Category Archives: Church Life

When someone visiting the Church Budgeting & Finances category in the TrainChurchLeader.com Practicum asked if I would share some fundraising ideas, I couldn’t stop at just listing ideas. I felt the need to provide a filter through which to examine those ideas. We need to make sure we are lining up with God and His Word and trusting Him.

Fundraising efforts in the church have taken on many forms:

• capital campaigns in which pledges are taken
• sending out letters of appeal for funds
• finding a generous donor willing to gift a certain amount that will only be given as matched by others
• having auctions or rummage sales in which people donate goods that will be sold and the money given to the church
• having a banquet or dinner for people to come and make donations
• selling products or services of some sort (i.e., car washes, bake sales)
• holding walk-a-thons, run-a-thons, rock-a-thons, etc. in which people get pledges from friends and family to be given for every mile/hour accomplished
• joining organizations like iGive and encouraging people to make their personal online purchases through it for the church to get a commission

Of course, you can also get into wills, trusts, endowments … legacy types of gifts that have more of a long term objective rather than raising immediate cash.

While all of the above ideas have been done at churches, we need to stop, think, and pray about what we should implement and how often. The intent of this post isn’t to pass judgment on any of these specific ideas but rather to challenge us to work through issues related to fundraising in the church.

Questions to ask when it comes to fundraising in the church:

1) How does God feel about your fundraising efforts?

• Are you examining the whole of Scripture, reconciling what you want to do with passages like Jesus’ anger over money changers in the temple (Matthew 21:12-13; Mark 11:15-17)? Or, are you merely doing what others have done or what you think will work?
• Are you promoting the kind of giving God looks for which is giving from a cheerful and willing heart (2 Cor. 8-9)? Or, are you promoting giving that is coerced or done merely out of obligation?
• Would He say that you are being a good steward of not just your money but also your time and people resources (Matt. 25:21-22)? Or, are there other ways He would want you to invest the time and effort spent on fundraising?

2) What impression do your fundraising efforts give people about the Church?

• Do they get the idea that all the church does is ask for money? Or, do they feel as though the church isn’t merely looking for what they can get but rather what they can give to God and people (1 Cor. 10:23-24; Jn. 15:13)?
• Do they view the church as no different than any other organization looking for money? Or, do they see a living organism whose trust is in the Lord to both lead and provide for His people to do His will (Prov. 3:5-6; Col. 1:18)?

Bottom Line: The Bible doesn’t say “Thou shalt not have fundraisers” but it does give us plenty to think about regarding motivation, means, and effect.

More: Stewardship Resources

Like it or not, churches and ministries need money to operate. Even if you have a house church with no building and facility maintenance costs, salaries, or other expenses found in a traditional church, you still need funds to cover resource materials for study, outreach, and other miscellaneous needs. I’d like to suggest that no matter how big or small your church budget might be that church leaders seek to implement the following goals.

Financial Goals for the Church:

Goal #1: To Encourage People to Give Voluntarily Out of a Cheerful Heart

To manipulate or coerce people into giving goes against God’s heart.

Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Cor. 9:7)

This goal requires that we be careful of tactics used to get people to give.

Goal #2: To Build a Culture of Generosity within the Church

Generosity is not determined by the amount people give. Look at the example of the widow. Though she gave very little she was considered more generous than those who gave much.

They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything – all she had to live on. (Mk. 12:44)

Also consider the example of the Macedonian churches.

In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. (2 Cor. 8:2-3)

Our goal should be to build a culture of generosity within people, based on truths of God’s Word and a desire to give back to our great God, in which they give through regular tithes and offerings so there isn’t a great need for constant fundraiser tactics. With that said, there certainly might be times for people to go over and beyond their normal giving. The next post will look at fundraising. (Sign up to be notified of new posts.)

Goal #3: To Provide a Good Reason / Purpose for People to Give Generously

Yes, the Old Testament does command that a tithe be given (Mal. 3:10). And, the New Testament encourages giving based on how God has prospered us (1 Cor. 16:2) which often could take us well beyond the tithe. But, for people to get past the commands of Scripture, or a sense of duty, to giving because they truly want to is a wonderful goal. Imagine a church full of people who give generously because they believe God is worthy! Imagine a church full of people so committed to working in cooperation with God that they would willingly sacrifice to see His work move forward! That’s a church God will use to impact the world.

To Read: Do You Have a Worth-Giving Church?

Goal #4: To Give an Accounting for How Money is Used

If we see our role as being stewards of the money brought into the church, we will acknowledge that the money is not ours to do as we please. We will understand that we are accountable first and foremost before God but also to others. As a result we will be wise in the handling of church finances. We will be transparent with people about how it is used. We will maintain integrity. This goal will be reflected similarly to what the Apostle Paul wrote regarding the handling of money the Corinthian Church would give.

We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift. For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of man. (2 Cor. 8:20-21)

To Read:

• Stewardship of All, in All, and Always
• Managing Finances with Integrity

You’ll notice that the above goals relate more to the heart of the matter than figures or percentages for that’s what most concerns God. When our heart is where it should be, finances tend to fall into place for us to do what God has given us to do.

For More: Stewardship Resources