When you realize fundraising has been a lifetime endeavor, it takes on a new perspective. We have all been influencing others to support our causes in countless ways from the earliest days.

From giving toothless grins as babies, we learned cuteness counts. When we reached for the candy dish as toddlers, we learned to showboat the event for extra rewards. Over a lifetime of peddling products from a magazine to pizzas for school fund drives and bake sales for youth group trips, I’ve learned a few tricks for tapping other resources.

Here’s the thing. It’s not about getting money from people but about enlisting them to join you in the adventure like the church did in Acts 2:42-47.

• Are the youth going to camp? Talk about the theme, topics, and growth anticipated.
• Are the women planning a retreat? Mention their need for a getaway from life’s routines in order to foster community.
• Does your church desire to build a gymnasium? Let people construct camaraderie while dreaming of lives touched through the art of play.

When you cast the vision for your project, you provide the narrative for the storyline. Write others into your story arc by telling them why you’re invested in it. Use the 5 Ws & an H to fill out the information.

Here are the answers to those questions from our Uganda Team:

Where: Eye Clinics to Uganda, East Africa

Who: Names of team members and Why they want to go

What: To provide eyeglasses, readers & sunglasses to about 1,000 people

When: January 2025

How: Donations of new clothing, used glasses, school supplies, sample size shampoos, and health aids to hand out.

Your passion fuels the story. Let others see your excitement and catch your enthusiasm. Put the fun into fundraising through your advertising by poking fun at your event.

• When we host Spaghetti Dinners, we use memes of meatballs rolling away to the whimsical tune of “On Top of Spaghetti.”
• Promos for our garage sale joke about overloaded trucks and bulging carts.
• Our Chocolate Fest boasted of the Golden Ticket from Willie Wonka’s Chocolate Factory.

Let your contagious joy infect others as you spread the word of your event and purpose. Infuse people with infectious laughter as you bring the fun.

Speaking of fun, why not have a contest while you’re at it?

• The winner of our Popcorn Sales gets bragging rights.
• The winners at our sale’s Dump Your Junk Party compete for The Most Bizarre Item and The Best in Shape for Its Age Item. They win two scoop cones at our local shoppe.
• The winner of our Calendar Sales Campaign for a candidate for MS Stem Cell Transplant won the calendar of their choice.

One year the pastor had to kiss a pig at VBS if the kids met their challenge. You can bet I didn’t want a kiss from my hubby after that celebration!

Think outside the box to make your contest appealing – a homemade pie, car detailing, or dinner with your family can entice more participation.

What types of fundraisers work? Try things that resonate with your team so all work together to get it off the ground.

Rock-a-Thon (sponsors donate per hours you stay in a rocking chair. Breaks permitted!), Spaghetti Dinner for the community, Carnival, Bottle & Can Drive, Quarter Drive (hand out plastic M&Ms tubes and ask people to turn them in filled with quarters), Bake Sale outside of a local store (some stores will donate to the cause), Craft Show (charge per table for vendors to sell their items. Sell concessions.), Chicken & Biscuit Dinner, sell Church Cookbooks, Worship Team Concert & Offering, Baked Goods for Thanksgiving Dinner (pies & breads), Basket Raffle with donations from businesses, Calendar Sales (https://www.promocalendarsdirect.com/)

More ideas for brainstorming: https://www.classy.org/blog/fundraising-event-ideas-raise-money-cause/

It may take a while to gain momentum, so be prepared to advertise months in advance. Most of all, keep it relational. When you include others in your story, they will take ownership and partner with you in your venture.

One more story. Our church issued a Backpack Challenge for members to fill backpacks with school supplies. One little girl turned in hers with a request. She had added clothes her size for another girl to have for the first days of school. Our youth pastor agreed to pray for that specific recipient. Later that week, she received a call from a local agency. Guess what they asked for? Yep, that specific size was needed for a little girl! Two gals learned about the power of prayer and that God cares about the details, when one responded to a fundraiser.

The next time you’re worried about being too salesy, remember who you’re serving and bring along the shenanigans!

How will you add fun to your fundraising?

Sally