The holidays are a magical time of year, full of joy and giving. What better way to get your school community into the holiday spirit than by hosting a Christmas themed fundraiser? Christmas fundraisers allow students, teachers, and parents to celebrate the season while raising money for a good cause. Here are some tips for hosting a successful Christmas themed school fundraiser.

Offer Festive Food & Drinks

What’s a Christmas party without some tasty holiday treats? Offer baked goods like sugar cookies, gingerbread men, or peppermint bark for sale. Consider selling warm beverages like hot chocolate or apple cider. You can even ask local restaurants or bakeries to donate festive treats or offer discounts on food for your fundraiser. Getting donations is a great way to raise more money for your cause.

Have Kid-Friendly Activities

For a school fundraiser, it’s important to make activities fun for students of all ages. Consider setting up classic Christmas games like an elf toss, ornament ring toss, or reindeer bowling. Give kids the chance to decorate cookies or make their own Christmas cards. Offer festive arts and crafts like Christmas tree painting. You can even bring in Santa for pictures with the kids! Having engaging activities will keep kids entertained while the parents shop.

Offer Holiday Entertainment

Bring some extra Christmas spirit to your fundraiser by offering live entertainment and performances. School choirs or bands could perform festive music. You could even put on a short holiday play or dance recital. See if you can find local performers willing to donate their time, whether it’s carolers, musicians, or actors. Holiday entertainment helps create a merry atmosphere while giving performers a chance to showcase their talents.

Provide Photo Ops

Capture the Christmas memories being made at your fundraiser by setting up fun photo ops. Rent a couple of human snow globes and let kids get their picture taken inside the giant snow globes amidst the swirling fake snow—you can find plenty of similar Christmas themed party rentals here. Set up a DIY photo booth with silly holiday props. Or offer professional family photos in front of a festive backdrop. Charge a small fee for photos as another way to raise funds. Photos will become cherished keepsakes.

Sell Christmas Crafts

Take advantage of the gift-giving season by selling homemade Christmas crafts. Let students create ornaments, wreaths, centerpieces, and other decorative items to sell at the fundraiser. You can also encourage parents to contribute their own homemade goods or gifts to sell, with proceeds going back to the school. Unique Christmas crafts make great gifts for the holidays so promote them well ahead of time.

Offer Raffles & Contests

Raffles and contests add an extra layer of fun and excitement to any fundraiser. Sell raffle tickets for the chance to win big Christmas gift baskets, holiday décor, restaurant gift cards, or other prizes. You can hold a Christmas cookie decorating contest and charge an entry fee. Or host an ugly Christmas sweater contest that requires a donation to enter. Get creative with contests that fit your theme!

Hosting a Christmas themed fundraiser is a joyful way for schools to celebrate the holidays, build community spirit, and raise money for a good cause. With fun activities, festive treats, and lots of holiday magic, your Christmas fundraiser is sure to be a huge success! Use these tips to plan an event that captures the merry memories of the season.