Best Ways to Raise Money Fast

While churches are nonprofit organizations, they still need money to operate. Even if your church gets money from donations and tithes, sometimes it may not be enough to survive, which is why you need ways to raise money fast. 

Read on for great ideas to raise money for your church and other charitable causes!

Why Do Churches Need To Raise Money?

Churches need to raise money to pay for their operating expenses and activities. Here are some expenses commonly found in churches:

• Staff salary: A large part of a church’s budget goes to pay for the staff. Most churches have a senior pastor, worship leader, and youth pastor. Larger churches may have an administrative pastor overseeing their finances. 
• Building upkeep: Building maintenance is typically the second-highest expenditure in a church. Like any other organization with a building, churches need to pay for utilities, roof maintenance, and many other activities to keep the building in top shape. 
• Equipment maintenance: Modern-day churches need technology like microphones and projectors to conduct worship, which means you must pay equipment maintenance costs.
• Outreach and evangelism: A church serves its community through outreach programs like soup kitchens and prayer ministries. While outreach activities build goodwill in the community and encourage more people to join the church family, you need money to hold them.

Unfortunately, religious giving is in decline. People are less inclined to give to churches because they have other places to donate to. This decline in giving is why it’s important to find new ways to raise money. If churches rely completely on giving, there’s a good chance it won’t be enough to cover all their expenses.

How Can I Raise Money For A Cause?

You can raise money for a cause by borrowing money, asking for donations, and doing many other things. Some quick ways to raise money for a charity or cause include:

Borrow Money From Banks

Getting a bank loan is one of the fastest ways to raise money for your cause. Most nonprofits, like churches, can apply for small business loans to fund activities and pay operating costs. Make sure you choose a nonprofit-friendly bank because they’re more likely to provide loans.

Ask for Additional Donations

Ask for donations outside of tithes and offertories if your church needs them. State the purpose of your donation drive clearly in a letter to your church members, and send a thank-you message when they donate. Expand your reach by posting donation requests on your church’s social media page.

Apply for Grants

Many national organizations and private foundations support churches through faith-based grants. These grants help improve a specific aspect of your church, like Sunday school or outreach program grants. Research these organizations and apply for the grant most relevant to your church. 

Rent Out Your Church Hall

Renting your church hall to local communities is another great way to fundraise money. For extra income, you can offer additional decorating and cleaning services.

5 Quick Fundraising Ideas

Many church fundraiser activities aren’t mentioned in the Bible. Still, these fundraisers invoke Scripture, especially “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:6-7)

Church fundraising isn’t just about getting money – it’s also about creating bonds with the community. Here are five fundraising ideas to help your church gather money and bring the community together:

Bake Sales

Bake sales are one of the most common fundraiser methods for a reason. They’re typically very low-cost and allow your church members to put their cake and cookie recipes to good use. Moreover, you can organize a baking contest to draw more interest from community members looking to show their baking skills to the community.

Consider partnering with a local grocery store to sponsor the event and provide ingredients to the participants.

Community Events

Hosting community events is a great way to raise funds and unite the community. Charge for admission and seek sponsorships from local businesses to ensure you have the funds to make it happen. 

Some great community event ideas are:

• Church movie nights
• Local talent shows
• Christian music concerts
• Coffee mornings
• Holiday-themed events like Easter egg hunts
• Ticketed dinner events
• Benefit galas
• Christian karaoke nights

Use your church’s social media to invite people outside the local community, resulting in higher ticket sales. Additionally, you can livestream these events with Tithe.ly and include donation plates to raise money online.

Bottle and Can Drives

If your city pays for recyclables, bottle and can drives are a viable way to make money. Set up donation bins on your church premises and encourage church members to put their recyclables there. Eventually, you’ll have enough bottles and cans to sell to the city and make money. Doing this regularly also gives you the reputation of being an environmentally-conscious church.

Yard Sales and Auctions

Organizing a church yard sale is a great way to raise funds. Have your church members donate any furniture, clothing, or other things they don't use anymore, and sell them at a church yard sale. All the sales proceeds can go to your church, and you can donate any leftover items to the people who need them. 

Another great idea involving selling is an auction with items from local businesses. Including big-ticket items like appliances or electronics in your auction helps draw a larger crowd in.

Pop-Up Classes and Workshops

People love learning new things, and your churchgoers are no exception. Ask the help of local experts to hold one-day classes on painting, arts and crafts, carpentry, and other topics that may draw community members in. Charge participants an admission price to cover your teachers’ costs, while the rest of the proceeds go to church funds.

What Should I Do if I Don't Hit My Target in Time?

If you don’t hit your fundraising target in time, you must find other ways to raise money. Review your previous fundraising attempt and try these backup strategies:

Celebrate Your Fundraiser and Ask for Extra Donations

Send a message thanking everyone who donated, explaining how you fell short of the target and why this cause is so important to you. Then, include a donation link at the bottom of the message. If you’ve built enough goodwill during the fundraiser, people are more likely to give extra donations.

Do Another Fundraising Campaign

If possible, start planning another fundraiser. Learn from the previous one and address what caused you to fall short last time. Also, consider using another event concept so participants are more likely to sign up. 

Search for Donor Matches

Another viable option is to search for a donor match. Approach local companies and ask about them matching your donation. If you’re at least halfway to your goal, a donor match will help you cross the finish line.

Conclusion

Fundraisers are one of the best ways to make money for a cause, including your church. Additionally, fundraisers build goodwill for your church and bring the community together. Make sure you choose the fundraising method that fits your community to guarantee success.