Parties and the conviviality they bring will chase away the cold any day. Here’s an outline of how to put this event together, but as with all things, it’s best to interpret this idea through your own organisation’s lens.

• Decorate: Spruce things up with greenery and a bunch of non-burning flickering candles. Add some wintery music to build ambiance, but if you don’t want to lean into Christmas, there’s all kinds of seasonally-themed playlists on your music streaming service of choice.

• Set out some snacks: Go for things that we reach for when it’s frosty outside. Things like hot cocoa, chocolate chip cookies, and cheese and crackers. If you really want to involve supporters, turn your event into a pseudo pot-luck. Your organisation could provide the savoury, guests can bring something sweet. For bonus points, everyone who brings something could exchange it for a raffle ticket for a drawing held at the event.

• Invite guests: Even though the event is free, you’ll want an idea of how many people are coming. Send out printed winter party invitations with a QR code for registration or just a simple yes or no RSVP. Registration is especially handy if you’re trying to build your list!
• Open a virtual window into your world: Extend your open house to everyone online through short get-to-know-me videos. Some ideas include: Asking staff and volunteers about the favourite part of their work, personal fun facts, or why they got involved, and day-in-the-life compilations.
• Make it special: Try to personalise the experience with name tags or an envelopefor each guest that contains a personalised thank you for their contribution.
• Spotlight staff: Encourage team members to share stories or anecdotes from specific projects, shedding light on day-to-day operations and the challenges they face.
• Interactive: Host mini-workshops or demos related to your work. For instance, if you’re an environmental NGO, offer a demonstration on  sustainable holiday decorations or how to prepare gardens for planting in spring.
• Memory lane: Create a photo montage illustrating your organisation’s 2025 milestones, or just snapshots taken throughout the year.
• Inspire involvement: If you need volunteers (and what nonprofit doesn’t?), showcase efforts that need a hand. Don’t forget to include tasks for which people can volunteer their skills, like graphic design, site optimisation, and social media management.
• Feedback corner: Set up a space where visitors can leave feedback, suggestions, or personal stories about why they support your cause.

• Token of appreciation: Gift guests a recipe notecard with a story of why it’s a favourite, inspirational quotes from various people on staff, or anything else that feels like a small gesture but feels much bigger.

The lack of sunshine is taxing to our emotional and mental health. Provide an antidote through yoga and meditation classes, sound bath experiences, or talks about how people can practice being present. If holistic doesn’t feel right, you could offer educational workshops focusing on nutritious winter recipes, seasonal cocktails and mocktails, or crafts like knitting, crochet, and macrame.

• Choose the place: Seek spaces within community centers, fitness studios, libraries, or local restaurants and coffeeshops. Outdoor areas with heaters could work, too. If you’re planning an invigorating polar plunge, think about where people will go after they’ve taken a dip.
• Collaborate with professionals: The skill and knowledge local yoga and meditation instructors, nutritionists, and mental health experts lend authenticity and value to attendees.
• Attendance: Structure your event registration with options for individual classes or a full workshop series. If you don’t want to exclude anyone (and who does?) offer give-what-you-can tickets.
• Make it a series: Variety caters to diverse interests and keeps your nonprofit top of mind. Consider different wellness themes like ‘Meditative Mornings,’ ‘Winter Warm-up Yoga,’ or ‘Soulful Soups & Stews Cooking Class.’
• Online: Stream workshops for those who can’t attend in person. This will widen your reach and establish a path for digital donations.
• Advocacy: During each session, discuss the importance of mental and physical health, especially during winter. Provide resources, guides, or a platform through which  participants can share their stories and experiences.

Give followers a chance to support your cause and do a little shopping. Here’s how to make your virtual auction a success:

• Platform selection: Choose an  online auction platform with user-friendly bidding, live streaming, and secure payment options. When you build out your fundraising auction page, add attractive descriptions and photos for each item and highlight its features and benefits.
• Item prices: Be sure that your minimum bid for each item covers your costs and helps you reach your fundraising goal.
• Curated prizes: Gather items that resonate with weather outside – things like winter sports equipment, ice-skating experiences, plush robes, and gourmet winter food baskets.
• Promotion: Build anticipation by sharing sneak peeks of the auction items on your social media. Use engaging stories or polls to involve your audience in the run-up to your auction. Once it’s launched, continue to promote it on your website, across social media platforms, and  in email newsletters. Throughout the aution, use popular items to inspire FOMO or highlight prizes that aren’t getting as much love.
• Keep it interactive: Engage attendees with winter or cause-related trivia and quizzes. You can also incentivize the highest bidders or the most active participants with rewards or shout-outs.
• Post-auction follow-up: After the event, personally thank all participants, inform winners about the next steps, and share the impact of their contributions.

Inspire supporters to raise funds on behalf of your organisation with peer-to-peer fundraising! It’s a super way to involve your community and drive awareness, and you don’t even need to organize an in-person walk-a-thon. You can set up an online peer-to-peer challenge where supporters track their progress through your fundraising platform.

The following are a few peer-to-peer fundraiser ideas ideal for the season:

• Solstice fitness challenge: Motivation to be active can be a bit lacking when the outdoors are less inviting. Help people to get moving through your charity’s important cause! Participants can pledge to do a certain number of fitness routines or exercises daily throughout December or January. Simultaneously, they can ask friends and family to sponsor them for each day they complete or for each milestone achieved.
• Craft creation contest: Making things feels especially right in wintertime. Invite supporters to create winter-themed crafts and get pledges for the pieces they make. They can share their crafts on social media, and the supporter with the craft that garners the highest pledges or most votes can win a prize.
• Mindfulness and meditation marathon: Reflection is central to the solstice, and meditation is very calming! Ask participants to commit to meditating a certain number of minutes or hours a day. They can be sponsored based on the time they commit and share their experiences online to promote mental wellbeing during the winter months.