Christian Fundraiser

Christian fundraisers can serve a variety of needs, from capital campaigns for the erection of a new church building or complex, to fundraisers to meet the needs of an organization within the church. When a program involves building a new church, it is often necessary to hire outside consultants. Their job is to work with members to help them determine who within the community might be able to give sizable gifts toward the project, then get the rest of the members to pledge enough over a three to five year period of time to cover the remaining cost. This usually entails several meetings with members and the architects before a good plan is outlined.

The most common program is the church bazaar. It is usually an annual event aimed at supplementing the Sunday collections with the funds going for routine operating costs throughout the year. These Christian fundraiser bazaars usually include a meal, music, and booths with various items for sale, and the public is invited. Often they include a raffle of some significant item that has been donated for this purpose. Years ago, it was common to see an automobile given away as a raffle prize, but today the raffle item is more likely to be a handmade quilt or motorbike. Because raffle tickets can be very inexpensive to obtain, and can be sold at a low cost, large numbers are sold for a substantial profit.

Auctions have increased in importance, and they are usually held in conjunction with the church bazaar. Businesses often donate something from their stores for Christian fundraisers, and individuals may offer homemade items, antiques, or white elephants that sell for prices much higher than their actual value because the buyer knows the money goes to the church. An example is a cake auction, where members donate homemade cakes, which are auctioned off. Many times, the person who buys the cake serves it at the auction to the other attendees. The costs for this type of Christian fundraiser are minimal, but they often generate a lot of interest and bring in substantial funds.

There are almost unlimited numbers of items available for smaller events. Products that can be sold for special projects (such as teens wanting to make a summer mission trip) and cover a wide range of products. A few Christian fundraisers are: holiday decorations, toys, kitchen utensils, cookbooks, cards, calendars, or books. This type of Christian fundraiser can be either a one-day event on the church grounds, or door-to-door sales, depending upon the community and the purpose of the event. These events may have stiff competition, especially in a small community. For that reason, any group or congregation would be well advised to pay attention to the items being promoted by others before beginning its campaign, and then search the Internet for something unique. But these events should never take the place of a Christian's giving to his church. Second Corinthians 9:7 gives us the standard for our giving: "Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver." Christian fundraisers, held in the right spirit and for the right purpose. can help us build up the church and reach more people for Christ.

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