Plan a six week Christmas fundraiser for a Canadian charity

A week by week plan for a Christmas fundraiser at a Canadian charity: goal, licences, receipts, launch and the December 31 deadline for gifts to count.

In short Six weeks is enough for a Christmas fundraiser if you fix three things early: a clear goal, one donation page, and a calendar that ends before December 31, because a gift must be made between January 1 and December 31 to count for that tax year. Decide on any raffle before week one.

Why six weeks works, and what must happen first

Six weeks gives you time to write one story, build one page and ask three times, without burning out a small team. Count back from December 31, the last day a gift counts for the tax year. That puts your start in mid November, and your first decisions in week one.

What does the six week timeline look like?

Work backwards from the last gift date and give each week one job. A team of 5 to 10 people can carry this.

  • Week 1: set the goal, choose the format, check licences and confirm who signs receipts.
  • Week 2: write the story and build the donation page.
  • Week 3: test the page on a phone and invite your first 10 supporters.
  • Week 4: launch to your list and your social channels.
  • Week 5: report progress, thank early donors and ask again.
  • Week 6: final push up to December 31, then thank everyone.

Week 1: set the goal and check the rules

Pick one number and one sentence, such as "$15,000 so 120 families get a food hamper". Need a format? See our Christmas fundraising ideas for Canadian charities.

Then name who handles money, who answers donors and who approves messages.

Do you need a raffle licence, and does six weeks allow it?

In Canada, raffles are licensed by the province, not the federal government. The Criminal Code lets a charitable organization run one if the province licenses it and the proceeds go to a charitable purpose. A licence in Ontario does not cover Québec.

In Ontario, a new applicant must apply at least 45 days before the event, an existing licence holder at least 30 days. Six weeks is 42 days, shorter than the 45 days a new applicant needs in Ontario, so apply before week 1 of your plan or skip the raffle. In Québec, a class A licence from the Régie des alcools, des courses et des jeux (RACJ) needs an application at least 30 days ahead, and total revenue under that licence may not exceed $20,000 a year. For every other province, ask the provincial gaming authority.

A raffle ticket is not a gift, so you cannot issue an official receipt for its price. In Québec class A, electronic tools may not draw winners, although a site that only sells tickets is allowed. If timing is tight, skip the raffle.

Week 2: tell the story and build the donation page

Write the story in four short paragraphs: who you help, what Christmas looks like for them, what a gift does, and what you will report back.

Then build one page where a donor can give in three steps: amount, personal details, summary. Offer a one time gift and a monthly option, with a short label on each amount. Our guide to online Christmas fundraising in Canada covers this in more depth.

Week 3: receipts, consent and a dry run

Only a registered charity with a CRA registration number can issue official donation receipts. A receipt must show, among other things, your charity's name and address, a unique serial number, the date and amount of the gift, and the donor's full name and address. Our note on donation receipts at Christmas in Canada goes through the details.

Next, check your email rules under CASL, Canada's anti spam law. Messages sent by a registered charity with fundraising as their main purpose are exempt, but other non-profits need express or implied consent, a clear sender and an unsubscribe option honoured within 10 business days. In Québec, Law 25 adds privacy duties, so ask the Commission d'accès à l'information.

Finally, give the page to three people who have never seen it and ask them to donate from a phone. Fix what confuses them.

Weeks 4 and 5: launch, ask and report

Launch with a personal message from a real person. Email on a weekday morning, repeat after 7 to 10 days with a progress update, and post two or three times a week.

Invite supporters to start their own fundraising page. Their circles reach people your list never touches. Thank every early donor by name within 48 hours.

Week 6: the final push and the thank you

Remind donors that a gift counts for the tax year only if it is made between January 1 and December 31, and put the date in the subject line. Send one reminder about 3 days before, and one on the final day.

After December 31, thank everyone, share the total and show what it made possible.

What do donors get back on their taxes?

A Canadian donor claims a non refundable federal credit on their own return. For 2026, the first $200 of donations earns 14 percent, and the rest earns 29 percent, or 33 percent for the part of income in the top bracket. The old 15 and 29 percent figures are out of date. The 2026 rate is derived from the lowest federal rate, so tell donors to check with the Canada Revenue Agency.

Claims are usually limited to 75 percent of net income, and unused gifts can be carried forward up to 5 years. Provinces add their own credits, which we do not quote here.

How to do it with WeGlow.world

As your organization sets up on WeGlow.world, you can create a donation page with one time and monthly gifts, let supporters start their own fundraising pages, and write the thank you text donors receive. It works on a phone. You can start free with an account.

We are also building four Christmas experiences, still a concept until the official launch. In the Glow Room, a 3D living room with a tree, every gift becomes a decoration. In the Starry Sky, each gift is a star and you fly from star to star. In the Gift Yard, you pick the setting (forest, village, frozen lake, cabin or library) and fly to the next present. On the Card Wall, envelopes hang on a string and each card is a stamp. See the Christmas fundraising hub to explore them, or create an account to begin.

Frequently asked questions

Can we really plan a Christmas fundraiser in six weeks?

Yes, if the scope is small: one goal, one page, one story and three asks. Skip anything needing a licence you cannot get in time.

Until when does a gift count for the tax year?

A donation must be made between January 1 and December 31 to be claimed for that year, so a gift on December 31 counts for the current year.

Can we run a Christmas raffle?

Only with a provincial licence. In Ontario, new applicants must apply at least 45 days ahead; in Québec, a class A licence needs at least 30 days. Ask your provincial authority for any other province.

Do we need to be a registered charity?

To issue official donation receipts, yes, you need a CRA registration number. Other non-profits can fundraise, but donors cannot claim the credit unless the organization is another qualified donee.

Can we collect donations door to door or on the street?

That depends on the municipality. Montréal, for example, requires a free door to door permit for non-profits, with visits only between 9:00 and 20:00, and it does not allow soliciting in public places. Ask your city for its rules.

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