If you are an enthusiastic planner, these eight easy Thanksgiving holiday fundraisers are simple enough to put together in a week or less. Keep it simple. Plan a Thanksgiving fundraiser around fellowship and family. Holidays are a great time to raise funds for your favorite cause, especially because the last three months of the year are some of the most fruitful fundraising months.
Organize a FOOTBALL FUND DRIVE - Football season is in full force. Ask your family and friends to "bet" on a game for charity. Everyone pays a small entry fee and makes a pledge for their team. If their team wins, keep only the entry fee. If their team loses, they must pay the full amount of the pledge. Lots of people will donate either way. Get a grand prize donated, and put all of the winners into a a drawing.
Give Thanks by Giving Back
Thanksgiving is a moment for gratitude — turn it into momentum. Launch an auction that lets donors give, engage, and celebrate your cause all at once.
Launch Your Thanksgiving AuctionHave a REVERSE SOUP KITCHEN - Plan a soup kitchen supper. Sell Tickets in advance and at the door. Use it as a learning experience to prep students and volunteers for a future soup kitchen community service project. Remember to get the ingredient items and serving needs donated so that you don'thave any out of pocket expenses. This makes it a pure profit, quick fundraiser that will continue to give back to the community as each family volunteers to serve at the local soup kitchen.
TURKEY TROT - Since Thankgiving typically falls over a school break, you can organize an after Thanksgiving Dinner Turkey Trot. Send a flyer home with students, and have an event the last day of school as a reminder to encourage families to participate.
Everyone pledges to walk or run a mile or two, or even jump for a certain amount of time, after eating their Thanksgiving Dinner. This also encourages a healthy community.
In Art Class, have students design a T-shirt for the participants. This can be a school wide contest to make it more fun for the kids. Make it easy for families to sign up and register in the classroom or online.
You can also do it in reverse. Have participants pledge to run, walk, or trot, and if they fail to reach their goals they must pay a fine. Hmm... wonder which event would make the most money?
THANKSGIVING CENTERPIECES - If you have a relationship with local florists (professional or amateur!), consider asking them for donated centerpieces that you can sell or auction off. Perfect for the Thanksgiving dinner guests who want a hostess gift or for hosts that need to up their table-scaping game, explore fall foliage arrangements or modern takes on the classic cornucopia.
TURKEY MOTORCYCLE RIDE - Get some turkey hats. When people sign up for the event, they are required to pay an entry fee, at which time, they will also get their turkey hat! Find these fun hats on Amazon or at Oriental Trading Company. The riders collect pledges per mile rode. This event also promotes fellowship. It is a great way for the community to give back and to give thanks. Have fun, give the community a parade. Children will enjoy watching the cyclist ride around in their turkey hats.
ORCHARD HARVEST and/or PUMPKIN CHUNKIN' - The season is winding down for orchards and pumpkin patches. Offer to have an apple harvest event. Walk through the orchards picking apples, enjoying cider, and organize a pumpkin chunkin' contest. Sell tickets to the Harvest, require an entry fee for the Chunkin' contest. This is a lot of fun for families. Get museum passes, movie tickets, and restaurant gift cards donated for the winning chunker.
HARVEST CHILI COOK OFF - Who has the best chili recipe in the school? Is it a mom, a dad, a teacher, or the principal? Gather everyone in the school cafeteria and start cooking. Set each particpants up at their own table with small cups and spoons for sampling. Charge an entry fee at the door. Have voting jars out at each table. One vote = one dollar. After voting and sampling the chili, the guests go back and purchase their favorite bowl of chili. Pair it with a silent auction fundraiser for extra cash!
FAMILY FLAG FOOTBALL - Organize family teams with a mix of adults and children. This could be in conjuction with the chili cook-off. Teams pay a registration fee. Give a goodie gift basket to the winning family.
BONFIRE EVENT - Plan a fun, community event. Organize many of the activities above to coordinate with this event. Have multiple bonfire stations set up. Some for S'mores, some for hotdogs, and others for just keeping warm. Sell tickets. Perhaps, also play a popular family flick outside on the school wall. Advertise on Facebook with flyers, at libraries, and in your local newspaper.
HOLIDAY GIFT BASKETS - Believe it or not, plenty of people get started on their holiday gift shopping as early as Thanksgiving. Remind people that Christmas, Hannukah, Kwanzaa, and other winter holidays are right around the corner. If they have someone on their list who's hard to shop for, a gift basket could be just what they need. Whether it's filled with sweet treats, wine and cheese, or spa accessories, gift basket raffles, gift certificate auctions, and other holiday gift-giving staples are a classic choice for Thanksgiving fundraising.
GIVING TUESDAY - Be prepared for this relatively recent alternative/addition to Black Friday spending. Giving Tuesday comes after Black Friday and Cyber Monday and is a great opportunity for nonprofits of all sizes to reach out to their communities and solicit donations. Be ready with email and social media campaigns to help explain your mission or cause and why folks should send some funds your way — perhaps in gratitude for their recent Thanksgiving feast and shopping deals.
