11 Best Thanksgiving Fundraising Ideas That Make an Impact

Thanksgiving is more than just turkey, football, and pumpkin pie. It’s a time when people pause to reflect on what they have and, more importantly, how they can give back. There’s something about this holiday that brings out the spirit of helping others. 

For nonprofits, this is a golden opportunity. The right Thanksgiving fundraising ideas can make a huge difference in reaching goals and helping those in need. From providing meals for the hungry to raising money for a local shelter, fundraisers for Thanksgiving connect the season’s spirit of gratitude with real action.

In this blog, we’ll explore some simple and effective ways to raise money during Thanksgiving so your nonprofit can make a lasting impact.

Idea 1: Thanksgiving Dinner Fundraiser

A Thanksgiving Dinner Fundraiser is all about creating a sense of community. Host a simple dinner where people come together to share a meal and support a cause. 

Start with an affordable location, like a school cafeteria or local church. Offer traditional Thanksgiving food, but don’t overcomplicate it—stick to a turkey, stuffing, and pie menu.

As for promoting, use social media and local bulletins to spread the word. 

The real key? Focus on partnerships. Local farms, restaurants, or grocery stores might help with supplies, and they’ll benefit from the exposure. This event is one of the more accessible Thanksgiving fundraising ideas and can be a tradition the community looks forward to every year.

Idea 2: Pie Sale Fundraiser

A Pie Sale Fundraiser is a perfect fit for the Thanksgiving season. Everyone loves pies, which are great gifts or additions to holiday dinners. 

To get started, think about who can help bake the pies. Local bakers, church members, or even parents in your community could pitch in. They get the exposure, and you get fresh, unique pies for the sale.

A mix of flavors—pumpkin, apple, pecan—adds variety and draws more buyers.

Use social media to reach people and make flyers for local stores or community centers. Offering pre-orders gives you an idea of how many pies to prepare and makes things run smoothly.

Pair the pie sale with another event, like a craft fair or holiday market, to boost sales. It’s one of those Thanksgiving fundraising ideas that can really bring in support without much fuss. 

Plus, who can resist a fresh-baked pie for their Thanksgiving meal?

Idea 3: Gratitude Campaign

Thanksgiving is all about gratitude, which makes it the perfect time for a Gratitude Campaign. Instead of focusing only on donations, invite your community to share what they're thankful for. 

You can set up a social media campaign where you ask your community to share their gratitude stories. In exchange, they can donate to your cause. You can even feature some of these stories on your website or social media to make the campaign more personal. 

Don’t forget to use a catchy hashtag to keep the momentum going. It helps spread the word and gets more people involved!

Storytelling can play a big role here. When people see real stories tied to your mission, it builds a connection. It’s a great way to tie the spirit of giving into the campaign. 

It’s an easy way for people to support your Thanksgiving campaign while feeling like they’ve shared something important. 

Idea 4: Turkey Trot Fun Run

Why not kick off the Thanksgiving fundraiser with fresh air and some fun? 

Turkey Trot races are often held on or around Thanksgiving and offer a chance for people to get active before sitting down for their holiday meal. The event’s name comes from the turkey, a staple of Thanksgiving feasts. 

The goal is to bring the community together and raise funds before the holiday feasts begin. You can charge a small registration fee, which helps cover costs and brings in donations.

Sponsorships from local businesses can also add to the success, giving them a chance to get involved and support a good cause. Offer prizes for creative costumes or team spirit to get people excited. 

Encourage families, friends, and groups to join in, and consider setting up water stations or small snack stands to keep participants energized. 

Idea 5: Holiday Basket Raffle

This Thanksgiving, offer a chance to win an irresistible holiday basket while supporting a cause. 

You can create themed baskets from festive treats and fall decorations to gift cards and local products. Adding unique items, like handmade crafts or a bottle of wine, can make the basket even more appealing.

To draw in participants, promote the raffle through your usual channels, such as social media, email lists, and local community boards. Offering different ticket prices or bundle deals can also boost sales. 

Partnering with local businesses can help spread the word, and they might even donate items for the baskets. It’s one of those Thanksgiving charity ideas that can easily catch people’s attention during the holiday season.

Make your raffle even easier by hosting it online with automatic winner selection. BetterWorld offers online raffle software that lets you run everything smoothly with no fees attached. That’s right—you get all the features at zero cost. 

Request a demo today and see how it can work for your event!

Idea 6: Thanksgiving Recipe Challenge

Everyone has a favorite Thanksgiving recipe, and turning that into a fun challenge can create excitement while raising money. 

A Thanksgiving Recipe Challenge allows people to show off their culinary skills by submitting their best holiday dishes. It’s a great way to involve food lovers in your cause. You can organize it online by having participants submit their recipes or host a live event where the community gets to sample the creations.

Collect an entry fee from participants to raise funds or sell tickets to a tasting event if held in person. Another option is to create a digital cookbook featuring all the submitted recipes and sell it as part of your Thanksgiving fundraisers. 

You can even ask local chefs or influencers to serve as guest judges, which adds credibility and makes the event more engaging. 

Idea 7: Seasonal Décor Sale

Thanksgiving is the perfect time for people to decorate their homes, and Seasonal décor brings out the holiday spirit. From handcrafted wreaths to autumn-themed table settings, there’s plenty of demand for items that bring warmth and charm to holiday spaces. 

