Whether you’re raising funds to build a new church building or to send a youth group on a mission trip, church fundraising is a major undertaking.
With all the planning needed to organize your congregation to help you raise funds, you may be feeling a bit overwhelmed. We’ve put together this list of church fundraising ideas to help you get started.
The hardest part of any fundraising project is getting started. There are so many possible event types and fundraising strategies, you run the risk of experiencing analysis paralysis. But don’t worry. If you’re struggling to find inspiration for your next church fundraiser, we’ve got you covered!
This list of more than 50 church fundraising ideas will give you a fundraising plan that is sure to work for your congregation.
Top 50 Fundraising Ideas For Churches
While your specific church’s fundraising needs may be varied, we have created a list of church fundraising ideas with strategies that are applicable to church building projects, missions trips, and ministry work.
This list includes ideas that work for small churches, churches working with limited budgets, and low-effort fundraisers that won’t stretch your resources.
With church fundraising so often falling on the shoulders of the staff and elders, don’t overlook the opportunity to get all church members involved!
In our following list of the top 50 church fundraising ideas, you’ll find there are strategies that are church-led, those that individuals can take the lead on, as well as ideas for small groups, youth groups, and families.
If you can’t find the perfect idea here, check out our list of the top fundraising ideas for 2024.
To demonstrate real ways that churches have achieved fundraising goals, we’ll also take a look at case studies of how three churches cumulatively raised over $150,000 to explore what tips you can apply to your own fundraising campaign!
Here are the top 50 fundraising ideas for churches in 2024.
Easy Church Fundraising Ideas
1. Run For A Good Cause
Fundraising always requires effort, and sometimes it’s physical too. Running a marathon shows donors you’re willing to sacrifice for your cause, and it invites them to put in a little effort too by donating.
If you’re not in a position to join an established race or marathon, consider hosting your own. Fun runs and 5Ks are fantastic fundraising opportunities for churches. Not only do these events bring people together, but they also allow you to promote health and wellness among your congregation.
For more information about organizing runs or walks for your next fundraising event, check out this article.
Walkathons and runs can raise funds and bring communities together!
2. Film A Video Campaign
When a nonprofit leader makes a personal ask, the appeal is much stronger than a web banner. With video, such personal appeals can be captured and shared.
Video is also ideal for telling the story and impact of your organization’s work. Interviews with people you’ve helped let others clearly see the impact you’re making, and it encourages them to get involved. Embedding video into your dedicated campaign page is a good way to keep everything centralized.
3. Create A Dedicated Campaign Website
One of the best ways to promote your fundraising campaign is to have a professional platform.
A well-designed platform gives supporters confidence to donate online. With consistent branding, your campaign page carries the same look and feel as your existing website and other marketing tools, creating seamless integration.
As well as being pleasing to the eyes, a professional site has easy navigation. A pleasant look and excellent UX design let donors feel more comfortable in making online contributions.
Moreover, with a dedicated donation page, supporters can speedily share the link with friends and family via email or social media. Easy access to your fundraising page makes it convenient for people to support.
4. Encourage Peer-to-Peer Fundraising
Without a doubt, personal relationships are a strong way to engage supporters. People are more likely to support causes they know and trust, or when they personally know someone who’s involved.
Mobilizing your teammates to reach out to their own networks, set up coffee dates, share the vision in-person, and make on-the-spot appeals can result in great fundraising impact.
Your team members can set up their own fundraising pages in tandem with your campaign platform. Personal pages provide a way for members to take ownership of fundraising goals. They can establish smaller benchmarks that will add up to your overarching aims.
Cedar Creek Ministries made it easy for their congregation to set up personal fundraising pages with CauseVox!
5. Find Matching Grants
Does someone you know have the capacity to make matching contributions? Even if it’s only up to a certain amount, the offer of a matching grant creates strong incentive for others to give.
A matching contribution can double your support and hasten your fundraising progress. If you’re struggling to find a match within your community, consider reaching out to local businesses. Plenty of organizations and companies offer matching programs for churches and nonprofits.
