Posted by Kate White
People give more in December than at any other time of year. They’re also busier than at any other time of year. The best Christmas fundraisers fit right into what families are already doing: buying a tree, wrapping gifts, finding something fun to do with the kids over break.
Below you’ll find Christmas fundraising ideas sorted by type, a short list built for schools, and a planning timeline that takes you from picking an idea to thanking your donors.
Short on time? Start with the idea that fits your group.
| Group | Try These First | Why They Work |
|---|---|---|
| Schools and PTAs | Holiday shop, Breakfast with Santa, wreath sale | Families already plan around school events |
| Churches | Cookie walk, Christmas concert, angel tree sponsorships | Builds on traditions your members already love |
| Nonprofits | Year-end giving campaign, 12 days of giving, matching gifts | Many donors make their biggest gifts in December |
| Sports teams and clubs | Gift wrapping station, Christmas tree lot shifts, apparel sale | Lots of volunteers, little upfront cost |
| Small groups and youth groups | Light hanging service, caroling for donations, parents' night out | Low cost, and kids can do most of the work |
People are already shopping in December. Give them something they need anyway, and the money goes to your cause.
Events take more planning, but they give families a holiday memory and bring in money from tickets, food, and extras.
🎅 Sell event tickets by time slot
For Breakfast with Santa, a concert, or a home tour, sell tickets online with set time slots and a cap for each one. You'll know your headcount before the day and can check families in at the door.
See how Tickets worksFood is easy to sell in December, especially anything that saves busy families time.
Busy people will happily pay someone else to handle a holiday chore. Services cost almost nothing to start.
Not every fundraiser needs an event. Many donors give their largest gifts in December, so a clear ask with a goal can raise more than a sale.
12 days of giving. Share one story, photo, or need each day for 12 days leading up to Christmas, with a donation link in every post.
Year-end appeal. Send a short letter or email in early December telling donors what their gift did this year and what it will do next year. Follow up with a reminder the week before December 31.
Sponsor a need. Turn your wish list into giving levels, like “$25 covers a coat” or “$100 sponsors a family dinner.” People like knowing exactly what their gift buys.
Matching gift challenge. Ask a local business or board member to match donations up to a set amount. A match gives people a reason to give today.
Team fundraising pages. Let each member of your team, class, or club create their own page and share it with friends and family. Personal asks bring in donors your group would never reach.
👉 Planning around Giving Tuesday too? See our Giving Tuesday ideas
School fundraisers work best when they fit into the school calendar and don’t ask families to sell door to door.
For more classroom and holiday ideas, see our class Christmas party ideas.
A Christmas fundraiser runs on a tight calendar. Families start holiday shopping in November, and your fundraiser competes with every party, concert, and school event. A clear plan keeps it on track.
1. Set a goal and a reason. Pick a dollar amount and say what it pays for, like new uniforms or 50 holiday meals. A specific goal raises more than a general ask.
2. Pick one main idea. One well-run fundraiser beats three half-planned ones. Choose based on your volunteers, your budget, and how much time you have.
3. Decide how you’ll collect money. Choose before you promote anything. Cash boxes and paper order forms create work later. Online payments, orders, and tickets keep the totals in one place.
4. Recruit volunteers by shift. List every job, like setup, sales tables, delivery, and cleanup, with a time and a clear task. People say yes faster to a two-hour shift than to “can you help?”
5. Promote in waves. Announce the fundraiser, send a reminder halfway through, and send a final push before the deadline. Share progress toward your goal each time.
6. Thank donors quickly. Send a thank-you within a few days with the final total and what it will pay for. Our guide on how to write a donation thank-you letter has examples.
October
Early to Mid November
Late November to Early December
Mid December
Late December to January
Everything below is free to use on every SignUpGenius plan.
Fundraisers
Collect online donations toward a goal, with a progress bar donors can watch grow.
Start a fundraiserPeer-to-Peer Fundraisers
Give each team member, student, or volunteer their own page to share with friends and family.
Set up team fundraising pagesOnline Stores
Take orders and payments for wreaths, ornaments, apparel, and treat boxes in one place.
Open an online storeTickets
Sell tickets for Breakfast with Santa, concerts, and trivia nights, with time slots and check-in.
Sell event ticketsSign Ups
Fill volunteer shifts for setup, sales tables, delivery, and cleanup, with automatic reminders.
Create a volunteer sign upForms and Waivers
Collect permission forms for kids' events, like a parents' night out or a caroling trip.
Collect forms onlineWhat are good Christmas fundraising ideas?
Wreath and poinsettia sales, Breakfast with Santa, gift wrapping stations, cookie walks, and year-end giving campaigns all work well in December. The best ideas fit what people are already doing, like buying decorations, wrapping gifts, or looking for a fun family outing.
What are easy Christmas fundraisers for schools?
A holiday shop, a wreath or ornament sale, and a Breakfast with Santa are popular school fundraisers. They fit the school calendar and don’t require kids to sell door to door. Taking orders online makes it easier for families to buy and for volunteers to track totals.
When should I start planning a Christmas fundraiser?
Start in October. Most sales need preorders by mid-November, and venues and vendors book up fast in December. A simple giving campaign can come together in a few weeks, but earlier is still better.
I’m running a Christmas fundraiser for my nonprofit. What raises the most?
A year-end giving campaign with a clear goal often raises the most, since many donors give their largest gifts in December. Add a matching gift challenge and let supporters create their own fundraising pages to reach new donors.
How do I collect money for a Christmas fundraiser online?
Use an online fundraiser for donations, an online store for product sales, or tickets for events. Each one collects payments and tracks totals in one place, so you’re not counting cash or matching paper order forms. All are free to set up with SignUpGenius.
How to Volunteer at Christmas
Service projects and group volunteer days for the holidays.
Find ways to give backChristmas Party Themes
Party themes, including ideas that give back to your community.
See give-back party themesOur whole church uses SignUpGenius for various activities, (meals for the sick, committee sign ups, etc.) and I've used it for many other groups of which I'm a member. Thank you so much for this wonderful site!
Phala Rasmussen
