I was always told when in school getting trained for youth ministry that fundraising was the “necessary evil” that we all had to endure.  After all, it’s no fun constantly begging people to support something that you’re doing, especially if they are people that don’t understand youth ministry or teenagers at all in the first place.

Well, somehow my wife and I stumbled across ideas for a couple of good annual youth ministry fundraiser/events that are actually fun and raise substantial amounts of coinage for our students.  Yup, people actually look forward to attending these events and giving!  Here’s our two ideas; probably nothing ground-breaking, but hopefully worth sharing…

1. Valapalooza – an annual Valentines banquet/dance that provides a romantic night out for couples, a good meal, and some dance-time along with some fun and some games.  This year, we charged $15 per attendee for a full home-cooked meal.  We rented out the local Boys Club and decorated it up for a fun atmosphere and always build it up with some creative advertising.  Check this short promo video out.At the event, we also provide opportunities for pictures under an arch (I believe this year we sold them for $3, $5, and $8, depending on the size) and also a gift table with trinkety-Valentinesy gifts for couples to purchase each other.  Our students also accept donations for baby-sitting smaller children back at the church’s nursery.  Our students love it because of the dance and our adults love it because it is a great romantic night away from the kids with a lot of great friends.
   Here’s our promotional graphic from this year.

    

2. Elevation Talent Show – lots of people enjoy talent/variety shows, so why not make it into a fun fundraising night?  That’s what we do: we start by auditioning fifteen to twenty acts for the show (wouldn’t want more than that for a two hour show).  Everything from comedy, to music, to sketch, to poetry, creative art — you name it.  The more variety the better.  Then we put a program together and tell everyone to come out for the big night and vote for their favorite acts with cash or check!It works great because it usually pulls in lots of family and friends that wouldn’t normally step inside of a church, but they are willing to come and support their buddy, grandchild, cousin, etc.  We make the show more interesting by selling concessions (popcorn, candy bars, soda) and splitting up the acts with “commercials” (funny videos or hosts).  Even better, it gives a platform to a lot of very talented people that we wouldn’t have discovered otherwise.  Such a fun night!

   If you are wondering about the voting process, we usually just set up a table with voting receptacles (can be cups, Chinese take-out boxes, piggy banks, etc.) that correspond with each act listed in the event’s program.  We have an intermission and a time at the end of the night where people can get up and have the chance to “vote” for their favorite acts.  After everyone is done voting, we show a few more fun video clips while the money is being tallied and then announce the to three winners (the ones with the highest amount of cash).  The top three go home with prizes!

   Here’s our promotional graphic from this year.

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