12 days of Christmas fundraising ideas

Whether you choose to take on these fundraising ideas over the 12 days of Christmas or spread them out over December, you’ll be helping young people facing cancer. 

1. Carol concert 

Get everyone into the Christmas spirit with some carol singing in aid of charity. Give your vocal cords a tour of your neighbourhood or invite people down to a local festive spot to sing along with you. It’s a fitting and fun way to kick off your 12 days of Christmas fundraising. 

2. Santa run 

Get sponsored to don your finest festive fancy dress and trainers. Take to the streets for a Christmas charity run and support young people and families affected by cancer this December. 

3. Send virtual cards 

Donate the money you would have spent on stamps for Christmas cards and send them virtually instead. Or use a service like Making a Difference and choose the amount you want to donate to Teenage Cancer Trust with each card you send, whether it’s by post or online. 

4. Christmas gift wrapping 

Help family and friends with their festive wrapping in return for a charity donation. If you want to do things on a bigger scale, set up a base at your local community centre and invite people to take advantage of your gift-wrapping services. 

5. Sell mince pies 

Bake mince pies for friends, family, colleagues and neighbours and sell them for a small fee which you can then donate to charity. How about some festive cakes and biscuits, too? 

Charity Bake Sale tips and ideas

6. Ask for donations instead of gifts 

It’s one of the easiest 12 days of Christmas fundraising ideas; ask everyone who would normally buy you a gift to donate to Teenage Cancer Trust instead. You can set up a JustGiving page for this fundraiser or run it entirely on social media. 

7. Christmas crafts workshop 

From pottery to festive wreath making, how about holding a craft workshop and asking people for a fee to participate? Other ideas include candle making, bauble painting and biscuit decorating. 

8. Help as you shop 

All you need to do for this idea is to shop online. Sign up to AmazonSmile and nominate Teenage Cancer Trust as your chosen charity, and a percentage of what you spend on purchases will be donated to us. 

9. Festive film night 

Invite friends and family around for an evening of Christmas movie action. Lay on the films and festive food in return for a donation to your yuletide fundraising efforts. 

10. Christmas quiz 

A festive quiz is a fun way to unite people for a good cause. Hold it virtually or in person, asking for an entry fee from your quizzers. Pick rounds including Christmas movies and songs, and you’ll be in for a jolly good time.

11. Sponsored festive walk 

This is a perfect idea for the period between Christmas and New Year. Step out into the crisp winter air and walk off those Christmas dinners over 12 miles, asking people to sponsor you for the challenge. Do it individually or invite friends and family to take part with you. 

12. List unwanted gifts 

Selling unwanted gifts from years past or present is a fitting way to end your 12 days of Christmas fundraising. Pop them on eBay or another online auction site and donate the proceeds to Teenage Cancer Trust. Not only will you be helping the young people who rely on our services, but you’ll also be heading into the New Year clutter-free. 

Find more festive fundraising inspiration in our top 10 Christmas charity ideas guide. 

How do I get the money raised to Teenage Cancer Trust?    

If you’ve set up an online fundraising page, we’ll automatically get the money. If you’ve collected cash donations, check out our paying-in money guide. And be sure to register your event in advance to get all of the help and resources you need to make it a success.