Top Thanksgiving Fundraising Ideas

Posted by Chloe Colquitt on 30 August 2023

The season of thanks is almost upon us, so now is the time to finalize your Thanksgiving fundraising plans if you have not already! With people set to enjoy family time, good food, and a start to the festive period, the minds of many turn to helping those less fortunate than themselves.

To help you use the season wisely and boost your 2023 donations before the end of the year, check out our top fundraising ideas below. 

Do People Donate More During Thanksgiving?

One of the most iconic symbols of Thanksgiving is the turkey. The turkey has long been associated with abundance and generosity. In the early days of Thanksgiving, when the Pilgrims and Native Americans came together to celebrate, they shared a feast that included wild turkey. This act of sharing a meal symbolized the spirit of giving and community.

Today, the tradition of sharing a Thanksgiving meal with loved ones continues, and it serves as a reminder of the importance of giving back. 

Family plays a central role in Thanksgiving celebrations, and it is through family traditions that a culture of giving can be fostered. Many families have their unique traditions when it comes to Thanksgiving, whether it’s cooking a special meal together, watching football, or going for a post-dinner walk. These traditions can also include acts of charitable giving. For example, some families choose to volunteer together at a local soup kitchen or food bank on Thanksgiving Day. This allows them to give back to their community and provides an opportunity for family bonding and creating lasting memories. 

Thanksgiving is not only a time for giving back through volunteerism but also through charitable donations. Many people choose to make financial contributions to organizations that are working to address issues such as hunger, homelessness, and poverty. Charitable donations tend to increase during the holiday season, with Thanksgiving catalyzing this generosity.

Thanksgiving Event Ideas

1. Host a Thanksgiving Dinner Fundraiser

One of the most popular ways to raise funds during Thanksgiving is by hosting a Thanksgiving dinner fundraiser. This live fundraising event involves organizing a dinner event where attendees can enjoy a delicious meal while supporting a good cause.

You can present a meal with all the trimmings and use features such as silent auctions to raise money while guests are tucking into their feasts. You may also find that local food stores or restaurants will want to donate meals or ingredients in honor of the cause, which will help keep costs down.

2. Create a Thanksgiving-themed Silent Auction

A Thanksgiving-themed silent auction is another creative way to raise funds during the holiday season.

To make the auction successful, offer unique items or experiences that will attract bidders. Consider bundling items together to create themed packages, such as a Thanksgiving feast package or a holiday travel package. This will increase the perceived value of the items and encourage higher bids.

3. Organize a Thanksgiving Bake Sale

A Thanksgiving-themed bake sale is a classic fundraising idea that can be both fun and profitable. To organize a successful bake sale, start by recruiting bakers who are willing to donate their time and skills to bake delicious treats.

To make the bake sale successful, offer a variety of treats that are related to Thanksgiving. This could include pumpkin pies, apple crisps, or turkey-shaped cookies. Consider packaging the treats as gifts, such as in festive boxes or bags, to make them more appealing to bidders.

4. Organize a Thanksgiving-themed Charity Walk

Charity walks have become increasingly popular in recent years as a way to raise funds and promote awareness for various causes. Organizing a Thanksgiving-themed charity walk can be a great way to engage the community and raise funds during the holiday season.

You could arrange a walk that takes in some popular thanksgiving sights in your town or city or just market it as a way to walk off the calories consumed during the luxurious meal.

Choose Givergy To Support You

Thanksgiving is a holiday that is deeply rooted in gratitude and community. It is a time when people come together to express thanks for their blessings and give back to their communities. From its origins in the early days of the Pilgrims to the present day, Thanksgiving has inspired acts of kindness, generosity, and volunteerism.

At Givergy, we love a seasonal event as a way to reach more donors and use the positive spirits to help raise more. To find out how we can assist you, contact us today.

Chloe Colquitt

Campaign Success Manager

Chloe is a Givergy Client Success Manager based in New York, looking after our North America events on the East Coast. Chloe, who was previously based in our UK office until 2021, has the in-depth experience and knowledge of how to best use the Givergy system to exceed her clients’ fundraising targets, with a high focus on the Fund-A-Need portion. Chloe’s passion for delivering fundraising events led her to create her own fundraising event with a team to raise funds for a university partner charity in the UK. This has given her a first-hand experience to understand the challenges some of our clients face and how much time and energy is required to create a successful event.