Winter is one of the best times to launch creative winter fundraising ideas because supporters are already in a giving mindset and looking for meaningful ways to connect. Using a mix of indoor, outdoor, and virtual winter fundraising event ideas helps you reach more donors, keep them engaged through the cold months, and maintain momentum after year‑end campaigns.

Why winter fundraising ideas matter

Winter fundraising event ideas are powerful because they can tap into holidays, school breaks, and community traditions while also filling the typical “donor lull” after the year‑end push. When you design fundraising ideas during winter that are easy to join and easy to share, you turn a slow season into a reliable revenue stream that supports your programs year‑round.​

These fundraising ideas for winter also help you to:

• Reach donors who prefer small, cozy events instead of large galas.
• Engage families, faith communities, and local businesses with simple campaigns.
• Test new digital formats, such as hybrid or virtual experiences, without incurring significant production costs.

Let’s jump into the top 15 winter fundraising ideas, divided into categories

Outdoor winter fundraising ideas

Outdoor winter fundraising ideas work best when you embrace the season rather than avoid it. Choose activities that are safe and comfortable for your climate, and always have a backup date or alternative plan in case of bad weather

1. Snowman-building contest

Bring the kids outside and embrace the winter wonderland with a snowman-building contest! Whether you’re in Michigan, Colorado, New York, or Buffalo, this fun activity turns a snowy day into a community celebration. Divide participants by age, give them a set time to craft their frosty creations, and watch the creativity—and friendly competition—unfold. 

This is a super low-cost way to fundraise while keeping everyone engaged. Small prizes, ribbons, or fun snow-themed goodies reward participants without breaking the bank.

Source: Collingwood

2. Hot chocolate stand

Find a local event or a busy street corner, stock hot chocolate and toppings such as marshmallows and cinnamon, and collect donations for each cup.

Use SMS + call campaigns to promote where and when your stand will be. Include digital text-to-donate keywords so customers can give quickly while sipping their cocoa.

                                                        Source: GoFundMe

3. Winter fun run or “Frosty 5K” run

A winter fun run or “frosty 5K” is one of the best outdoor winter fundraising event ideas for active communities. Participants pay a registration fee to run or walk through a marked course in their community.

Keep runners engaged with automated SMS messages from sign-up to race day. Participants can receive training tips and fundraising progress reminders. On race day, organizers can send real-time updates about schedules, weather, and logistics. After the event, thank-you texts and impact updates help strengthen long-term supporter relationships

                                                                                Source: instagram

Also read: Text Message Reminders – Send Immediate Alerts to Contacts

4. Ice skating night

Partner with a local ice rink to book private event hours when the rink isn’t open for regular public skating, giving your group exclusive access. Sell advance tickets that include admission and optional skate rentals, making it easy for guests without equipment to participate. Coordinate with the rink to offer on-site concessions such as: 

• Hot chocolate
• Sell snacks, or 
• Branded merchandise to increase revenue and create a festive atmosphere.

Promote the event on social media and in community calendars to drive strong attendance and build excitement around a fun, seasonal activity. Here is an example of how Advent Health Center promoted its ice skating on social media.

Source: Instagram

5. Christmas tree pick‑up and disposal

Christmas tree pick‑up is a practical winter fundraising idea that solves a real problem for households after the holidays. Advertise a weekend or multi‑day service in which volunteers pick up trees curbside for a suggested donation, then arrange eco‑friendly disposal or recycling.

Use an online form and SMS confirmations, so donors know their time slot and any prep instructions. On pick‑up day, send reminder texts and live updates if crews are running early or late. Afterward, follow up with a thank‑you message, an impact note on how many trees were collected or recycled, and an invitation to your next winter fundraising event.

Also read: 14 Ways to Use Event Text Messaging Service Easily

6.  Winter carnival

Bring the magic of winter to life with a fun-filled carnival! Set up: 

• Exciting games
• Delicious food stalls
• Live entertainment and more. 

All in a local park or school field to create a festive atmosphere for all ages. Use entry fees and activity tickets to raise funds while giving participants memorable experiences. 

Boost attendance and engagement by sharing the full event schedule, vendor highlights, and same-day reminders through lively RCS messages, as they are more engaging. 

Read also: SMS vs RCS: Find the Best Fit for Your Campaign

Indoor winter fundraising ideas

Indoor fundraising ideas for winter campaigns are perfect when temperatures drop, and people want warmth, comfort, and community. Below are detailed winter fundraising ideas you can run in gyms, halls, offices, or even supporters’ homes.

