Winter Fundraising Ideas

Winter may bring colder weather, but it also warms hearts with its spirit of giving. The festive season provides excellent opportunities for charity fundraising, while January and February offer chances to capitalise on New Year’s resolutions and Valentine’s Day.

At Give as you Live Donate, we help charities make the most of seasonal fundraising with tools and platforms that simplify donations and boost engagement. Whether you're planning a festive fundraiser or looking for creative ways to inspire supporters in the new year, we’re here to support you. Here are some winter fundraising ideas to keep your supporters engaged during the chillier months.

December

1. Festive Market

Host a festive market with local vendors, food, and seasonal activities. If you’re worried about resources to organise your own event, why not partner with a venue already hosting a festive market, and appeal to them to donate a portion of the proceeds?

Friendly tip: Create a cosy atmosphere with fairy lights, music, and the scent of mulled wine or cider. Consider an indoor venue with outdoor elements to accommodate winter weather.

2. Christmas Jumper Competition

Host a festive jumper contest where participants compete for titles like "Most Creative" or "Most Festive" with an entry fee donation.

Friendly tip: Create multiple categories to encourage diverse participation. Approach local businesses to sponsor prizes for different categories.

3. Santa Fun Run

Organise a 5K run where participants dress as Santa Claus. Provide hats with registration.

Friendly tip: Choose a route through populated areas to attract attention and potential spontaneous donations. Consider a shorter distance option for families with young children.

4. Christmas Carolling

Arrange for groups to sing carols or festive classics door-to-door or at local shopping centres.

Friendly tip: Provide song sheets and rehearse popular carols or songs beforehand. Partner with a local choir or music group for professional guidance.

5. Gift Wrapping Station

Set up a gift-wrapping service at a shopping centre or a market during the festive season.

Friendly tip: Offer various wrapping paper options and ribbon styles at different donation levels. Create a rota of volunteers to ensure consistent service throughout the busy shopping period.

January

6. New Year's Resolution Challenge

Launch a month-long challenge tied to common resolutions (fitness, learning, etc.) where participants gather sponsorships.

Friendly tip: Create weekly check-ins to maintain momentum and engagement. Offer small prizes for milestone achievements to keep motivation high during a traditionally difficult month.

7. Quiz of the Year

Host a quiz focusing on events from the previous year to test who was paying attention! If you’re not able to host the quiz yourself, why not partner with a local pub and ask them to donate a portion of the proceeds from the evening?

Friendly tip: Structure questions chronologically by month to help trigger memories. Include multimedia rounds with news clips or music from the past year. Create team challenges where groups must arrange events in the correct timeline for bonus points.

8. Winter Warmer Event

Host a soup kitchen or hot chocolate stand to bring warmth to your community while raising funds.

Friendly tip: Partner with local cafés or restaurants to donate ingredients or expertise. Create a digital recipe book of the soups served as an additional fundraising item.

9. New Year Clear-Out

Encourage supporters to declutter after Christmas and donate quality items. Supporters can donate items in person, but also get involved online by selling their items on Vinted or eBay.

Friendly tip: Provide guidelines on what can be donated and arrange collection services for larger items. Share upcycling ideas for unwanted Christmas gifts.

February

10. Valentine's Day Bake Sale

Organise a sale of heart-shaped and romance-themed treats. You could ask any baking enthusiasts in your community to help, or partner with a local bakery and ask them to donate a portion of the proceeds from Valentine’s treats.

Friendly tip: Package items attractively with ribbons and personalised messages to increase their perceived value. Offer delivery to local businesses for an additional donation.

11. Random Acts of Kindness Day (17th February)

Challenge supporters to perform and document random acts of kindness while collecting sponsorships. Quick and easy ideas include calling a friend, sending flowers, picking up groceries for an elderly neighbour, offering to babysit for friends and family, spending time with animals, or taking items to a charity shop.

Friendly tip: Create a social media hashtag and offer prizes for the most creative or impactful acts. Share stories throughout the day to inspire others.

12. Winter Charity Walk

Arrange a winter walking event through scenic landscapes (weather permitting). Don’t forget, there’s a ready-made Walking Challenge campaign available to download from your Marketing Toolkit!

Friendly tip: Provide hot drinks at the finish line as an incentive. Create a shorter route option in case of challenging weather conditions.

13. Indoor Games Tournament

Host charity board game competitions, quiz nights, or indoor sports events to bring people together during the cold months.

Friendly tip: Partner with local sports facilities or pubs for donated or discounted venue use. Create themed game nights like "Retro Board Games" or "Family Quiz Night" to appeal to different audiences.

Winter Fundraising Tools

Winter fundraising often happens in challenging weather conditions, making digital tools essential. Online ticketing simplifies management for events like the Indoor Games Tournament. For sponsorship activities like the Santa Fun Run, Fundraising Pages allow supporters to gather pledges without braving the cold. Contactless donation is particularly valuable at Festive Markets and Gift Wrapping Stations where people may not carry cash but still wish to support your cause.

Need help getting started? Give as you Live Donate offers free support for fundraising all year round! Reach out to our Charity Team at charities@giveasyoulive.com to learn more.