# 14 more fundraising ideas for Christmas 2015

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2015/12/14/14-more-fundraising-ideas-for-christmas-2015/
- Published: 2015-12-14T13:37:25+00:00
- Author: Howard Lake

**We started with 10 [ideas for fundraising](https://fundraising.co.uk/2017/02/06/effective-fundraising-ideas-for-charities-in-2017/)
at Christmas, but there are plenty more. Here is our second list of 10 fundraising
ideas for this season of giving.**

## 1. Christmas cards

Reject the trend towards instant messaging your Christmas greetings to friends and
families on the day. Instead, buy, write and post a traditional printed Christmas
card.

Need some stats to be convinced this is worthwhile? Here are some:

## Advertisement

> Good news for charities:7in10families plan to POST Xmas cards,chart [https://t.co/fOrdkmBrQE](https://t.co/fOrdkmBrQE)
> down 1% on 2014,but above 2013 low of 70%
> — fastmap (@fastmap) [December 2, 2015](https://twitter.com/fastmap/status/672049085507960832?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

 

Which charity’s cards to choose? This one is a personal choice: it is [International Children’s Trust](http://www.christmas-cards.org.uk/internationalchildrenstrust/),
to recognise the 11 years’ work of **Alison Sanderson** there.

The designs include depictions of Christmas from the imaginations of children whom
the charity is helping go to school in Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka and India.

 ⌊ICT Christmas Card design 2015⌉ ⌊ICT Christmas Card design 2015⌉

 

The Theatres Trust has made good use of Twitter’s facility to post four images in
one tweet to showcase some of its Christmas card designs:

> Get into the [#Christmasspirit](https://twitter.com/hashtag/Christmasspirit?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
> with our Christmas Cards! Reduced prices this year [https://t.co/8UIEHC1FFd](https://t.co/8UIEHC1FFd)
> [pic.twitter.com/eSipcYNq4r](https://t.co/eSipcYNq4r)
> — Theatres Trust (@TheatresTrust) [November 30, 2015](https://twitter.com/TheatresTrust/status/671373206247239680?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

 

## 2. Putting the social into Christmas campaigns

Tis the season of lists, so here’s JustGiving’s list of [Five social Christmas campaigns](http://blog.justgiving.com/five-social-christmas-campaigns)
including this spoof advert for Save the Children by Harry Enfield:

 

**Editor’s note:** _the video previously embedded here (https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=gnqPMwuGEok) is no longer available._

 

## 3. Use matched giving opportunities

The Big Give’s annual pre-Christmas campaign gives many charities that chance to
double the value of some of their supporters’ donations, and that includes major
gifts.

The Birmingham Hippodrome’s video tells a good story, with archive content and endorsements
from well-known performers, together with a clear walk-through of what is involved:

 

 

## 4. More matched giving opportunities

LocalGiving is also running two matched giving opportunities in the run up to Christmas.

To mark this year’s #GivingTuesday, on December 1st 2015 Localgiving matched 1,000
£5 donations to Localgiving members in the [#GiveMe5 campaign](http://givingtuesday.localgiving.com/).

To find our more about #GiveMe5 and how you can get involved, click on the button
below.

One week later it kicked off its [Christmas Top 40 campaign](https://localgiving.com/xmastop40).
From 8 December it is awarding a £100 prize to the first 40 groups that raise £100
through their Localgiving Appeal page. Donations of any amount made after 10am on
that date count towards the target. One overall winner will win a £1,000 prize.

 

## 5. Sell Christmas-themed items

Many charities sell products throughout the year but some, like CLIC Sargent, sell
items with a clear Christmas theme.

> Our new glittery Christmas pin badges are perfect for any festive outfit! Get 
> yours now: [https://t.co/fh5DN9s0NE](https://t.co/fh5DN9s0NE) [pic.twitter.com/uCnHM0yGUI](https://t.co/uCnHM0yGUI)
> — Young Lives vs Cancer (@YLvsCancer) [December 7, 2015](https://twitter.com/YLvsCancer/status/673893090537684992?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

 

## 6. A Christmas message

The Queen and church leaders used to be the only people to issue Christmas messages.
Now anyone, including charities, can publish their seasonal video message. Here 
is The Trussell Trust reviewing 2015 and what it achieved. Think of it as a video
Christmas card to supporters and the public.

