Copied!
All fundraising ideas

Winter fundraising ideas

Beginning with the holiday season, winter is one of the most profitable times of the year when it comes to donations for good causes. These joy-filled fundraising ideas for winter will help you capture the attention and generosity of your community and raise more during the chilly months ahead.

Get fundraising ideas, tips, and best practices right to your inbox

Subscribed! Your fundraising journey just got a whole lot butter. 🧈
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Featured campaign
Jamaica Beach Polar Plunge flyer
Special Olympics Texas
Jamaica Beach Polar Plunge
Filter
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Ugly sweater 5k

Get festive by encouraging supporters to wear their ugliest sweater for a fun run (and award the best dressed)! Use peer-to-peer fundraising to encourage participants to set a donation goal and spread the word about the cause, along with photos of them in their ugly regalia. 
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
3
Inspiration
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/ugly-sweater-5k
All
Events

Caroling

Embrace the holiday spirit and spread joy by going caroling around town or at an event. Pass the hat for cash donations AND hold a big QR code or text-to-donate number for easy mobile giving!
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
1
Inspiration
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/caroling
All
Donation forms
Events

Holiday-grams

Put together bundles of holiday cards and small gifts and charge extra for distribution at your club, school, college, or workplace.

Customize your donation form with custom fields to collect all the details you need—such as the recipient’s name, a personalized, heartfelt holiday message, and where the gram should be delivered.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
1
Inspiration
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/holiday-grams
All
Donation forms
Fundraising page

Cold water plunge

Challenge your supporters to take a dip in an icy cold body of water to raise funds and awareness for your cause! Participants can set up their own peer-to-peer fundraising pages connected to your campaign, where they can share their stories, set a personal target, and bring in donations from friends and family. 
Cost:
1
Effort:
3
Impact:
2
Inspiration
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/cold-water-plunge
All
Events
Peer-to-peer

Cookie-decorating extravaganza

Volunteers bake batches of cookies to contribute to a decorating contest! Participants pay a small fee to enter and use frosting and other edible flare you provide to compete for the best cookie design. 

To make your fundraising event even sweeter, bring in a cookie-decorating expert to show off some sweet tips and tricks. 
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Inspiration
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/cookie-decorating-extravaganza
All
Events
Donation forms

Raise some dough with cookie dough

Buy wholesale cookie dough for volunteers to sell during peak cookie-baking season. To gamify your efforts, use peer-to-peer fundraising so participants can compete to see who sold the most! 
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Inspiration
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/raise-some-dough-with-cookie-dough
All
Events
Peer-to-peer
Donation forms

Gift wrapping

Source donated paper, set up a gift wrapping station in a popular location, and charge for holiday gift-wrapping! Use scan-to-donate or Venmo to accept payments on the spot.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
1
Inspiration
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/gift-wrapping
All
Donation forms
Fundraising page
Events

Chili cook-off

Invite participants to prepare their best chili for attendees—and offer prizes for the winner! Create team fundraising pages for each chili recipe/culinary team. There, supporters can cast their vote with a donation and watch the live leaderboard to see which chef is in the lead!
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Inspiration
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/chili-cook-off
All
Events
Peer-to-peer

Festive volunteers

Rally volunteers to act as festive little helpers to put up holiday decorations for others in your community in exchange for donations.

Set up a donation form and use custom labels to create fun options, like a $50 donation = putting up your roof lights. 
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Inspiration
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/festive-volunteers
All
Donation forms
Fundraising page

Toy drive

Set up a toy drive to allow your community members to turn their generosity into thoughtful gifts for kids over the holiday season. Ask for toy and cash donations, then distribute toys to those most in need and use funds to buy extra gifts.

Let everyone know when, where, and what to donate with the help of email marketing software.
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
2
Inspiration
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/toy-drive
All
Fundraising page
Donation forms

Holiday card campaign

Craft a festive holiday card to mail directly or send digitally to your supporters. Extend season’s greetings, express gratitude for their support, and invite them to contribute toward your year-end fundraising goals

Use Givebutter’s built-in Canva integration to add a little extra cheer to your letters or emails in just a few clicks.
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
2
Inspiration
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/holiday-card-campaign
All
Donation forms
Fundraising page

Holiday wreath sale

Partner with a local nursery to sell holiday wreaths made of fresh greenery. Create a fundraising page where supporters can purchase them with ease. 
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Inspiration
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/holiday-wreath-sale
All
Fundraising page
Donation forms

Annual holiday party

Throw a big annual holiday party to finish the year in style. Make this a VIP event and raise funds through ticket sales or partner up with sponsors to help offset costs and reach more supporters.

With Givebutter you can create unlimited custom event ticket types—allowing you to create fun VIP packages to offer to your partygoers.
Cost:
2
Effort:
3
Impact:
3
Inspiration
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/annual-holiday-party
All
Events

Hot chocolate stall

Set up a hot chocolate or coffee stand and sell hot drinks to warm up your community! Have coffee, hot chocolate, tea, and plenty of syrups and toppings that they can add for an extra fee. Don’t forget marshmallows! 

