It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, and with the festive season on our doorstep, what better time to get creative with your fundraising! Whether you’re fundraising at school, at work or with family and friends, we’ve put together a great selection of unique ideas to inspire you to do something a bit different.
Here are our top 15 festive fundraising ideas for 2025
1. Host a Christmas crafting afternoon
Host a crafting afternoon with family and friends and let your festive creativity flow! Ask for an entry fee from participants and collect donations on the day. This activity can be tailored for all ages, and the crafting ideas are endless.
For children or schools, you could try making Christmas cards and wreaths or decorate gingerbread or baubles. Or, for something a little more grown up, a paint-and-sip evening with mulled wine with friends might be your perfect fundraising event this Christmas. You could even auction off pieces to the highest bidders at the end!
To help you plan your own event, make sure to download our free guide.
2. Host a Christmas quiz
Host a Christmas-themed quiz at home, a local venue, your office, or online to bring in the festive mood. To boost proceeds, organise a bake sale or sell snacks during the event - people will need sustenance during the quiz interval!
Stuck on what questions to ask? Take a look at our handy quiz pack for inspiration, as well as some top tips for coordinating a fun, memorable and well-organised event to end the year.
3. Host a movie marathon
Nothing gets us more in the Christmas spirit than enjoying our favourite holiday films, and there is no shortage of fantastic ones to choose from! This winter, why not host a cosy movie night with friends and family and ask for an entry fee or donations. Hold a vote among your guests to get together a short list of films. From Elf to Home Alone, there’s something for everyone! Make sure to stock up on seasonal goodies and hot chocolate to share.
4. Take on a Christmas skydive
Looking for your last challenge of the year? Taking part in our Christmas skydive could be exactly the opportunity you're looking for. Put on your best festive fancy dress and experience the thrill of free falling at over 120mph through the air! Choose your ideal date and airfield, and skydive this holiday season with Team Marsden. Spaces are limited, so sign up now to get the date and airfield your prefer.
5. Collect pantomime donations
Pantomimes are a popular event during the Christmas period, and therefore the perfect opportunity to fundraise. Ask a local theatre if you and a couple of friends can hold a bucket collection, asking people for donations at the end of each show. If you’re interested in fundraising this way, get in touch with us and we’ll supply the buckets for you.
6. Set up an online shop
Are you a keen crafter? Set yourself the challenge of starting an online store to sell your creations, with some or all proceeds going to a good cause. Whether you're making Christmas decorations, knitted mittens or uniquely designed holiday cards, something handmade can be a special and memorable gift at Christmas - with the added bonus of it being a charitable initiative.
7. Celebrate a Life
Each December, thousands of stars are hung on the Christmas trees outside The Royal Marsden hospitals in Chelsea and Sutton. Every star contains a message, cherishing someone special to us. Why not name a star and donate this year? It’s a simple way to make a vital difference to the lives of cancer patients and their families.
8. Christmas jumper day
A classic fun and easy Christmas fundraising idea; host a Christmas jumper or festive fancy dress day at your school or workplace. Make awards for best dressed, most creative, or ugliest Christmas jumper and hold a vote! Don’t forget to collect donations from participants.
9. Set up a gift wrapping station
Are you a whiz with wrapping paper, tags, and tape? Not all of us are blessed with gift wrapping talents! Why not sell your skills and set up a gift-wrapping station and offer your services at work, school or in your local community – you may need to gather some volunteers to support you. Select some wrapping papers, ribbons, tape and gift tags and ask for a suggested donation per gift wrapped. You could even see if local businesses or Christmas fairs will let you offer gift wrapping services to their customers.
10. Hold a Karaoke and carolling open mic night
Fancy something a little more musical? Host a karaoke and carols open mic night! Bring some festive cheer, warm up your vocal cords and look up the words to your favourite Christmas classics. This one might need a little bit more planning, so make sure to think about location and how you’ll publicise your event. Raise funds for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity by selling tickets on the door, asking for a small donation per song or by selling food and snacks. It’s guaranteed festive fun and definitely won’t be a silent night!
11. Bring some festive joy to your street with Christmas lights!
Illuminate your street by dressing the outside of your house in lights and decorations, and ask for donations from passers-by. You could rope in the neighbours to do the same too, perhaps even making it a competition for who has the best lights.
12. Christmas walkathon
Before we all slow down, relax and eat too many mince pies, why not get everyone moving with a Christmas-themed walkathon? Encourage your friends and family to get into the festive spirit by wearing Christmas jumpers, blast Christmas music (you could even make this a walking silent disco!) and provide festive food along the way. By charging an entry fee for the event, you can support a cause of your choice, stay active and have a walk to remember.
Bonus ideas for fundraising in 2026
Christmas can be a hectic time of year so if you’re too busy in the lead up to the holidays, here are a few bonus ideas to help you hit the ground running and fundraise for us in 2026!
13. Take on a challenge in the New Year
We have lots of exciting fundraising events happening in 2026, so why not make a New Year’s resolution to take on a challenge for us?
Here are just some of the exciting things you could do for us next year:
- Sign up for the Palace Half Marathon
- Take on the stunning South Downs Challenge
- Discover what London has to offer for the London Landmarks Half Marathon
- Challenge yourself with the Thames Path Challenge
14. Give it up for January
We all have habits or indulgences we enjoy a bit too often, but can you do without for a week, a month or even a year? January is the perfect time to take on this challenge and make a fresh start! What you give up and the length of your challenge is up to you but the tougher the challenge the more you could raise! Some popular things to give up are chocolate, alcohol, caffeine, TV, takeaways or even talking. Make sure to set up a fundraising page for your challenge. As you go, share your milestones with friends and family and ask people to pledge donations for your milestones to keep you motivated!
15. Unwanted Christmas present bring and buy sale
Unwanted gifts. We all get them, but instead of hiding them away at the back of your wardrobe, why not host a bring-and-buy sale? Organise this event at work or in your local community and help find these gifts an owner who will love them all while raising vital funds for the Oak Cancer Centre! Find out more about creating your own fundraising event!
Top tips:
1. Let us know what you’re up to
To get support from our community fundraising team, make sure you register your fundraising efforts with us.
2. Remember to ask your employer if they offer matched fundraising
This could help you raise double the amount for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity!
3. Download our Christmas fundraising guide
For some more inspiration with fundraising during Christmas, take a look at our Festive A-Z fundraising guide.
4. Explore more of our fundraising ideas
For general fundraising year-wide, we also have a free fundraising guide.
5. Don't forget to pay in your fundraising online after your event!
You can pay in your hard earned pounds by donating here.