Holiday fundraisers featuring mouthwatering food and sweet treats are an easy way to attract donors. Organize a breakfast with Santa event or switch it up and do a supper with Santa to keep things more affordable. Host a gift-wrapping service where supporters can drop in for a flat fee to get their Christmas gifts wrapped.
Holiday Market
Many organizations see a significant portion of their annual fundraising goals at the end of the year. With many programs cut due to COVID-19 and families having fewer disposable dollars, schools and nonprofit groups are looking for ways to make annual appeals more effective.
Most Christmas fundraisers for schools sell seasonal treats like chestnuts, chocolate bars, and decorated gingerbread cookies. Also, offer a range of gift items. Encourage participants to purchase multiple items by charging them per item or requiring an entrance fee. Incorporate a restaurant fundraiser into your event by embedding a matching gift widget in your donation form.
Toy Drive
A toy drive can help nonprofit organizations distribute gifts to needy children during the holidays. Start by contacting a local nonprofit organization and learning more about their goals and requirements for the toy drive. Some toy drives are open to any age group, while others narrow their focus to a specific range, such as kids in first through third grade. This can give donors a more guided shopping experience and prevent them from donating items inappropriate for the intended recipients.
Make sure to promote your toy drive with flyers and social media. You can also contact local businesses and ask them to post information about your fundraiser.
Letters to Santa
Postal workers have answered children’s letters to Santa Claus for over a century. Post offices work with local volunteers to read and “adopt” letters, then send gifts based on the child’s wish list.
Encourage pupils to write thoughtful letters, not just list what they want this year. It can be a way to reflect on their accomplishments and challenges or just about how much they love Christmas.
Cookie Decorating Party
Kids (and adults) will love getting to decorate cookies and feel proud of the results. Charge a small fee to participate and offer a variety of doodads like sprinkles, candy canes, and edible pearls.
Line kitchen tables or any large table(s) with white butcher paper and set out cookie frosting, little icing bottles, meringue powder, and plastic knives to spread the frosting. Place a tin baking sheet next to each decorating station.
Encourage attendees to BYOT (bring your own Tupperware) and bags for transporting their beautiful creations home. This will help you avoid having to purchase more of your supplies.
Ugly Sweater Contest
Have your team dress in their tackiest holiday sweaters to raise funds for the school. You could also include a fun superlative award category for those who have contributed most to the team’s success throughout the year.
Have supporters pay a small admission fee at the door to enter your ugly Christmas sweater contest. Announce the winner at the night’s end and give them a prize.
Angel Tree
Many families find themselves struggling during the holidays. During this difficult time, some parents may question whether they can give their children the gifts they want for Christmas. Families whose incomes fall below federal poverty guidelines are registered, and the children’s names are listed on Angel tags, including their age, gender, and special Christmas wants and needs. Local community members can “adopt” an Angel, purchase the requested gift, and return it to the designated location. This program has successfully brought joy to thousands of families each year.
