Here are some ideas for fundraisers and tips on how to hold them:

• Bake sale: Volunteers bake and sell various goods, such as cakes, cookies, bread, and pies. These events are easy to organize and manage, relying on the baking skills of the community. A primary advantage is their low start-up cost; ingredients are usually inexpensive, and many items can be made at home. This contributes to high-profit margins, as baked goods can be sold at a price significantly higher than the production cost.
• Car wash: Car washes are a popular choice for individual fundraising, especially during warmer seasons when the demand for vehicle cleaning is high. They offer a high profit margin since the service costs are generally low compared to the fees charged. Car washes provide excellent visibility in the community, often set up in busy locations, and foster community engagement. They require a substantial number of volunteers and specific equipment, which might incur additional costs. For a successful car wash, choosing a visible and accessible location is crucial, as is effective promotion through channels like social media. Using quality cleaning supplies ensures customer satisfaction, and offering additional services can boost profits. Creating a fun atmosphere with music and refreshments can enhance the experience. Pre-selling tickets or coupons can help manage participation and reduce wait times, while having a backup plan for bad weather ensures smooth operations.
• Cookbook sale: A cookbook sale is where community members compile a cookbook with their favorite recipes. The cookbooks, featuring a range of beloved recipes, can be sold within the community and beyond. By marketing the cookbooks through various channels, including social media and community events, you can effectively reach a wider audience and boost sales, turning family recipes into a tool for community building and fundraising.
• Craft fair: Hosting a craft fair involves setting up booths that local artisans can rent to showcase and sell their handcrafted items. It provides a platform for artists and crafters within the congregation and the broader community to display their talents, ranging from handmade jewelry and pottery to textiles and paintings.
• Flower sale: A flower sale is a charming and visually appealing fundraising event, where flowers and plants are sold, often in collaboration with a local nursery. This event not only offers a beautiful array of botanicals for purchase but also supports MTI’s fundraising efforts. By partnering with a nursery, the church can provide a wide variety of flowers and plants, catering to different tastes and preferences. This type of sale is particularly effective during seasonal events like Easter, Mother’s Day, or spring and summer festivals, as flowers are popular gifts and home decorations during these times. It’s an opportunity for the community to brighten their homes and gardens while contributing to a good cause.
• Golf tournament: Organizing a charity golf tournament is a sophisticated and enjoyable fundraising idea. By hosting this event, you can invite members and local golf enthusiasts to participate in a day of sport, with entry fees contributing to the fundraising efforts. Participants can enjoy the challenge of the game while supporting MTI. This type of event often appeals to a broad audience. A well-organized golf tournament may include additional fundraising activities like raffles or auctions.
• Garage sale: Garage sales offer a low-cost way to raise funds while allowing community members to declutter. They are easy to organize with minimal upfront costs and help foster community engagement by bringing people together. The income potential is limited by the quantity and quality of the items for sale, so strategic planning, such as choosing a high-traffic area and pricing items attractively, is crucial for success. Garage sales also provide an opportunity for social interaction and can create a friendly atmosphere with additional offerings like refreshments.
• Movie night: Movie nights invite attendees to enjoy a family-friendly film in a community setting. This low-cost, inclusive event is ideal for all ages, generating funds through entry donations and sales of refreshments and merchandise. When planning, it’s important to consider film licensing and weather conditions for outdoor viewings, along with robust promotion to ensure a good turnout.
• Pancake breakfast: Hosting a pancake breakfast invites friends and the wider community to enjoy a warm, delicious breakfast together, fostering fellowship and connection. Typically, these events are family-friendly and can draw a large crowd, especially when combined with other activities.
• Photo contest: Organizing a photo contest is a creative and visually engaging fundraising idea. By setting an entry fee, this event encourages budding and experienced photographers alike to showcase their talents. Participants submit their best photographs, which are then displayed in an exhibition, creating a gallery-like experience. It offers a platform for artists to gain recognition within the community, while attendees enjoy the visual feast and perhaps find inspiration in the captured moments.
