Fund raiser ideas based on material by Kevin Paszalek, Houston (TX) Southway Community Church
Building financial support through a letter to family and friends
- On the average, most, if not all of mission trip costs for each person can be raised through a well-
written Fund Raising Letter sent to family and friends.
- Some groups prepare a fund raising letter in a downloadable form so participants can easily
personalize it. Here's a sample Fund Raising Letter we've put together to help you. It also has a
helpful "How to Guide" to help out as well.
- Spread the word widely; don't limit the letters to Christian friends and family.
- Send thank-you letters for every financial gift. Sometimes, "thank you" notes will even bring follow-up
gifts.
How local churches can help come up with the needed money
1. Give official blessing or sanction
2. Provide letters of endorsement on church stationery [ more info ]
3. Let individuals share with the congregation in services
4. Allow pleas for donations during services
5. Host informational meetings about the trip
6. Publicize the trip
7. Information in the congregation's monthly newsletter
8. Inserts in the weekly church bulletin
9. Call attention to those that get involved in local ministry when they return or decide to go long-term as a
result of going short-term.
10. Provide direct financial support
11. Provide partial funding from the church budget.
12. Help in getting out a support raising letter.
13. Organizing prayer support .
14. Organize fund raising events within the church .
15. Auction off 6 hours of the trip participant's time.
16. Hold dinner/auction of baked goods.
17. Auction of baked goods with pie-in-the-face.
Other ideas
Car Wash: Sell car wash coupons
Organize dinners or dinner theaters and sell tickets
Hold giant garage/rummage sale
Sell barbecue
Organize and teach an Internet beginners' course
Sell tubs of frozen cookie dough
Find a restaurant that will donate part of the cost of a meal or provide meal