Profitable Fund Raising Ideas for Your Church

Churches have expenses, just like any other business. There's the mortgage payment and the utilities, maintenance & upkeep, staff salaries, library & printed material, special ministries and all sorts of other costs that need to be funded in some way. And where does this money come from? Usually collections are sufficient to cover these costs, but for times that they aren't, the Ladies Guild or Men's Club will step forward to organize a fund raiser.

A fund raiser is a great way to raise a lot of money in a short period of time. Fund raisers can be simple or complicated; the revenue generated is limited only by the amount of time and effort your club has to contribute to the event.

Rummage sale

Rummage sales are standard fund raisers for many churches. Parishioners donate their junk, volunteers spend a week sorting them and arranging the merchandise on tables, and then sell it on Friday & Saturday. Our ladies' group has been doing rummage sales for years and netting around $2000 with every sale.

To up the profits, add a few variations to the rummage sale. Instead of selling other people's rummage, invite the congregation to sell their own stuff in the church parking lot. This type of sale is more like a flea market and draws in hundreds of buyers. Charge each vendor $20 per parking lot stall and have the ladies group sell coffee, donuts, beverages and a light lunch.

Bake sales

Bake sales are another tried and true fund raising event. But, instead of just cookies and cakes, why not add casserole dishes and specialty breads to the menu? Our group makes up casseroles in 8 x 8 foil pans and sells them between $7-10. Casserole sales are highly profitable and easy to do. To solicit donations, our group hands out foil pans after church along with suggested recipes. Bake & casserole sales are usually the most profitable when held a week or two before major holidays.

Quilt Raffle

Quilt raffles are quite popular in our area and will generate anywhere between $500-1000 in donations. Every congregation has a least a handful of women who quilt; many are more than delighted to create quilts for a worthy cause. Sell the raffle tickets after church for several weeks to earn the most possible revenue.

Have a Bingo night!

Bingo is a great way to raise money and draws in a huge crowd of players. Ask for prizes from the business owners in your congregation; prizes can be as elaborate as a dinner for two or as simple as a beanie bear or $10 gift card. Charge 25¢ per card per game; to up the profits, sell homemade desserts & beverages during the event.

Holiday Bazaar

This is the time to gather up those volunteers and craft away! Make up batches of homemade jam, casseroles, and baked goods, even "recipe in a jar" concoctions or handmade candy. Tea cozies and pot holders, crocheted beanies, jewelry and homemade candles all sell well at church bazaars.

If you have a large fellowship hall or gym, the bazaar can be opened up to other vendors and parishioners who can "rent" a space for the week. Typically, our church charges $50 per space which brings in an easy $1500.

Have a pancake breakfast

Begin holding monthly Sunday pancake breakfasts. A pancake breakfast is inexpensive and easy to do, and gives the congregation a chance to visit before Sunday morning services. A pancake breakfast doesn't have to be elaborate; a couple of pancakes, some link sausage and orange juice is all you really need. If you don't like the idea of charging for a Sunday morning meal, suggest a donation instead.

Using these ideas, the ladies and men's groups in our church coordinate about six fund raising events apiece. These events provide a significant source of funding in our church for special programs, in a way that is fun and relatively easy. With careful planning and a pool of willing volunteers, your church should be able to do the same.