You’re ready to GO, but mission trip funds don’t raise themselves.
Trip fundraising should always begin with fervent prayer and by reaching out to your community, but sometimes getting all of our funds together takes thinking outside of the box.
Here are a few creative fundraising ideas for your next mission trip.
1. Partner with a local business
Many restaurants and other small businesses like to partner with individuals in the community. Visit some of your local hotspots. Maybe you’ll get the chance to wait tables to earn part of the night’s profits or put a donation jar for your trip in a few strategic locations. Then you just have to tell your friends when and where to go. Always leave some information about you and your trip with those who give.
2. Get moving
Do you run, bike or walk? Pick a month, week or day and set a goal for the number of miles you want to walk, bike or run. Ask people to donate a specific amount per mile accomplished in the allotted time. Stay accountable through a smartphone application and posting pictures on a blog or through regular e-mail updates. If you keep it up, it will show donors just how much you care about sharing the gospel on the other side of the planet. Once you’ve completed the task, you can collect your pledges.
3. Sell it
Set up shop in your church and community. You can sell crafts, baked goods, t-shirts, or even evangelism materials (bracelets, books, tracts, etc.). Be sure to include information about you, your story, and ways to donate with each sale to give customers a way to connect and give more if they want to at another time.
4. Go viral
With all of the technology out there today, a story can spread in just minutes across the internet. You can create buzz about your trip by creating a video or writing a manifesto. Send it to your friends and ask them to spread it around. You never know who will connect to you and become one of your “senders.”
Fundraising is about building a community that will support you through your trip and maybe even beyond. Make sure that each of these activities is bathed in prayer and gives you an opportunity to connect with your community—sharing your story and your passion for the gospel.