Wrapping Paper Fundraisers: Are They Worth the Effort?

Do you remember participating in gift wrapping fundraisers as a kid? Schools, churches, and nonprofit teams have made wrapping paper a top fundraising idea—and for good reason. 

But how do you know it’s the best fundraising option for your organization?

Before adding a wrapping paper fundraiser to your strategy, you should learn what goes into hosting one, from expenses to logistics. Throughout this guide, discover the basics of gift wrap fundraising, its pros and cons, and how to determine if it's right for you.

Which wrapping paper fundraiser should you try?

First things first: there are two main types of wrapping paper fundraisers you may want to try. 

The first involves partnering with a wrapping paper fundraising company and selling its products. These programs are like those where children sell candy or cookies—only instead, the product is gift wrap.

The second option is a gift wrapping event. This choice turns your fundraiser into an experience, requiring volunteers, supplies, and a venue. However, offering a service could make it more appealing to your supporters.

While you can do either, you should choose whichever best fits your organization’s needs.

How to start a gift wrap fundraiser

If you’re interested in learning more about gift wrap fundraisers and how to organize your own, start with these steps:

• Set goals – What are you trying to achieve with your wrapping paper fundraiser? Decide how much money you want to raise and how much you’re willing to invest. 
  
  
• Pick a date, time, and venue – If you make the fundraiser an event, determine where and when you want to hold it. If you partner with a wrapping paper fundraising company, decide on the dates for your sale. Hosting it around the holidays is a smart strategy.
  
  
• Gather supplies – For a wrapping event, choose a supplier or buy materials from a department store. You’ll also need scissors, tape, bows, ribbons, and tags. Sales-based fundraisers simply need the wrapping paper options you’ll sell, and a way for buyers to place orders.
  
  
• Assemble a team – For a sales-based fundraiser, hand out order forms, catalogs, and samples to sell gift wrap to family and friends. For an event, find enough volunteers to help wrap gifts large and small.
  
  
• Promote your fundraiser – Wrapping paper fundraisers need marketing to get the word out, which could involve hanging posters, posting on social media, or sending flyers and materials home with students or group members. Make sure to include information about the cause your funds will support.

After that, you’re ready to either sell the gift wrap or hold the wrapping event. 

Pros and cons of wrapping paper fundraisers

Reviewing the potential pros and cons of a gift wrap fundraiser is important to help you decide whether it’s right for your organization.

Some of the benefits of these fundraisers include:

• Raising money – Whether you need new sports equipment, church upgrades, or PTO support, present-wrapping fundraisers are popular (especially around the holidays) and can help you earn money toward your goals.
  
  
• Building community – Gift wrapping events allow you to serve people in the community. Building engagement in this way can help you form new relationships and strengthen support for your group.

Despite these benefits, you may also run into some challenges, such as:

• Investment costs – Buying the supplies for a gift wrap fundraiser requires a monetary investment, which may not align with your budget.
  
  
• Shipping delays – If you order supplies online, delivery delays could occur. This can pose a challenge if delays aren’t sorted by your intended start date, especially if you plan to fundraise during the holiday season.
  
  
• Seasonality – Your audience or supporters may only want gift wrap around the holidays, limiting the window of time you have to capture their attention and donations. Additionally, other groups may hold gift wrap fundraisers at the same time as you, creating competition.

Is a wrapping paper fundraiser the right fit for your group? 

Should you hold a gift wrap fundraiser for your organization? Here are some points to keep in mind when making your decision:

• Audience – Do your supporters need or want gift paper or wrapping services? For an event, are they willing to bring their presents to a venue, like a school or church, or would they prefer not to go out of their way?
  
  
• Volunteer needs – Volunteers must be willing to donate time, either to wrap presents professionally or to sell gift wrap products.
  
  
• Sponsors – You may need to search for sponsors to help offset expenses for an event. For example, a grocery store may offer supplies. Just keep in mind you’ll have to invest time and effort to secure these sponsors.

By considering these factors, you and your organization can determine whether a wrapping paper fundraiser is right for you.

RaiseRight is your organization's best gift

Whether you want to make a gift wrapping fundraiser an annual tradition or try it as a one-time event, RaiseRight is here to help you earn even more money. Our passive fundraising platform makes it easy to raise funds 24/7, 365.

Start by enrolling your organization in a RaiseRight program (it’s free!). Then, add participants to your program, where they can buy physical or eGift cards or shop online with brands they know and love, like Target and Walmart. Your organization earns up to 20% back from every purchase! 

Whether you secure supplies for your gift wrap fundraiser or use RaiseRight for everyday spending and budgeting, you can maximize your fundraising efforts without spending an extra dime.