6. Text-to-Give
Text-to-give is an invaluable tool for all nonprofits because of its simplicity. For your next church fundraising campaign, incorporate a “text to” number on your homepage so that donors can make a contribution by texting a keyword, such as “FAITH.”
All fundraising ideas should make donating as easy as possible and what could be easier than sending a text?
7. Coffee Morning
Your congregation is sure to appreciate this church fundraising idea for a Sunday morning. Set up a booth outside your church with coffee (and maybe some pastries to go with it). Donors can purchase a cup of hot coffee, knowing that they are also donating to a good cause. It’s a win, win.
Maximize your fundraising with this church fundraising idea by partnering with a local bakery or coffee shop to receive donated products!
8. Bail Out
Similar to the “Teacher in Jail” fundraiser featured in our list of top fundraising ideas, a “Bail Out” fundraiser is a fun and unique opportunity for your donors. This event involves tying up a pastor or elder and not untying them until their “bail” has been met. The amount of the bail corresponds to your fundraising goal.
This unique fundraiser will likely appeal to your younger congregants, so think about how you can tailor the event specifically for them. Maybe introduce costuming for the “prisoner” or build a makeshift jail for them.
9. Wear a Hat to Church Day
Chances are, your community is not allowed to wear a hat to church on Sunday. With this church fundraising idea, you can ask your congregation to donate a small amount for the opportunity to break the rules and wear a hat for the day.
Your donors can express themselves however they want! They will enjoy the opportunity to wear a hat supporting their favorite sports team or brand. And you can raise money quickly with this simple and fun campaign.
10. Books for Bucks
Give your church members the chance to declutter their homes while you raise money for your next campaign. Ask everyone to donate books that they no longer want. Once you have a big enough collection, host a sale. All proceeds from the event will benefit the church. One man’s trash is another’s treasure, especially with books!
If you’re looking for a way to expand upon this idea, consider adding a component for your younger church members. One way would be to challenge them to read as many books as possible in a given time frame. Their friends and family can sponsor them, which will raise funds for your mission. This fundraising idea will allow you to demonstrate your commitment to education and literacy within your community.
Church Fundraising Events
11. Spread Testimonials
Nothing communicates the value of your church and a reason to keep giving like testimonies of how it has impacted individuals’ lives and faith journeys.
Testimonies can be written on your campaign page, in a fundraising email, or in a campaign letter. These stories tell others how your church’s ministry has impacted their lives, and it gives them solid reasons and clear motivation to support you financially. A more creative way is to film life-change stories or to design them into a social post, such as a Pinterest or Instagram graphic.
Give your community the chance to share their stories and they will inspire others to donate and get involved with your church!
12. Buy One, Give One
The concept behind TOMS shoes is game-changing and inspirational. Although TOMS is for-profit, their strategy of selling a product that carries fundraising value can be emulated by nonprofits and churches.
Let’s say your ministry provides lunches for homeless citizens. Hosting a lunch sale that offers “buy a lunch, give a lunch” with sandwiches priced at a slight premium can be a creative way to promote your cause.
13. Host A Vision-Sharing Night
Seeing many supporters gathered in one place creates the sense of making a united effort for the cause. You can draw like-minded people together through hosting a dinner or dessert night, during which you share your vision and present the opportunity to support.
Your presentation can be enhanced with visual and video elements. Images speak loudly, stir emotions, and are extremely helpful in illustrating your cause.
14. Offer A Community Sports Event
Sports events bring the community together and provide a way for families to mingle and have fun. A bouncy castle, a cotton candy machine, and a homemade obstacle course are all you need to get a neighborhood fair started.
Selling affordable tickets to your event raises funds for your cause, while you provide an enjoyable afternoon for your community.
CauseVox offers event ticketing to help you declutter your event planning and raise more for your cause!
