Simple Ways to Engage Donors on Christmas Eve
Practical, low-cost ideas to connect donors on Christmas Eve—personal messages, impact stories, matching gifts, virtual events, and year-end giving reminders.
Christmas Eve is one of the most impactful days for nonprofit fundraising. Nearly 10% of annual donations happen in the last three days of the year, driven by the holiday spirit and the December 31 tax-deduction deadline. To make the most of this critical time, nonprofits can connect with donors on a personal level and inspire giving through:
- Personal Holiday Messages: Acknowledge past contributions with heartfelt, tailored notes or calls.
- Impact Stories: Share real-life examples of how donations change lives, especially during the holidays.
- Matching Gift Campaigns: Double the impact of donations with corporate matching opportunities.
- Virtual Events: Host online celebrations like contests or storytelling sessions to build community.
- Digital Holiday Cards: Send personalized notes or videos from beneficiaries to donors.
- Gift Sponsorships: Encourage donors to sponsor gifts for those in need.
- Social Media Tributes: Publicly thank donors with festive posts and stories.
- Year-End Tax Reminders: Highlight tax benefits and the December 31 deadline to encourage last-minute giving.
- Christmas Day Activities: Extend engagement with simple events like a virtual gratitude challenge or fun run.
These strategies help nonprofits deepen donor relationships, inspire generosity, and boost year-end contributions. Start planning early and focus on sincere, meaningful interactions to make a lasting impression.
9 Ways to Engage Donors on Christmas Eve
1. Send a Personal Holiday Message
Make It Personal and Heartfelt
A holiday message resonates more when it feels personal and thoughtful. Mentioning a donor’s past contributions, engagement history, or specific initiatives they’ve supported makes them feel recognized and valued. It’s about showing donors that they’re more than just a name in your database - they’re partners in your mission.
And remember, it’s not about crafting the perfect message; sincerity matters most. Erin Booker puts it perfectly:
"Your donors will get holiday cards from family and friends that don't include a personal message - make your stewardship personal; give donors that extra dose of warm fuzzies this holiday season".
Even a short handwritten note paired with a digital card can leave a lasting impression.
Embrace the Holiday Spirit
The holidays are a time for gratitude and reflection. Use festive language and visuals to thank donors and highlight the difference they’ve made. Tailor your messages to align with the celebrations they observe, whether it’s Christmas, Kwanzaa, or Hanukkah.
For an extra personal touch, have board members call major donors or program staff connect with those involved in specific projects. These personal interactions add warmth and authenticity that no automated message can replicate.
Keep It Simple for Your Team
You don’t need a big budget or advanced technology to make this work. Use your email platform or CRM to segment donors and send messages through their preferred channels - whether that’s email, text, or social media. Encourage staff, board members, or volunteers to write brief, heartfelt notes. Starting early on Christmas Eve ensures your message reaches donors before their family celebrations begin.
Up next, let’s look at how sharing impact stories can deepen donor engagement.
2. Share a Christmas Eve Impact Story
Personalization and Emotional Connection
Christmas Eve offers the perfect moment to share a story that truly shows donors the impact of their support. Instead of relying on broad statistics, focus on a single person or family whose life has been transformed thanks to their contributions. This approach creates a much stronger emotional connection.
Include meaningful details - like the person’s name, their challenges, and how your organization stepped in when it mattered most. As BetterWorld puts it:
"your story should tug at heartstrings and inspire action".
For instance, imagine sharing the story of a single mom who found hope during the holidays or a family who, for the first time, had a warm place to stay on Christmas Eve. These personal, heartfelt stories resonate far more than general program updates ever could.
Relevance to the Holiday Spirit
Tie your impact story directly to the holiday season. Highlight specific, urgent needs that align with the time of year, such as families struggling with food insecurity, children without warm coats, or single parents trying to make ends meet. The holidays naturally inspire generosity, so showing how donations can address these immediate needs taps into that seasonal goodwill.
To make your story even more engaging, use festive language and visuals that reflect the warmth of the holidays. Pair the narrative with a photo or short video - like a family enjoying their first holiday meal together or kids unwrapping gifts they never expected. Simple, heartfelt visuals can elevate your storytelling without adding extra costs.
Ease of Implementation for Nonprofits
Creating an impactful story doesn’t require a big budget or elaborate production. A heartfelt email with a single powerful photo can be incredibly effective. If you want to go a step further, a short thank-you video from the person whose life was changed can make an even greater impression. Most smartphones are capable of capturing quality footage quickly and easily.
For example, a 2019 campaign used short thank-you videos with holiday themes to create a personal touch in donor communications. Use your existing email tools, social media platforms, or website to share these stories where donors are most likely to see them. It’s a simple yet meaningful way to show the real difference their support makes.
