Could your fundraising use a little warming up? Use these 14 creative winter fundraiser ideas to spread joy, spark engagement, and raise more donations!
Why Should Your Nonprofit Consider Winter Fundraising?
A winter fundraiser could be just what your nonprofit needs to boost giving!
Although the weather outside might be frightful this time of year, there are still plenty of delightful winter fundraiser ideas and opportunities.
For one, you have the season of giving – the time of year most nonprofits see a spike in donations – in November and December. Two, the winter months are full of exciting holidays your donors are looking forward to celebrating.
Plus, the second half of winter usually brings a break from the hustle and bustle, meaning your donors may be looking for something to do.
Tip from the Playbook: If you’re planning a winter fundraising event, first take a look at your goals and anticipated ROI. It’s important that your team has the skills, capacity, and budget to pull off an impactful event. And you want to make sure it’s aligned with your mission!
14 Winter Fundraiser Ideas to Raise More
Ready to launch a seasonal fundraising campaign or event that fits your nonprofit’s mission and goals? These 14 winter fundraiser ideas will jumpstart your creativity!
Holiday-Themed Fundraisers
Instead of trying to avoid the busy holiday season, why not embrace it? Although you may want to skip out on scheduling events or campaigns on the biggest holidays themselves, there are plenty of winter fundraiser ideas that embrace the joy and fun this time of year brings.
Quick Note: Are you or your donors primarily affiliated with a religion that celebrates a major winter holiday? Many of these winter fundraisers can be adjusted to fit your needs!
1. Breakfast with Santa
Many families who celebrate Christmas will be looking for a way to visit with the big man in red before December 25. Welcome them to your nonprofit by hosting a Breakfast with Santa fundraiser!
Charge a small fee up front and include a buffet filled with breakfast favorites like pancakes, eggs, bacon, and donuts (don’t forget the coffee!). Bring in Santa Claus himself to sit with each family and hire a photographer to take pictures.
You could also offer other activities, such as coloring stations, letters to Santa, or seasonal crafts. Maybe a picture frame for their latest photo with Santa?
2. Gift Wrapping Services
Wrapping presents takes a lot of time and effort! And with so many gift-giving holidays during the winter, a lot of your donors could be looking for help.
Offer to take a load off by providing gift wrapping services in exchange for a donation. Charge by the gift or by the hour – it’s up to you! To save on up-front costs, encourage donors to bring in their own wrapping paper and ribbon.
Do, however, limit the number of gifts you accept, or you could be struggling to hit that holiday deadline!
3. Holiday Market
Speaking of presents…take advantage of the season of giving (and shopping!) by hosting a holiday market. Bring in crafters to set up booths and promote your market as a festive one-stop-shop for unique holiday gifts. Take things up a notch by decorating your space and offering seasonal treats.
To raise funds, consider charging shoppers a small fee at the door, charging crafters a small fee, and/or requesting that each crafter donate a portion of their proceeds. Or, keep the event completely free but add paid activities like photos with Santa or a kids’ crafting area.
4. Holiday Concert or Play
The sounds of the season are everywhere! If your nonprofit or religious organization has groups like choirs or bands, host a special concert or production featuring their talents.
Charge for tickets in advance or request a freewill donation at the door. Be sure to get up on stage for a few minutes during the concert to share a bit about your mission!
Tip from the Playbook: You don’t have to host a concert or play yourself! Partner with a local orchestra, dance company, choir, or theatre company for a benefit night during which a portion of the proceeds will go towards your mission.
5. Holiday Lights Tour
Take your donors on a holiday lights tour! Rent a bus and driver and spend a few hours going to the best light displays in your area, or to various holiday festivals or activities.
To raise money, sell tickets per seat that cover the cost of the bus, any entrance fees, and a donation. Or, make this an invite-only experience for select donors or volunteers – these tours can be a great way to build relationships in a low-stress environment.
If you have the budget and the capacity, consider hosting a few different tours – such as a family-friendly option with hot chocolate and cookies and an adults-only tour that allows guests to bring along drinks of their choice.
6. Holiday-Themed Celebration
There are so many wintertime events and activities, including several of these winter fundraiser ideas, for children. Why not host something for the grown-ups to enjoy?
Pick a holiday such as Christmas, New Year’s Eve or Valentine’s Day and plan a gala or special evening out. This can be as elaborate or as relaxed as you want – think a fancy gala, a fun dance, an ugly sweater party, or a romantic dinner.
Looking to raise more money or involve a few young adult volunteers? Offer babysitting services during the event! This could also help you bring in a few donors who otherwise wouldn’t be able to make it.
7. Valentines in the Mail
Many nonprofits send holiday cards to their donors in November and December. Have you considered sending valentine cards in February?
These valentines can be a great way to show your love to your supporters. Plus, you will be more likely to stand out in their mailbox when you aren’t competing with the 50 other Thanksgiving or Christmas cards they’ll be getting!
Cold Weather Winter Fundraising Ideas
Whether inside or out, you can still have a lot of fun during the winter months! These winter fundraiser ideas may be the perfect excuse for your donors to have a little fun while supporting a cause they care about.
