12 Christmas Fundraising Ideas

by Tom Wood | Oct 28, 2024 | Stories

Christmas fundraising campaigns are a fab way to give your crowdfunding or drive to raise money a boost before the end of the year. Many people look for a worthy cause to donate to in the run-up to Christmas, so hosting an Xmas fundraiser or trying one of our other Christmas fundraising ideas can be a great way to raise extra money and awareness for your cause.

Below we’ve listed 12 exciting, engaging ideas for fundraising at Christmas time, for your community project, charity or another cause – and check out our top tips for getting the most from your Christmas fundraiser!

Our Top Xmas Fundraising Ideas

1. Christmas Card Design Competition

The first of our Christmas fundraising ideas is to collaborate with a local school, play group or even just get your kids and their friends around to design Christmas cards for a competition to see who can create the most festive card. Set a theme or simply let their creativity shine.

Appoint a judge to choose a winner, then get them printed to sell around your local community to raise money for your cause. Make it clear where the proceeds will go for a fab way to boost awareness and donations for your Xmas fundraiser.

2. Kids’ Christmas Card Sale

Sell handmade cards at your local festive fayre, or use them as part of your crowdfunding appeal. Add packs of cards as rewards that supporters can pre-order when backing your crowdfunder, helping them out with their Christmas prep while raising more money for your cause.

Rewards on Crowdfunder are a way to give back to your supporters, as well as pre-selling products or gauging interest in your project. Through your Crowdfunder dashboard, you can easily set donations to be eligible for user-selectable rewards on your Crowdfunder page.

For example, you could offer different-sized packs based on donation levels – a £5 donation could unlock a 10-pack of Christmas cards, or a larger £20 donation could receive a larger pack plus extra goodies, creating a unique and heartfelt Christmas fundraiser that will appeal to supporters looking for a personal touch this holiday season.

3. Host a Charity Concert

A charity concert is a fantastic Christmas fundraiser idea that brings the community together for an unforgettable experience. Whether featuring local performers or school choirs, this type of event can raise significant funds for your community project, charity or food bank.

Offer tickets as rewards for donations to your crowdfunder, and include different options for higher-tier backers, such as business owners or local groups who pledge higher amounts. This could include additional rewards such as advertising space in the concert programme or special thanks during the event

This is a perfect way to combine festive entertainment with your Christmas fundraiser.

4. Festive Bake Sale

Everyone loves a Christmas bake sale, which is why it’s one of our top Xmas fundraising ideas. Get the kids involved, and make the following to sell at the school fete or community Christmas market:

Classic iced biscuits
Festive gingerbread
Mince pies
Fruit cake
Christmas cupcakes

Rustle up some vegan and gluten-free recipes too so there’s something for everyone!

Consider offering tea, coffee and festive hot chocolates on your stall too – this’ll go down a treat when people need refreshments. Even if you only charge a small amount per drink, it’ll soon add up and give your Christmas fundraising total a boost.

5. Create a Community Christmas Recipe Book

A recipe book filled with festive favourites from community members is an engaging way to raise funds at a Christmas fair or even via your online fundraising page. Reach out to local community members through Facebook groups or in-person networking and ask for submissions to include in the book.

This Christmas fundraiser idea allows people from your network to share their own nostalgic Christmas recipes from their family or culture. You could allow supporters to receive digital downloads or physical copies of the book as a reward for their contributions to your crowdfunder, depending on how much they donate.

You could even offer exclusive signed editions or limited prints to encourage larger donations. These kinds of Christmas fundraising ideas can also foster a sense of community, by sharing beloved holiday traditions among new friends and neighbours.

6. Christmas Dinner Event

Hosting a Christmas dinner event is a wonderful way to bring people together and raise money for Christmas fundraising campaigns.

It can also be a way to expand your network, by contacting local businesses and community leaders to help provide catering, the venue or entertainment at the event. Offer seats at the dinner as rewards for donations to your online fundraiser, with options to purchase whole tables for family, friends, or colleagues.

Higher-tier donors could receive VIP treatment, such as festive gifts or personalised thank-you notes. This Xmas fundraising idea combines celebration with charitable giving, making it a popular option during the holiday season.

