How to Organize a Christmas Fundraiser for Charity
Christmas is a time when most people are scrambling to complete holiday shopping, finish their baking, finalize vacation plans and fit their regular work schedule into a hectic few weeks. It's also a time when people are in a charitable mood and when thoughts turn to giving. Consequently, it's also the perfect time for any non-profit to organize a fundraiser. All it takes is a little creativity, a little ingenuity and some dedicated volunteers willing to spread some holiday cheer.
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Instructions
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Find someone in your organization who is handy with a paintbrush. Approach the owners of storefronts and restaurants, and inquire as to whether they would be interested in a holiday mural painted on their windows and mirrors for a donation to your charity. This is also a great opportunity for getting the organization's name out there, working it into the mural.
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Design some holiday cards to sell, with proceeds going to your organization. Cards can reflect the nature of your charity; have children draw the cards, or use holiday pictures involving members of the organization. This can be especially effective for animal charities, which can use photos of their animals under Christmas trees or outside in the snow.
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Approach businesses that will be high-traffic areas to sell holiday gifts. Arrange to set up a gift-wrapping table, where customers can get their gifts wrapped for a donation to the organization. This is a low-investment fundraiser, as gift wrap, ribbons and tags can be purchased at low costs.
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Set up a Christmas tree in a high-profile location. Shopping malls and large stores are perfect for this, but make sure a member of the organization approaches the stores well in advance. Give customers the chance to make a minimal donation for the chance to personalize an ornament for the tree. Investment in this can be minimal as well, with overhead costs including only the tree and the ornaments. Ornaments can be as simple as paper decorations, and must be easy to customize for each person.
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Have some of the organization's volunteers visit their local craft stores, and pick up some candle-making supplies. Candles are always a popular holiday gift, and with a few afternoons of hard work any organization can create their own holiday candles. When packaging candles, be sure to put a paper band around the candles that include your organization's name, logo and Web site. Take some digital pictures, and send them out with the volunteers to take orders from work, neighbors and schools.
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Be sure to remember people's pets as well. Make clear or Christmas-themed cellophane bags of handmade dog and cat treats to sell. As a bonus, include the recipe for the treats.
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Tips & Warnings
The key to organizing a successful fundraiser is to plan ahead. It's never too early to start developing ideas and assigning roles. The first year is always the hardest. Once you begin a fundraiser, follow through the next year. Establishing a regular event that people can begin to look for is the first step at long-term success. Learn from your first event, and adjust future events to accommodate what works and what doesn't.
