Fundraising Ideas

One of the best ways to fund a mission trip is to ask for help from friends and family. While the idea of asking for money may sound daunting, you’d be surprised at how many people want to help—especially when it’s for a good cause. In general, people are supportive of Maranatha’s mission and the idea of helping a friend through a potentially life-changing experience.

There are a number of ways to raise money. Here are just a few ideas that have worked for our volunteers. Consider a combination of a few ideas, and remember to always thank those who have donated to your cause.

Ask in person.  

The most common method of short-term mission fundraising is making a direct appeal in person. Ask to meet with a potential supporter, and have a conversation about what and why you want to go on a mission trip. Then ask if they would be wiling to help.

Send a letter to ask for donations.

Send a personalized version of our sample letter on the website (or write your own) to family friends and church members asking for their financial help and prayers to go on this short-term mission project. You can make it personal by listing other ways you are fundraising (i.e. Let me know if you want to order some fresh-baked bread!), setting a fundraising goal, or including a picture.

Give a special presentation at church, or any other group you belong.

Many people talk with their youth leader or pastor and ask to make a special announcement or brief presentation letting people know about their plans to participate on a mission project. You may want to show one of the short videos that Maranatha has available online to help people see why you are so excited about this!

Use an online crowd funding platform.

Make donating easy for your supporters by signing up for an account on a crowdfunding website, like Kickstarter or GoFundMe. You can list your cause, goals, and incentives for certain giving amounts. Then people can give to you directly online.

Start an electronic media campaign.

Connect with people in as many ways as you can. That can certainly include email, Facebook, Twitter, etc. Post frequent updates about your mission trip plans, plus include photos of your destination, and videos about Maranatha and their projects. Always make it easy for people to figure out how to donate to your project too. You can email or share videos from Maranatha’s site.

Hold a sale.

From pies to an old snowboard, good old-fashioned sales are still a hit. Organize a bake sale or a yard sale, and make sure your customers know that the proceeds are going to a good cause.

Share what you know.

Everyone’s got a skill that someone else needs. Consider the skills that you have and what they might be worth. Yard work, car washes, cooking, cleaning, tutoring, music lessons, babysitting—get creative on how you might turn your skill set into a job that makes money.

Recycle to earn money.

Collect cans, bottles, and/or newspapers to raise money while you care for the environment and encourage others to do the same. Check with local agencies for places to deposit your collection. Place recycling bags at your school, teams/clubs you are involved with, your parent’s workplace, church, etc.

Collect your spare change.

Each time you go to the store and you receive nickels and pennies, don’t throw them into your wallet. Find a basket or a jar and put all your change in the container. It won’t be a lot, but every dollar counts!