3 Missions Fundraising Ideas for 2024

Whether you're a church, a youth group, or an organization focused on global outreach, fundraising is a critical component to sharing the Gospel and serving in the missions field.

But one challenge for fundraising is that donations have dropped year over year since 2021. In fact, according to GivingTuesday.org, data from the end of 2023 showed a continued steep decline of 7.6% in donor counts for the year compared to the previous year.

Having been asked to help fundraise for international missions work this past year, I am very familiar with the challenges that nonprofits are facing in the current economic climate.

But by incorporating a few creative ideas into your fundraising plans, you'll be on your way to raising the necessary funds and awareness for your mission.

In this article I will be focusing on the most difficult fundraising challenge, which is fundraising for individuals or small nonprofits without Church support.

Fundraising for Small Missions Teams

When it comes to fundraising for individuals or small missions organizations, thinking outside the box can make all the difference. To help you quickly raise funds for your mission, I have compiled a list of innovative fundraising ideas that I consider the best options for quick results.

GiveSendGo

One of the most popular fundraising platforms today is GiveSendGo. They ran the race in obedience year after year since 2015, patiently waiting for the day the platform would take off. According to their team, “Little did we know God was just preparing us for the plans he had for us.” And in 2020, their platform took off.

GiveSendGo doesn’t have a platform fee and is simple to set up. They are the only crowdfunding site with a Pray button, and personal phone call from a Prayer team, letting you know that they are praying for you.

Sell Unique Products

Selling unique and branded products related to your mission can be an effective way to raise funds and spread awareness. As someone who has sold products since 2003, this is my bread and butter. 

Don’t think about just creating t-shirts with your mission on the front. Instead sell products that people would want to buy regardless of the mission. This way, you broaden your audience. 

We created a merch store on WingsofPromise.org to raise funds through apparel sales. But with little movement using Instagram to sell the products, we started selling fresh, organic coffee from Nicaragua, Panama, and the Dominican Republic. 

Not only did the coffee sell fast, it was almost too easy. All we had to do was let our friends know through Facebook and text messages and the funds started pouring in. Keep in mind, coffee is a consumable, and a great option for return buyers.

For the longer term fundraising efforts, I created a brand at 611Armory.com. For all Kingdom ambassadors we recruit, we give 100% of proceeds from the merch sales when customers use their discount codes. We’ve already started making sales, and we’ve only just begun. 

There are a lot of ways to sell products, but these two are great short and long term ideas to raise funds for missions.

Sell Donated Items

Selling donated items is another great and quick way to raise funds for your cause. While auctioning donated items can raise more money, it is more difficult to set up virtual auctions to raise funds.

To get started, prepare a quick message for your contacts. For example, “I am working to raise funds for a mission trip to Nicaragua where we will be installing a water well for a remote community outside of Managua. I wanted to see if you have any items that you would be willing to donate that would help me raise funds for the trip.” 

The great thing about this pitch is that you are not asking for money, and almost everyone has something they would donate. In some cases, they may actually just offer to donate some cash instead, which is great too.

Then all you have to do is post the donated items for sale on Facebook marketplace. Be sure to add your listings to as many local groups as you can. You should be able to turn those donated items into cash in no time.

By implementing these creative fundraising ideas for missions, you can diversify your approach and engage supporters in meaningful ways. Remember, the key to effective fundraising is to connect emotionally with your audience and make them feel like they are part of something bigger. Together, we can make a lasting impact on the lives of those we serve.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, successful missions fundraising requires careful planning and a creative approach. By utilizing the innovative fundraising ideas and strategies discussed in this article, you can enhance the impact of your mission and reach more people with the Gospel and the help they need.

Remember, fundraising is not just about collecting funds but also about creating connections and building relationships. Keep your donors engaged with email or social media updates and you’re likely to have recurring donors for future fundraising efforts.