You can gather donations from local crafters or even involve the community in making the items. To make it even better, you can include Christmas decorations and give people a head start on their holiday decorating while supporting your cause.

To get started, organize a pop-up shop or set up a booth at a local event. You can share your BetterWorld campaign to social media so your event participants have an easy and seamless experience. Pricing items affordably and offering exclusive, one-of-a-kind pieces can boost interest and sales.

Proceeds from the sale will go directly to your cause. This is a great idea for any Thanksgiving campaign and an easy way to involve local talent and creativity in your efforts.

Idea 8: Turkey Costume Contest 

Turning Thanksgiving into a fun, costume-filled event can bring plenty of laughs and participation. 

A Turkey Costume Contest gives people the chance to show off their silliest and most creative turkey outfits. You can run this as an in-person event or virtually, where participants share photos or videos of their costumes.

Charge a small fee for entering the contest. Offering prizes like gift cards or local business products will also boost participation. Local sponsors can even donate prizes to add more excitement! 

Allowing people to vote for their favorite costume, either online or at the event, encourages even more engagement, especially when friends and family get involved.

This is one of those Thanksgiving fundraising ideas that makes giving back feel like a fun, shared experience. 

For more inspiration, check out these 10 Holiday Donations Ideas To Spread Joy.

Idea 9: Food Truck Thanksgiving Party

Thanksgiving fundraisers can take on a whole new vibe with a Food Truck Thanksgiving Party. This event brings together local food trucks offering seasonal dishes, giving the community a festive way to celebrate while supporting a cause. 

With a range of delicious options, from classic Thanksgiving meals to creative new takes on holiday favorites, it’s an event that will draw a crowd.

To organize the event, start by reaching out to local food trucks and vendors. Offer them a chance to join your Thanksgiving party in exchange for a donation of a portion of their sales. 

You could also charge a small entry fee for attendees, which helps raise additional funds. Promote the event well in advance, using social media and local flyers to get the word out.

With food trucks drawing in the crowds, you’ll create an event that’s not just fun but also a valuable part of your Thanksgiving fundraisers.

Idea 10: Sustainable Thanksgiving Workshop 

With 77% of people wanting to learn more about sustainable lifestyles, a Sustainable Thanksgiving Workshop is the perfect way to mix education with fundraising. (Source) 

This workshop can teach participants eco-friendly ways to celebrate the holiday, such as reducing food waste, using sustainable ingredients, and creating decorations from recycled materials. It’s a hands-on way to involve your community in something meaningful while supporting your cause.

First, find local experts or enthusiasts who can lead the sessions. For a broader reach, you could host the workshop in a community center or even online. 

Charge a registration fee and consider offering optional kits with sustainable materials for attendees. Local businesses might even sponsor the event by providing eco-friendly products or donating prizes.

This idea is a great addition to any Thanksgiving campaign and brings value beyond just raising money.

Idea 11: Post-Thanksgiving Yoga

Many people look for a way to relax and reset after a big Thanksgiving meal, which makes post-Thanksgiving yoga a perfect idea. 

Hosting a yoga session, whether it’s gentle stretching or more focused mindfulness, gives participants a healthy way to recover from the holiday feast. It’s also a great opportunity to raise funds while promoting wellness. For a playful twist, you can launch something like “Flex After the Feast: Yoga for a Cause” and share your message as "Help restock our food pantry while getting back into your pre-Thanksgiving pants!”. This is one good way of turning a yoga session into a fundraising event.

You can organize this event by partnering with a local yoga instructor or fitness center. Find a space like a community hall or park, or even host it online for broader access. 

Charge a small fee for each participant and offer different options, like a single session or a multi-class package. You could even sell yoga mats or gear as part of the event.

Not only does this event fit well into fundraisers for Thanksgiving, but it also provides a healthy, enjoyable experience for participants.

Collect Thanksgiving Donations with BetterWorld for Free

Planning your Thanksgiving fundraising ideas? BetterWorld makes it easy to collect donations without added stress or fees. Our online donation tools are designed to help you raise more money with less effort.

Top Features You’ll Appreciate:

• Professional Branding: BetterWorld lets you create a donation page that looks polished and reflects your nonprofit’s identity. Add your logo, colors, and other branding elements with ease to make your page stand out.
• Monthly and Recurring Donations: Offer your supporters the choice to donate one time or set up monthly and yearly donations. Monthly donors have higher retention rates and increased lifetime giving.
• Customizable Default Donations: Make giving simple by suggesting preset donation amounts. You can adjust these amounts to fit your campaign. You can even create custom, branded donation pages through BetterWorld on your website to increase donor confidence and engagement!
• Offline Donations: Managing cash and checking donations alongside online contributions can get tricky. BetterWorld keeps it all in one place by allowing you to not only accept online donations, but enter offline donations as well!
• Built-In Updates: Keep your donors engaged by sending them automatic updates on your progress. Let them see the difference their donations are making with just a few clicks.

What’s more? BetterWorld offers unlimited access to all the fundraising tools. It’s perfect for collecting donations, raffles, auctions, peer-to-peer fundraising, and much more!

Always 100% Free

With BetterWorld, you can focus on your cause instead of worrying about fees. No matter the size of your organization or campaign, the platform is always free to use.

Sign up today and give your Thanksgiving fundraiser the boost it deserves—no fees, just pure impact!