15. Eat Yogurt At A Fundraising Party
Frozen dessert cafes including Menchie’s and Yeti Yogurt provide opportunities for you to host a fundraising party at their establishment. Your friends get to attend a froyo party and taste delicious flavors, and you get to receive fundraising proceeds. Sounds yummy!
16. Host A Magic Show
With tutorials all over the Internet, magic isn’t nearly as difficult to learn as it used to be. Ask your community (particularly your youth group) to learn magic tricks that they will perform before an audience. Parents and other community members will buy tickets for a chance to see the show, generating revenue for you.
Adding tickets to an event is a great way to maximize your fundraising impact. Check out this article to learn how you can add tickets to your next church fundraiser.
17. Worm Charming Competition
This unique church fundraising idea will let your supporters get their hands dirty to benefit your church. The idea of coaxing worms to the surface of a plot of dirt will catch people by surprise and get them excited to help you meet your fundraising goal.
The competitive element with this idea will make your donors even more excited to participate and try to charm those worms.
This church fundraising idea may seem a little strange, but it can be a big hit with the right community. If it sounds intriguing, but you’re looking for more information on how to host this type of event, you can find more information here.
18. Dance Marathon
Host a dance marathon event where teams must stay on the dance floor for a specific number of hours. Each participant should set up a personal fundraising page. The more each participant raises, the more dance breaks and treats they get.
See an example of a high school’s dance marathon fundraiser here.
Dance marathons can work great for groups of young people like high schools and youth groups!
19. Face Painting
Face painting is a terrific church fundraising idea for the summer months. Set up a booth and enlist a few talented artists to paint faces for a small fee. Face painting supplies are cheap, so you won’t be spending much on overhead.
20. Travel Raffle
Everyone loves a vacation. If anyone in your congregation has connections at travel agencies, hotels, airlines, etc. reach out to see if they would be willing to make a donation to support your church.
Create enticing travel packages and sell raffle tickets to generate revenue. This raffle could be part of a larger event or campaign, or it could stand alone.
For other raffle ideas for your next church fundraiser, check out this article.
Small Church Fundraising Ideas
21. Sell Sidewalk Doughnuts
A fun way for youth to get involved in fundraising is by selling Krispy Kreme doughnuts. This company offers a 50-60% profit margin to support your cause, while the product itself is delectable and enticing.
You can set up a stand right outside the door to your church and sell donuts immediately after the service on Sunday. This will not only ensure that your community can easily access the fundraiser, but also will allow them to come together and bond over the delicious treats.
22. Do A Community Car Wash
On a sunny weekend, you can host a by-donations car wash in your church parking lot. (Some gas stations and stores also welcome this type of fundraising event, so you can always call and ask.)
Youth and families can get involved in promoting the event and in cleaning vehicles. Providing this car wash service for the community is also a great way to meet people and build new relationships as well!
23. Sell Movie Vouchers
Most people are bound to watch a few movies throughout the year, so why not use that as a fundraising opportunity? There are many ways to go about this. For example, a Cineplex voucher works at any brand location and has long expiry dates, giving ticket-holders more flexibility.
24. Provide Gift Cards For Christmas Giving
Gift cards are a convenient way to give to the person who has everything, especially during the holidays. Did you know that you can leverage gift card sales for your next fundraising project? Companies such as TisBest allow you to purchase charity gift cards for someone so that they can donate to a cause they care about. Consider spreading the word about charity gift cards to your community and asking them to direct the donation to your church. This is a great way to engage new donors.
25. Service Week
Looking for a way to offer your congregation the chance to do good deeds for the community while raising funds? Consider hosting a service week fundraiser.
By encouraging your congregation to donate their time and talent to helping others will help them grow emotionally and spiritually. You can tie in the fundraising element by asking all participants to set up personal fundraising pages and collect donations from friends and family.
Grapevine Faith Christian School hosts a Faith Gives event to encourage their younger members to volunteer and support the community!
26. Start A Social Media Movement
It’s common for people to be checking their phones day and night, so a great way to reach out to potential supporters is to have a strong social media presence.
