Church fundraisers often involve much more work than you thought would be necessary to raise the funds you need. If you are or ever have been involved in the planning stages, you know that setting up fundraisers are not all fun and games. You never thought it would be so much work or such a headache, but it turned out to be quite an undertaking. It really doesn’t have to be so complicated, especially if you plan ahead and do a little research before you get started.
What are you raising money for? Whether it is a new church van, a basketball hoop for the teenagers, or a week long trip for the youth group, you need to determine just how much you are going to need. Maybe your members have decided that you need to add on to the church due to the growing membership. Whatever the need, church fundraisers should be well thought out in order to gain a good amount of profits for the least amount of work. If you think about it, your profit margin plays a key role in the success of your fundraiser. Why put yourself and your group through a grueling amount of work, selling products that make only small profits? If you need to raise $10,000, you certainly don’t want to choose a product that only offers you $1 or $2 profit – it would take a ton of work to raise the funds you need.
With church fundraisers (or any other for that matter), it’s important that you
know exactly how many people will be involved in the effort, so that you can figure out just how much each person would need to sell in order for your efforts to prove successful. Also, consider the age of the group. Teenagers and adults can handle just about any type of product or do labor if that is what is involved, but it’s different with small children. In this case, things should be kept as simple as possible as children are not capable of keeping up with a lot of material and are easily distracted.
Here are a few simple ideas for church fundraisers:
1. Yard sales – Holding a yard or rummage sale in the parking lot of the church is a fairly easy way to raise some of the money you need. Have members donate items they no longer use such as quilts, clothing, furniture you may have stored in the basement or attic, kitchen gadgets, etc. Set your sale up on a beautiful Saturday morning, and everyone will have the opportunity to enjoy each others company while raising the funds you need.
2. Recycle – This can be a long-term fundraiser, where money can be collected year round and put aside for future needs. Collect old cell phones, printer toner cartridges, or anything else that can be recycled. Post bulletins around the area to let people in the community know where they can drop their items off.
3. Discount cards – If you have a sizable attendance at your church, offering discount cards is a great solution for your needs. They offer savings and discounts on dozens of products and services that are frequently used by people in your community, and the profit margin is tremendous. Offering a product that provides real value and a huge return on your investment is a smart way to raise money.
Church fundraisers really do not have to be a whole lot of work. By laying out your plan ahead of time, figuring out exactly how much you need and how many in your group are going to participate, you will have a good idea of what is required by each participant. Also, if you are selling products always research so that you know what the profit margin will be. By choosing products with a great profit margin, you will make more money selling fewer items, which makes it all much easier. Church fundraisers should be enjoyable and fun for all involved, not filled with stress and more work than you can handle!
Mark South
Easy Church Fundraising