1. Community soup & chili cook‑off

Turn cold-weather comfort food into a fun and engaging fundraiser with a Soup and Chili Cook-Off! Invite participants to register in advance, pay a small entry fee, and bring a big pot of their favorite recipe. Attendees can purchase tasting tickets, sample as many dishes as they like, and vote for winners in exciting categories such as “Spiciest Bowl,” “Best Vegetarian,” or “Coziest Classic.”

This type of event works well in school cafeterias, church halls, or community centers and can become an annual tradition. Use text reminders and automated calls to encourage RSVPs, share weather or parking updates, and follow up afterward with thank-you messages and a link for additional donations.

Source: Caraopolis community development

2. Warm comfort winter dinner

A warm comfort dinner transforms hearty winter meals into a cozy, sit-down fundraising experience. Host an evening featuring classic comfort foods such as soups, stews, and chili, and sell advance tickets to build excitement. Increase revenue by offering sponsorship tables to local businesses that want to support the cause and gain community visibility.

Promote ticket sales using automated SMS campaigns to drive attendance, share event reminders, and highlight menu teasers. After the event, follow up with thank-you messages, donation links, and updates on fundraising milestones to keep supporters engaged.

3. Cozy book & blanket drive plus fundraiser

This idea combines a tangible service project with a financial campaign, making it one of the most meaningful winter fundraising ideas. Ask supporters to donate gently used books and new or lightly used blankets for people in shelters, hospitals, or community housing, and pair the drive with a suggested donation to cover distribution, storage, or additional supplies.

You can run the drive over several weeks, with drop‑off points at partner businesses, schools, and faith communities. At each location, display a poster with a text‑to‑donate number or QR code so people can give while dropping off items. Share stories and photos later via SMS, email, and social media to show the impact and invite ongoing support through monthly gifts.

See how Sweetwater High School set up their blanket drive.

Source: Facebook

4. Board game or trivia night

Trivia and board game nights are versatile winter fundraising ideas that suit families, corporate teams, and friend groups. Host the event indoors, charge team registration fees, and offer small sponsored prizes or brag‑worthy titles like “Winter Trivia Champions” for extra excitement.

You can theme your questions around your cause, local history, winter holidays, or pop culture so the night is both fun and mission‑aligned. Between rounds, pause for short impact stories and a quick donation appeal, sharing a QR code using a keyword so guests can give on the spot. Promote the event by calling past donors and sending targeted SMS messages based on segmentation to those who have attended similar events.

Virtual and hybrid winter fundraising ideas

Virtual and hybrid winter fundraising ideas remain essential even as in‑person events return, as they allow participants to join from home during inclement weather or busy weeks. Combining digital reach with personal storytelling helps you grow beyond your local radius. 

 1. Virtual movie night 

Virtual movie nights are cozy, winter fundraising ideas that families can enjoy in pajamas from their couches. Choose a film that is family‑friendly and properly licensed, sell “virtual tickets,” and provide a schedule with pre‑show remarks, a short mission story, and a mid‑movie break where you share a quick impact video or appeal.

You can partner with local restaurants or bakeries to offer snack boxes that supporters can pick up or receive via delivery, creating an upsell opportunity. Throughout the event, send SMS reminders with the viewing link and donation form, and use live chat or social media to collect reactions and show appreciation. A follow‑up survey the next day helps you refine future virtual winter fundraising ideas.

Source: Nerdist

2. Hybrid winter gala or concert

A hybrid gala or concert combines a small in‑person event with a livestream so people can join from anywhere. Sell in‑person tickets at a premium and offer lower‑cost virtual passes, then layer in fundraising elements like text‑to‑give, online auctions, raffles, or live pledge drives.

During the event, encourage both in‑person and online attendees to give by showing a shared fundraising thermometer and reading donor names or messages in real time. 

Alt tag: winter-fundraising-ideas-digital-thermometer

After that, send a recording and impact update to everyone who registered, along with options to become a recurring donor or to attend your next winter fundraising event.

Read also:  17 Unique Ideas for Christmas Fundraising (with Examples to inspire you)

3. Winter webinar or mini‑workshop series

Educational winter fundraising ideas, such as webinars or mini-workshop series, allow you to showcase your expertise while demonstrating real community impact. Depending on your mission, you could host sessions on topics such as: 

• Financial wellness
• Winter mental health
• Energy-saving tips, or 
• Heat-activated Christmas card
• Community safety—featuring knowledgeable staff members or local experts as presenters.

To keep events accessible, offer free registration with a suggested donation, a “pay-what-you-can” option, or tiered ticket pricing with perks such as live Q&A access, downloadable resources, or exclusive bonus content.

Collect registrations through online forms and SMS opt-ins, then use automated reminders to boost attendance. After the event, follow up with surveys, session recordings, and targeted donation appeals to nurture attendees into long-term supporters.

