When it comes to church fundraising ideas, there are a lot of options that are more fun and unique than passing around a donation plate. While cash donations during services and tithes are an important part of church fundraising, it’s important for churches to have diverse fundraising efforts.
Fundraising is an important part of a church’s overall function because it allows for charitable work, a vital part of the church’s goal. Of course, fundraising can also be for the church itself, like for building repairs, or the needs of the religious community.
A church market is a great way to get both your congregation and the broader community involved in fundraising. Thrift markets are popular, especially with the growing interest in secondhand clothing. You can get members of your church to donate a variety of items.
There is clothing, but also other things like shoes, books, home items, and even homemade goods. You could also reach out to local companies and see if they have things to donate. This is a good idea because it involves getting money from the broader community, not just your congregation.
The key to attracting an audience is to use both word of mouth and social media to boost your fundraising campaign. As an added act of goodwill, things that are not sold at the market can be donated to a charity, or used by the church in its charitable works.
In addition to a physical plate, basket, or box during your service, it’s smart to have an option for digital giving. This is convenient for when people don’t have cash and allows more flexibility in donations. And the more flexibility you offer, the more likely people are to donate.
Something like a QR code is a very smart idea because that can be shared more widely on social media and gain a wider audience. Another option is text-to-donate fundraising, which allows people to donate via sending a message.
There are many festive religious events throughout the year where you can organize a fundraising event. Two of the best options are Christmas and Easter. For Easter, organize an Easter egg hunt where parents pay an admission fee for their children to enter.
For Christmas, you could host a celebratory party or do photos with Father Christmas. The key is to use seasonally-appropriate events to generate income for your church.
A fundraiser that is both profitable and very social is to have coffee on hand after services. This is an opportunity for members of your church to come together and mingle, while also buying coffee that directly supports the church.
You could hire a coffee truck, or see if there are coffee shops willing to partner with you. You could even get church members to bring coffee machines to church. People are able to socialize, support the church, and get something nice and caffeinated in return. You could also combine this with donated abled goods, or a bake sale.
Auctions are a staple in non-profit fundraising for good reason. They are a good chance to bring the community together in support of your organization, or even a specific cause. You can use items donated by your church members, as well as businesses and other organizations.
There are lots of guides for auction items that sell well to help you with your selection and it’s a good idea to reach out to local businesses to help get your items. While there’s a lot that goes into running a silent auction, it can be a great church fundraiser!
Another thing that works well for church fundraising specifically is a give-it-up drive. Often done during Lent, this involves churchgoers committing to giving up something for a particular period of time. This could be takeout, coffee from coffee shops, chocolate, or just about anything.
This idea is that the money you would have spent on that treat instead goes to the church as a donation. Not only does this generate money for your church, but it is also a good way to remind people to appreciate the small luxuries that we sometimes don’t remember to be grateful for
This kind of fundraiser can also stir up some lighthearted competition, as people see who can resist that takeaway coffee or treat the longest. Engaging people’s competitive spirit can be a real plus for church fundraising.
Many churches host Christmas pageants, and you can charge a fee for churchgoers to come and watch the show. This is a good way to get young children involved in the church through performance. You could even host a church talent show for some variety.
People aren’t going to pay huge amounts to come to watch this, but a nominal fee to support the church is a good idea. Again, it’s a variation of a donation where the person giving money is getting something in exchange, further incentivizing giving to the church.
Another idea is to host a movie viewing in your church hall. Movie nights can be great fun for families, and there is a lack of screen time for movies with religious themes. This way, you can fundraise while also spreading your message.
Something a bit more unusual that your church can do is organize a camp during the school holidays. For a fee, children can spend part of their holiday on a camp. This is very flexible and could be an overnight camp for a few days, or simply a few hours a day in the church hall.
Having a church summer camp allows parents to better manage their time during the holidays, and for children to get additional religious education. It’s also a great way to get teenagers and young adults involved in the running of the church as camp counselors.
There are lots of fun and unique ways that a church can fundraise, so get started organizing digital donations, an auction, or a church camp. With fundraising, it’s important to allow your community to get involved and make sure that they know exactly where their money is going. So, always explain what the funds are for and how they will be used for the church.
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