Christmas fundraising at school for charity in Ireland

Plan a school Christmas fundraiser for charity in Ireland: ideas, raffle and collection rules, tax relief, emailing parents and a 6 week plan.

In short A school Christmas fundraiser for charity works best with a clear plan: pick one simple format, give the parents' association the lead, and check the rules early. A raffle, a public collection and email to parents each have Irish rules. Pupils take part, but children's personal data needs the school's say first.

Who runs a school Christmas fundraiser?

The parents' association usually carries the work, with the principal agreeing the date and the charity. Teachers and pupils bring the energy. Split it clearly so nobody is left holding everything.

  • Parents' association: 5 to 10 volunteers cover the plan, the money and the messages to parents.
  • Principal and staff: approve the date, the charity and anything that touches school time.
  • Pupils: bake, make cards and sing.

Agree one contact person for questions from parents.

Which fundraising ideas suit a school?

Choose a format that fits the age of the pupils and the time of the volunteers. The best school ideas are cheap to run, easy to explain and fun for children.

  • Christmas Jumper Day: pupils pay a small amount to wear a festive jumper to school.
  • Bake sale: a small stall at the school gate or after the carol service.
  • Carol concert: families come to hear the choir, with a donation at the door or online.
  • Christmas cards: classes make cards that families sponsor.

More choice is in our guide to Christmas fundraising ideas for charity in Ireland.

Raffles: what the Irish rules say

A Christmas raffle is the most popular school idea, and it has rules. A small raffle can run without a permit, but only inside tight limits. Above them you need a Garda permit, and you must apply well in advance.

  • Without a permit: prizes worth no more than €1,000 in total, tickets of €5 or less, at most 1,500 tickets, no personal profit, and no other raffle under this exemption in the last 3 months.
  • Garda lottery permit: apply at least 60 days before the first day, to the superintendent of the district where the applicant lives. Tickets can cost up to €10 and prizes up to €5,000 in total.
  • Under 18s: a permit does not allow children to take part, so do not sell tickets to pupils.

The Gambling Regulation Act 2024 is bringing change. The Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) says charities should still apply under the current permit system for 2026, and a higher exemption limit of €2,000 is published on its site. Which limit applies in December is not confirmed, so ask An Garda Síochána or GRAI before you go above €1,000. We checked this on 9 October 2026.

Collections and the Garda permit

Collecting money in a public place or from door to door needs a collection permit from the Chief Superintendent. That includes money paid electronically, so a carol singing group with a card reader is covered too.

  • Timing: an application normally goes in no more than 6 months and no less than 14 days before the first day.
  • Materials: for a registered charity, show its name, logo, Registered Charity Number and contact details.
  • Stalls at a Christmas market: whether these need a permit is not confirmed, so ask your local Garda station and the county council.

Ask early.

Tax relief: what schools can and cannot promise

Ireland has no tax certificate for the giver in the Belgian sense. Under the Charitable Donation Scheme (CDS), the approved body claims the relief, not the donor. Be careful about promising anything to parents.

  • Minimum: €250 or more from one donor in a year, to the same approved body.
  • Rate: the claim is grossed up at 31 per cent, so €1,000 becomes €1,449.27 for the organisation.
  • Donor steps: the donor signs a certificate and gives a PPSN. Without it, there is no claim.

Only organisations approved by Revenue can claim. Some educational bodies qualify, but a parents' association is not automatically one of them. Check the Revenue list first, and tell parents honestly when a gift will not qualify.

Emailing parents the right way

Parents are not automatically a mailing list for fundraising. Under the Irish ePrivacy Regulations, unsolicited direct marketing by email needs clear, affirmative consent first, and ticked boxes by default do not count.

  • Ask for opt-in: a short tick box on the sign up form, with a clear reason.
  • Add an unsubscribe link to every message.
  • Do not rely on an exemption: the soft opt-in for charities in the United Kingdom does not apply in Ireland.

Fines for breaking the rules can reach €250,000 for a company, according to the Irish statute book.

Children and personal data

We do not have a confirmed rule about children's data for school fundraisers, so we do not invent one. Keep names and photos of pupils out of public posts until the school has decided what it may share.

  • Ask the school's data protection contact before you publish names, classes or photos.
  • For general guidance, contact the Data Protection Commission.

When in doubt, show the class effort as a whole, such as a table of cards or a decorated tree, rather than individual children.

How to do it with WeGlow.world

With WeGlow.world, the school or parents' association sets up a donation page in 3 steps, with one off and monthly gifts, and each amount can carry a label such as "A warm meal". Parents give from the phone, and you can add a thank you text that is sent after each gift.

  • Supporters' pages: parents or friends of the school start their own fundraiser page for the campaign.
  • Card Wall: envelopes hang on a string and each card is a stamp, ideal for a class that makes cards.
  • Glow Room: a 3D living room where every gift becomes a decoration on the tree.

To be honest, the four Christmas experiences are still a concept until the official launch. Take a look at the Card Wall or the Glow Room, and see the guide to online Christmas fundraising. To start, create a free account.

A six week plan

Six weeks is enough for a calm school event, but not for a raffle permit, which needs 60 days. Start in early November and keep each step small, so the work does not fall on one parent.

  • Week 1: agree the charity, the format and the date with the principal.
  • Week 2: check the collection rules, and apply for a collection permit if you need one.
  • Weeks 3 to 5: set up the donation page, message parents who opted in and prepare the stalls.
  • Week 6: run the event, say thanks and share the total.

See how to plan a Christmas fundraiser for a charity. A raffle permit needs 60 days, so for a mid December raffle you must apply by mid October, before week 1. If you are late, stay inside the small exemption or run a stall or a Christmas Jumper Day instead.

Frequently asked questions

Can pupils sell raffle tickets?

The permit rules say children under 18 cannot take part in a permit lottery. Keep ticket selling to adults and have pupils help with the display and the prizes instead.

Do we need a permit for a bake sale?

A permit is required for collections in public places or door to door. If in doubt, ask An Garda Síochána.

Can parents claim tax relief on a school gift?

Only gifts of €250 or more in a year to a Revenue approved body qualify under the Charitable Donation Scheme, and the organisation claims. Check the Revenue list.

Can we use pupils' names on the fundraising page?

We have no confirmed rule, so ask the school's data protection contact first. Until then, share the class effort without names or photos of children.

Is WeGlow.world free for a school?

Non profits can start free at WeGlow.world, with an account. Check the pricing page for the current terms before you plan around it.

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