Christmas Tree Ornament Fundraiser Ideas & How-to Guide

Holding a Christmas ornament fundraiser can benefit your favorite charity or group. If you're looking for a way to raise funds for a nonprofit organization during the fall, selling Christmas ornaments just might be an ideal option. Since many schools and church groups hold wrapping paper, wreath, poinsettia, and holiday card sales during the months before Christmas, starting an ornament sale might be a great way to capitalize on the season and stand out from the crowd.

How to Run Different Types of Christmas Ornament Fundraisers

There are several ways to approach holding an ornament sale. For example, you will need to decide if you'd rather sell handmade ornaments or find a wholesale supplier for manufactured pieces. Additionally, if you're thinking about holding an annual Christmas tree ornament fundraiser, you may want to consider commissioning a custom piece to use that can be altered slightly each year to appeal to collectors.

Fundraise With Handmade Christmas Ornaments

If the members of your group are looking for a craft project that can also raise money, selling handmade Christmas tree ornaments may be a good option. This lends a wonderful, artisan touch to your fundraising event, and it's easy to organize. Here's how to do it:

1. Choose a DIY Christmas ornament design. You could create ceramic ornaments in a shape that has a special meaning for your organization or select a few attractive beaded ornament patterns to recreate.
2. Purchase supplies or secure donations for the items you need. You can maximize the fundraising potential by partnering with local businesses to donate supplies in exchange for advertising or exposure.
3. Begin making the ornaments. Quality control is very important. To enjoy a successful fundraiser, you'll need to be certain that the ornaments that you are producing are professional quality items that people will want to purchase for a fair price.
4. Organize an ornament sale and publicize the event.

Sell Traditional Manufactured Ornaments

If you can find a wholesale source for quality manufactured ornaments, you can raise money by selling the items that you purchase at a wholesale discount for retail prices. The process is simple:

1. Working with the wholesale supplier, choose a few classic styles that are likely to have a broad appeal and avoid purchasing any designs that feature the year. This is because you want to take steps to ensure that you don't end up with leftover inventory that you can't return or sell because it becomes outdated.
2. Photograph the ornaments attractively and write good descriptions of the choices. Design a pamphlet or put the photos and descriptions up on your organization's website.
3. Sell the ornaments for a profit and fulfill the orders.

   

Offer Annual Signature Ornaments

Many charitable organizations hold an annual Christmas ornament sale as a signature fundraiser. If this idea appeals to your organization, consider your long-term objectives before deciding what type of ornament to sell each year. The beauty of creating an annual program lies with the fact that people may view each year's ornament as a collectible, not to be missed holiday decorating item. Here's how to make it work:

1. Select an ornament design. Think about a relevant design that can be varied from year to year or a series of ornaments that people will want to collect.
2. Source the signature ornaments. Annual ornaments can be handmade or manufactured. What matters is that they make a statement about your organization and appeal to buyers.
3. Market the ornaments to potential buyers. Be clear about the fact that this an annual ornament and that it benefits a non-profit organization.

Hold an Antique and Vintage Ornament Sale

Many people have vintage and antique ornaments that they may not use anymore. You can ask for donations of gently used ornaments and then sell these to benefit your organization:

1. Put the word out to your group that gently used Christmas ornaments are needed. Mention that vintage and antique ornaments are especially desirable.
2. Organize an event to sell the donated ornaments and publicize the event in your community.
3. Price the vintage ornaments carefully. Some antique Christmas ornaments can be quite valuable.
4. Sell the ornaments and collect the proceeds.

Tips for Ornament Fundraising Success

No matter what kind of ornaments you decide to sell, proper planning and marketing is essential if you want to have a financially successful fundraiser. Keep these tips in mind:

• Start planning early. Long before you purchase craft supplies or place an order with a wholesale supplier, you will need to put together your committee, build your budget, and establish your goals. Allow at least six months to plan.
• Make a schedule. You'll need to create a production schedule if you will be selling handmade items and determine and ordering timeline if you're using manufactured ornaments.
• Focus on selling. You will also need to set pricing, come up with a sales strategy and teach those who have volunteered to work in a marketing capacity how to sell the ornaments.
• Have a plan for delivery. You will also need to decide how the ornaments will be delivered to customers when they are ready for distribution. If the sale is in-person, you can just hand them over, but some orders may need to be delivered.
• Evaluate the results. No matter how your fundraiser goes this year, take the time to evaluate the results when you are finished. What you learn can help you start putting plans in place right away to enjoy an even better fundraiser next year.

Fun and Festive for a Great Cause

While an ornament fundraiser works as a stand-alone event, you can also combine it with other Christmas fundraising ideas. You can sell Christmas trees, add a wreath fundraiser, or organize a holiday bazaar. No matter how you choose to hold the event, ornament fundraisers are fun and festive at the same time.