Plan the perfect event for your school with these holiday fundraising ideas. CharityAuctionsToday offers fresh fundraising ideas for more successful holiday drives.
The holiday season is a magical time of year, filled with joy, generosity, and the spirit of giving. It’s also the perfect opportunity for schools to host festive fundraisers that bring students, families, and the community together while raising money for important programs, classroom supplies, extracurricular activities, or school events.
With so many people eager to give back during the holidays, a well-planned school fundraiser can be both successful and enjoyable for everyone involved.
The best part? Holiday fundraisers don’t have to be complicated or time-consuming! Whether you’re looking for quick and easy ideas or larger events that engage the whole school, there are plenty of creative ways to encourage support.
Turn Holiday Cheer Into Tangible Support
You’ve got festive school fundraising ideas ready. Now maximize their impact — launch an auction to engage families, boost giving, and make this season truly memorable.
Launch Your Holiday AuctionFrom festive bake sales and holiday gift-wrapping stations to online auctions and Christmas movie nights, the possibilities are endless. Schools can also take advantage of digital fundraising platforms, allowing parents and supporters to contribute even if they can’t attend an event in person.
If your school is looking for fun and effective holiday fundraising ideas, this guide will provide you with a variety of options to help you raise money while spreading holiday cheer.
Whether you have weeks to plan or need last-minute Christmas fundraising ideas for schools, you’ll find something that works for your school community and makes the holiday season even more special.
Sell Holiday Wreaths
Don’t wait for the holidays to start your holiday fundraising events. Enlist volunteers (grandparents are a great asset) to make wreaths for Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and even Thanksgiving. Having a variety of holidays can increase your return. Ask the students for craft donations like ribbons and other trinkets. A lot of people have craft supplies that are collecting dust. You can also request, old, unwanted, or dilapidated wreaths. Grandmas can give them a new life! Also, you might find online suppliers who will drop ship wreaths directly to your customers and give you a small commission.
Sell Christmas Trees
Partner with a local tree-grower and borrow a section of a parking lot from a neighborhood business to set up your Christmas tree lot. Publicize the school you support and offer free hot cocoa or hot apple cider to set your tree lot apart from others in town. Be sure to advertise that all profits will go to the school to raise money for the specific items you need.
Hold a Holiday Concert
Who doesn’t love an evening of happy music? Find a wide variety of performers who are willing to volunteer their services. A local jazz band, a well-known singer, your city’s symphony orchestra, and a mix of student performances will draw a larger crowd. Pre-sell discounted tickets to the concert and have full-price tickets available at the door. Be sure to let your newspapers and radio stations know about the event in order to receive free publicity. Remember, schools are made up of a mix of people with varying religious beliefs, so focus on secular songs or include music from each December holiday. The more people you can include, the better your rewards.
Host a Holiday Charity Dinner
Turkey, ham and all the trimmings are involved in our tastiest of Holiday fundraising ideas. Ask a local grocer or restaurant to donate items. Many big chain stores, like, Target, Meijer, and Kroger will donate items once a month. Alternatively, you could host a holiday potluck, where everyone brings a dish their family loves and pays a small donation to attend. This way, you'll probably get some more diverse flavors (and your guests can avoid turkey-fatigue). Add holiday-themed raffle tickets to liven up the event. Request free passes for holiday events at museums, symphonies, or movie theaters, and hand them out as prizes! Use our platform to host a silent auction or to run your raffle, for a hands-off process that will let you enjoy seconds at dinner. You might also consider sharing the leftovers with a local homeless organization.
Plan a Jingle bell Run/Walk
Take your typical charity run or walk and add jingle bells for everyone. Depending on the date of the event, hand out jingle bells, turkey hats, elf ears , Kwanzaa hats, or maybe fun Hannukah shirts. Your jingle bell event is sure to spread joy to the entire community! Have entrants collect donations and award prizes for those with the highest amount of donations. When they register, let them know that everyone gets a free hat or shirt to wear during the race. Be sure to ask them to specify which item they prefer, so you will have plenty on hand the day of the race.
