Flexible Fundraising: How Bethany Lutheran Earns for Tuition, Trips, and More

This Southern California church and private school earns nearly $20,000 yearly, thanks to RaiseRight's versatile fundraising solutions.

At Bethany Lutheran Church and School in Long Beach, California, RaiseRight isn't just a fundraising program—it’s a flexible, high-impact financial tool that helps families save on education, fuels school programs, and supports meaningful church initiatives, all while fitting seamlessly into daily life. 

Ruth Lopez, the current program coordinator, has successfully sustained momentum by tapping into one of RaiseRight's greatest strengths: flexibility and adaptability.

By channeling earnings where they're needed most—private school tuition, field trips, or special church projects—Bethany Lutheran consistently brings in nearly $20,000 in RaiseRight earnings every year. 

1. Tuition assistance 

With tuition averaging about $1,200 per month per student, families welcome any opportunity to offset costs.

While most Bethany Lutheran families use RaiseRight to cover their children’s tuition, many church members without school-aged kids use their earnings to ease the financial burden for other families.

"Other churchgoers are using their earnings to help other parents afford tuition," explains Ruth. "It's a wonderful way to support another family."

2. Educational experiences

Bethany Lutheran also uses RaiseRight to fund special educational trips, like the 8th-grade class trip to Washington, D.C. and New York City, which costs about $3,000 per student. Parents can start saving for this trip as early as the 5th grade. 

"This perk is a big motivator for RaiseRight participation," says Ruth. "It gives parents a clear goal and a great reason to earn consistently over a few years."

3. Ongoing church support 

Beyond school needs, Ruth applies RaiseRight earnings to the church's general fund or directs them toward specific ministries, such as the music program. 

Each Sunday between morning services, Ruth and a few volunteers set up a table to sell physical gift cards in person—a strategy that's become one of their most effective. "Many folks prefer the ease of buying physical gift cards on-site, and it's helped turn the practice into a weekly habit," Ruth notes. 

4. Special projects and community aid

Ruth also designates a portion of RaiseRight earnings to a special project every year. This year, it's a remodel for the church's kitchen. Past initiatives have included bathroom upgrades, gym renovations, and teacher appreciation gifts.

And when wildfires devastated the Los Angeles area in early 2025, Bethany Lutheran partnered with its governing body to provide over $17,000 worth of RaiseRight gift cards to fire victims who lost everything. 

Ruth's winning strategies 

Ruth attributes the program's success to several key leadership tactics:

• Early-year promotion: "Before the school year starts, we host family classroom visits—it’s the perfect time for one-on-one conversations about RaiseRight," she says.
  
  
• Back-to-school momentum: Ruth leverages RaiseRight’s free presentation templates to introduce the program at Back-to-School Night and highlight the value of earnings, especially to new kindergarten parents.
  
  
• Contests and incentives: She also runs contests in the Fall and highlights top earners in the church and school newsletters monthly.
  
  
• Efficient tools and resources: Ruth uses the Coordinator Resource Center and seasonal playbooks to her advantage. "The 3-month bonus earning calendar is amazing—it helps families plan ahead. And I love that I can hand off social posts and messaging templates to the staff who manage our profiles."

The results speak for themselves

For Ruth, RaiseRight is personal. Her son is a Bethany Lutheran alum, and her grandson now attends preschool there, too.

"When my son was in school, RaiseRight was still new, and I didn’t fully understand the potential," Ruth recalls. "But now, with my grandson enrolled, my entire family is earning for him, including our extended family. We’ve already raised over $1,000 toward his tuition!"

Other families are also seeing incredible results. "We have several parents earning $800 or more a year, especially those with multiple kids in school," Ruth states. 

Thanks to Ruth’s leadership and the flexibility of RaiseRight, Bethany Lutheran continues to raise thousands of dollars, year after year:

• 2022: $18,000 in earnings
• 2023: $17,500 in earnings
• 2024: $20,000 in earnings

Families are saving money, students are enjoying meaningful experiences, and the church is thriving. 

"RaiseRight is 100% worthwhile," Ruth affirms. "There’s so much potential, and so many ways to make it work for your community."