School Fundraising Holiday Products

Festive Fundraising Programs that Set Your School up for Success

The holiday season from November through New Year's is the most profitable window for school fundraisers. Cooler weather and holiday gatherings encourage a generous spirit, making high-quality fall products an easy sell.

However, you've probably already noticed your local shops and markets filling their shelves with holiday goodies before you even picked up the last pumpkin from Halloween. The competition increases dramatically when it comes to selling products around the holidays. Still, school fundraisers hold a distinct "home field advantage." We deliver valuable, high-quality products directly to neighbors, with the added benefit that every purchase supports the local community.

When selecting a campaign, consider seasonality: match your product to your community's timing, location, and holiday context. See how to choose the right fundraising product for your school.

Holiday Shopping Trends

Before we introduce you to top-selling items that are an excellent fit for the holiday season, let's look at some national shopping trends.

• In 2016, sales were forecast to rise 3.6%, slightly up from 2015.
• Holiday sales would make up 20% of total annual retail sales.
• The average consumer would spend $800 on holiday decorations and gifts.
• Online sales could increase by as much as 10% that year.

Your school fundraiser can always benefit by considering how market trends like these could play out in your community. With this 2016 data in mind, we can see holiday sales grew and that consumers were willing to spend a bit more in November and December. We know people budget for decorations and gifts, and more and more people shop online because it's convenient.

2026 Update

The NRF's holiday season runs November 1 through December 31 and excludes auto dealers, gas stations, and restaurants. AAA's 2026 forecast has not yet been released.

Budget-conscious holiday shoppers favor affordable, convenient options. Starting your sale before November captures early spending before budgets are committed.

Big Fundraising Ideas helps you make your fall fundraising program a huge success. With experience since 1999, we're here to help you choose the best product and raise as much money as possible.

Fundraising ideas abound during the holidays, but we've selected a few products that might make this the best year yet for your school and community.

Have questions? Schedule a FREE meeting with a fundraising specialist, or schedule a free video call.

Cookie Dough School Fundraiser

Cookie dough school fundraisers are something of an American tradition. Each year, millions of students sell tubs of cookie dough to help their school reach its fundraising goals. But the holidays are an especially appropriate time to sell cookie dough.

In 2014, AAA said nearly 100 million people would travel around the holidays. Undoubtedly, many of these people are traveling for work or leisure, but many more are visiting family, and that means fuller houses and more cooking. The numbers have grown since then: AAA forecasts a record 122.4 million year-end travelers in 2025.

Big Fundraising Ideas offers a sweet solution to dessert during the holiday season with several cookie dough products. Our cookie dough products are perfect for the holidays because they appeal to virtually any sweet tooth. Cookie dough products also make family chefs happy because they're easy to make and delicious to eat. See the Otis Spunkmeyer cookie dough fundraiser.

Depending on which cookie dough line you choose, your friends and neighbors will have many flavors to choose from, and our cookie dough lineup includes 20 flavors and brands. That can save a tremendous amount of time during the hectic holiday season when you're looking for a snack with that homemade feel that will satisfy a picky cousin or fussy aunt. An online cookie dough store lists flavors such as chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin, snickerdoodle, peanut butter, sugar, and white chocolate macadamia.

Offering classic favorites alongside seasonal options gives buyers variety for holiday cookie swaps. To address storage concerns, inform buyers that the dough arrives frozen and should be stored in the freezer until baked.

With cookie dough and mix-based options, we help you avoid the worry. The dough arrives frozen, so plan where to store it, and remind buyers to bake the cookies before eating them, since the FDA advises against eating raw dough.

As you fundraise for your school, remind your neighbors about these benefits as the holidays approach, emphasizing the convenience, quality, and variety you're putting at your fingertips with your cookie dough school fundraiser. Chances are, they'll wish they had ordered more!

For the numbers, see how much a school can make from an Otis Spunkmeyer fundraiser.

Gourmet Pie School Fundraiser

A gourmet pie school fundraiser is another strong choice for schools seeking to meet their fundraising goals over the holidays. After all, a delicious pie can be challenging and time-consuming, not to mention the costly purchase of ingredients and the laborious clean-up afterward.

Our gourmet pie selection from the "Ovens of Ashley" at Ashley Farms includes classic varieties of your favorite pies. Key lime and lemon meringue offer light, refreshing options. For classic sweetness, apple and peach pies remain crowd favorites. Of course, you can always go for total decadence with the chocolatey French silk cream. (Confirm the current varieties and vendor with the team.)