7. Christmas Hamper Prize Draw

An Xmas fundraiser that’s sure to capture attention is a prize draw for Christmas hampers, filled with goodies from local shops or makers within your community. Offer hampers of different sizes and values to cater to a wider audience.

These hampers could include sweet treats from a local bakery, bottles of wine, beauty products, toys, vouchers to local businesses or events, or anything else that could be donated from people in your network.

This is an ideal option for anyone looking for simple yet effective Christmas fundraising ideas, as the chance to win a festive hamper is always an exciting draw.

What’s more, it will put you in touch with businesses in your local area who may want to share the prize draw if their products are featured, widening your network of potential supporters.

8. Meet and Greet with Santa

If you’re looking for more family-focused ways to raise money for charity at Christmas, organise a meet and greet with Santa as a prize in your Christmas fundraiser, whether it’s a crowdfunding campaign, raffle or other draw.

Whether online via a video call or in person at a local venue, families will get a kick out of interacting with Santa, and parents will love to share the opportunity to their networks.

You could get the word out through placing posters in the community, sharing on social media or by starting a WhatsApp group for the parents in your personal network to get a buzz going.

This fabulous prize is sure to appeal to families and increase engagement with your Christmas fundraiser.

9. Win a Real Christmas Tree and Decoration Service

A unique prize draw option is offering supporters the chance to win a real Christmas tree, along with delivery and professional decoration services.

Partner with local stylists or a garden centre to make this an exclusive and appealing prize, perfect for busy families who want to take the hassle out of Christmas preparations.

This Christmas fundraiser idea is a great way to combine the festive spirit with a little bit of luxury.

10. Set Up a Gift Wrapping Service

Christmas Eve can arrive before you know it, and Father Christmas can need a helping hand with all that wrapping! Team up with a few friends and set yourselves up as Santa’s helpers, offering a gift wrapping service in exchange for a donation to your cause. Arm yourselves with brown paper, ribbons, scissors and tape, and lend a hand to those that need it while giving your Xmas fundraising a boost.

11. Brass Band Performance Prize Draw

Nothing spreads festive cheer like the sound of a brass band playing Christmas carols. Offer the chance to win a brass band performance on your street or doorstep as part of your Xmas fundraiser or crowdfunding appeal.

This memorable prize will delight the winner and their neighbours, creating a wonderful atmosphere. Look online or ask in your local groups to see if there’s a band nearby who would be willing to provide this and they will also be able to promote the prize draw to their own networks.

This is one of the more unique Christmas fundraising ideas that’s sure to draw attention and raise funds for your cause.

12. Christmas Quiz Night

A quiz night is always great fun, whether it’s virtual or in-person. Charge teams for entry as part of your Christmas fundraising campaign, appoint a quizmaster, and let the competition begin. Make sure you’ve got an exciting grand prize for the winner to encourage extra donations.

Here are some of our favourite ideas for Christmas quiz rounds to inspire you:

Guess the year of the Christmas Number 1
Christmas carol anagrams
Guess the celebrity behind the Santa hat and beard
Festive dingbats
Can you identify the Christmas film from the still image?
Guess the festive song that’s being played backwards
Current affairs round based on the last 12 months

How to Make the Most of Your Festive Christmas Crowdfunder

To maximise the success of these Christmas fundraising ideas, be sure to integrate them into your crowdfunder creatively.
For rewards-based fundraisers, offer meaningful rewards or experiences that make supporters feel connected to your cause.
For prize draws, choose exciting and festive prizes that inspire people to donate.
Whether you’re selling Christmas cards, hosting a dinner, or offering a prize draw for a Christmas hamper, these Christmas fundraising ideas will help you spread holiday cheer while raising funds for your charity or community project.

By incorporating a mix of online and in-person Christmas fundraising ideas, you can engage supporters in ways that feel festive, fun, and rewarding. With these ideas, you’re sure to run a successful Christmas fundraiser that not only raises money but also brings the spirit of giving to your entire community.

Do you have a cause you’d like to crowdfund for this Christmas? Get started