12 Holiday Fundraising Ideas For Your Non-Profit Organization

Keeping the lights on and your non-profit organization running smoothly during the holiday season can be a feat. As a nonprofit, you likely don’t have the same budget as big box stores or department stores to sell your products. 

Luckily, there are plenty of other ways to generate funds without breaking the bank. New Year’s resolutions tend to come with a fresh new outlook and higher aspirations for many. The popularity of resolutions has also opened up a host of new fundraising ideas for non-profit organizations that might not have been so appealing at other times of the year. 

From savings accounts and trust funds specifically tailored to non-profits to silly photo booths at events,

Here are 12 top holiday fundraising ideas for raising money this holiday season:

Have A Shoe Drive Or Other Clothing Drive

A variety of non-profits host clothing drives annually around the holidays, but they are a reliable source of donations. Many non-profits have a specific need for clothing, such as a faith-based organization that may have a particular focus on helping those in need of winter coats.

These clothing drives are a great way to help people in need while raising funds for your organization. 

For the holiday season, a shoe drive is a great way to collect non-perishable items while allowing donors to choose the size and type of shoes they donate.

Host A Holiday-Themed Photo Booth At Your Event

A photo booth is a great way to inject levity and fun into your holiday fundraising event. Depending on the type of photo booth, you can charge per person or per picture and set a minimum amount that needs to be paid for a group of people to get in. A holiday-themed photo booth, along with some props, can be a great way to add a holiday atmosphere to your event and give your guests something to remember it by. 

Some photo booth providers allow you to download the images from the event for free to get some nice keepsakes for your organization and your guests. Because photo booths are inexpensive, they are a great way to raise funds without breaking the bank.

You can set the price based on how many pictures people take or what they get printed.

Hold A Holiday Crazy Scramble Or Kickball Tournament

The popularity of sporting events and tournaments has grown recently, and they are a great source of fundraising for non-profits. You can host a popular sporting event in your area or on a team level, such as a kickball tournament. 

A crazy scramble is a golf tournament where players play for crazy things like wearing a costume in a public place or having to name every president in order instead of playing for strokes. 

With a kickball tournament, you can choose to play for a set amount per person or play for “house rules,” such as the team who wins has to take a group of people out for a meal.

Meal Drives

Meal drives are typically an ongoing fundraising effort, but they are a reliable source of funds for your non-profit organization. You can partner with a restaurant and ask patrons to donate money for meals to be provided for the homeless. 

You can also partner with a grocery store or food supplier to collect non-perishable items donated to local food banks. A meal or food drive is a great way to raise funds while helping those in need.

Fundraisers By The Hour

Depending on the service provided, you can offer your organization’s services to clients in exchange for donations. This is a great idea for non-profits with specialized skills, such as construction companies or car repair shops. 

By setting up fundraising events where you work for a set period of time and charge a set amount, you can earn a consistent source of income that can be applied to general fundraising or a specific project.

Wrapping Parties

If there are large commercial companies that have a presence in your area, partnering with them to help wrap their merchandise for the holiday season is a great way to earn funds. Depending on the company, you can charge per item you wrap or per hour you work. 

This is a great fundraising idea for non-profits with many volunteers available to help, as wrapping merchandise for large companies can be lengthy.

Hold An Online Auction

Online auctions are a great way to raise funds while allowing people to bid on items they may not be able to purchase otherwise. You can auction off items donated to your non-profit or items you purchase specifically for the event.

By hosting an online auction, you can reach a larger audience than you would with a traditional fundraising event and accept bids from people who cannot attend the event in person.

Sell Co-Branded Merchandise

Non-profits often have a specific logo and color scheme, which can lend nicely to co-branded merchandise. You can offer branded t-shirts, coffee mugs, or posters featuring your logo as a way to generate funds for your organization.

By partnering with a company that creates co-branded merchandise, you can set up an online store that sells your items and the partner company’s items.

By selling branded merchandise, you can reach a wider audience and increase your funds raised without having to put in as much work.