We take pride in offering these sweet treats, which are certified kosher, trans-fat-free, and meet high-quality standards (confirm on the current product page). Equally important, these pies are simply delicious.

Many pies arrive pre-baked and only need to be thawed to serve. Apple, peach, and caramel apple pies require just a quick warm-up in the oven. They deliver a hot, flaky dessert without the hassle of baking from scratch. See the pie preparation guidelines.

If your school selects a gourmet pie fundraiser this year, encourage your friends and neighbors to think about the parties, work functions, and family gatherings where an easy-to-prep and excellent dessert option can save them time, money, and stress. For more, see the Thanksgiving pie fundraiser.

We might also recommend letting them know the apple and peach pies make a delicious, indulgent morning treat with a cup of coffee once winter arrives!

Image: Mom and daughter browsing catalog. Caption: School fundraising products make holidays convenient.

Charleston Wrap School Fundraiser

At first glance, a wrapping paper school fundraiser may seem like a hard sell. But when you consider the market trends mentioned above, all those purchases will demand lots and lots of wrapping paper.

We offer Charleston Wrap as part of our Fall Fundraising Products. When this post was written, the Charleston Wrap fall fundraiser offered over 80 stunning holiday designs to add a special touch to your gift-giving tradition. (Contact us to confirm the current number of designs.) For those less inclined to wrap, we also offer an assortment of gift bags and adornments.

Charleston Wrap has a reputation for quality, so it's one of our favorite products this time of year. The paper is described as trademarked UltraHeavy construction, which prevents rips, tears, and that awful splintering of colors at the edges.

Even better, the designs offered in this guide are some of the most festive you can find. The brochure features exclusive designs unavailable in retail stores, ranging from whimsical tropical patterns to rustic winter themes. Available in matte, metallic, and embossed finishes, these wraps elevate any presentation.

Appeal to your community by letting the designs and outstanding prices speak for themselves. Help them visualize a beautiful home with gifts that celebrate their holiday traditions, and emphasize the convenience of ordering all their gift-wrapping needs in one place while giving back to their community.

The guide also offers boxes, tags, ribbons, and stickers for convenience! For more, see the best gift wrap fundraisers.

Kitchen and Home School Fundraiser

Around the holidays, one great fundraising strategy is to pair up needs by offering a selection of "giftable" products alongside your wrapping paper. Having two brochures can make your school fundraiser the one-stop shop for friends and neighbors.

The Kitchen and Home brochure offers home accessories, kitchenware, and more, and is one of our top suggestions for pairing with a wrapping paper brochure.

During the holidays, everyone wants a quality gift with a personal touch, and this fall shopper option lets you offer that to your community.

For starters, the kitchenware in this brochure might be Mom's present this year. With handy tools like spiralizers, perfect brownie pans, water infusers, and ultra-efficient choppers and slicers, these products are as helpful as they are affordable. (Item selections change by season, so confirm the current items.)

Beyond cooking, the Kitchen and Home shopper offers a large selection of personalized items, from phone cases to aprons to throw pillows. With artistic and stylized monograms, family and friends will feel extra special when their gift arrives this year.

Finally, this brochure offers some of our favorite treats and ways to unwind. With candles, candy, and an incredible selection of magazines, there are countless ways to unwind and treat yourself this holiday season.

When presenting this with the gift wrap guide, stress that your school fundraising options take the holiday hassle out of the equation by delivering high-quality goods right to their doorstep, along with the wrapping essentials they need for the holiday season. As one of our most popular brochures, it has something for everyone. See also the Winter Wonderland and 'Tis the Season brochure programs.

Stocking Stuffer School Fundraiser

Another option for schools using a "high-volume, low-cost" strategy is to pair two or more products and bill them as "stocking stuffer fundraisers." This original and seasonal idea will set your school apart during the holiday season and help you meet those all-important fundraising goals.

With goods like smencils, lollipops, chocolate bars from a candy bar fundraiser, and discount cards, you'll meet a different need that many people scramble to fill during the last few hours of the holiday rush. Regarding fundraising products like these, you can close the deal by emphasizing the fun and affordability of these simple options that will give parents one less thing to worry about during the gift-giving season.

These are direct-sale products, so they ship quickly. See direct sale fundraisers, the school catalog fundraiser versus candy bars comparison, and the one-week school fundraiser plan.