Beyond posting your campaign goals and progress updates, another method to create buzz is by starting a social movement. Dedicated hashtags provide an easy way for people to get involved (they can start by simply sharing the tag) and to build hype.
The famous ALS bucket challenge is a stellar example of how social media movements can go viral and raise a lot of noise for your cause. There could be a funny and engaging way for your group to start a social phenomenon that also brings in funds. Using a comical or an unexpected challenge can be particularly effective in engaging younger fundraisers, who are familiar with viral content and wry humor.
One way to go about this could be to start with the youth pastor, who’s typically very influential among the church’s youth and the congregation as a whole. Getting him or her involved in a potentially-viral social media challenge draws lots of attention and sets a great example to get everyone involved!
27. Partner With A Major Donor
For a final push, you may need to bring a high-level donor on board. Major donors require long-term relationship cultivation and more focused communication and transparency. It’s not usually something achieved in a day, but developing these crucial connections can secure steady support over the years.
The good news is that you don’t need a large congregation to draw in a major donor. With the right connections, all you need is one strong advocate to help you find someone with deep pockets who will be passionate about supporting your church.
28. Volunteer Chore Team
Enlist a group of volunteers to do chores for community members. Donors can pay for specific chore services or make a general donation to the church during a Volunteer Chore Team event.
This event is different from a week of service because it includes the grassroots element of church members helping other church members with household chores. This is a great way for your congregation to bond.
29. Set A Short Deadline
When campaigns are short, they foster a sense of urgency. This gives more reason for people to donate now, rather than putting it off until year-end.
A clear timeline also keeps you and your team accountable and on track. It’s much harder to procrastinate when campaign-end is just around the corner. So keep pushing, team!
30. Craft Sale
Encourage your congregation to show off their talents and raise money for your church with a craft sale! All you need are knitters, jewelry makers, painters, or other crafty individuals who would be willing to donate a part of the proceeds from their sales for a day or pay for a booth Then, set up a few booths for a day around your church and let your community shop around for a good cause!
Mission Trip Fundraising Ideas
31. Crowdfunding
Crowdfunding is a fundraising strategy that involves asking many people for small donations. This can be accomplished through traditional communication methods like phone calls and emails or you can spread the word with social media.
CauseVox makes online crowdfunding easy with dedicated organization and supporter fundraising pages. Crowdfunding pages should be mobile-optimized, easily shareable, and simple to use.
Make sure that your community understands the purpose behind your crowdfunding campaign. How does it connect to your mission?
Mojave Desert Land Trust hosted an online crowdfunding event with CauseVox.
32. Auctions
Ask local businesses to donate items or services and instead of having an auctioneer, have your supporters write their bid for the item on paper. Whoever bids the most takes home the item! To maximize results, have a minimum bid for each item.
Or take it a step further and increase the value of your auction by hiring an auctioneer for a live auction. Big ticket live auction items can raise serious revenue for your church.
As an alternative, try hosting a silent auction online, no in-person event required!
See our silent auction tips here!
Silent auctions can engage donors and bring in revenue!
33. Host A Concert
You don’t have to be a big charity to host a benefit concert; nonprofits of any size can run one of these fundraisers. Just find an artist that fits well with your audience, and start the planning process.
Ask local performers to consider donating their services in-kind. Secure the venue, security, insurance, and any other logistics months in advance. Then, market the event through all avenues, from social media to your website and email newsletter.
You could also enlist worship leaders from your church to perform for this kind of event! Got someone on your team who’s talented? Gather vocal, dance, and instrument skills together for an amazing charity concert benefiting your cause.
Volunteers can offer their musical creativity, and you can sell concert tickets and raffle stubs to support your ministry.
34. Outdoor Movie Night
Invite your community to a family movie night outside in a park. This fundraiser guarantees a crowd!
There are companies out there that provide movie night equipment rentals. To minimize your expenses, ask a local business to sponsor the event and cover the cost of rentals.
