Best 20 Unique Church Profitable Fundraiser Ideas

Raising funds for your church outside of the normal weekly giving can be challenging, to say the least. You have to get creative. You have to think big. You have to consider how to get lots of people involved.

To help you in the process, here are 20 of the best church fundraiser ideas.

1. Virtual Auctions

A virtual auction can be a great way to raise funds for your church. You can ask local businesses and members of your congregation to donate items or services for the auction. Use an online platform like Zoom or Facebook Live to host the event and encourage people to bid on items.

To make it more engaging, you can also involve members of your church to showcase their talents. For example, a member who is good at baking can offer a batch of homemade cookies or a member who is good at carpentry can offer to build a custom piece of furniture.

2. Community Yard Sale

Organize a community yard sale where members of your church and the local community can donate items to sell. This is an excellent way to declutter and raise funds for your church at the same time. You can also offer refreshments and snacks to entice more shoppers.

The only caveat to this idea is that you want to ensure that people don't donate junk to sell. If this happens, you'll be stuck with a bunch of leftover items that you have to get rid of. So, make sure to communicate clearly what items are acceptable to donate and what are not.

3 Digital Or Physical Cookbook

Collect recipes from members of your congregation and compile them into a digital or physical cookbook that you can sell at a reasonable price. You can also add photos of the dishes along with personal anecdotes or stories related to each recipe.

This idea not only raises funds but also gives insight into the lives of each person who contributes to the cookbook. This can, in turn, create a sense of community around the cookbook and give people even more reason to buy it.

4. Car Wash

A classic church fundraising idea, a car wash is an easy way to raise funds for your church. You can set up in a parking lot or at a local gas station and ask for donations in exchange for washing cars. Enlist the help of volunteers from your congregation and make it a fun event for everyone involved.

If the temperature is high, make sure to provide plenty of drinks for your volunteers to keep them well-hydrated. You could also sell concessions and drinks as a way of making additional funds for your church! 

5. Movie Night

Host a movie night in the church hall or outdoor space and ask for donations from attendees. You can show a family-friendly movie and sell snacks, drinks, and popcorn to raise additional funds. This is a great way to bring families together and have fun while supporting your church.

You could even make it a themed event, such as a Disney movie night or a classic movie marathon, to add some excitement and attract more attendees. To add even more fun to the night, invite people to dress up as their favorite characters from the movie that's being shown. This gets people even more invested in the night.

6. Charity Concert

A charity concert is another outstanding way to raise funds for your church. Reach out to local musicians or bands and ask them to perform for your cause. You can sell tickets to the concert and also have a concession stand with snacks and drinks. 

In addition, you can ask for donations at the event or set up a table with merchandise from your church, such as t-shirts or mugs, that attendees can purchase. This not only raises funds but also spreads awareness about your church and its mission.

7. Talent Show

Host a talent show at your church and invite members of the congregation to showcase their skills. It could be singing, dancing, or any other talent they have. You can charge an entry fee for participants and also sell tickets to the event. 

To make it more exciting, you can have a panel of judges and award prizes to the top performers. This is a great way to bring people together and showcase the talents within your community while also raising funds for your church.

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8. Raffles and Prize Drawings

Raffles and prize drawings are a fun and interactive way to raise funds for your church. Reach out to local businesses and ask them to donate items or gift cards that can be used as prizes. Then, sell tickets for the raffle at your church or even online.

You can also hold a 50/50 drawing where half of the proceeds go toward the winner and the other half goes to your church. This encourages more people to participate and can potentially raise even more funds.

9. Fun Run Or Walkathon

Organize a fun run or walkathon for your church community. Participants can collect pledges from friends and family, or you can charge an entry fee. Not only is this a great way to raise funds, but it also promotes physical activity and brings people together for a common cause.

You can even have different categories such as a 5K run, a 1-mile walk, or a family-friendly fun run. To make the event more festive, you can offer prizes for the top fundraisers or have a post-event celebration with food and music.

