Mission Trip Fundraising

Learn the Basics of Mission Trip Fundraisers
Get the Best Mission Trip Fundraising Ideas Here

Mission Trip Fundraising IdeasIf your church group is gearing up for a mission trip, you know that the associated expenses add up quickly. Mission trip fundraising efforts cover costs for church members to travel and complete mission trips. With mission trip fundraising, donations will generally go towards travel costs, supplies, and funding for missionaries’ needs, including food, medicine, and housing costs while on a mission.

Why Are Missions Important?

Mission trips play a crucial role in the lives of countless people in the developing world each year. Many churches in the United States have mission teams of church members and church youth who travel to serve the less fortunate while spreading the word of the Lord. These short-term mission trips often have a specific mission or focus project, including rebuilding towns afflicted by natural disasters, setting up permanent or temporary health clinics, and helping communities struggling with disease or starvation.

Mission work is a staple of the evangelical and other church communities, and many are called to do this type of work on a more long-term basis. Churches may also choose to sponsor a missionary or mission family that lives in the area where vital mission work is being done. The Church then supplements their income with the money raised from donations to help them fund the work of serving the community in need on behalf of the church.

 

Unique fundraising ideas for raising mission trip fundraisers

How to Raise Funds for a Mission Trip

Now that you have laid the foundation for planning and preparing for mission trip fundraising, what are the best ways to raise donations for your cause? There is never one answer that works for everyone. Many fundraising initiatives can help individuals and mission groups raise money for their trips. Choosing the right fundraiser for your church or church group is part of your journey.

Whatever you decide for your fundraising campaign, ensure you provide an easy way for people to contribute. Our Donation software for churches allows faith-based communities to set up a web page and upload photos, explain the mission, and collect secure donations online.

Write Mission Trip Fundraising Letters

Writing a simple, sincere appeal can be one of the easiest and most effective ways to raise money for a mission trip, especially if it comes from church youth group members. A church youth group member can raise hundreds or thousands of dollars by sending a well-written support letter to everyone they know. Make sure not to limit the appeal to just friends and family. Send letters to neighbors, co-workers, local businesses, and community members. There is no harm in informing people about a good cause; the worst they can say is that they have no money to contribute. However, you will find that many people decide to give something, even if it’s a small amount. Those small amounts add up quickly, but sending out all these letters and asking donors to return check donations can be timely and costly.

Write Mission Trip Fundraising Letters

Launch a Mission Trip Fundraising Website

Luckily, now there is a better way than the traditional fundraising letter. Youth groups and others who wish to fundraise for mission trips can now find success by using our free crowdfunding software. This is how a church crowdfunding campaign works:

  • A church administrator establishes a fundraising website
  • Those interested in raising money for the mission trip register on the fundraising site, and a personal page is generated 
  • Each mission trip participant manages their fundraising page, which includes their mission statement, a fundraising goal thermometer, and social media links
  • They then invite friends and family to support the church or mission trip through secure online donations
  • Product and raffle ticket sales can also be added to the campaign to increase funding opportunities
  • Administrators can easily view reports for all fundraisers and see how much everyone has raised

Spread the Word!

The best way to start raising money for your mission trip is by telling people about it. Whether you decide to send a letter or talk about it with family, friends, and neighbors, you can do more by going online. Post an announcement on your Facebook or other social media page, giving friends a link to your fundraising page and an opportunity to contribute. Contact local restaurants and businesses and ask if you can post flyers on their bulletin boards. The church should also support the mission team by talking to the congregation about the mission trip and helping participants raise funds. Church leaders may consider passing an additional donation basket during services to raise funds for your mission trip or by providing donation envelopes for people to pick up after Sunday service or during community gatherings. Don’t forget to utilize church bulletins, newsletters, and the church’s website.

Spread the Word!

Organize a Fundraising Event

If you’re raising money as a group, consider hosting a fundraising event to raise money for your mission trip. DoJiggy provides many great resources and creative fundraising events ideas, as well as tips and guidelines to help you plan them. These events can be applied to any community organization looking for fun ways to raise money for their cause.

Fundraising events will raise money for your mission trip and bring your community members and congregation closer together. Be sure to consider the importance of highlighting your mission and mission-driven fundraising when selecting a fundraising event.

