Christmas fundraiser at work in France: engage your team

Run a workplace Christmas fundraiser for a nonprofit: ideas, the role of HR, employee gifts, raffles, data and a 4-week plan.

In short A Christmas fundraiser at work brings a team together around a nonprofit with few resources: a challenge, a collection or a donation page shared internally. Plan for 4 weeks, 5 to 10 organisers and clear rules on gifts, raffles and data. The company's own tax treatment is something to check with the tax authority.

This article describes the rules in France.

A team that rallies for a good cause in December builds real bonds, and a nonprofit finds new donors. Here is how to organise a Christmas fundraiser at work, what the confirmed rules allow, and what to ask before you start.

Why a Christmas fundraiser at work?

December is when teams want to do something together. A charity project gives that moment meaning, far from the usual exchange of presents.

For the company, it is a chance to involve staff without imposing anything.

Who does what: the team, HR and the nonprofit

Three parties share the work, and it is best to say so from the start. A small group of 5 to 10 colleagues carries the project, HR opens the company's doors, and the nonprofit brings its story and its needs.

  • The organising team picks the action, sets a target and runs the internal communication.
  • HR or management approves the principle, the dates and the use of premises or the intranet.
  • The nonprofit presents its project, thanks the participants and remains responsible for the money collected.

If you are the nonprofit, offer a ready-to-use kit: a short text, a photo, a target in figures and a single contact. The easier it is for the company, the more likely it is to say yes.

Simple ideas for a team

Choose an idea your team can launch within a few days.

  • A challenge between departments: each team starts its own fundraising page and tracks its progress for 3 weeks.
  • A small internal Christmas market, with cakes and homemade items, in aid of the nonprofit.
  • A Christmas jumper day or a day in festive dress, with a free donation of a few euros.
  • Collective greeting cards: instead of paper cards, the company donates an amount for each card sent.
  • An online donation, with no stall and no logistics, shared by internal email.

For more ideas, see our overview of Christmas fundraising ideas for a nonprofit. If your team prefers an event on site, our guide to organising a Christmas fundraiser in France gives the full schedule.

Employee gifts and tax relief

An employee who gives personally can claim a tax reduction of 66% of the gift, within a limit of 20% of taxable income. The rate rises to 75% for organisations helping people in difficulty, up to €2,000 of gifts in 2026. The nonprofit must be eligible and issue a reçu fiscal (tax receipt).

If the action offers something in return, such as a pastry or a card, its value must not exceed a quarter of the gift, with a maximum of €65 a year. Otherwise the reduction is not granted. Say so in your message, and keep the receipt: it is not attached to the tax return.

These figures apply to individuals. For the company's own gift, known as mécénat (corporate philanthropy), we have not confirmed a precise rule in our sources: ask your accountant or your tax office before promising any benefit.

Raffles and lotos at the office: take care

For a nonprofit, a Christmas raffle is not free of rules. It requires the prior authorisation of the mayor (the police prefect in Paris), using Cerfa form no. 11823, with prizes in kind and not in cash. It cannot be held remotely. Penalties can reach €90,000 in fines and 3 years in prison.

This framework targets nonprofits: if the company runs the draw itself, ask the town hall what applies. A traditional loto is more flexible: it needs no authorisation if it stays within a restricted circle, with a stake under €20 and prizes that are not sums of money. Whether a loto among colleagues fits that description is something to confirm with your town hall. If in doubt, choose a challenge or an online donation.

Your colleagues' personal data

As soon as you collect email addresses, for example to send a receipt or a thank you, data protection applies. The CNIL (the French data protection authority) states that a nonprofit may carry out charitable outreach without prior consent, provided the person was informed at collection and can refuse simply and free of charge, at every mailing.

For a workplace action, keep the mailing list small, inform people clearly, add an unsubscribe link and answer any rights request within one month. Never use the company's internal directory without management's agreement. For a mailing that sells something, ask for prior consent.

How to do it with WeGlow.world

WeGlow.world lets the nonprofit create a donation page in three steps: amount, personal details, summary. It accepts single and monthly gifts, with a label for each amount, and works very well on a phone. The donor enters a first name and an email address. You can write a thank you text there.

Each department or colleague can then start their own fundraising page linked to the main action: a challenge between teams is simple to set up. For the Christmas touch, four digital experiences are presented as a concept, until the official launch.

  • With the Glow Room, a 3D living room with a tree, each gift becomes a decoration that the whole team sees being added.
  • With the Card Wall, each gift is an envelope hung on a string, with a message for the nonprofit.

The Starry Sky and the Gift Yard are also in preparation. Discover them on the Christmas site, or create your account to prepare your page.

A 4-week schedule

  1. Week 1: form the team of 5 to 10 people, get HR's approval and choose the nonprofit.
  2. Week 2: set the target, prepare the donation page and the thank you text.
  3. Week 3: launch the action internally, with a first message from management.
  4. Week 4: send a reminder at the halfway point, then close before the holidays and thank everyone.

See also the article on the online Christmas fundraiser with a digital experience.

Frequently asked questions

Can a company organise a Christmas fundraiser for a nonprofit?

Yes, it is common: the team organises the action and the nonprofit receives the funds and manages them. Be clear about who collects the money and who issues the tax receipts, because that is the job of the eligible nonprofit.

Are employees entitled to tax relief?

A personal gift to an eligible nonprofit qualifies for a 66% reduction, within 20% of taxable income, and 75% in certain cases. The tax receipt is what counts. Anything given in return must not exceed a quarter of the gift, capped at €65 a year.

What about the company's own gift, the mécénat?

We have not confirmed a precise rule on corporate mécénat in our sources. Ask your accountant or your tax office, and keep the receipt issued by the nonprofit.

Can you hold a raffle at the office?

For a nonprofit, only with the mayor's authorisation, with prizes in kind and on site, never online. If the company runs the draw itself, ask the town hall. For a traditional loto, you must stay within a restricted circle, with a stake under €20. Ask your town hall whether your case fits.

Can you email all your colleagues?

Inform people, offer a simple way to refuse and do not misuse the internal directory without management's agreement. Answer rights requests within a month. For any sales mailing, ask for prior consent.

Sources

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