8. Outdoor Movie Night
Outdoor movie nights aren’t just for summer! Rent some space or clear out your parking lot, then set up a big screen as well as a few fire pits and cozy seating areas. Or, partner with a local drive-in and allow guests to stay in their vehicles. Charge a small donation per person or group and sell goodies like popcorn, hot chocolate, or s’mores kits.
This winter fundraiser idea can be kid-friendly or focus more on adults, depending on the movie you choose. Or, consider offering two showings – one with a family favorite and another with a film more geared toward grown-ups (“Christmas Vacation”, anyone?).
9. Ice Skating
Ice skating is an exciting activity for many because it’s one not everyone gets to do very often. Partner with a local skating rink (inside or out) and host an evening of ice skating with your donors and their families.
Looking for a donation booster for this winter fundraising idea? Bring out a few local celebrities – hockey players, hockey team mascots, etc. – and raffle off the chance to skate with them. Or, provide this VIP experience to your major donors or members.
10. Polar Plunge
Located near a body of water? Consider hosting a polar plunge!
During this challenge, participants run, walk, jump, or sit in a body of water – even if it’s freezing cold outside! It’s an exhilarating experience for those who join in, and usually pretty entertaining for those who just want to watch.
To take your polar plunge to the next level, launch a peer-to-peer fundraising campaign. Have each participant set up their own peer fundraising page that they can use to collect pledges from friends and family. They might promise to make the plunge if a certain fundraising goal is met or stay in the water for an amount of time related to the total raised.
11. Trivia Night
Encourage donors to beat the winter blues and test their skills with an exciting night of trivia! To host a trivia night of your own, you’ll need a large venue as well as AV equipment, judges, and – of course – a series of challenging (but not too challenging!) questions.
If you decide to add a theme to your trivia night, all of the questions can follow this theme, or just a few. Your theme could be based on a holiday, a book series, a movie, a TV show, sports…the possibilities are endless! Just make sure to choose a theme that your target audience will be interested in.
Tip from the Playbook: There are several fundraising activities you can add to trivia nights – and other winter fundraising events – that will help you bring in even more donations.
Virtual Fundraising Events & Activities
If you’d rather avoid the potential for cold, snow, or ice to affect your fundraising plans, consider planning a virtual winter fundraiser! These three ideas will keep you – and your donors – warm.
12. Virtual Classes
Want a winter fundraising idea that’s a bit out of the box? Host a virtual class!
Charge a fee and send out all needed materials in advance. Your class can be held live via a virtual meeting, or you pre-record videos to send to donors after they sign up.
Show off your nonprofit’s expertise by offering a class that covers a topic related to your mission. Do you serve the deaf and hard of hearing? Hold a series of sign language classes. Is your mission centered on conservation or animals? Invite donors to attend sessions all about different species.
Or, simply offer fun classes covering seasonal crafts, cooking lessons, or other creative endeavors!
Tip from the Playbook: Virtual classes make great holiday gifts! If you have a series of classes planned for January, February, or March, promote them during the holiday season and encourage donors to purchase classes for their loved ones.
13. Virtual Donation Drive
Donation drives for canned goods, warm clothes, and toys are very popular winter fundraiser ideas. If you don’t have the capacity to organize a physical donation drive – or if your donors are widespread – consider running a virtual version.
This can be done in a couple of ways:
- Online Wish List – Create a wish list on a major online retailer (like Amazon) and ask donors to simply purchase and send the items directly to your nonprofit. This can be used to collect items for your own use – like school or camp supplies – or to pass on to others, like holiday gifts.
- Crowdfunding – Use your fundraising platform to create a shareable crowdfunding campaign. Set a monetary goal tied to an impactful number of items, like 200 winter coats or 300 toys, and encourage donors to give and share your campaign with others until you reach that goal.
14. Giving Season Campaign
No list of winter fundraiser ideas would be complete without mentioning a giving season fundraising campaign! Having a year-end fundraising strategy is a must for most nonprofits – many raise upwards of 30% of their annual giving in the month of December alone.
Most end-of-year giving campaigns include Giving Tuesday (which will take place on December 1 in 2026) as well as various tactics such as appeal letters, email outreach, social media posts, and more. But you can always work many of the above winter fundraiser ideas into your year-end plans as well!
MVP Playbook Resource: Planning a year-end fundraising campaign for the upcoming giving season? Download our free year-end fundraising timeline to keep you on track!
Warm Up Your Winter Fundraising
Colder weather doesn’t mean you have to put a freeze on your fundraising! Use these 14 winter fundraiser ideas to get your creativity flowing.
Looking for more seasonal fundraising inspiration? Check out our 15 Fresh Spring Fundraiser Ideas, our 14 Unique Summer Fundraiser Ideas, and our 10 Exciting Fall Fundraiser Ideas.
If you need help with your winter (and year-round) fundraising efforts, MVP Advisors is here for you. We’re an experienced group of nonprofit consultants ready to offer a hand in campaign planning, content development, sponsorship packages, donor prospect research, and more.
Let’s chat about how we can work together to further your mission! Book a call or email us today.