25 Ideas for Support-Raising
- Pray. Seems obvious, but we often don't spend enough time asking God to supply the needs for students and the trip.
- Student's Prayerful Commitment. Challenge them to pray about giving toward their trip first with what they believe God wants them to contribute.
- Personal letters. Giving students a sample letter can motivate them in the difficult task for asking for money. Letters are by far the most effective tool. Students need to send at least 30 letters.
- Garage sales: joint or individual. Utilize the example flyer as a way of gaining more "stuff" to sell from neighbors.
- Bigger and better game via the Internet. Have students create a page using a paperclip or golf ball, where they start with an object they own and trade up. In the end, students will sell an item worth _____ on Craig's list. This can get viral quick.
- Birthday Mission Party. Theme the party based on the country/project you are going to and have guests donate travel items, ministry supplies, and money.
- Parents' Night Out. Partner with the children's ministry and provide babysitting at the church. Engage your whole youth ministry to serve. Plan a great activity night and request a minimum donation. Make sure parents know why you are raising money.
- Student Auction. Auction off students for doing labor at the homes of other church members for a donation to the trip.
- Coffee House Gig. Get your worship band (or a better one connected to the church) to do a benefit concert.
- Teach a series on tithing and use your youth offerings toward the trip.
- Themed dinner and silent auction.
- Car Detailing. Pre-sell detailing tickets to neighbors/friends/family to get more than a car wash.
- A month after the support letters are sent, have students send emails to the same people asking them to pray that the money would come in. (It's a great way of reminding people of the need without asking them to give again.)
- Part-time Jobs. Even junior high students can appeal to neighbors and friends for babysitting, lawn, and house cleaning jobs to put toward the trip.
- Special offering during main worship service.
- Engage other "experts" in your congregation. Find those with gifts/experience in special event planning and host a 5K run, mini-triathlon (based on activities suitable for your region), trekking teams, etc. With fairly low-cost community advertising and promo at another local even, you can raise quite a bit of funds.
- Promote the cause for collective fund-raisers that are communicated to the community. Instead of saying, "Help students go on a mission trip to Mexico," use language like "Caring for children in impoverished communities." Focus your language on the goal of the project.
- Parking lot ride-share. In traffic-congested communities, commuters are often looking for ride-share options. Ask the church's CFO or a business leader to check into the potential usage of the parking lot as a ride and share lot. (Most 501(c)3 restrictions are specific to the building only, not the parking lot.) Once you receive city approval, you can strike a contract with local companies trying to comply with city transportation standards. A three or six month contract could yield great income potential.
- Throw a community carnival. Spend time planning costs well before incurring expenses to see if this can be income-producing for your community.
- Parents' part-time jobs. Are any parents willing to work a part-time job for a month or two and then give their earnings toward the trip.
- Live near a field? Negotiate your group working for a few Saturdays during harvest season in exchange for a equitable donation toward the trip.
- Got a booth and a parking lot? Christmas trees...fireworks...local harvest crop...
- Local restaurant fund-raiser. Several chains (like Red Robin or Rubys) or a local community restaurant will offer a proceed night in exchange for advertising and bringing in a crowd.
- Recycle event. Check on costs for disposing of paints, batteries, large appliances, etc. Add a delivery cost to the dump fee. Arrange your parking lot into a one-stop drop for customers. Get volunteers with trucks to deliver to appropriate waste sites. Advertise in the local papers as a community event.
- Ask local companies for support and donations.