3. Launch a Matching Gift Campaign
Relevance to the Holiday Spirit
The holiday season is all about giving, and a matching gift campaign launched on Christmas Eve is a perfect way to double the impact of donations. To capture the festive spirit, use holiday-themed visuals, traditional colors like red and green, and heartwarming stories that resonate with the season. A dedicated landing page with cheerful design elements can make it easy for donors to contribute while showcasing how their gifts will be matched.
Consider partnering with a local business to match donations made on Christmas Eve or even extending the match through the end of the year. This partnership not only boosts fundraising efforts but also fosters a sense of community, which is central to the holiday spirit.
Potential to Drive Donor Engagement or Contributions
Matching gift campaigns are highly effective in encouraging donations because they show donors how their contributions can have an even greater impact. Promote your campaign through your website, social media platforms, and email newsletters. Highlight your corporate sponsor in your communications and publicly thank them for their support - this recognition can strengthen the partnership and inspire others to contribute.
Ease of Implementation for Nonprofits
Launching a matching gift campaign doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Start by reaching out to your existing corporate partners or local businesses to see if they’re willing to match donations during a specific period, such as December 25–31, or up to a certain amount. Use simple digital tools to create a festive landing page that clearly explains how the matching works. This straightforward approach allows you to engage donors in a meaningful and festive way, even with limited resources.
4. Host a Virtual Christmas Eve Event
Relevance to the Holiday Spirit
Hosting a virtual Christmas Eve event is a heartfelt way to spread holiday cheer and connect with your donors. These events create a sense of togetherness and offer countless ways to celebrate. Think about adding festive activities like a gingerbread house contest, an ugly sweater party, or a virtual cookie decorating session. You could also share a video retelling the Christmas story or perform a holiday-themed song that ties your mission to the season’s spirit. These moments of joy and connection make donors feel like they’re part of something meaningful. To make it even more engaging, weave in interactive elements that resonate with your audience.
Personalization and Emotional Connection
A personalized experience can make all the difference in creating a lasting impression. Share impact stories through short videos or testimonials to show how donors are making a difference. Highlight individual donors with spotlights or thank-you videos to add a personal touch. As Kindsight.io puts it:
"Donors want to feel like they're more than a name or number on your list. Use personalization to create one-of-a-kind experiences that they can't get anywhere else."
This approach strengthens the emotional connection and makes each donor feel valued.
Ease of Implementation for Nonprofits
Virtual events are budget-friendly and don’t require advanced technical expertise. Set up a central "Christmas hub" on your website where donors can find all the details, from event schedules to sign-up forms and donation options. Use live streaming platforms to make participation simple and accessible. Enlist volunteers to help moderate live chats and manage interactive activities - this not only lightens the workload but also adds a friendly, personal touch to the event. With a little planning, you can create a seamless and engaging virtual experience.
Potential to Drive Donor Engagement or Contributions
Virtual events naturally lend themselves to fundraising without feeling overly promotional. Incorporate elements like virtual ticket sales or online raffles, and ensure donation options are straightforward and mobile-friendly. Since 30% of all annual donations happen in December, Christmas Eve presents a prime opportunity for year-end contributions. Use tools like countdown timers and engaging messages to inspire last-minute, tax-deductible gifts. These strategies can turn a festive gathering into a meaningful moment for giving.
5. Send Digital Holiday Cards from Sponsored Children
Personalization and Emotional Connection
Sending digital holiday cards from sponsored children is a heartfelt way to connect donors with the lives they’re helping to transform. Address each donor by name, and include specific details about how their contributions have made a difference. To make it even more special, add a personal touch like a signature or a scanned note from the sponsored child. A handwritten message or drawing can make a huge impact. As Kindsight puts it:
"Hearing how a donation has impacted someone first hand is extremely powerful".
This thoughtful gesture transforms a simple thank-you into an unforgettable moment, showcasing the tangible effects of generosity. It’s a meaningful way to express gratitude and strengthen the bond between donors and your mission.
Relevance to the Holiday Spirit
The holiday season is a time when emotions run high, and donors are especially receptive to messages of warmth and joy. A digital card featuring a smiling child, heartfelt holiday wishes, or even a short video message taps into this festive spirit. It’s a gentle reminder that their support isn’t just appreciated - it’s bringing real happiness to others.
Ease of Implementation for Nonprofits
Creating and distributing these digital cards is simpler than it might seem. Gather short video messages, handwritten notes, or drawings from the children you support, and personalize each card with the donor’s name and the child’s message. Use your existing email platform or donor management system to send them out. To make the connection even more impactful, focus on one child per card. As CommunityForce explains:
"Focusing on a single subject can create a deep connection between the reader and your cause".
This approach not only keeps the process manageable but also ensures that each card delivers a powerful emotional message. It’s a straightforward way to make donors feel appreciated while deepening their connection to your cause.
