8 Christmas fundraising ideas

Christmas cards

Cost: 🎅

Effort: 🎅

This low-effort, super cute fundraiser is made even simpler with IQ Cards’ Christmas Card This Christmas Card Fundraising Project. All you have to do is order design sheets, ask the children to create some beautiful artwork, scan and send the pictures to IQ Cards, and then parents can order and pay online. All cards will be delivered to the school to be handed out (and the funds are sent straight to your bank account). Easy peasy!

DIY Christmas stockings

Cost: 🎅

Effort: 🎅🎅

What could be cosier than an afternoon of crafts and snacks with the children? Christmas stockings are surprisingly easy to make, too. There are lots of simple patterns and instructions for free online, and all you need per person are two sheets of felt, some thread, scissors, a sewing needle (you can use plastic ones for younger children) and some jolly decorations to glue or sew on.

Pre-loved Christmas gift shop

Cost: 🎅

Effort: 🎅🎅

Encourage parents to have a clear out (before Father Christmas fills their homes with new toys, clothes and gadgets) and donate their unwanted items to a preloved Christmas gift shop. Ideal for anyone looking for secret Santa gifts, stocking presents or just some great bargains. You could even include a gift wrapping service.

It might be a good idea to run an unloved Christmas gift shop in January too… hopefully you won’t see the same items again! 

Santa’s surprise gifts/​Elfridges

Cost: 🎅🎅

Effort: 🎅🎅

Everyone loves a surprise! Either buy a range of small gifts or ask for donations from your school community and wrap each item up to display on a stall. The children can then choose and buy a mystery gift. To make sure the children get something they’d like, you could add labels with a riddle about what’s inside, or have gift categories (either by age or type, such as food, books, toys and so on).

Want to be a bit more eco-friendly? Wrap your presents with recyclable paper and paper tape. 

Winter games

Cost: 🎅🎅

Effort: 🎅🎅🎅

Bauble and spoon race, reindeer relay, cracker pulling, Santa’s bag toss – the possibilities are endless if you fancy hosting a Christmas-themed sports day type of shindig. Get the children into teams and either give them sponsorship forms or ask for a team entry fee. Arrange prizes for the winners (and perhaps something small for everyone who takes part, ​‘tis the season after all). Ideally held in an assembly or sports hall, especially if the weather looks unpredictable. Oh, and don’t forget elf and safety and fill in a risk assessment!

Santa dash/​reindeer run

Cost: 🎅🎅

Effort: 🎅🎅

With all the sugary treats and excitement leading up to Christmas, a fun run might be just what the children need. Plot a course around your school and get participants to don a Santa hat or reindeer antlers as they run (or walk) it. You could charge a donation fee, entry fee or give the children sponsorship forms. And how about a hot chocolate and mince pie stall for the spectators?

Santa’s grotto

Cost: 🎅🎅

Effort: 🎅🎅

Have Santa visit your school for the day! For the grotto, find a smallish space in your school and decorate it with fairylights, fake snow and a tree. Get a big sack and either fill it with an assortment of presents, such as small toys or sweets, or ask parents if they would like Santa to give their children a present they have already bought. Depending on the queue or how much time you have, Santa could read a story to each child or ask them what they would like for Christmas.

Santa won’t need a DBS check if he’s not left alone with the children, so make sure there’s an Elf, Mother Christmas or parent in the grotto as well.

Family photo with Father Christmas

Cost: 🎅🎅🎅

Effort: 🎅🎅

Is there anything cuter than a festive family photoshoot?! Take over the school hall for an afternoon/​evening and hang up a festive backdrop, which you can find quite cheaply online. Make sure to book your Father Christmas and photographer as far in advance as possible, as they’ll be especially busy in December. Props would make a wonderful addition, such as presents, fake candles or a big storybook for Father Christmas to hold.

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