• Puzzle challenge: The puzzle challenge is an inventive and intellectually stimulating fundraising event, where teams gather to complete puzzles within a set time frame, with sponsorship for their efforts. This event brings a unique blend of teamwork, problem-solving, and fun, as participants work together to solve intricate puzzles, all in the spirit of raising funds for MTI. It’s an ideal activity for all ages, encouraging cooperation and a bit of friendly competition. Sponsors can either donate a set amount or pledge per puzzle completed, making it a dynamic and engaging way to support the church’s initiatives.
• Raffles: In a raffle, participants buy tickets for a chance to win various prizes, which can be donated by individuals or local businesses, or purchased by the organizer. Proceeds from ticket sales contribute to various programs and initiatives. While easy to organize and enjoyable, it’s important to be mindful of any potential concerns regarding gambling in a community context. Success in raffles involves selecting appealing prizes, pricing tickets affordably, effectively promoting the event within the community, and adhering to legal requirements. Accurate record-keeping of sales and winners, followed by a timely and public announcement of results, ensures a transparent and successful raffle event.
• Read-a-thon: A read-a-thon is an engaging and educational fundraising event designed to inspire a love for reading among participants, especially kids, while raising funds. In this event, participants seek sponsors who pledge a certain amount of money for each book or page they read over a set period. This fundraiser not only encourages literacy and learning but also actively involves both youth and adults in the community. Participants can explore a variety of genres and topics, making reading both a personal growth experience and a communal effort towards a fundraising goal. It’s an innovative way to combine the joy of reading with the spirit of giving, fostering a sense of accomplishment and community contribution among all who participate.
• Recipe contest: A recipe contest is a fun and interactive way to engage others in a culinary challenge, while also serving as an effective fundraising event. Participants pay an entry fee to submit their best dishes, which are then judged and can also be sold to attendees. This event not only showcases the cooking talents within the community but also creates an opportunity for members to share and enjoy a variety of homemade delicacies. It’s a perfect blend of competition and camaraderie. The recipe contest can be themed or open to all types of cuisine, making it a versatile and inclusive event. This approach to fundraising is particularly appealing because it combines the joy of cooking and eating with the spirit of giving, creating a memorable experience for all involved.
• Silent auction: Silent auctions are an engaging and effective individual fundraising method where bids are discreetly written rather than announced. These auctions feature items donated by community members and local businesses, ranging from handmade crafts to gift vouchers, creating a diverse and appealing selection. This low-pressure, family-friendly format is ideal for involving the entire community. While silent auctions generally foster a relaxed atmosphere, their success hinges on effective organization and promotion to ensure a good turnout. Assigning values to items and managing the auction process can be challenging, requiring careful planning and categorization. Key to success includes early donation solicitation, strategic item organization, clear communication about bidding processes, and heartfelt acknowledgment of donors’ contributions, all contributing to a successful and meaningful fundraising event.
• Spaghetti dinner: Hosting a spaghetti dinner invites friends and the wider community to enjoy a warm, delicious dinner together, fostering fellowship and connection. Typically, these events are family-friendly and can draw a large crowd, especially when combined with other activities.
• Trivia nights: Trivia nights are an interactive way to fundraise. During these events, teams compete by answering questions on various topics, adding a fun and competitive element to fundraising. Funds are raised through ticket sales, sponsorships, and donations, with participants and sponsors contributing to the cause. While organizing a trivia night requires substantial planning and coordination, and may incur notable costs depending on the event’s scale, the benefits include bringing people together in a social setting and raising funds in an enjoyable manner. Successful trivia nights often feature a mix of question difficulties, appealing prizes, and refreshments, all contributing to an engaging and memorable community event.
• Walk-a-thon: A walk-a-thon fundraiser is where donors pledge for participants to complete a specific distance or number of laps. Participants create individual donation collection pages and share them online with friends and family. They might include their connection to MTI, helping build trust and emotional appeal with potential donors. This fundraiser can be especially successful when participants want to set a walkathon goal. Walk-a-thon donors can use their donations to support participants in two ways:

1. 1. Helping participants reach a set goal: In this method, participants have already decided how many laps or miles they will walk, and are asking donors to support the process through donations. When they reach the milestone, they might continue to collect donations while keeping their goal the same.
   2. Setting a goal for participants: Alternatively, participants might choose not to establish a plan until the event day. Instead, they will encourage their friends and loved ones to sponsor them and use the amount they earn to determine how far they walk.