Offer Holiday Carol Grams
Let your community members send holiday musical spirit to family and friends while supporting a good cause. You don’t have to be a professionally-trained vocalist to spread the joy of the season; if you dress festively and have fun, the carol recipient is sure to enjoy your performance! Have a short list of songs to offer. They don’t have to be traditional songs like, Jingle Bells. Offer to serenade someone for a birthday, to sing an uplifting Pop Song (Shake it Off), or a fun Camp Song.
Sell Holiday Ornaments
These days, there seems to be a tree for everything! Twig trees are popular for Easter, Halloween, and Valentine’s Day. You can even make them with a branch, terra cotta pot, and insulation spray foam. Get grandparents involved to help make the trees or create seasonal ornaments. There are also several online companies that will customize Christmas ornaments for your organization. These limited edition ornaments are a great way to raise funds and raise holiday spirits! Put the year in your design, so that supporters will want to buy future years’ ornaments and continue their collections. You can also sell these in an online auction.
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Plan a Holiday Fun Day
Offer a holiday fun child care day to the locals for a small fee. Put together a series of holiday themed activities and craft stations for kids. Not only will children have holiday fun, but moms and dads can get in some child-free holiday shopping. For example, let parents sign up for 2-3 hr. blocks of time. Be sure to register the ID’s of the pick up person. Kids will want to come, and you’ll make a little side cash to help with other events.
Hold a Holiday Bake Sale
Everyone enjoys bake sale goodies. The holidays are no exception. Festively decorated sugar cookies, gingerbread men, spritz cookies and more fill people’s tummies and hearts with holiday goodness. Buy them or bake them. Many schools don’t allow homemade food items, so you can buy them in bulk and separate them into decorated goodie bags. Don’t forget to ask the big box stores to donate cookies, cupcakes, muffins, or brownies. If you're making your own baked goods, consider a contest to see who sells the most (maybe the prize is a nice bottle of wine or gift card to a local shop)!
Holiday Window Painting
Local businesses love to have their store windows decorated for the holidays. From holiday sayings to full winter scenes, business owners can support your charity and make their stores more festive at the same time. You can find window painting supplies and festive stickers online. Offer, several options, and enlist creative students to help!
6 Bonus Holiday School Fundraising Ideas
In case that wasn't enough inspiration, here are some bonus school fundraising ideas perfect for the holidays:
- Sell greeting cards the kids design themselves
- Ask the perfectionists in the PTA to start a gift-wrapping station
- Have an ugly sweater contest, in person or virtually (pro tip: allow people to pay for more votes!)
- Ask volunteers to offer wreath and Christmas tree pickup after the holidays (could be part and parcel of your Xmas tree sale)
- Host a holiday lights or decor tour: some cities offer tours of their homes at this time of year, but if that's a little too personal, just a map of local houses with magnificent outdoor displays, along with maybe a link to a playlist and a little bit about each house/family is a fun way to get the community involved.
- Holiday-themed scavenger hunt
You should also check out our Quick Thanksgiving Fundraising Ideas.
Final Thoughts
Holiday fundraising is a fantastic way to bring the school community together while supporting important programs, classroom needs, and extracurricular activities.
Whether you choose a classic fundraiser like a bake sale or holiday shop, or a modern approach like an online raffle or virtual giving campaign, the key is to make participation easy and fun for students, parents, and staff. By tapping into the festive spirit, your school can create a successful and memorable fundraiser that not only raises money but also spreads holiday cheer.
To maximize success, promote your fundraiser early and often through school newsletters, social media, and student involvement. Encourage families to share events with their networks and consider offering small incentives or competitions to boost engagement.
A well-organized fundraiser will not only meet your school’s financial goals but also strengthen the sense of community among students, teachers, and parents.
No matter which fundraising idea you choose, the most important thing is to enjoy the process and celebrate the generosity of your supporters. The holiday season is all about giving, and every dollar raised helps make a difference for your school. So, embrace the festive spirit, get creative, and make this year’s holiday fundraiser one to remember!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a holiday school fundraiser?
A seasonal campaign or event—online, in-person, or hybrid—held between November and early January that raises money for school programs through donations, sales, auctions, or sponsored activities.
When should we start planning a holiday fundraiser for our school?
- 6–8 weeks out: pick format, secure space/approvals, recruit leads.
- 4–5 weeks out: vendors/sponsors, item procurement, launch page.
