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Inspiring Giving: 5 Church Fundraising Ideas and Activities That Work

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Churches are more than just merely places of worship — they’re pillars of the communities they serve. In fact, of the people who regularly attend church, 57% cite being “part of a community of faith” as being very important to them.

Churches support their members through good and bad, and they give back to those in need. But to do this, churches need to raise funds

Fundraisers are a lucrative way to finance church programs and projects, and they can be a lot of fun, too. However, coming up with unique church fundraising activities and events that work can be tough. So, we’re here with a list of some of the best ideas for any occasion. Read on to learn more.

The Crucial Role of Fundraising for Churches

Most churches have fundraising needs each year to help support the programs and projects they organize. Here are just a few examples of what churches can fundraise for:

  • Youth group programs, retreats, or camps
  • Mission trips and outreach
  • Religious education and daycare programs
  • Facility improvement and maintenance projects

Churches are unique institutions that require specialized financing solutions. Fundraisers themselves can build a sense of camaraderie between contributing members, and give members a common goal to work toward.

6 Ideas to Inspire Your Next Fundraiser

If you’re having trouble coming up with new and exciting church fundraising activities, here are some suggestions to jump-start your fundraising flow.

1. Concerts and Talent Shows

Concerts and talent shows are both excellent ways to showcase the skills of your community members while raising money for your cause. Consider selling tickets ahead of time for ease of mind, so you can focus on putting together an entertaining show.

Shows can be held within your facilities, or you can rent out a local space. There are also additional  opportunities to fundraise at these events, including:

  • Concession stands
  • Raffles
  • Flowers to be purchased as gifts for the performers

While there’s a decent amount of organizing that goes into these events, that hard work has the potential to pay off. 

2. Gift Card Fundraising for Your Church

If you're looking for an easier solution to handle a portion of your church fundraising initiatives, there’s nothing better than gift card fundraising with RaiseRight.

Just enroll your church in a RaiseRight program, and enlist your members as participants. Everyone can shop gift cards from hundreds of retailers, and use them for everyday spending, just like with a credit or debit card. Your church will instantly earn a percentage back for every gift card purchased — anywhere from 1 to 20%.

Gift card fundraising is ideal for churches because it doesn’t require extensive planning or selling of goods. Joining RaiseRight is free, and you and your participants can shop gift cards 24/7, 365 days a year. It’s the always-on fundraiser!

It's a win-win: churches can raise funds, and participants can support the church simply by shopping for gas, groceries, and everyday necessities with gift cards.

gift card fundraising potential

3. Yard Sales

Yard sales are great fundraisers and community builders. You can ask members for donations so that they can get rid of unused items, and others can get new use out of them.   

Organize a true rummage sale with a large assortment of items, or narrow it down to jewelry and decor, for example, to create a tailored experience for certain groups of people. The possibilities are as numerous as the items sitting in your members’ garages and basements!

4. Dinners, Galas, and Banquets

These types of fundraising events require a good amount of planning, but they can be successful in more ways than one. Galas and banquets, in particular, can serve as opportunities to gain publicity and honor your local community while raising funds. 

These types of events also provide many different opportunities to fundraise. Allow members to purchase individual seats or an entire table, and have raffles or silent auctions that can be announced at the end of the night.

5. Raffles and Auctions

Speaking of, raffles and auctions are an easy way to fundraise that don’t require significant organizing. 

Items you can raffle off include:

  • Appliances
  • Handmade goods
  • Services, like cleaning or yard work
  • Vacations and other experiences

Just about anything you can think of can be raffled off for a great fundraiser. Raffle and auction items can even be donated by members or local businesses so that you don’t have to give up part of your earnings. 

Ready to start earning?

We understand that church fundraising takes a lot of time and effort, so we came up with a better way for churches to earn money — gift card fundraising. It’s simple, streamlined, and convenient for you and your community members.

Over 10,000 religious organizations use RaiseRight to fundraise, and our highest-earning churches raised over $50,000 in 2022.

Here are some next steps to get the ball rolling:

  1. See why RaiseRight is the #1 fundraiser for churches.
  2. Learn more about how gift card fundraising works.
  3. Download the Gift Card Fundraising Playbook and share it with others in your church who might be interested.
  4. Start a free program by completing a short, online enrollment form.  

If you’re looking to join an existing program, you just need your enrollment code to create an account and begin fundraising right away.

enroll in raiseright for year-round fundraising