10. Bake Sale

Bake sales are a classic and effective way to raise funds for your church. Encourage members of the congregation to bake and donate their favorite treats, such as cookies, cakes, or pies. Then, hold the sale after a church service or on a designated day.

You can also have a themed bake sale, such as holiday-themed treats for Christmas or Valentine's Day. Don't forget to promote the sale on social media and in your community to attract a larger crowd.

11. Themed Dinner or Banquet

Put together a themed dinner or banquet for your church community. This can be anything from a spaghetti night to a fancy gala event. Sell tickets for the dinner and have multiple options, such as individual tickets or tables for larger groups.

You can also add in extras like a silent auction or raffle during the event to raise even more funds. For extra fun, decorate and add in some entertainment, such as music or a guest speaker.

12. Bingo Night

Bingo nights are a fun and easy way to raise funds for your church. You can sell bingo cards or have participants pay to play each round. You can offer prizes for the winners, such as gift baskets or gift cards donated by local businesses.

You can also add in extra ways to raise funds during the event, such as a 50/50 raffle or selling snacks and drinks. Make it a family-friendly event by offering a kids' bingo game with age-appropriate prizes.

13. Craft Fair

Host a craft fair or market for members of your church to sell their handmade goods. This is a great opportunity for people with different skills, such as knitting, painting, or woodworking, to showcase and sell their creations.

Charge vendors a small fee for their booth space and promote the event in your community to attract shoppers. You can also have food and drinks available for purchase to add to the festive atmosphere.

14. Trivia Night

Trivia nights are a fun, low-stakes way to raise money for your church. You can have teams pay to participate, and provide prizes for the winners. You can also sell drinks and snacks to raise even more funds.

Make it a themed trivia night, such as pop culture or Bible trivia, to attract a specific audience. And don't forget to promote the event beforehand to ensure a good turnout.

15. Escape Room

This one takes a little more work but can be great fun for all involved. Transform a room in your church into an escape room, where participants have to solve puzzles and clues to "escape" within a time limit.

Charge teams or individuals to participate, and offer prizes for those who successfully complete the challenge. You can also sell tickets for spectators to watch and cheer on their friends and family members.

16. Game Night

To raise funds for your church, consider putting together a game night with a variety of activities, such as board games, card games, and group games like charades or Pictionary. You can charge a small admission fee and also sell snacks and drinks to raise money.

You can up the stakes by having a prize for the winner of each game. Don't forget to have plenty of options for all ages, so families can come and enjoy the event together.

17. Pancake Breakfast

Everyone loves pancakes, right? So why not tap into this while also raising money for your church? Host a pancake breakfast and charge for entry, with all proceeds going towards your church.

You can also offer different toppings or add-ons for an extra fee, such as chocolate chips or fresh fruit. Make sure to offer gluten-free options to cater to all dietary needs.

18. Read-A-Thon

This is a great way to get kids interested in reading and simultaneously raise funds for your church. Set a goal for the number of books or pages to be read, and have participants gather sponsors who will donate money per book or page completed.

You can also include fun challenges or rewards for reaching certain milestones, such as a pizza party for the top readers.  

19. Matching Gift Challenge

If you have individuals or businesses in your church who are willing to match donations, this can be a game changer. A matching gift challenge is a great way to motivate donors to give more, as their donation will be matched by another donor or organization. This can encourage friendly competition and lead to a higher overall fundraising amount for your church.

Promote the challenge through various channels, such as social media and email, and track the progress along the way. This can also be a great opportunity to recognize and thank your matching gift donors for their generosity. 

20. Community Carnival

Finally, consider hosting a community carnival at your church as way of raising money. This can include games, food vendors, and entertainment. Charge a small admission fee and also sell tickets for activities and food. You can also offer sponsorship opportunities to local businesses in exchange for advertising at the event.

This is not only a fun way to bring your community together, but it can also be a great fundraiser for your church.