Food Truck Night

Food truck nights are popular events for non-profits to host at a local park or venue where food trucks are invited to set up shop, and guests can purchase food from the trucks and enjoy it at the event. 

The money from food and drink sales is then donated to the non-profit of choice. Food truck nights are best suited to warm weather months when most people prefer to spend time outside. This is also a great event to hold on a Friday or Saturday night. All you need to host a food truck night is a venue where the trucks can park and electricity to run their equipment. 

You’ll also need to decide how to collect the event donations. Food truck nights are best suited to generate revenue to fund one-time projects or general operating expenses. You can also set up a donation box at the event where people can put money.

Chili Cook-off

A chili cook-off is a fun way to raise funds for your organization and engage donors and volunteers. To host a chili cook-off, you’ll need to find a local caterer or food truck to supply the chili and a place for people to sample the chili.

You’ll also need to decide on an entry fee, have a way for people to sign up, and publicize the event. You can also ask guests to bring a side dish to accompany the chili. Chili cook-offs are best suited to be held during warmer months when people can enjoy the chili outside.

The chili cook-off is best suited to generate revenue to fund one-time projects or general operating expenses.

Carnival Or Festival Fare

A carnival or festival fare is a great way to raise funds for your organization and engage donors and volunteers. To host a carnival or festival fare, you’ll need to find a local caterer or food truck to supply the food and a place for people to enjoy it.

You’ll also need to decide on an entry fee, have a way for people to sign up, and publicize the event. You can also ask guests to bring a non-perishable food item to donate to a local food bank or for children to bring a new toy or book for donation.

Carnival and festival fare is best suited to generate revenue to fund one-time projects or general operating expenses.

Hold a Raffle Or Game Night.

Hosting a raffle or game night is a great way to raise funds for your organization and engage donors and volunteers. To host a raffle or game night, you’ll need to find a location for the event where you can set up a table for the raffle or games. Y

You’ll also need to decide on an entry fee, have a way for people to sign up, and publicize the event.

You can also encourage guests to bring food or drink as an additional donation. Raffles and game nights are best suited to generate revenue to fund one-time projects or general operating expenses.

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What is the purpose of holiday fundraising?

Holiday fundraising aims to provide your nonprofit organization with the means to continue providing its usual services, or to start new programs, while also meeting its financial goals.

The funds you receive are often used as an endowment for a specific cause or program in your organization that you don’t have the funding for throughout the year. Holiday fundraising is a great way to engage donors who may not have been aware of your organization before by giving them a concrete goal to which they can contribute funds.

It also allows donors to give back during the holiday season in a fun and festive way.

A successful event requires proper planning and promotion.

Holidays tend to be when people are more likely to donate to causes they care about, making them a great time for fundraising. However, to ensure your holiday fundraiser is a success, you’ll need to plan ahead and promote the event as much as possible.

Decide on a date and location for your event. You must choose a convenient date for potential donors with busy schedules. You should also look at the weather forecast as it’s not advisable to hold an outdoor event if there is a chance of rain or extreme weather.

Once you’ve decided on a date, you’ll need to promote the event so that people know it’s happening. This can be done in several ways, including creating a promotional poster, flyer, or brochure, creating a social media campaign, and/or publicizing the event in local newspapers and magazines.

Have An Engaging Online Presence

An engaging online presence can help you to raise funds for your organization throughout the year. This can include creating a blog or podcast and hosting a Giveaway or other interactive online event.

You can also encourage donors to donate directly to your organization through your website. Many non-profits have donation buttons on their websites, which are often easy to miss or overlook.

A large button on your homepage or homepage slider can increase the number of donations you receive through your website.

Pro Tip: You can use Donorbox as your online donation system. Best for seamless fundraising and easy to use.

Conclusion

While many organizations focus on year-round fundraising, holidays are a great way to attract donors who may not otherwise be engaged. Additionally, holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas offer unique opportunities to engage your donors in festive ways.

Holiday fundraisers are often smaller in scale than other fundraising events, making them well-suited to smaller nonprofit organizations or branches.

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