Christmas cards, wish tree and concert for charity
Three Christmas formats for associations compared: preparation, relative cost and reach, plus the digital version with the Card Wall and the Glow Room.
In short Christmas cards, a wish tree and a Christmas concert are three formats your association can combine or run separately. Cards need little lead time, the wish tree about 6 weeks of coordination, the concert the most work and the biggest stage. All three can be extended online, for example with a card wall.
this article describes the rules in Germany.
An association that wants to do something at Christmas does not have to build a whole market. Cards, a wish tree and a concert appeal to different people and combine well. This article compares the three and shows how to carry them online.
Three formats compared
The table compares preparation, relative cost and reach. We deliberately give no prices, because printing, room hire and equipment vary a lot. Ask for quotes.
| Format | Preparation | Relative cost | Reach |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christmas cards | Short: 2 to 3 weeks, 2 to 3 people | Low, if you design the cards yourself or supporters write them digitally | Wide, because every card is passed on to family and friends |
| Wish tree | Medium: about 6 weeks, 5 to 10 helpers and a local partner | Medium, because you need materials, drop-off points and organisation | Local, but very personal |
| Christmas concert | Long: 8 to 12 weeks, a venue, performers and technical equipment | Highest, mainly because of the venue and equipment | One evening, but plenty of attention in the region |
The timings are our planning guidelines, not requirements. Adapt them to your team. If you are unsure, start with the cards and build from there. You will find more ideas in the article Christmas fundraising ideas for associations.
Christmas cards for charity
With this campaign, supporters send cards and a donation is made for every card. It can be a printed card that your association offers, or a digital card that someone writes along with their donation. The appeal lies in the greeting: you give closeness and do something good at the same time.
- Choose a motif, for example a drawing from your work.
- Say clearly where the money goes.
- Set a closing date so the cards arrive before Christmas.
With your own design the effort stays small. What matters is that each card can carry a name and a short message. That makes the greeting personal and gives you material for thank-you notes and reports later.
Wish tree: let wishes be granted
With a wish tree, wishes hang on a tree and supporters grant them. In Germany such campaigns are mostly local, for example through district offices (Bezirksämter) or local institutions. The wish is concrete, the gift is handed over and the impact is felt immediately.
Be cautious especially with children's wishes. Do not give full names, and do not use photos without clear consent from the parents or guardians. Which rules apply in your case is something to ask the data protection authority of your federal state. The law assigns supervision of associations to the authorities of the states.
- Collect wishes through a trusted person, for example a local institution.
- Give each wish a number instead of a name.
- Plan drop-off and handover with fixed dates, for example 2 weeks before Christmas Eve.
Christmas concert for charity
A concert gives your association an evening of full attention. Choirs, school bands or musicians from the neighbourhood perform and the audience donates. This format needs the longest lead time, because you have to sort out the venue, performers, equipment and running order, ideally 8 to 12 weeks ahead.
We cannot give verified information on music rights. Whether and what you have to register or pay for performing protected works depends on the case. Ask early at GEMA (the German music rights society) or at the municipality that rents out the venue. We deliberately give no amounts here.
- Ask performers whether they will play without a fee.
- Offer donation boxes and a QR code to the donation page.
- If you charge admission, check with the Finanzamt (the German tax office) beforehand how it is treated for tax.
The rules in Germany in brief
Not every contribution is automatically a deductible donation. A donation must be voluntary and given without anything in return. That means admission and raffle ticket sales are something different from a free donation. Clarify this with the Finanzamt or a tax adviser before you issue receipts.
- Donations are deductible as special expenses up to 20% of total income.
- Up to €300, a bank statement is usually enough for the donor, provided the association keeps the required details available.
- A Zuwendungsbestätigung, also called a Spendenquittung (a tax receipt for a donation), follows the official template of the German Federal Ministry of Finance.
- The donation counts for the calendar year in which it is paid, so up to 31 December.
A raffle at the concert needs a permit, and the rules differ from state to state. Under the Glücksspielstaatsvertrag (the German interstate treaty on gambling), small lotteries are provided for up to €40,000 in stakes, and individual states set tighter limits. Online lotteries are not permitted in the general permits we read (Berlin, North Rhine-Westphalia, Bremen up to 31 December 2024). Allow at least 2 weeks to register the lottery tax with the Finanzamt.
How to do it with WeGlow.world
All three formats can be extended online. WeGlow.world offers a donation page in three steps: amount, details, summary. Donors choose one-off or monthly, you set the amounts, and the page also works on mobile. You set it up for your association via Sign up.
Supporters can also start their own action page and collect among their own friends. That suits cards and the wish tree: whoever writes a card or grants a wish invites others. Add a thank-you text so donors get a message after giving.
For the digital version there are four Christmas experiences. Until the official launch they are a concept with a demo, and we say so openly. Two fit this article especially well.
Card Wall
On the Card Wall, envelopes hang on a string and every card is a postage stamp. One click opens the card. That turns your Christmas cards into a wall that donors can read, browse and share. It suits personal greetings, also after the concert.
Glow Room
In the Glow Room, a 3D living room with a Christmas tree, every donation becomes a decoration on the tree, with a card attached. That works if, after the local wish tree, you want to carry the idea online. Read more in Online Christmas campaign with a digital experience.
If you would rather plan a market first, the article Christmas market for charity helps. You will find all experiences on the overview page, and for questions get in touch.
Frequently asked questions
Which of the three formats suits a small association?
Usually the Christmas cards, because preparation and costs stay small. With 2 to 3 people and about 3 weeks of lead time the campaign is doable. The wish tree and the concert can follow when your team grows.
Do I need to pay GEMA fees for the Christmas concert?
We cannot answer that reliably, as it depends on the programme and the venue. Ask GEMA directly and the owner of the venue early, before you print posters.
Can I issue a donation receipt for admission or raffle tickets?
A donation is voluntary and given without anything in return. Admission and raffle tickets are therefore delicate. Speak to the Finanzamt or a tax adviser beforehand, before you issue any Zuwendungsbestätigungen.
How do I protect the data of the children behind the wishes?
Use numbers instead of names and obtain consent from the parents or guardians. For the exact obligations, ask the data protection authority of your federal state.
Can I offer a raffle online?
Not without further ado. The general permits we read exclude the sale of tickets over the internet. Offer raffles on site only and obtain the required permit from your federal state.
Sources
Checked on 9 October 2026. This is not legal advice. If in doubt, ask the Finanzamt, the local regulatory office (Ordnungsamt) or a tax adviser.