6. Remind Donors About Gift Sponsorships
Tapping Into the Holiday Spirit
Christmas Eve is the perfect moment to remind donors about gift sponsorships - after all, 30% of annual church gifts are made in December. This is a time when generosity and goodwill are already in the air. Highlight how sponsoring a gift can bring hope and joy to someone in need during the holidays. To make this message resonate, use festive visuals like twinkling lights, snowflakes, and warm holiday colors. A digital "Giving Tree" displaying various sponsorship options can also be a creative way to engage donors and reinforce the holiday spirit of giving.
Making It Personal
A personal touch can go a long way. Reference a donor’s previous contributions and share a heartfelt story about the impact of a past sponsorship. Include photos or videos that show the difference their support has made - putting a face to the cause makes it feel real. Address donors by name in your message to create a stronger emotional connection.
Simple Execution for Nonprofits
Nonprofits can easily implement this campaign using their existing email, social media, or SMS platforms. Send out short, direct reminders with a clear call to action, making it easy for donors to participate. Schedule these messages ahead of time to ensure they go out on Christmas Eve. Additionally, consider publicly celebrating donor contributions on social media to amplify their impact and inspire others to join in.
Christmas Appeals - Optimise Your Donor Journeys
7. Post a Christmas Eve Donor Tribute on Social Media
Building on earlier personalized outreach efforts, a heartfelt social media tribute on Christmas Eve can shine a spotlight on your donors and amplify the impact of their generosity.
Personalization and Emotional Connection
A public thank-you on social media isn’t just a gesture - it’s a way to create an emotional bond with your donors. By tagging them and sharing a short story about the difference their support has made, you can turn a simple acknowledgment into something truly meaningful. For instance, you could highlight how a donor’s contribution helped provide warm winter coats for children or ensured a family had a festive holiday meal. These stories bring their impact to life.
"Gratitude should go beyond donation thank you notes, too. Look for other opportunities to say thank you to donors - like when they share your campaign on social media, introduce a potential sponsor, or help out a community member. Be sure to tailor your gratitude to every donor's preferences, if you can. If you know they'd love a big public thank you, then give them a shout out on your social media." - Kindsight
Relevance to the Holiday Spirit
Christmas Eve is the perfect time to weave the holiday spirit into your messages. Use festive visuals - think twinkling lights, snowflakes, and classic holiday colors - to enhance your posts. A short thank-you video featuring beneficiaries expressing their gratitude can also pack an emotional punch. Whether it’s a cozy backdrop with holiday decor or cheerful smiles from those impacted by donations, these elements create a warm, shareable moment that resonates with the season.
Simple Yet Effective for Nonprofits
The beauty of social media tributes is that they’re easy to plan and execute. With design tools, you can quickly create branded holiday graphics, and scheduling tools allow you to prepare posts ahead of time. To streamline the process, your team can write concise, heartfelt messages and divide the workload to ensure every donor feels appreciated.
Inspiring Further Engagement
Public recognition does more than thank donors - it inspires others to act. When people see their peers being celebrated for their generosity, it creates a ripple effect. This social proof can encourage others to contribute, especially during the giving season. You can take it a step further by inviting recognized donors to share why they gave and tag friends who might want to join the cause. This “impact chain” can expand your reach and bring in new supporters, making it a powerful addition to your holiday engagement strategy. Together with personal messages and impactful stories, these tributes help create a well-rounded plan for Christmas Eve.
8. Send a Year-End Giving Reminder with Tax Information
Christmas Eve offers a perfect moment for year-end giving - a time when donors can embrace the holiday spirit while benefiting from tax deductions. With 17–22% of an organization's revenue raised in December, sending a timely reminder about these opportunities can have a big impact on your fundraising efforts. This message not only helps donors make the most of their charitable contributions but also ties into the season's generosity and goodwill.
Personalization and Emotional Connection
Make your reminder feel personal and meaningful. Go beyond just addressing donors by name - acknowledge their unique history of giving. Segment donors based on their past contributions to craft messages that resonate with their individual impact. For example, you could mention specific programs or achievements they’ve supported. By focusing on the difference their generosity has made, you create a deeper connection and avoid sounding like just another generic appeal.
Relevance to the Holiday Spirit
While tax benefits are a practical incentive, don’t forget to infuse your message with the warmth of the season. Use festive language and visuals to reflect the joy and gratitude that come with holiday giving. Acknowledge the importance of their support throughout the year and express heartfelt thanks. Balance the urgency of the December 31st deadline with the uplifting spirit of Christmas Eve, making the message both timely and emotionally engaging.
