101 Holiday Fundraising Ideas for School Groups: PTOs, PTAs, Booster Clubs & Sports

The holiday season is a time of joy, giving and community. It is also a prime opportunity for PTAs, PTOs, Booster Clubs and other school groups to raise funds for their programs. With the festive atmosphere and generous spirit of the season, you can tap into a unique opportunity to boost your fundraising efforts.

Why Fundraise Around the Holidays?

The holidays are a great time for fundraising. People are often more inclined to give this time of year, and the festive atmosphere makes for enjoyable events with a sense of community that brings people together for a common cause.

Many people already have funds earmarked for gift giving during the holidays, thus fundraisers that involve gifting usually perform well. The holidays being close to the end of the calendar year doesn’t hurt either, as many are used to the year-end fundraising appeal. So, use this key time of year to give your local community an opportunity to support your group as you raise money for programs and initiatives.

101 Holiday Fundraising Ideas & Holiday Shop Companies for Schools

1. Natalie’s Elf Shelf Holiday Store
2. Penguin Patch Kids’ Holiday Shop
3. Parents Night Out
4. Lil Shopper’s Shoppe
5. Tip Top Holiday Shop
6. Ask for Gently Used Items to Sell (higher profit)
7. Craft Gift Kits
8. My Holiday Fair
9. Diwali Lantern Kits
10. Fun Services Shops
11. Cultural Exchange Night
12. Wonderland Gift Shoppes
13. Believe Kids Catalog Fundraiser
14. Holiday Card Sale
15. Ornament Sale
16. Holiday Makers Market with Gift Wrapping Station
17. Holiday Grams
18. Gift Wrapping Service
19. Kids’ Kastle Holiday Shoppes
20. Holiday Treasures Gift Shop
21. Grocery Store Fundraiser
22. 5 Below Fundraiser
23. Children’s Choir / Caroling Fundraiser that Collects Donations
24. Christmas Fundraiser Selling Wreaths
25. Holiday Raffle
26. Vendor Night
27. See’s Candies Fundraiser
28. Students for Snow Removal
29. Winter Wonderland Carnival
30. Snowman Building Contest
31. Chipotle Fundraiser
32. Winter Dance
33. International Festival
34. Raise Craze
35. Local Restaurant Night Out Fundraiser
36. Holiday Game Night
37. Ugly Sweater Contest
38. Host a Holiday Bazaar
39. Delavignes Gourmet Foods & Gifts
40. Holiday Shop Items from Accessories Palace
41. Gingerbread Houses
42. Sell Tickets to a Holiday Soiree
43. Ornament Exchange
44. Santa Gram
45. Sell Gift Tags
46. Signature Chocolates
47. Polar Plunge
48. Hampton Popcorn Tins
49. Holiday Song Lip Sync Showdown
50. Panera Fundraiser
51. Get Business Sponsorships
52. Holiday Bake Sale
53. David’s Cookies Fundraising
54. Hot Chocolate Bar
55. Art Auction
56. Spiritwear Sales
57. Art to Remember
58. Coupon Books
59. Holiday Fun Run
60. Krispy Kreme Fundraiser
61. Holiday Pajama Day Fundraiser
62. Popcornopolis
63. Meadow Farms Fundraising
64. Poinsettia Sales
65. Cinnabon Fundraising
66. Hanukkah Candle Kit
67. Mabel’s Labels Fundraiser
68. School Calendar Sale for the New Year
69. Winter Fashion Show
70. Candy Apple Sales
71. Holiday Movie Night
72. The Popcorn Factory
73. Holiday-Themed Photo Booth
74. Safer New Year’s Eve Party
75. Cookie Recipe Book Sale
76. A Blend Above Gourmet Mixes
77. Holiday Photo Sessions
78. Sing-a-Long
79. World’s Finest Chocolate
80. Jammin’ with Santa (with the School Band)
81. Online Auction
82. Holiday Shop Items from American Carnival Mart
83. Gourmet Gift Baskets
84. Fair Trade Caravans
85. Holiday Poetry Slam
86. Silent Auction
87. School Coffee Mugs
88. Holiday Talent Show Fundraiser
89. Gifts n’ Things
90. Number of Ornaments Guessing Jar
91. Entertainment Coupon Fundraising
92. Cherrydale Fundraising
93. Fundraising Zone Catalog
94. Holiday Pictures with Your Pet
95. Popsations Popcorn Fundraiser
96. Holiday-Themed Scavenger Hunt
97. Winter Paint Night
98. Santa Dance-Off
99. Claire’s Gourmet Desserts Fundraiser
100. Holiday Tree Delivery or Disposal
101. Great Western Reserve

Considerations for Holiday Fundraising at School

While the holidays represent a great opportunity for fundraising, there are a few things to keep in mind.

First, there is a lot of competition for donations around this time. So you will need to plan ahead of time and promote your fundraiser effectively. Avoid scheduling events too close to major holidays or other major school events. Take a good look at your school calendar as you plan.

Second, be mindful of varying cultures and beliefs as you plan your holiday fundraising events. It’s important to ensure everyone feels included and welcome. Thus suggestion ranges from different religious beliefs to diversity of backgrounds, avoiding stereotypes, and ensuring your event is accessible to all individuals.

10 Elementary School Holiday Shop Companies

Are you planning to do a holiday shop for your elementary school fundraiser? It’s a fantastic choice! A holiday shop allows students to select thoughtful gifts for their family and friends for a low price (typically $2 to $10), while contributing to a cause at school. In fact, many parent groups report that holiday shops are among their most lucrative fundraisers of the year.

So, how do you run a school holiday shop? The first choice is the most lucrative but also the most time consuming. It involves buying products in bulk or on the clearance rack at the lowest price possible. If you can average a purchase price of under $0.50, that would allow you to sell it at a child-friendly price point and still make money on the fundraiser. Products can be purchased at places like 5 Below, Dollar Store, Dollar Tree, Dollar General, Oriental Trading, Santa’s Shop Gifts, Accessories Palace, or in bulk at Amazon or Walmart.

Pro Tip: If you decide to go this route, don’t forget to set up your nonprofit store with MoneyMinder and Cheddar Up. With this powerful add-on, you can create a custom payment page, collect payments online or in person using a card reader or tap on mobile, and make categorizing transactions a breeze.

But what about elementary school holiday shop companies that help run the fundraiser for you? Many of these companies provide gift packages a scanner and more that make it easy for you to run your fundraiser. There are many great choices sprinkled in the list of 101 ideas above, but we’ll narrow them down for you in this list:

1. Lil’ Shoppers Shop
2. Holiday Treasures Gift Shop
3. Natalie’s Elf Shelf Holiday Store
4. Penguin Patch Kids’ Holiday Shop
5. Tip Top Holiday Shop
6. My Holiday Fair
7. Fun Services Shops
8. Wonderland Gift Shoppes
9. Believe Kids Catalog Fundraiser
10. Kids’ Kastle Holiday Shoppes

What holiday fundraising ideas have you tried at your school? Are the holidays a fruitful time for your fundraising efforts? Drop a note in the comments and let us know your thoughts!