5 Holiday Fundraising Ideas to Wrap Up Your Year

Whether you're fundraising for a school, sports team, church, nonprofit, or other organization, there are countless holiday fundraising ideas to help you finish the year strong.

Let's take a look at our five favorite holiday and Christmas fundraiser ideas! 

1. Holiday treats and specialties 

Product fundraisers have been a tried-and-true method for decades. You can partner with a company that specializes in product fundraising to buy items in bulk and resell them, or use a catalog and order form to take orders directly.

What products are best for a holiday fundraiser? Fan-favorites include: 

• Candles
• Gift wrap
• Baked goods
• Gift baskets
• Christmas wreaths or poinsettias
• Amaryllis or paperwhite bulbs

2. RaiseRight 

RaiseRight fundraisers take the stress out of traditional fundraising—you don’t have to sell goods or ask for donations.

Instead, supporters can buy gift cards (great for gifting or everyday spend), shop online, dine at local restaurants, or book travel. Your organization earns money back with every purchase.

As families gear up for holiday shopping and seasonal plans, RaiseRight makes it effortless to earn money on the activities and purchases they’re already making.

RaiseRight is designed to be an evergreen, year-round program, but it can easily flex as a quick and easy holiday fundraiser, too. It’s free to sign up, and your organization can be approved within a few business days. 

RaiseRight partners with hundreds of popular brands, from McDonald’s to Amazon and everything in between, so there's something for everyone on the list. 

To learn more about the benefits of running a RaiseRight program for your organization, download our free guide: 

3. Gingerbread house contest

A gingerbread house decorating contest is an especially festive Christmas fundraiser, but get ready for some planning and prep (and some sticky clean-up).

If you’re fundraising for a school, youth group, or church, your organization probably has a space for hosting events. If not, contact places like your local library, Elks Club, or Rotary Club. They’ll often have community meeting rooms available. 

Next, you’ll need supplies for all participants. Contact grocery stores, bakeries, and other local businesses for donated supplies and prizes. (Or, use a RaiseRight gift card to purchase supplies at your preferred store!) 

Calculate an entry fee that covers the cost of supplies and other expenses, with all additional proceeds going toward your holiday fundraiser. 

4. Holiday soiree, gala, or concert

If you love party planning, this is the holiday fundraiser for you. You can make the event as low-key or high-end as possible, from black tie or masquerade to an ugly Christmas sweater party. 

Here are some tips to make your Christmas fundraiser event or benefit concert a smashing success:

• Hire a local musical group to perform (or find one willing to donate their time to help a worthy cause).
  
  
• Contact local businesses to sponsor the event and provide refreshments.
  
  
• If your organization has merch on hand, like shirts, mugs, tote bags, etc., sell these on-site or use them as door prizes.
  
  
• Sell advance tickets and/or charge a cover fee at the door.

5. Holiday-themed raffle

A raffle is a holiday fundraising classic—there’s nothing like a chance to win a prize and get people excited to chip in for a good cause.

Here are some tips to make organizing your holiday raffle a snap: 

• Contact local businesses to contribute – Coffee shops can donate gift cards, bakeries can provide cakes or cookies, local artists might donate prints or cards, and spas could provide a free massage or facial. Don’t be afraid to ask around! 
  
  
• Reach out to larger companies – Many companies and chain stores have donation programs and will contribute prizes to charity events.
  
  
• Go paperless – If you’re nostalgic for the classic roll of colorful raffle tickets, by all means, go old-school. But if you’d rather modernize your raffle, you can use an online raffle creator to manage entries, sell tickets, and select winners.