4. Digital advent calendar

A digital advent calendar is an online version of a traditional one where supporters “open” one new door each day in December. Each door reveals a short piece of content—such as a: 

• Story
• Photo 
• Quote, or 
• Impact update

Along with a small action, such as donating a few dollars, sharing a post, or signing up for an event.

To set it up, start by creating a simple landing page with numbered days. Each number links to a page, a pop-up, or a post that unlocks on a specific date. Then schedule daily reminders via email, SMS, or social media with a link to “today’s door.” You can reuse tools you already have—email platforms, fundraising pages, and social scheduling tools—without needing custom software

                                                            Source: Opus energy

5. Virtual live stream fundraisers

A livestream fundraiser is a virtual event featuring speakers, performances, or demos that engage supporters watching from home (WFH). Hosted on platforms like YouTube Live, Facebook Live, Instagram Live, or webinar tools, it includes clear donation links so viewers can give instantly.

Plan the livestream like a show with a clear run-of-show and timed segments. You can host things like: 

• Music event
• Yoga or exercise sessions
• Gaming night
• 24-hour live stream, etc

Open with a strong host who introduces your mission and fundraising goal, then mix impact stories, donated performances, and behind-the-scenes moments. Use on-screen prompts and short verbal appeals between segments to encourage sharing and repeat donations. 

                      Source: Justgiving

6. Peer‑to‑peer winter challenge

A peer‑to‑peer winter challenge lets supporters raise funds on their own terms, making it one of the most scalable winter fundraising ideas. Participants choose a challenge—such as: 

• Walking a certain distance each week
• Cooking at home instead of eating out, or
• Going “screen‑free” for specific hours—and ask friends and family to sponsor them.

Provide each participant with a personal fundraising page, sample messages they can send by text or social media, and a schedule of touchpoints (kick‑off call, mid‑campaign check‑in, and final celebration). Regular SMS updates and short phone calls to your top fundraisers keep them motivated and aware of their impact.

Read also: 5 Tips for Designing Text Fundraising Landing Pages

How CallHub can support your winter fundraising ideas

Executing a season of winter fundraising ideas is much easier when outreach, reminders, and donor follow‑up are all in a single communication platform. CallHub brings calling and texting together so your team can reach the right people with the right winter fundraising event ideas at the right time.​

With CallHub, you can:

• Run peer‑to‑peer texting campaigns to invite donors to indoor, outdoor, and virtual events, share last‑minute updates, and send donation links that work on any device.
• Use phone banking to reconnect with lapsed donors, recruit volunteers for events such as hot chocolate stands or tree pickups, and secure sponsorships for larger winter-season fundraising initiatives.
• Set up text‑to‑donate keywords so supporters at any winter fundraising event—online or offline—can give instantly and join your SMS list for future campaigns.
• Integrate your outreach data with your CRM so you can segment donors by interest, location, or past participation, and tailor winter fundraising strategies to each group. 

CallHub provides you with various options of CRMs to integrate with, like:  1. Zapier 2. Blackbaud 3. NGPVan 4. Salesforce 5. NationBuilder  Choose the one you are comfortable with.

When you pair strong, creative winter fundraising ideas with targeted, multichannel outreach, winter stops being a slow season and becomes a reliable engine for generosity and impact.

To conclude

I hope these winter fundraising ideas inspire your holiday campaigns. You could either adapt them as they are, with a sprinkle of creativity or use them as a basis for your own ideas. 

No matter what, remember that these winter fundraisers are an integral part of your year-end fundraising, the most important time of the year for nonprofits. 

To maximize the output of your fundraising, you need practical ideas to implement and the right strategies to promote them, too. To know more about these strategies, check out our post: Fundraising strategies to exceed your year-end giving goals. 

FAQs on winter fundraising ideas

1. What is the most profitable fundraising event? 

Large-scale events such as hybrid galas, online auctions, and peer-to-peer winter challenges tend to raise the most funds, especially when combined with sponsorships and donation drives.

2. What are unique fundraising ideas? 

Some unique ideas include:

• Snowman-building contests
• Digital Advent calendars
• Cozy book & blanket drives
• Heat-activated Christmas cards
• Winter-themed peer-to-peer challenges
  

3. Winter fundraising ideas for schools?

Schools can run snowman-building contests, soup & chili cook-offs, holiday craft fairs, or Frosty 5K runs.

4. Winter fundraising ideas for sports teams?

Sports teams can host winter events such as fun runs, ice-skating nights, snowball-fight tournaments, or virtual fitness challenges.

Feature image source: Victória Kubiaki

Divyashree BR

A marketer passionate about sharing insights on nonprofits, politics, and advocacies, with a keen focus on how these domains can be effectively digitalized and communicated to reach broader audiences.