Christmas Fundraising at School for a Good Cause in Belgium

Plan a school Christmas fundraiser in French-speaking Belgium: head teacher approval, raffle rules, pupil privacy and a six-week schedule.

In short A school Christmas fundraiser works when the head teacher says yes early, the plan stays simple and the pupils are the ones doing it. Allow about six weeks, check the raffle and collection rules with your municipality, and protect the privacy of the children.

This article describes the rules in Belgium.

Why a school is an ideal place for a Christmas fundraiser

A school brings together pupils, parents, teachers and often a parents' association. That community already exists: you only need to offer it a shared project before the holidays.

A school fundraiser works best with a precise, visible goal. Tell families who you are raising money for, what the money will make possible and until when. A clear goal can be explained in two sentences on a note in the schoolbag.

Choosing a fundraiser that suits the pupils

  • A school Christmas market with the classes' creations (see our guide to the charity Christmas market).
  • Greeting cards drawn by the classes, offered in exchange for a free donation.
  • A Christmas concert or show with a free contribution at the exit.
  • A cake sale or hot chocolate stand when classes finish.
  • A class challenge: each class sets a goal and tracks it on a board.

For more ideas, read our Christmas fundraising ideas for a non-profit. Pick one main activity: a team of 5 to 10 people (teachers, parents, pupil representatives) can run it without burning out.

Getting the school's agreement before you start

Start with the head teacher. Present on one page the goal, the date, the venue, the role of the pupils and how the money will be raised. The school decides what happens within its walls and during school time. This does not depend on a single rule we could quote here.

Ask the head teacher whether the school's governing body (the pouvoir organisateur) must also agree, and whether the school has internal rules on collecting money, inviting parents and publishing photos. We could not confirm a general rule for the Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles: ask the head teacher.

The rules to know for collections and raffles

Most of the rules that matter for a school fundraiser are federal, but they are applied through the municipality. We found no difference between Wallonia and Brussels: what mainly changes are the forms and the municipal regulations. So call the relevant department of your municipality from the start.

For a raffle, the 1851 lotteries law provides a level without authorisation, reserved for an association recognised by the municipal executive (collège communal). The limits are: €5 per ticket, 1,000 tickets at most, prizes in kind worth no more than €500, at least 70% of the takings for the cause, and no more than four raffles a year.

Your school or parents' association does not necessarily fall within that framework: the recognition criteria vary from one municipality to another. Ask the municipality before you print the first ticket. An online raffle, or one covering several provinces, needs a different authorisation, from the National Lottery. Bingo falls under the Gaming Commission.

For a door-to-door collection, prior authorisation from the municipal executive is required. For the public highway we have no confirmed rule: ask the municipality. Do not send children to ring doorbells without that authorisation. For a stand in front of the school or on the village square, also ask the municipality for permission to use public space.

The tax certificate: do not promise it lightly

Since 1 January 2025, the tax reduction for a donation is 30% of the amount on the certificate. The minimum is €40 per year and per institution. The gift must be personal, with nothing in return, and the institution must be recognised or named in the law.

In practice, a cake bought, a raffle ticket or the proceeds of a collective collection do not entitle anyone to a certificate. A parent who personally gives €40 or more to a recognised association does. Only announce it if the charity you support is recognised: check the list of the Federal Public Service Finance.

Protecting pupils and their data

Children are people who deserve protection. Before publishing a pupil's photo, first name or drawing, ask for the parents' written consent. For anything involving the data of children and families, turn to the school's data protection officer or to the Data Protection Authority.

To write to parents on behalf of a fundraiser, assume their prior consent is needed, with an unsubscribe link in every message. Do not reuse the parents' list for any purpose other than the one planned.

A six-week schedule

  1. Six weeks before: head teacher's agreement, beneficiary charity, call to the municipality.
  2. Five weeks before: form the team, share out tasks, set a budget.
  3. Four weeks before: online donation page, note to parents, posters made by the classes.
  4. Three to two weeks before: reminder to families, creations and prizes.
  5. Week of the fundraiser: the event, tracking the total, thanking people.
  6. Afterwards: announce the result to the pupils.

To go further, read our guide to organising a Christmas fundraiser in Belgium. Keep 48 hours before the event for a final reminder.

How to do it with WeGlow.world

Many parents are not at school on the day, or want to give from their phone. With WeGlow.world, the charity you support can open a donation page in three steps (amount, details, summary), for a one-off or monthly gift, that works on mobile. You share it with the note to parents.

WeGlow.world also lets supporters start their own fundraising page. A class parent or a team of teachers can carry the class's fundraiser, with a total everyone can see. The charity can then prepare a thank-you text sent after every gift.

There are also digital Christmas experiences, still at concept stage until the official launch. The Card Wall hangs envelopes on a string, each card being a stamp: a lovely way to display the classes' wishes. In the Starry Sky, every gift becomes a star. Also read our article on the online Christmas fundraiser. To get started, the charity can create an account on WeGlow.world, and you can write to us through the contact page.

Frequently asked questions

Five answers to the questions school teams ask most often before they start.

Do you need the head teacher's agreement for a school Christmas fundraiser?

Yes, it is the first step. Present a one page project. Also ask whether the governing body must approve, because we have not confirmed a general rule for the Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles.

Can you run a raffle at school?

Possibly without authorisation, if your association is recognised by the municipal executive and respects the limits: €5 per ticket, 1,000 tickets, €500 of prizes, 70% for the cause. Ask the municipality. An online raffle falls under the National Lottery.

Will parents receive a tax certificate?

Only for a personal gift of at least €40 per year to a recognised institution, with a 30% reduction. A purchase or a collective collection does not carry that right.

Can you publish photos of pupils?

Ask for the parents' written consent and follow the school's rules. For any privacy question, see the school's data protection officer or the Data Protection Authority.

Can pupils collect door-to-door?

Only with the prior authorisation of the municipal executive, which the collector must be able to show. Without it, favour an online donation page and a stand at school.

Sources

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