18 church fundraising ideas that actually work

Every church has smaller ministries (choirs, Sunday schools, the youth group) that could use a boost. Create a few separate online donation pages or peer-to-peer fundraising efforts.

A little friendly competition between youth group members or choir teams can bring energy and joy. Share milestones and photos on social media, then celebrate during your next church service.

This one multiplies your impact. Members of your congregation set up personal giving pages connected to your main fundraiser and share them with friends and loved ones.

It’s a simple form of crowdfunding that turns small networks into big results. The more stories people tell, the wider your reach grows.

This old-school idea still charms. Church members deliver songs, baked goods, or small gifts for donations.

Your church’s youth group can turn it into a fun outreach project, singing carols, sharing candles, or passing out homemade treats. Ask everyone to promote it on social media and tag your church website for online giving links.

Everyone loves a search, especially kids. Host a family-friendly scavenger hunt or Easter egg hunt in your church parking lot or local park. Charge a small entry fee or suggest a donation, and award gift cards or church merch (like t-shirts!) as prizes. It’s an easy fundraising event that draws in new faces and builds community.

Of all the church fundraising event ideas, this one is a classic. Pick a day for a potluck dinner—it can be on a specific day of the week, like Shabbat, or a holiday, like Easter Sunday.

A potluck is one of the best ways to raise money while you chat about the food with whoever made it, and if you’re lucky, maybe they’ll share their family recipes.

To raise money, charge a small fee for the event or charge per dish. Or ask people to donate what they would have spent eating out at a local restaurant. You could also introduce a friendly competition or a cook-off to raise more funds and draw a crowd, with attendees paying to vote for their favorite dish.

Church fundraising events don’t always need to be high-energy. You can host a conference to share your faith with others and inspire them to contribute to funding lectures, talks, and panels with a donation for admission. The church youth groups can volunteer and help with setup. Sell tickets or ask for small donations at the door.

You can record videos of the workshops or live streams and best talks and add them to your temple, synagogue, mosque, or church website. To raise funds, make them accessible for a small donation to your GoFundMe fundraiser.

Every nonprofit knows the power of Giving Tuesday. Encourage your congregation to join the movement with a focused day of giving. Use email, church live streams, and social media posts to spread the word. Even small recurring donations add up fast when your community gives together.

Ask families to share their best dishes and turn them into a cookbook.

You can then sell the cookbook after Sunday services on your church’s online giving page and put the money towards your fundraising goal. If you have a small church congregation, why not broaden your target market by selling the recipe book to others in your local community during the holiday season?

A great church fundraising idea that never gets old. They are also an excellent way to get to know your congregation even better. Everyone has a hidden talent, and most people don’t need much of a push to show theirs off!

Set up a talent show at your church and invite people to sign up and perform. Charge the audience a small entrance fee to take part. Before you know it, you will have raised a bunch of money and have thrown a fun, community-building event in aid of a good cause.

Good weather, good food, good cause. Host a BBQ fundraiser in the church parking lot, and invite neighbors from local businesses. Charge a small entrance fee, sell tickets for food, and make it family-friendly with trivia or board games for different age groups.

Everyone loves a movie marathon. Grab the popcorn and a beloved trilogy, and you are all set! You can even make your movie night themed and encourage people to dress up like characters in the film that you are screening. Pick a family favorite, add snacks and baked goods, and charge an entry fee.

Post about it on social media to draw in members who might not attend regular Sunday services. Then all that’s left to do is watch the donations roll in (and the film, of course).

Ask your congregation to donate gently used items.
Host the sale in your church parking lot or front lawn, and add a snack table for good measure.

You can even create donation pages so people who can’t attend can still contribute online.

Don’t have anything to sell in a yard sale? Don’t panic, you can always bake your way to meet your fundraising goal. Encourage your congregation to get their aprons on after church service, contribute one baked good each, and have yourself a bake sale. From baked goods to take-home and bake kits, it’s a delicious way to bring people together in person.

Why not team up with other local businesses to sell your cakes at their events, and bring your bake sale to a wider audience?

Most people hate washing their cars. Take away their stress and raise funds at the same time. Host a car wash in your church parking lot and ask members of the congregation to pick up a sponge and get scrubbing. Advertise the car wash in the weeks before in local cafes, the local press, and online. Youth group members love this one! Charge a small fee per car and play uplifting music while you work. It’s simple, in-person, and always a hit.

Gaming is becoming increasingly popular and is a great way to raise funds. Host a family-friendly games night and incorporate video and board games. Participants can pay to play and compete against each other for a prize. Charge a small entry fee for the friendly competition. Prize ideas could be a jar of sweets, gift cards, or a voucher. Better yet, partner with local businesses and local restaurants, asking them to donate prizes for the winners. It’s fellowship and fundraising rolled into one.

Collect toys or shoes for children in need—especially before the holidays.

Promote it through church live streams and social media. Combine the drive with an optional online giving link for those who’d rather donate cash. It’s easy fundraising with real impact.

A fun way to rally your local community is to host a walk-a-thon challenge. Participants can raise money to walk a set distance or have people sponsor per mile. It’s an effective fundraising strategy and gets people more active in the wider community. Charge a small entry fee for those wanting to take part and encourage donations by sharing on your social media.

A silent auction is one of the best in-person church fundraising event ideas. You can partner with local businesses to provide items to auction or send outreach to your church members and youth group, asking them to provide services others can bid on. For example, an elderly community might need some help with gardening, or a young family would be interested in a spot of babysitting.

Create a list of all of the auction items, and your community can submit sealed bids on how much they’re willing to spend. You can announce the winners during Sunday service or on social media as another opportunity to promote your donation page.