You can raise funds through ticket and concession sales and ask donors to make an additional contribution during the event. Pick a family-friendly or kids movie to encourage 100% participation from your congregation.
35. Work-A-Thon
Engage your supporters in a full day of service as they volunteer for your church or do general community service. Have participants create their own personal fundraising page and encourage anyone they come across to give to the organization.
Pensacola Habitat for Humanity hosts an annual Women Build Event where female volunteers raise funds and awareness by volunteering.
36. Kickball League
If you have a larger congregation, a kickball league might be the perfect church fundraising idea for you. Divide your community into teams and have them pay an entrance fee to compete against other teams in a tournament or league. You can also sell concessions and branded merchandise to maximize your fundraising.
Not only will the competition raise more for your church, but also, working as part of a team will help your congregation bond in preparation for the mission trip.
37. Sponsor a Child
If children and teens will be a part of your mission trip, consider asking your congregation to sponsor a child. Donors like to know the tangible impact of their donation. Rather than having them donate to a general support fund, find out the total cost for one child to go on the trip and set the donation amount at that level.
If you are asking donors to sponsor children, remember to follow their donation with an acknowledgement that provides specific information about how the trip impacted the child they sponsored.
38. Pie the Pastor
If you are looking for a fun and simple church fundraising idea that will engage your community, offer your congregation the chance to “pie” their pastor. This involves charging a small fee to throw a pie in the face of the church leader. Younger community members in particular will leap at the opportunity to be a part of this silly fundraiser.
39. Adopt-A-Mile
Similar to sponsoring a child, your congregation will be inspired to give if their contribution corresponds to a tangible impact. You can offer them the chance to “Adopt a Mile” for your mission trip by tying your donation tiers to the number of miles that you will be traveling.
With CauseVox’s fundraising thermometer, you can show your congregation how close they are to reaching the total mileage goal with their donations.
40. Lock-In Fundraiser
Lock-ins are a great way to get kids excited for a mission trip while giving parents a well-earned night off. Host a night of games, prizes, and snacks for your youth congregation with a small entry fee. Like the kickball league, a lock-in will create camaraderie among your mission team.
Youth Group Fundraising Ideas
41. Babysitting
Parents are always looking for reliable childcare. If you have the space and volunteers eager to babysit, then this is a great fundraiser.
Though nights are a popular time for parents looking for babysitters, think outside the box. Try offering babysitting services so that parents can shop for the holidays, for example.
42. Karaoke
While it’s not for the faint at heart, karaoke definitely has the potential to lift the spirits and wallets of your donors. Along the way, everyone will be making a fool of themselves for your organization.
Before you rent high-quality karaoke equipment, ask around to see if you can borrow a set.
Donors to EarthRights International’s Campaign could select a song for their fundraiser to sing.
43. Dog Wash
Do you know if a large segment of your congregation has dogs at home? Consider appealing to their love of pets and their generosity by hosting a dog wash. Charge a small fee for each dog wash. You can even supplement these funds with dog treats and toy sales.
Donors will feel connected to your organization if you show them that you share their interests. There’s no better way than with a dog wash to show your love for their furry friends.
Can Do Canines hosts a full day fundraiser of dog-centric activities.
44. Host A Talent Show
Your community has incredible talents! Allow them to show off while raising funds through ticket purchases, food, and beverages.
Work with local schools, athletic groups, etc. to get families involved in the fun. This can also easily work as a virtual fundraiser when you have participants submit a video and fundraise online ahead of your livestream.
Signasium hosted a virtual talent show to bring in donations.
45. Board Game Tournament
Teams of people compete together during a board game tournament to raise money for your nonprofit or charity.
Ask local businesses or supporters to donate prizes for tournament winners. And, you can give “bonus points” to board game participants/teams that fundraise on their own for your cause.
Here’s an example of a board game tournament run on CauseVox.
Card Kingdom hosted a board game tournament to engage their donors.
