When choosing fundraising ideas for churches, it’s vital that you know what works, and what does not. Here are five essentials for churches in need of fundraising ideas.
When searching for fundraising ideas for churches, you’ll come across all sorts of items. Cookies, scented candles, candy, and other consumable goods tend to be popular, but selecting these items for your fundraiser often results in poor sales. Instead of leaving things up to chance, follow these five essentials for selecting fundraising ideas for churches. You’ll be glad you did.
Have a Vision
Whether working to create a successful church youth fundraiser or a general fundraiser for making improvements or repairs to your church building, it is vital that you prayerfully set a vision for that fundraising effort. What does God call your church to do? Keeping fundraising ideas for churches in line with the overall mission of your church will help to inspire people to volunteer with fundraising efforts, and it will help propel sales.
Communicate Your Case Using Compelling Language
People are driven to act when they hear strong, compelling messages. It’s vital that fundraising ideas for churches include items that people will feel an emotional connection to, and it’s important that in building your fundraiser, you help not just your own community, but an underserved population of some type. We are called to give alms, and when we know that a portion of proceeds from items we purchase goes to a worthy cause, we’re compelled to make good buying decisions. Striking a balance between salesmanship and a vision of service will lead to strong sales.
Ensure Everyone is Committed to Success
While many people within faith communities are capable of coming up with interesting fundraising ideas for churches, it can be tough to find a committed team of people with the time and organizational skills required to run a successful fundraiser. Build a team that is capable of seeing the vision, using compelling language, and committing fully to the fundraising process. If you feel someone is at risk of overcommitting, be honest as you discuss issues surrounding the level of commitment surrounding various tasks. In addition, don’t feel badly about selecting your fundraising team with care. After all, your mission is important and you need a committed team in order to be successful.
Educate Everyone Involved
Once you have selected a fundraiser, educate everyone involved, from church leadership to congregation.
- Church leadership should be aware of the mission and have knowledge about the products and benefits associated with those products.
- Team members must have product knowledge and the ability to provide potential buyers with information about those products – essentially, they must educate their customers.
- Congregations and potential customers need to be provided with background information about the items for sale. For example, they should know that the praying hands statue on sale is not made in a Chinese factory; instead, it’s made by a Christian artisan who will receive part of the proceeds from its sale. This type of education is crucial and will have a positive effect on sales.
Work With A Well-Established Fundraising Organization
Well-established fundraising organizations like HolyLand-Gifts.com have products and programs designed to lead to church fundraising success. By selecting an organization capable of helping you with every step of the process, you ensure your fundraiser goes smoothly and is as profitable as possible.