If you need sources for your Thanksgiving fundraiser, check out our list of vendors and brands that will donate or work with nonprofits. Total Wine is one obvious Thanksgiving pick: everyone loves the guest bringing wine to the table.
Happy Thanksgiving! May your fundraising be fruitful!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Thanksgiving fundraiser and why run one?
A Thanksgiving fundraiser is a seasonal campaign that channels gratitude into giving—raising money or in-kind goods (meals, coats, pantry items) for families before the holiday. It benefits from natural urgency, community spirit, and volunteer availability.
When should we launch and end a Thanksgiving campaign?
- Launch: late October to early November.
- Peak push: the two weeks before Thanksgiving.
- Wrap: 3–5 days before the holiday if fulfillment is required; otherwise you can run through the weekend.
What Thanksgiving fundraising ideas raise the most quickly?
- Turkey/holiday meal drives (sponsor a family).
- Pie sales or bake auctions with pre-order pickup.
- Turkey Trot 5K or family fun run/walk.
- Gratitude-grams (notes + small gifts delivered to honorees).
- Warm coat & winter essentials drive with gift add-ons.
- Online silent auction or “Buy-It-Now” gift card wall.
How does a “sponsor a Thanksgiving meal” drive work?
- Price tiers (e.g., $25 sides, $50 meal, $100 meal + pantry box).
- Collect gifts online; issue digital receipts.
- Fulfill via grocery gift cards or partner food boxes.
What’s the simplest way to run a Thanksgiving pie sale fundraiser?
- Pre-orders only with a clear pickup window (e.g., Tue–Wed).
- Limit to 3–4 flavors; offer family bundles and sponsor-a-pie options.
- Partner with a bakery for consistency and food-safe packaging.
How do we organize a quick “Turkey Trot” or fun run fundraiser?
- Select a short route and secure permissions.
- Offer family pricing and pet-friendly options.
- Add peer-to-peer pages for extra gifts and team rivalries.
Which auction items work best for a Thanksgiving-season auction?
- Holiday catering, chef dinners, and bakery bundles.
- Travel vouchers for winter break with flexible dates.
- Experiences for families (shows, museums, skating).
- Gift cards for groceries and big-box retailers.
What are “gratitude-grams” and how do they raise money fast?
Supporters purchase a short note + small treat delivered to friends, teachers, or coworkers. They’re low-cost, easy to scale, and create shareable, feel-good moments.
How can we involve local businesses or corporate partners quickly?
- Underwrite meal boxes or pies for families in need.
- Offer a match hour during your final push.
- Run checkout round-up at partner locations.
What’s a simple promotion calendar for a Thanksgiving fundraiser?
- Week 1: announce goal, impact per gift, and deadline.
- Week 2: share a family story + progress update.
- Final 5 days: daily countdown + match or challenge.
Which volunteer roles are most helpful around Thanksgiving events?
- Item pickup/packing and drive-thru distribution.
- Delivery teams for homebound recipients.
- Checkout/registration support and thank-you callers.
What should our fundraising page include during the holidays?
- A clear impact line (e.g., “$50 = full meal for 4”).
- Deadline and pickup/delivery details if applicable.
- Suggested amounts, wallet pay, and simple fields.
Any food safety considerations for meal drives? (General information)
Use sealed, labeled items; keep perishable goods cold; and follow local guidelines for handling and distribution. When possible, use grocery gift cards or partner pantries. General information, not legal or health advice.
How should we price items or tickets to maximize participation? (General information)
- Create family-friendly tiers and bundles.
- Offer early-bird pricing and sponsor-a-family add-ons.
- Keep checkout fast with wallet pay and minimal fields.
What should donation or purchase receipts include around the holiday? (General information)
Include amount, date, organization info, and whether goods/services were received (list fair market value if applicable). Policies vary by location; this is general information, not tax advice.
Can we add raffles or games to our Thanksgiving event? (General information)
Laws differ by jurisdiction and venue. Check local regulations and your organization’s policies before including chance-based fundraising. General information, not legal advice.
How can schools or faith groups tailor Thanksgiving fundraisers?
- Classroom/grade challenges or “house vs. house” drives.
- Community service day tied to meal kit assembly.
- Gratitude services with sponsor-a-family offerings.
What virtual or hybrid options work if people are traveling?
Run an online auction or gift card wall, livestream a short gratitude program, and add a “walk where you are” Turkey Trot with photo submissions and a shared fundraising page.
Which metrics show our Thanksgiving campaign is on pace before the holiday?
- Daily donors/orders and progress to goal.
- Average gift and % of items with multiple bids (if auction).
- Volunteer shifts filled and fulfillment capacity.
What should we do after Thanksgiving to keep momentum toward year-end?
- Share results and impact photos within 48 hours.
- Thank donors, volunteers, and sponsors publicly.
- Invite supporters to your Giving Tuesday or year-end appeal.
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