- 2–3 weeks out: promotion cadence, volunteer shifts, finalize logistics.
- Event week: confirm day-of roles, signage, QR/links, and run of show.
What holiday fundraisers can we launch in under three weeks?
- Gift card wall or online mini-auction of local experiences.
- Cookie kit/pie pre-orders with simple pickup windows.
- Holiday gram notes delivered to classrooms.
- Read-a-thon or snowman dash with pledge pages.
Should we run our holiday fundraiser online, in-person, or hybrid?
Online expands reach and simplifies payments; in-person adds community energy and on-the-spot giving; hybrid combines both—e.g., school market + online auction for remote families.
How do we host a holiday market or craft fair at school?
- Invite local makers and charge table fees or revenue share.
- Add student-made crafts and a photo booth backdrop.
- Go cashless with QR codes and a mobile checkout page.
What are good themes for classroom gift baskets for a holiday auction?
- Family game night, cozy movie night, hot cocoa bar.
- Local foodie tour (gift cards), coffee/tea sampler.
- STEM kits, art supplies, or sports fan gear by team.
How can we turn our holiday concert or pageant into a fundraiser?
- VIP seats/parking raffle (where permitted).
- Photo backdrop with QR to donate.
- Merch table (student art cards/ornaments) and sponsor underwrites.
How does an “adopt-a-family” or giving tree work at school? (General information)
Create tags with needs (or e-gift options), track sign-outs, and set a clear drop-off deadline. Coordinate with counselors or a partner nonprofit for privacy and eligibility. General information, not legal advice.
Any special rules for holiday bake sales at schools? (General information)
Follow district and local guidelines on packaging, ingredients lists, and handling. Prefer pre-wrapped items and cashless checkout. General information, not health or legal advice.
What partnerships raise money fast during the holidays?
- Restaurant spirit nights with a promo code for takeout.
- Retail round-up at checkout and gift wrap stations.
- Employer matching gifts and volunteer grants reminders.
How can text-to-give and QR codes help during busy holiday schedules? (General information)
Use a short keyword and a large QR on programs, signs, and slides. Keep the form mobile-first with wallet pay and suggested amounts. General information, not legal advice.
How do we keep holiday fundraisers inclusive and culturally sensitive? (General information)
- Use neutral themes (winter, gratitude, giving) and offer participation choices.
- Provide low/no-cost options and scholarship tickets.
- Translate key materials; consider dietary and accessibility needs.
General information, not legal advice.
How should we price tickets, kits, or items to maximize participation? (General information)
- Create family bundles and early-bird prices.
- Offer “sponsor-a-family” add-ons at checkout.
- Keep checkout fast with minimal fields and wallet pay.
General information, not financial advice.
What volunteer roles are essential for holiday events and how do we staff them?
- Setup/tear-down, check-in, cashier/QR helpers, and booth leads.
- Use 60–90 minute shifts and text reminders.
- Provide a quick guide with FAQs and escalation contacts.
Which auction items perform best during the holiday season?
- Catering, bakery bundles, and chef experiences.
- Family attractions, winter activities, and show tickets.
- Travel gift cards with flexible dates and clear terms.
What’s a simple communication cadence for holiday fundraising?
- Launch (T-2–3 weeks): announce goal, impact per gift, and deadline.
- Mid-campaign: progress update + story/photo.
- Final 5 days: daily countdown and sponsor match shout-outs.
Any safety, permit, or policy considerations for holiday events? (General information)
Check district rules for facilities, raffles/games, food handling, and vendor insurance. Coordinate with the principal and submit required forms early. General information, not legal advice.
How do we keep costs low while maximizing net revenue? (General information)
- Underwrite big costs with sponsors (decor, AV, treats).
- Use digital promotion and cashless checkout.
- Curate fewer, better auction items to concentrate bidding.
General information only.
Which KPIs indicate our holiday fundraiser is on track before it ends?
- Donor count and average gift vs. goal.
- Advance ticket/orders and volunteer shifts filled.
- Online conversion rate and % of items with multiple bids (if auction).
What should we do after the holiday event to keep momentum into year-end giving?
- Share results and photos within 48 hours and thank sponsors/volunteers.
- Send receipts and matching-gift reminders.
- Invite families to your year-end or New Year goal with a clear impact line.
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