Make it easy for supporters to pay for their drinks as you make them with scan-to-donate, Venmo, and other seamless payment options.
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
1
Inspiration
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/hot-chocolate-stall
All
Events
Donation forms

Home decor workshop

Charge a registration fee and provide materials for attendees to create their own home decor. Selecting seasonal DIY projects—such as holiday wreaths or pumpkin painting—is a great way to draw a larger crowd. Take this event to the next level by turning it into a competition! Once all projects are completed, attendees can donate to vote for who should be crowned winner.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Inspiration
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/home-decor-workshop
All
Events

DIY gingerbread house kits

Make holiday magic easy for families by preparing gingerbread house kits they can buy for a small cost that supports your cause. Offer kits with larger houses or extra decorations for added fun and funds, which you can highlight in your custom your donation forms.
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Inspiration
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/diy-gingerbread-house-kits
All
Donation forms
Fundraising page

Year-end fundraiser

Celebrate the end of the year with a big annual fundraiser. Host an event and attract donations and support with a silent auction, peer-to-peer campaign, and more.

Use the year-end giving checklist to make sure you’ve covered every angle! 
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
3
Inspiration
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/year-end-fundraiser
All
Donation forms
Events
Fundraising page
Auctions

Holiday cookie sale

Whip up some sweet treats to sell at your next fundraising event, group gathering, or around town. Consider setting up a station for supporters to decorate their own cookies or create kits for families to bring home in exchange for a donation. 

Streamline the buying process with scan-to-donate—which guest can use to make their payment instantly right from their phones!
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Inspiration
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/holiday-cookie-sale
All
Events
Donation forms

Holiday market

Ring in the festive season with your own holiday market. Invite stallholders to participate for a small fee and raise funds through selling refreshments, merch, and game tickets.

Use engaging fundraising event features to make it an enjoyable experience for all—with easy online ticket sales, on-the-spot donations, and more.
Cost:
2
Effort:
3
Impact:
2
Inspiration
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/holiday-market
All
Events
Donation forms

Sledding course

Embrace the winter wonderland and assemble your very own sledding course for all to enjoy. Encourage participants to bring their own sleds and consider contributing to your cause in exchange for a thrilling ride. Simplify donations with scan-to-donate and raise additional funds by selling cozy delights like hot chocolate or soup.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
1
Inspiration
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/sledding-course
All
Events
Donation forms

Snowman contest

If you've been lucky to have enough snow, host a pop-up snowman contest for your local area. Invite everyone to take part, tour the entries, and then award the winner with a prize donated by a local business. Use team fundraising pages and encourage people to donate to vote—they’ll be able to see who’s winning on the live leaderboard!
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
1
Inspiration
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/snowman-contest
All
Events
Donation forms
Peer-to-peer

Masquerade ball

Whether it's time for Mardi Gras or you’re looking for a creative New Year’s Eve idea, a masquerade ball will make for a memorable evening and bring in lots of donations. Create an unforgettable fundraising event experience with easy ticket sales and check-ins, live display, and a silent auction.
Cost:
2
Effort:
3
Impact:
3
Inspiration
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/masquerade-ball
All
Events
Fundraising page
Donation forms
Auctions

Holiday movie marathon

Create a lineup of classic holiday movies for a community movie marathon. Sell tickets, popcorn, hot chocolate, and other treats to create a delightful (and profitable!) experience. 

With user-friendly fundraising event features for online ticket sales and in-person donations, organizing this event can be as easy as hitting play on your favorite festive film.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Inspiration
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/holiday-movie-marathon
All
Events
Donation forms
Fundraising page

Ski-a-thon

Swap a traditional walk-a-thon for a wintry ski-a-thon. Invite supporters to raise funds from friends and family members leading up to the big day through peer-to-peer fundraising, and watch your leaderboard update in real time to reflect who’s raised the most! 
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
3
Inspiration
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/ski-a-thon
All
Events
Peer-to-peer
Looks like we don’t have any fundraising ideas matching that criteria 🔎
We're always cooking up new ideas, so check back soon for fresh picks!
Dive into our list of best fundraising ideas in the meantime 

Frequently asked questions

December is by far the most popular month for donations, with the last week of the year bringing in a staggering 46% of online year-end revenue—nearly eight times more than on Giving Tuesday. With so much generosity at this time of year, it’s worth investing heavily in your winter fundraising event ideas.

With so many holidays in the winter season, it’s no surprise that holiday-themed fundraisers continue to be among the most popular. To make the most of the seasonal joy, plan a cookie decorating contest, bake sale, festive market, or holiday card campaign.

If you have a year-end fundraising target to hit, a winter gala or silent auction is a great opportunity to attract corporate sponsors, generous donations, and high ticket sales. Themed walk-a-thons or ski-a-thons are also effective ways for community members to raise money from their friends and family using peer-to-peer fundraising.

Sometimes you just want to organize a simple yet fun way to enjoy the holiday season and raise funds for your cause. Sell DIY gingerbread house kits at a holiday fair, sing carols under the city Christmas tree, or host a pop-up snowman contest for a fun and easy winter fundraiser event idea.

Subscribe to
The Butter Brief

Get fundraising ideas, tips, and free resources right in your inbox

Subscribed! Your fundraising journey just got a whole lot butter. 🧈
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Givebutter helps you turn ideas into impact

Subscribe to
The Butter Brief

Get fundraising ideas, tips, and free resources right in your inbox

Subscribed! Your fundraising journey just got a whole lot butter. 🧈
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

The most-loved fundraising platform