Online Christmas appeal with a digital experience

An online Christmas appeal with no stall or raffle: four digital experiences, still concepts, where each gift becomes a decoration, a star or a card.

In short An online Christmas appeal spares you the stall, the logistics and the raffle, which a charity may not run remotely in France. You open a donation page and give every gift a visible form: a decoration, a star, a present or a card. WeGlow.world's four experiences are still concepts until the official launch.

This article describes the rules in France.

Many associations want a December highlight without setting up a market or rallying twenty volunteers. Here is what an online Christmas appeal allows, the four digital experiences WeGlow.world is preparing, and what to check before you start.

Why run an online Christmas appeal?

An online appeal takes about three weeks to prepare, with two or three people, and you share it by email and by message. There is no stall to staff and no permit to request. The main risk lies elsewhere: a plain "donate" button tells no story, and donors forget it quickly.

This is where a digital experience helps. Instead of a counter that creeps upward, each donor leaves a trace that others can see: a decoration hung on the tree, a star in the sky, a card on the wall. The gift becomes a gesture people want to show and talk about.

For the rest of your calendar, read our overview of Christmas appeal ideas for an association and our guide to organising a Christmas appeal in France.

What an online appeal changes about the rules

A Christmas raffle needs the mayor's prior authorisation, with prizes in kind, and an association may not run one remotely: only an on-site draw is allowed (service-public.gouv.fr, checked on 9 October 2026). An online giving appeal avoids that problem, because nobody buys a ticket.

One point still needs care. If you offer something in return, its value must not exceed a quarter of the gift, with a ceiling of 65 euros per year, otherwise the tax reduction is not guaranteed. A virtual card or a star has no market value, but if in doubt, ask your tax office.

The four Christmas experiences from WeGlow.world

The four experiences are concepts. They are shown as demos before the official launch, and their final availability may still change. They share one feature: every gift comes with a personal card, which the donor writes before paying and which other visitors can open.

The Glow Room

The Glow Room is a warm 3D living room with a Christmas tree. The donor picks a decoration, each with its own price, writes a card and hangs it on a golden ring of the tree. In the demo, candles, lamps and the fireplace light up as the campaign advances.

It suits an association that wants a shared moment and a community that "lights up a room" together. You choose the colours, your logo and the decorations on offer.

The Starry Sky

In the Starry Sky, each gift becomes a star above a Christmas market with a big wheel. The visitor flies from star to star, opens each star's card and can search for a name. All stars are the same size: the amount does not appear next to the star.

This is the calmest option. It suits associations that support vulnerable people and prefer every donor to have the same place, whatever the gift.

The Gift Yard

The Gift Yard lets you choose the backdrop: forest, village, frozen lake, cabin or library. Each gift becomes a present with its card, set down in the yard, and the visitor flies on to the next present. You can look around outdoors as well as indoors.

The tone is playful and warm. The experience is meant for associations that speak to families, with wrapping paper and a ribbon you pick yourself.

The Card Wall

On the Card Wall, envelopes hang from a string. Each card is a stamp, with its own price, and a wax seal. One click opens the card, a search bar finds a name, and a button shares the wall.

This is the most personal mood, written by hand. The wall gradually becomes one big collective message, well suited to a local association or a neighbourhood.

How do you choose between the four?

Choose according to the place you want to give the donor and the tone of your association. Here is a quick guide, without claiming it is a fixed rule.

  • A shared, visible moment: the Glow Room.
  • An equal presence for every donor: the Starry Sky.
  • A playful tone, for families: the Gift Yard.
  • Handwritten words: the Card Wall.

How to do it with WeGlow.world

With WeGlow.world, you create a donation page in three steps: amount, personal details, summary. It accepts single and monthly gifts, with a label per amount, and works on a phone. The donor enters a first name and an email address.

Here is the schedule we recommend, over three weeks.

  1. Week 1: create your account, prepare the donation page and write the thank-you text.
  2. Week 2: choose the experience, your colours and your logo, then test with two or three friends.
  3. Week 3: announce the appeal by email and on your social media, and invite your supporters to start their own action page.

The thank-you email goes out automatically if you have filled in a thank-you text. Create your account to start for free with an account, and contact us if you want to follow the official launch of the experiences.

What about the reçu fiscal (tax receipt)?

A gift to an association can entitle you to a tax reduction of 66 percent, within a limit of 20 percent of taxable income. The 75 percent rate applies only to organisations that help people in difficulty, up to 2,000 euros of gifts made since 14 October 2025, then 66 percent above that.

The proof is the reçu fiscal, which only an eligible association can issue: non-profit, run on a disinterested basis, without a restricted circle of beneficiaries. We do not promise here that WeGlow.world sends reçus fiscaux in France: your association draws it up. Ask your tax office whether it is eligible.

Frequently asked questions

Here are the five questions associations ask us most often before launching an online Christmas appeal.

Are the Christmas experiences already available?

No, not officially yet. They are concepts, visible as demos, until the official launch. See the WeGlow.world Christmas page to follow progress.

Do I need a permit for an online Christmas appeal?

A donation page does not need the mayor's authorisation, which concerns the raffle. Above 153,000 euros collected from the public, a declaration to the préfecture (the local state authority) is required (associations.gouv.fr). Check with your préfecture.

How long does it take to prepare the appeal?

Allow three weeks and two to three people: one for the donation page, one for the texts and the email, one for social media. Start in October to be ready in early December.

Do donors see the amounts of others?

It depends on the experience. In the Starry Sky, all stars are the same size and the amount is not shown. For the others, check how it behaves in the demo before promising anything.

Can I combine the online appeal with a Christmas market?

Yes. The donation page link can appear on your posters and at the stall. See also our article on the charity Christmas market in France.

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