Many churches rely on congregants’ generosity to fund programs, pay staff, and serve their communities. Without a strategy, even the best intentions can fall flat.
A strong church fundraising strategy goes beyond collecting donations. It helps your church plan ahead, manage resources wisely, and involve your members in meaningful ways. A thorough plan allows you to build a culture of generosity and inspire faith-led giving among every age group, from young children to older members!
In this guide, we’ll explore key steps for crafting a fundraising strategy that supports your church’s growth, engages your community, and strengthens your ministry.
1. Assess your church’s needs and capacity.
Before launching a new initiative, take stock of what you hope to achieve and what resources you have available. This foundational step ensures your fundraising goals are grounded in your church’s broader mission and are realistic given your current capacity. Here are some initial actions to take:
- Conduct an internal audit to identify top funding priorities such as youth programs, building improvements, or community outreach. Be specific about which areas are under-resourced or expanding.
- Assess your volunteer base, current fundraising capacity, technology (e.g., giving platforms), and communications channels. Consider whether you have the internal expertise to launch and sustain new fundraising efforts or if you’ll need to hire a fundraising consultant.
- Create a detailed budget to clarify how much funding you need and for which initiatives. Distinguish between one-time and recurring financial needs.
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Knowing where you’re starting allows you to plan for greater impact and align leadership around top fundraising priorities.
2. Set strategic and spiritual goals.
Clear goals will build a firm foundation for your church’s fundraising. You’ll want aspirational yet achievable financial objectives that also support your ministries. Doing so helps your congregation see giving as an extension of their faith, not just a transaction.
Tie goals to specific ministries or outcomes. Here are some examples:
- Raise $5,000 to cover a year of Sunday school curriculum.
- Raise $2,500 monthly to stock our food pantry for community members in need.
- Raise $10,000 to fund a mission trip for six people to Southeast Asia.
- Raise $3,500 to launch a new women’s ministry Bible study and fellowship program.
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Consider both short-term and long-term goals, such as raising money for a new building while maintaining steady tithes for ongoing ministry work. By tying contributions to faith, your church can position giving as a joyful act of worship.
3. Create online giving opportunities.
Set up an online giving page to start collecting donations year-round. Digital giving increases donor convenience and provides your church with a reliable stream of support.
To create an easy online giving experience, you can:
- Add suggested donation amounts to guide giving levels and offer context (e.g., “$30 buys 4 Bibles.”)
- Limit the number of required fields to streamline the giving process.
- Use fundraising technology that enables text-to-tithe. Then, display the link, fundraising phone number, and keyword—or a QR code—during services, in bulletins, and on your church website.
- Highlight recurring giving options to make regular contributions more convenient.
- Allow donors to check a box to cover transaction fees so they can maximize the amount that goes to your church.
- Remove unnecessary distractions like pop-ups or cluttered visuals so donors stay focused.
A well-designed donation page reduces barriers so supporters can give easily, confidently, and joyfully. When your online giving experience is user-friendly, it reflects your commitment to stewardship.
4. Choose church-appropriate fundraisers.
Not every fundraiser fits every faith community. Select ideas that resonate with your congregation and are easy to run. Here are a few fundraisers that work well for many churches:
- Cookie dough fundraiser: This classic fundraiser is simple to organize and widely loved. Congregants order tubs of gourmet cookie dough, and your church keeps part of the profits. Selling cookie dough is an especially good fit for youth groups and family-oriented ministries.
- Peer-to-peer fundraiser: Members of your congregation will create personalized fundraising pages and share them with friends and family. This type of fundraiser encourages people to share their testimonies and spreads awareness beyond your church.
- Fun run: Encourage healthy activity and fellowship with a race. Charge a reasonable registration fee, and open up registration to your entire community to reach new potential members, too!
- Discount card fundraiser: Work with local businesses to offer exclusive discounts with a custom discount card. You’ll earn revenue on each card sold. ABC Fundraising’s guide to church fundraising explains that you can send a wishlist of companies to your discount card fundraising provider to handle the negotiating for you!
The most successful fundraisers resonate with your church’s unique culture, energize your congregation, offer strong returns, and allow you to serve your congregation and community well.
5. Empower your leadership and volunteers.
Fundraising should be a team effort. Equip your finance committee, ministry leaders, and church volunteers to play active roles like writing solicitation letters, sharing campaign updates, or organizing outreach events. Here’s how:
- Create templates for leaders and volunteers to solicit donations. Provide sample scripts, email templates, and phone outreach guides. Fundraising Letters suggests personalizing your asks based on each member’s giving history. You’ll also want to weave scriptural encouragement into fundraising messages to reinforce the spiritual impact of generosity.
- Involve church leadership in communicating fundraising goals from the pulpit or during committee meetings. Leadership support lends authority to your efforts and inspires broader congregational support.
- Create roles for volunteers to contribute based on their strengths, whether graphic design, event planning, data entry, or outreach. Matching skills with needs empowers volunteers to serve in meaningful ways.
When leadership and volunteers feel equipped, they become powerful advocates for your church’s mission. Offering meaningful contribution opportunities helps foster a culture of shared responsibility and joyful service.
With a thoughtful and faith-aligned fundraising strategy, your church can sustain its vital ministries while building deeper community support. As your fundraising efforts take shape, remember to pray over your plans, listen to congregational feedback, and continually adjust your approach. Stewardship is a journey of growth for your church, your members, and your shared mission.