46. Make the Grade
Support students while raising top dollars with a Make the Grade fundraiser. Members of your youth group can sign up at the beginning of a term to participate. Donors in the community will pledge a dollar amount for each good grade received by a student. At the end of the term, they can share their report card and convert those pledges to donations.
To make this fundraiser accessible to all students, try offering a tiered system for pledges. For example, you may encourage students to ask for pledges of $5 for every A and $2 for every B.
47. Calendar Sale
Give your youth group a chance to contribute their skills to your church fundraising with a calendar sale. Each child can design their own colorful calendar or calendar page to sell to friends and family.
A calendar sale can also help you fundraise for other events if you include church events and fundraisers in the calendars for sale.
48. Burrito Mile
A burrito mile functions much like a 5K fundraiser, but with a twist. Before running, all participants have to eat a huge burrito.
This event is best for youth groups with lots of energy and big appetites. Charge each runner a small entrance fee and collect donations on the day of the run.
49. Bake Sale
Bake sales are a tried and true fundraiser, guaranteed to appeal to your congregation. Have your youth group help out with baking and sell the delicious pastries, cookies, and brownies after service on a Sunday. Your community will appreciate a sweet treat and you will raise money with each sale.
50. Make Some Noise Fundraiser
Let your youth group get their ya-yas out while you raise money with a “Make Some Noise” Fundraiser.
Church is usually a place of quiet reflection. So give your young folks a chance to break the rules for a day by running around the aisles and halls making as much noise as possible. Have them carry jars or buckets to collect donations as they raise the roof with this unique fundraising idea.
Bonus Idea: Capital Campaigns for Churches
A capital campaign is a fundraiser designed to raise a large amount for a specific purpose like building a new building or buying equipment. Capital campaigns happen to be extremely well-suited to many of the needs of churches. That’s because church communities often rely on a central location that needs upkeep or expansion over time.
If you’re raising money to build a new church building, send a group on a mission trip, or other specific purpose, consider using a capital campaign format. This entails setting a specific fundraising goal and timeline. There are many ways to encourage donations, but remember to keep the focus on the tangible impact of each contribution towards helping you meet your fundraising goal.
For a detailed explanation of how to run a capital campaign for your church, check out this article.
What We Can Learn From 3 Churches That Raised $150,000+
1. How Anchor Church Raised $28,000 in Less Than 30 Days
Anchor Church nearly doubled their $15,000 fundraising goal. During their month-long campaign, social sharing made a big difference. Here are a few factors that contributed to their success:
- Having a centralized donation platform, designed to fit seamlessly with existing website and marketing colors and style
- Able to track both online and offline donations on the same platform, indicating progress in a clear and attractive way
- Ability to easily raise support through social sharing of the platform link
2. How Trinity Grace Church Crown Heights Raised Over $30,000 in 30 Days
Despite the slow trickle of funds during the first days of fundraising, TGC Crown Heights surpassed financial goals by the end of their one-month campaign. Here are a few of their key strategies:
- Narrate church’s past-to-present journey on campaign site, to attract and engage supporters
- Use video donation appeal to increase the “personal ask” factor
- 30-day campaign deadline to create a sense of urgency
3. How Trinity Grace Church Williamsburg Raised $100,000 in 40 Days
TCG Williamsburg encouraged church members to build their own personal fundraising pages to support the overall campaign. The resulting ripple effect was one of several factors that helped TCG Williamsburg reach their ambitious goal.
- Centralized campaign site with consistent branding gave donors confidence to contribute online
- Church members took ownership of fundraising by creating personal pages
- Video testimonies of life change featured on campaign site conveyed impact of the church’s work and inspired support
We hope these ideas and case study insights stir your imagination for what your church can do. For more fundraising tips and wisdom, visit our blog that’s regularly updated with helpful resources and interviews with nonprofit leaders.
If you’re ready to get started with a fundraising platform, you can start a campaign today for free.
This post was originally published in 2017 and was updated in January 2024 for freshness and accuracy.
