences, event tickets, or travel packages. Use a platform like CharityAuctionsToday to automate bidding, messaging, and payment. A short three to five day bidding window often creates urgency and increases participation. Promote your auction as an alternative to traditional shopping so donors feel they are giving and receiving at the same time.

5. Giving Tree or Angel Tree

A giving tree allows donors to connect their gift to a tangible impact. Set up a Christmas tree with tags that list donation amounts or specific needs such as $50 provides a holiday meal for a family. Donors select a tag and complete the gift. This can be done in person or virtually using digital tags. Clearly communicate what each gift achieves to make the giving experience personal and meaningful.

6. Christmas Movie Night Fundraiser

A holiday movie night is a simple community event that generates donations and builds goodwill. Choose a family friendly Christmas classic. Sell tickets at a modest price and offer hot chocolate, snacks, and small upsells like raffle tickets. Schools, churches, or community centers are ideal venues. For larger events, pair the movie night with a wine pull or giving tree to increase revenue.

How to Maximize Fundraising Results

1. Start planning early and stick to a timeline
2. Keep activities simple and easy to execute
3. Use seasonal branding, music, and visuals to create emotional appeal
4. Promote through multiple channels to reach different segments of your audience
5. Layer multiple giving options such as raffles and donations to increase average gift size
6. Recognize donors promptly to strengthen relationships for the following year

Sponsorship and Donor Engagement

Holiday events are a natural fit for corporate sponsorships. Offer tiered packages such as bronze, silver, and gold levels. Sponsors can cover the cost of prizes, printing, or food in exchange for visibility at the event, on signage, and in digital promotions. Using mobile engagement tools such as text reminders, push notifications, and QR codes allows donors to participate and give even if they cannot attend in person. Combining traditional fundraising with digital engagement increases total revenue and donor retention.

Glossary of Fundraising Terms

Raffle: A fundraising game in which participants buy tickets for a chance to win prizes.
Wine Pull: A game where donors make a set contribution to select a mystery bottle of wine.
Silent Auction: An auction where bids are placed without an auctioneer, often online or at events.
Giving Tree: A tree display with donation tags that represent specific giving opportunities.
Upsell: An additional donation opportunity layered onto an existing activity.
Peer to Peer Fundraising: A strategy where supporters raise funds on behalf of an organization.
In Kind Donation: A non cash contribution of goods or services.

Tom Kelly

Tom Kelly, TEDx speaker and CEO of CharityAuctions.com, helps nonprofits raise millions through auctions and AI. He hosts The Million Dollar Nonprofit podcast and inspires leaders to live their legacy, not just leave it.