Church fundraising ideas

The best ideas for church fundraisers build on the deep connections that congregations foster. These include community cook-offs, service days, or peer-to-peer fundraising campaigns, in which individuals create online donation pages and ask for support from friends and family members to fund certain programs. 

Most places of worship sustain their mission through consistent donations, sometimes called tithes, from members of the congregation. Churches may also have multiple fundraising drives and events throughout the year, including rummage sales, silent auctions, and family-friendly activities that charge a small fee, in addition to in-kind donations and investments.

Many verses throughout the Bible promote various acts of giving—whether that be through sharing kindness, service, or prosperity. One example is in 2 Corinthians 9:6, which states, “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.”

The easiest ways to raise funds for your church are those that your team has the skill, resources, and motivation to host and encourage others to take part in—book or bake sales, postcard drives, you name it. Additionally, a source of passive income for many churches is through renting out their space to other groups in the community.

Beyond passing the plate on Sunday morning, church fundraising events that bring in the most funds are either large-scale events, like a 24-hour social media livestream marathon, or exciting and time-specific campaigns like “Raise The Roof” or “Bail Out The Pastor” challenges.