Organize a Fundraising Event

Examples of the best fundraising events for churches and mission group fundraising include:

  • Walk-a-thon fundraisers
  • Serve-a-thons or community service projects
  • Charity golf tournaments
  • Gourmet breakfast fundraisers
  • Simple community-based fundraising events such as bake sales, car washes, and group yard sales

Host a Get to Know the Mission Night and Meal

Your church congregation will likely be some of your best supporters since they believe in you and your mission work. Be sure to educate them on the mission and how they can participate – even if they aren’t going on the mission. Host a Get to Know the Mission Night where you talk about the mission’s goals and share a slide show of the community that will be affected. If your church has been there before, sharing pictures and stories can be quite impactful. Then, prepare a meal of the local cuisine for everyone to try. Sell tickets to attend and take additional donations after the show with a simple t-shirt or bake sale. Consider including a silent auction or fundraising raffle as well.

Host a Get to Know the Mission Night & Meal

Sell Church Merchandise

Sell Unique Church Merchandise

Another popular fundraising idea for church groups is to sell branded merchandise online or at church services and events. Create beautiful, unique designs on a platform such as Printful, for church t-shirts, sweatshirts, coffee mugs, bumper stickers, hats, or blankets. A table can be set up to sell these items every Sunday, or you can setup an eCommerce store and sell them online. Add a blog to the website to boost sales and report about your mission trip fundraising goals and progress.

Request Frequent Flyer Mile Donations

One of the biggest expenses that you will encounter in mission work is airfare. Most airlines allow members to donate frequent flyer miles to other individuals or non-profit groups. Many people frequently travel for work and look for ways to utilize their miles to do good. If this is a donation option you are interested in offering, ask your congregation to consider donating miles to your mission group as a form of in-kind donation.

Request Frequent Flyer Mile Donations

Find Corporate or Business Sponsorships

Many local business owners and corporations allocate funds specifically for philanthropic use. Check with local businesses and companies to see if they will sponsor your mission trip or contribute through a financial or in-kind donation. Companies should benefit from their sponsorship with good advertisement and public relations, so let the business know how you can promote their sponsorship on your missions website.

Find Corporate or Business Sponsorships

Save Your Own Money and Raise More by Providing Services

In addition to raising money from the community, family and friends, contribute some of your funds to your mission trip. Sacrificial giving is often the most rewarding way to raise money. Sacrificial giving means sacrificing some of the unnecessary luxuries we spend money on every day in our lives. Cut out trips to local coffee shops, eating out, purchasing new clothes, and instead put this money aside towards your mission trip. This can also prepare you a bit for service, as you won’t be able to hop over to Starbucks for coffee when you’re on a mission. You may also want to consider offering your services to friends and neighbors for donations to help save more money. This could include simple tasks such as watering plants while neighbors are out of town, helping with yard work, or offering pet-sitting or dog-walking services.

Save Your Own Money and Raise More on Services

Other Mission Trip Fundraising Ideas

Regardless of what fundraising initiative you organize for your mission trip, the rewards are worth it. Not only will you make a difference in the world, but you will build character, gain experience in serving, and better appreciate what you have by serving those less fortunate. We have plenty of additional church fundraising ideas for you to consider to help you raise money for your mission trip.

Planning and Preparing for a Mission Trip

As with any fundraising initiative, plan appropriately for a mission trip by setting goals and objectives. Establish timelines so you can meet these goals in time for your trip. Utilize a fundraising website to securely collect donations, track fundraising progress, and communicate the trip’s mission. Our church fundraising overview outlines some of these basic fundraising guidelines to help you succeed.

Of course, raising money is not the only thing you must do to prepare for your mission trip. You will be expected to quickly integrate into your new environment and serve. Start preparing yourself now, physically and emotionally. Whether it’s sacrificing your own personal desires to help others, studying a foreign language, or reading the Bible to find encouraging devotions you may want to share with a community in need, do what you can to prepare yourself for your journey and make the most of your time away from home. Successful mission trips are life-changing experiences for everyone involved.

Writing Thank Yous and Mission Follow-Up

Thanking mission donors is importantDon’t forget to keep contributors informed about the activities and successes of your mission. You may want to set up a blog that allows you to update people on your adventures and accomplishments, upload photos showing progress, and make comments and words of encouragement. This is a great way to say thank you to contributors. There’s nothing better than seeing first-hand that the donations are making a difference. Lastly, don’t forget to send Thank You notes to those who have given you financial support for your trip.

Still Looking for Mission Trip Fundraising Ideas?

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