Regardless of the church fundraiser idea for youth you go with, remember to keep your youth group members involved. And whenever possible, let them lead the charge. There are a few motivational strategies you can employ to help get the most out of your group.
Create Incentives
Besides fundraising for an important ministry, assume your youth want to do the thing they are raising money for. But don’t take for granted that everyone will equally excited and motivated.
While some members may be thrilled to be a part of the ministry you’re planning, the actual church youth fundraisers idea may not be their cup of tea. Sometimes a nudge in the right direction can go a long way. Even for youth who are working extra hard to raise money, minor incentives can only help.
This doesn’t have to be something elaborate or expensive. It could be as simple as making sure all the youth working at an event also get free popcorn and drinks. Using a small amount of funds to host a catered social event to celebrate a fundraising milestone can go a long way to keeping spirits and energy levels up.
2. Have Fun
Fundraising doesn’t have to be a grueling exercise. Although raising money for your ministry is the priority, make choices that create engaging and exciting events. Focus on fun fundraising ideas for church youth groups.
This may seem like common sense, but it’s particularly important when working with teenagers. You want them to stay engaged and motivated. Putting the “fun” in “fundraising” will help them do so.
3. Use It as an Opportunity to Teach and Learn
Fundraising should be fun, but it can also be spiritually meaningful. There are many lessons that can be drawn from service projects. They might be about hard work, dedication, teamwork, sacrificing for others and many other lessons.
Be prepared to incorporate scriptural references, as you would with any other ministry. For instance, use the parable of the gold talents (Matthew 25:14 – 30) as part of the lesson. Talk about why the master praised the servant who multiplied his gift even over the one who saved his. Have discussions with your youth group about putting their “talents” to the best uses and why it is important to make the most of what we have been given.
4. Let Them Take the Lead
There’s a good chance your youth group members know a lot more about social media than you do. Technology is an area where you can let your youth group members take the lead.
Ask them for ideas and let them decide how best to reach out to their friends and classmates. This can be a great lesson in responsibility and leadership.
Try to match up specific fundraising tasks with each teenager’s personal attributes. Even if a role is not considered part of “church leadership,” ensure that everyone has responsibilities. Expect a lot out of them, but also…
5. Be Realistic
Be strategic in organizing your fundraising responsibilities. And be honest about what you can expect from each member.
Understand that your youth group members have a lot on their plates. Juggling school responsibilities with extracurricular and social activities is a lot for teenagers.
Know that not every team member will bring the same commitment to every event. Recognize that they may bring something different each time. Be ready and willing to roll with the punches, and know that whatever amount you end up raising, it will be enough.
6. Establish and Follow Guidelines
With any church fundraiser idea for youth, you’ll need to establish guidelines to ensure the safety of your volunteers and participants. You’ll also need a set of standard operating procedures to make sure your fundraiser doesn’t go over budget.
If you’re looking for help building guidelines to create a successful program, check out this free guide. It will help you with fundraising guidelines and give you a few extra fundraising ideas for church youth groups you can use.
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