Fundraising for Your Church

Okay, your church leader made an announcement that funds are needed for building projects, mission trips, to help other people or to support different activities. Raising money for your church is usually an annual event so let's get started. Based on previous years, we will ask for a church volunteer to serve as event manager to organize the event. We need to identify the event and to identify how much money we need to raise.

The more popular ideas are selling candy, car wash, sell inspirational t-shirts/books or magazines. Oh yes, there is always the great ladies of the church who can guarantee a successful bake sale or sell dinners. Rural churches have proved successful in creating cookbooks containing family recipes and history of the area. The more detailed events are plays, dances, fashion shows for all ages. Depending upon the season, a themed seasonal event or a holiday fundraiser would be fun. I had the pleasure of taking part in "game day" at a local park which attracted members of the community who did not go to church.

What resources do we already have to help keep our expenses down? Next, we need to identify the location and to advertise in the local newspaper, radio or tv station. In-kind donations would be great! You can ask businesses to donate items, provide gift certificates or ask a business to provide tables and chairs.

Remember, to prevent any blurred lines, always provide a progress report as you go along to help motivate everyone and help keep confusion down.