Plan Your 2026 Holiday Calendar

This example assumes the last school day before break is Friday, December 18, 2026, and that you want product in hand by Friday, December 11. Adjust the dates for your own calendar.

An example only. Lead times come from Big Fundraising Ideas' product pages. Confirm delivery windows for gift wrap, pies, and other brochures.

See the Christmas fundraising ideas and winter fundraising ideas for event ideas and no-upfront-cost fundraisers.

Here to Help

We're all about school fundraising programs here at Big Fundraising Ideas, and from start to finish, we're here to support your school in meeting its goals. With firsthand knowledge and experience across dozens of products and brochures that add up to hundreds of high-quality gifts, we can help you choose the right fit for your school.

Advertising guru David Ogilvy once said, "Good products can be sold by honest advertising." We agree. Sourcing and partnering with great companies to offer you and your community a fundraising solution founded on great products is one thing that sets us apart and helps you meet your goals.

The holidays can be stressful for schools, parents, and students, too, so if fundraising is on the horizon, we'd be glad to help ease the stress and add even more joy to this season of giving and giving back. See our brochure fundraisers and online fundraisers.

Frequently Asked Questions About School Fundraising Holiday Products

What are the best school fundraising products for the holidays?

Products that fit gift-giving and holiday gatherings do well, such as cookie dough, gift wrap, kitchen and home brochures, and low-cost stocking stuffers like Smencils, lollipops, and candy bars. Choose based on your timeline, your community, and how much work your group can handle.

When should a school start a holiday fundraiser?

Work backward from your last school day before break. The Otis Spunkmeyer cookie dough fundraiser has a two-week default sale and delivery about three to four weeks after the order forms, so it needs five to six weeks. Direct-sale products such as candy bars ship within days and need about a week to sell. The National Retail Federation reports that 43% of holiday shoppers plan to start before November.

How does a cookie dough fundraiser work during the holidays?

Students take orders from a brochure or an online store, and the frozen cookie dough is delivered about three to four weeks after order forms are submitted. The Otis Spunkmeyer fundraiser lists 40% profit, no order requirements, and no upfront cost. Bake the cookie dough before eating, since the FDA advises against eating raw dough.

Are gourmet pies available as a school fundraiser?

Big Fundraising Ideas has offered gourmet pie fundraisers for fall. Pies arrive frozen, and some only need to be thawed, while others need a short stop in the oven. Confirm the current varieties and availability with the team, and see the pie preparation guidelines for handling.

Why sell gift wrap as a school fundraiser?

Holiday spending creates demand for wrapping supplies, and a brochure offers designs and prices that supporters may not find in stores. Pairing wrap with a home and gift brochure lets your school act as a one-stop shop for supporters.

What is a stocking stuffer fundraiser?

It pairs low-cost products, such as Smencils, lollipops, candy bars, and discount cards, as a simple solution for last-minute gift needs. These direct-sale items sell quickly, and sellers collect money on the spot.

How much are shoppers expected to spend this holiday season?

The National Retail Federation forecasts that November and December retail sales will grow 4.2% in 2026 to $1.013 trillion, up from 3.1% to $972 billion last year. A Deloitte survey reported that the forecast found average household holiday spending may rise 4% to $1,654. The NRF also notes that affordability shapes holiday shopping.

Can a school sell more than one holiday product?

Yes. Many schools pair a gift wrap brochure with a kitchen and home brochure or add a low-cost stocking-stuffer product. Plan carefully so the products do not compete for the same supporters, and avoid running too many sales at once.

How can a school fundraiser compete with stores?

Lean on what stores cannot offer: personal contact, convenient ordering, quality products, and the knowledge that a holiday purchase supports the community. Remind supporters that their purchase helps local students.

How much profit can holiday products earn?

It depends on the product. The Otis Spunkmeyer cookie dough fundraiser lists 40% profit, and the candy bar fundraiser lists up to 55%. Confirm the profit for the specific brochure or product you choose before you commit.

Need more info? Reach out today for a FREE consultation with an expert. Contact Big Fundraising Ideas or call (866) 980-9930, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. CST.

Author Bio

Clay Boggess has been designing fundraising programs for schools and various nonprofit organizations throughout the US since 1999. He’s helped administrators, teachers, and outside support entities such as PTAs and PTOs raise millions of dollars. Clay is an owner and partner at Big Fundraising Ideas.