How to Raise Money for Church Mission Trips

Setting a monetary goal is an important step to raising money for church mission trips.

Fundraising is a time-tested method of gathering the necessary funds to finance a particular cause or group trip. There are a number of avenues you can pursue to raise money for church mission trips, including soliciting donations from independent contributors that are tax deductible. You must form a clear plan for your church mission trip so that you can present the information to potential contributors in a concise manner that you can easily explain. Once you have a vivid picture of your mission and fundraising goal, you can implement any number of fundraising methods.

Instructions

1. Calculate the amount of money you will need to finance your church mission trip. Often, mission trip organizers and charitable organizations will provide a cost estimate for travel and housing. You should decide on how many people will go to the mission trip, as well as what it will cost to feed each person during the experience. Once you calculate costs for travel, housing, food and miscellaneous costs per person, you can figure out the total amount needed to send everyone on a mission trip.

2. Create a money-raising goal for your church with a clear end date. You can use this deadline as a method for asking people to donate. Setting goals and deadlines will also motivate everyone involved in raising money by giving them something for which to work.

3. Create an information pamphlet or piece of paper to hand to prospective donors to inform them about the mission trip you are trying to organize. If a person understands exactly what your goals are for the mission trip, she may be more likely to donate.

4. Develop a list of prospective contributors that will assist you in your monetary goals. You should divide the list into "definite contributors" and "possible contributors." Approach those who are "definite contributors" on a personal basis in order to collect a donation that is both monetarily significant and comfortable for them.

5. Notify the church congregation of your mission trip fundraising goal. You can ask church members to ask friends and family for donations in order for mission volunteers to work. Provide mission trip fundraising materials to anyone who asks for them.

6. Provide incentives for the person who donates the most amount of money to the trip or the person who raises the most money. Cash prizes, gift certificates or other items may create a push to raise more money for the trip.

References

• The Go Foundation: Fundraising--Steps to Raise Money
• Simple Fundraising: Fundraising for Mission Trips