Simple Execution for Nonprofits
This strategy doesn’t require complex planning. Create a short, focused email that explains the tax benefits of donating, emphasizes the December 31st 11:59 PM deadline, and includes a clear link to donate. To make things easier, draft and schedule these emails ahead of time to go out on Christmas Eve morning. This ensures your message reaches donors before they get caught up in holiday festivities.
Driving Last-Minute Contributions
A well-timed reminder can encourage donors to take action before the year ends. By emphasizing the tax-deductible benefits and the fast-approaching deadline, you create a sense of urgency that motivates last-minute giving. Many donors are eager to reduce their tax burden while supporting causes they care about. Simplify the donation process with an easy-to-use link and clear instructions, removing any obstacles to giving. This reminder serves as a final nudge in your Christmas Eve outreach, reinforcing earlier personalized messages and social media efforts to drive engagement and contributions.
9. Invite Donors to a Christmas Day Activity
Celebrate the Holiday Spirit
Christmas Day is all about coming together, celebrating gratitude, and embracing the joy of giving. By inviting donors to take part in a Christmas Day activity, you can tap into this festive energy while creating a sense of community. It’s a great way to keep your holiday outreach alive and meaningful beyond Christmas Eve.
Simple Ideas Nonprofits Can Pull Off
Organizing a Christmas Day activity doesn’t have to be complicated. Here are some ideas that are both fun and easy to execute:
- Host a Fun Run: A "Reindeer Trot" or "Santa Sprint" can energize your supporters and bring people together for a good cause.
- Festive Contests: Encourage donors to join a house decorating contest by submitting photos through a donation link. Share the winners and award small prizes on social media.
- Gratitude Challenges: Launch a social media campaign where supporters post what they’re thankful for, tag friends, and include a link to your donation page.
- Holiday eCards: Offer digital holiday cards that donors can personalize and send to loved ones while contributing to your cause.
Strengthening Donor Connections
These activities aren’t just fun - they give donors the chance to create shareable moments and connect with your mission. Whether through friendly competitions or heartfelt gestures, you’ll deepen relationships with supporters and potentially inspire more contributions.
Conclusion
Christmas Eve is a perfect time to deepen your connection with supporters. By using the strategies outlined here - like sending personalized holiday messages, sharing impactful stories, organizing matching gift campaigns, or hosting festive virtual events - you can engage donors during this season of generosity. These actions not only help express genuine gratitude but also foster a strong sense of community around your cause.
What truly counts is sincerity. Donors want to feel appreciated as individuals, not just as names on a list. By tailoring your outreach, sharing authentic stories of impact, and showing heartfelt thanks, you can cultivate relationships that go far beyond a single contribution.
Think of Christmas Eve as a starting point for ongoing engagement. Use this opportunity to kick off a year of meaningful, impact-driven communication. To make the most of it, plan your approach early - ideally by September - using past data and team collaboration to create a personalized donor experience.
FAQs
What are some simple ways nonprofits can personalize holiday messages to connect with donors on Christmas Eve?
Nonprofits can create holiday messages that resonate deeply by emphasizing genuine appreciation and a personal touch. Start by addressing donors by name and acknowledging their past contributions. This simple gesture shows that their support is noticed and valued. Sharing heartfelt stories or real-life examples of how their donations have positively impacted others adds an emotional layer, especially during the holiday season.
To make these messages even more engaging, include festive visuals - think photos or short videos showcasing your organization's work and the happiness it brings to the community. Another thoughtful approach is to tailor messages based on donors’ giving history or the programs they’ve supported. Mentioning specific initiatives they’ve contributed to can make your gratitude feel even more meaningful. Small, personalized details like these can help strengthen the bond between your organization and its supporters during this special time of year.
What are some easy virtual event ideas to connect with donors on Christmas Eve?
Hosting virtual events on Christmas Eve is a fantastic way to connect with donors while celebrating the holiday spirit. For instance, you could arrange an exclusive online tour showcasing your organization’s work, giving donors a firsthand look at the difference their contributions are making.
Another idea is to host a virtual storytelling session, sharing heartfelt accounts from individuals who’ve directly benefited from your programs. This can create an emotional connection and remind donors of the real-world impact of their support.
You might also consider a live Q&A with your leadership team, offering donors the chance to ask questions and feel more involved. Or, add a festive twist with a holiday-themed fundraising challenge - perhaps a friendly race to hit a fundraising goal before the clock strikes midnight. These events not only bring people together but also show your appreciation for their generosity during this season of giving.
What are matching gift campaigns, and how can they boost holiday donations?
Matching gift campaigns during the holiday season offer a powerful way for donors to make their contributions go further. When someone donates, their gift is matched by an employer, sponsor, or partner organization - effectively doubling the donation's value.
These campaigns often align with time-sensitive milestones, such as Christmas Eve or the year's end. Emphasizing the urgency and the multiplied effect of each donation encourages people to give generously, knowing their support will have twice the reach and impact.