Run Church Fundraisers as a Business

To get the most out of your next church fundraiser you need to create awareness and excitement.

Here are 5 very important things you need to do to run it as a business

• When planning a church fundraiser the most important question you need to answer is: How much money do you need to raise?
• How many people do you have that can help carry out the church fundraiser?
• When will the church fundraiser start and when will it end? It is generally a good idea to have the fundraiser last 2 weeks or less. With a smaller window of opportunity, people are more inclined to act immediately. It is important to get a commitment to the fundraiser the first time, and eliminate the need for a second sales pitch.
• Collect the payment at the point of sale. This eliminates the need to collect payment at the time of delivery and does not allow for lost revenue due to undeliverable product.
• What is the profit percentage allocated to the your church activity?

Is your community aware of your church’s intentions, its activities, and why you need a fundraiser? You may want to send out press releases or flyers to increase awareness.

Does your church need:

• new furniture?
• money for a summer camp?
• specialized enrichment classes?
• to attend church retreats?

Let them know the goal that your church is working toward. All your communications should specifically state how much money you are trying to raise for the stated purpose.

After the fundraiser has taken off and you have reached your goal, let the contributors know and thank them for their participation. This goodwill message will leave a positive image of your church, and encourage them to support your next church fundraiser.

Select a product such as coffee, magazines, or candles for your fundraiser since most people are likely to use them anyway so it is already included in their budget. This way your contributors can enjoy a high quality product and feel good about supporting your church at the same time.