 

**Editor’s note:** _the video previously embedded here (https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=nDUcFOKcp1g) is no longer available._

 

## 7. Partner with local shops and their Christmas events and displays

What are the big shops in your town doing for Christmas? Help Harry Help Others 
is benefiting from Santa’s Grotto at House of Fraser in Birmingham:

> OPENS TOMORROW! Santa's Magical Grotto at House of Fraser, in aid of Help Harry
> Help Others! [https://t.co/yDJ5giOD4M](https://t.co/yDJ5giOD4M) [pic.twitter.com/8dB32W1tao](https://t.co/8dB32W1tao)
> — Birmingham What's On (@WhatsOnBrum) [November 27, 2015](https://twitter.com/WhatsOnBrum/status/670284931491340288?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

 

## 8. Make the most of your venue

National Trust venues are encouraging members and the public to visit before and
during the Christmas break, with the promise of Christmas events, decorations and
treats. This is Wimpole Hall’s promotional video:

 

**Editor’s note:** _the video previously embedded here (https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=XCq7Rg4gcrY) is no longer available._

 

## 9. Highlight the excitement in the run-up to Christmas

Everyone is busy as Christmas gets closer, so giving them a fundraising option that
is quick, easy and relevant is essential. CLIC Sargent have done that with their#
readyforXmas photo campaign, whey they invite the public to share a photo of their
Christmas decoration progress and to text a donation of £5.

> Have you put your tree up? Support our [#ReadyforXmas](https://twitter.com/hashtag/ReadyforXmas?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
> appeal. Tweet your 🎄 pic and text READY to 70800 to donate £5. [https://t.co/VunbrJoW9E](https://t.co/VunbrJoW9E)
> — Young Lives vs Cancer (@YLvsCancer) [December 8, 2015](https://twitter.com/YLvsCancer/status/674333007705149440?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

 

## 10. Say thank you

Saying thank you is important at any time of the year, but Christmas is a particularly
apt time as we think of family and friends, and perhaps look back on the year as
it draws to an end.

RNLI has published a festive thank you video:

 

**Editor’s note:** _the video previously embedded here (https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=iqy0K8b7QhE) is no longer available._

 

## 11. Ask more than once

Even if you run a major Christmas appeal with nationwide media support such as the
annual BBC Radio 4 Christmas Appeal for St Martin’s in the Fields, you still have
to get your message across more than once, given all the other charity fundraising
appeals running throughout December.

The launch may be over, but it’s worth sending out reminders via relevant media 
channels:

 

> Missed the [#R4XmasAppeal](https://twitter.com/hashtag/R4XmasAppeal?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)?
> Hear it on [@BBCRadio4](https://twitter.com/BBCRadio4?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) at 
> 3.25pm. Support via [https://t.co/YGgCG1aHjJ](https://t.co/YGgCG1aHjJ) or 0800
> 082 82 84 [pic.twitter.com/eA5HiyHHwd](https://t.co/eA5HiyHHwd)
> — St Martin-in-the-Fields Charity (@SMITFCharity) [December 10, 2015](https://twitter.com/SMITFCharity/status/674961578219974657?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

 

## 12. Make the most of the traditions

Many children write a letter to Santa Claus each Christmas. NSPCC has cleverly made
the most of this tradition with its [Letter from Santa](http://www.nspcc.org.uk/santa)
which delivers a personalised letter, giving children (and parents) what they want.
And it includes a fundraising element, with a suggested minimum donation of £5.

 

**Editor’s note:** _the video previously embedded here (https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=FkvjtxiKCMs) is no longer available._

 

## 13. Give your old car to charity for Christmas

![Giveacar at Christmas](https://www.fundraising.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/
giveacar-at-christmas.jpg)

A few years ago donating a goat (or rather the price of a goat) was all the rage.
This year why not encourage supporters to donate their used car at Christmas?

That is what Giveacar is encouraging charities to consider. Even scrap cars can 
fetch between £35 and £55.

Set up in 2010, the social enterprise has raised £1.9 million for over 2,700 UK 
charities through the scrapping and auctioning of cars.

 

## 14. Announce your New Year fundraising campaign

![eBay for Charity - sell your unwanted Christmas presents](https://www.fundraising.
co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/ebay-for-charity-christmas-socks.jpg)

Unwanted Christmas presents? Sell them for charity via eBay for Charity.

 

The PayPal Giving Fund is already encouraging charities to focus on January and 
inviting their supporters to raise funds for them by selling unwanted gifts and 
items via eBay, and donating some or all of the income. The [eBay for Charity](http://www.e4ccommunityselling.org.uk/)
programme lets people sell items online and donate from 10% to 100% of the sale 
price.

eBay will waive its listing fee proportionately to the percentage that supporters
choose to donate.

To be eligible a charity needs to be registered with [PayPal Giving Fund](https://www.paypalgivingfund.org.uk).

 

** • Don’t forget our first [10 fundraising ideas at Christmas 2015](https://www.fundraising.co.uk/2015/11/23/10-christmas-fundraising-ideas-for-2015/)**

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