Run a Christmas dinner fundraiser for your charity

Plan a Christmas dinner or lunch for your charity: tickets, tables, costs, a legal raffle and Gift Aid on a separate voluntary extra amount only.

In short A Christmas dinner or lunch can raise real money for your charity if you start 10 weeks ahead, price tickets above your cost per head and sell tables to groups. Ticket money is not eligible for Gift Aid. Offer a separate, voluntary extra amount for that, and keep any raffle within the rules.

Why a Christmas dinner or lunch works

A shared meal gives supporters a reason to come together and a clear way to give. People bring friends and colleagues, which widens your circle beyond the usual donors. In the UK this might be a festive lunch at a hall, a three course dinner at a restaurant or a quiz supper with a Christmas menu.

It is also a good moment to tell your story in person. A short talk between courses often does more than a leaflet. For other formats, see our Christmas fundraising ideas for UK charities.

Plan the dinner in 10 weeks

Work backwards from the date and give every task an owner. Our Christmas fundraiser planning guide covers the wider timeline. This is the dinner version.

  • 10 weeks out: fix the date and venue, and agree a price per head with the caterer.
  • 8 weeks out: open ticket sales, set up your online page and ask local businesses for donated prizes.
  • 4 weeks out: sort any raffle registration, confirm the programme and send a reminder to your supporters.
  • 1 week out: confirm numbers, dietary needs and seating.
  • Day after: count the takings with two people, then thank everyone.

Set ticket prices and sell tables

Start with your costs: venue, food, drinks, decorations and any entertainment. Divide by the number of guests you expect, then price each ticket above that figure. The gap is your surplus. Ask the venue whether it will donate the room or offer a discount for a charity.

Tables are a simple way to fill seats. A table of 8 or 10 can be bought by a company, a family or a club, who then bring their own guests.

  • Individual tickets: good for supporters who come alone or as a pair.
  • Tables: sell a whole table at a set price, with a named host who invites the guests.
  • Sponsors: a local firm can sponsor the drinks or the programme and be thanked on the night.

Why ticket money is not eligible for Gift Aid

Gift Aid lets an eligible charity claim an extra 25p for every £1 given by a UK taxpayer, so a £100 gift becomes £125. It only works on genuine gifts. A payment for a dinner is a payment for goods or services, so a paid event ticket does not qualify.

The exception is a clearly separate, voluntary extra amount. If guests can choose to add a donation on top of the ticket, with a free choice of the amount, that extra can be eligible. A ticket with a compulsory "minimum donation" built in is not.

  • Keep it separate: show the ticket price and the optional extra as two lines.
  • Collect a declaration: for the extra amount you need the donor's full name, home address with postcode and a statement that they pay enough tax.
  • Keep records: keep the declaration for 6 years after the last gift you claim on.

Only recognised charities and registered community amateur sports clubs can claim. Read our guide to Gift Aid for Christmas fundraising for the full picture.

Can you run a raffle at the dinner?

Yes, and the simplest route is an incidental lottery. It is a raffle held at and during an event, such as a charity dinner, with all the proceeds going to a good cause. A bigger raffle needs a registered small society lottery.

  • Costs: you may deduct up to £100 for expenses and up to £500 for prizes you buy. Donated prizes are unlimited.
  • Tickets: sell them only at the event, during the event. The draw can happen during or after it.
  • No rollovers: a prize cannot be carried over to a later draw.
  • Bigger raffles: a small society lottery is registered with your local authority, with up to £20,000 of tickets per draw and £250,000 per year, and at least 20% of proceeds going to the cause.

Raffle tickets are not a gift either, so there is no Gift Aid on them. Follow the Fundraising Regulator's Code of Fundraising Practice, in force since 1 November 2025, and ask the Gambling Commission if you are unsure.

How to do it with WeGlow.world

WeGlow.world gives your dinner a home online. You can create an event with tickets, show live totals and let guests book from a phone. Your donation page takes a gift in three steps: amount, personal details and summary, as a single gift or monthly.

  • Events with tickets: guests book online, and you can scan tickets at the door.
  • Extra gifts: add a donation page next to the event, so guests can give more, kept separate from the ticket price.
  • Your own thank you: if you write a thank you text, WeGlow.world sends it after each gift.
  • Helpers become fundraisers: volunteers and table hosts can start their own action page and ask friends and family to give.

The WeGlow.world donate form does not collect Gift Aid declarations and WeGlow.world issues nothing for Gift Aid in the UK, so collect and keep your declarations yourself. For a digital layer on the night, the Glow Room is a 3D living room with a Christmas tree where every gift becomes a decoration. It could play on a screen in the hall. The four Christmas experiences are still a concept until the official launch, so do not build your plan on them yet. See the Glow Room page or the Christmas fundraising hub. Ready to start? Start free with an account, or contact us with questions.

Frequently asked questions

How many guests do I need?

It depends on your venue and costs, so we do not promise a number. A first dinner might aim for somewhere between 40 and 120 guests. Set a target that covers your costs with room to spare.

Can I claim Gift Aid on the ticket price?

No. A paid event ticket is a payment for the meal and the evening. Gift Aid only applies to a clearly separate, voluntary extra amount that the guest chooses to give.

Do I need a licence for a raffle at the dinner?

An incidental lottery needs no registration if you follow the limits: tickets sold at the event, £100 of expenses, £500 of bought prizes and no rollovers. A bigger raffle needs registration with your local authority.

Can I sell raffle tickets online before the dinner?

Not for an incidental lottery, which is sold at the event itself. A registered small society lottery can sell online or by phone, though not on the street.

What if guests cannot come?

Offer a donation page for people who want to support you without attending. Share it by email and on social media, and thank them just as warmly.

Sources

Articles