Christmas card fundraising for your school
Get the whole school involved with a Christmas card
project that combines art and education with
fundraising.
While communication is rapidly becoming electronic, nothing
beats having a line of cards along the mantelpiece. Warm some
hearts and raise funds this winter with a personalised Christmas
card project.
How does it work?
A Christmas card project is a simple and enjoyable fundraiser
where pupils draw Christmas card designs which are sent off,
printed and sold to parents at a profit. The PTA can decide how
much to charge for the card packs, which will determine the profit,
but it usually works out to around £1 profit per pack.
Children of all ages and abilities can go wild with collage and
glue, but this isn't just about potato prints and painty fingers.
It's also an opportunity to link the activity to everything from
art and writing to history and religious studies. Above all, the
little ones get a boost of self-esteem when they see their designs
professionally printed and admired by friends and family.
Choosing a supplier
There are multiple tried and trusted Christmas card suppliers in
our directory, but how do you know which one to choose? They're all
slightly different, so it depends on what you think best suits your
school. Ask the following questions:
- Is there a minimum order number?
- What quality is the paper and what size are the cards on
offer?
- What other printed products are available, such as mugs and
gift wrap?
- How much does the product cost, both to the PTA and the
parent?
- What is the final order deadline?
- Is tracking available on your order?
- Can parents pay online?
Christmas card suppliers have a lot of easily-accessible guides
and FAQs on their websites, so have a look around, ask local PTAs
who they have used to the company that best suits your needs.
Step-by-step
Cards need to be created, whisked away to be printed and then
delivered, all in time for parents to write and post them, which
means a turnaround of at least six weeks. Start planning in
September and you can work towards a comfortable November deadline.
Bear in mind parents may want to post cards internationally - the
first deadline for international airmail is Africa and the Middle
East at the start of December (cards for Europe and the USA should
be posted by mid-December). Get it done and dusted before fair
planning takes over.
Beginning of September
- Book in with your chosen supplier.
- Suppliers deliver paperwork to schools - this is usually a
template where the child will draw their artwork, along with a
payment form for parents to fill in.
Start of October
- Children start completing their artwork, either in class or at
home.
- Artwork is labelled and sent home alongside order forms via
teachers.
End of October
- Parents hand in their order forms and payment.
- Start submitting artwork to your supplier.
Mid-November
- Suppliers have a cut off for submitting artwork - ask your
chosen company for an exact date and make sure parents or the
school are aware too.
End of November
- Cards are returned to school and distributed to parents to
allow for postage time.
Top tips
- Some art materials don't reprint well. Metallic pens and
holographic paper won't have the same effect when artwork is
scanned. Make sure designs are bold and clear.
- If children have their hearts set on using materials like
glitter or sequins, why not add them to your printed cards? It will
make them even more special, and the children will enjoy having
another chance to get creative.
- Pupils' siblings and children of staff can take part, too.
Submit their designs along with those from the school.
- There's more to Christmas than cards. All suppliers in our
directory produce other products, from mugs and gift wrap to
calendars and shopping bags, so why not consider exploring the
Christmas gift market?
- 'Merry Christmas' isn't the only greeting available. Your
pupils could design cards for Diwali or Hanukkah, or save the idea
for Eid. If your favourite supplier doesn't offer specific
greetings for these occasions, leave the cards blank for the
children to write their own message.
Share this page