How to Raise Funds for Mission Trips

• Step 1

  Create a mission trip committee that will oversee the trip details and the financial matters of the trip. The church bookkeeper should be part of the committee, to ensure that funds are properly allocated and spent.

• Step 2

  Have your church bookkeeper set up a separate fund account for the missions trip. Church software provides the capability of adding fund accounts for specific purposes. If you do not have church software, create a spreadsheet that contains all financial information for the trip.

• Step 3

  Create a Gantt or similar time-line chart to determine the date when tasks need to be completed. Plan to complete tasks about two weeks prior to the date of the trip. This allows you enough time to make last-minute changes in attendees, if needed, and adjust hotel reservations accordingly.

• Step 4

  Estimate the amount of money needed for the trip. Decide if attendees will pay for part of the expense or if the church will pay for the entire trip. Include hotel, gas and food expenses.

• Step 5

  Sell merchandise with garage sales, chocolate or candy sales campaigns or bake sales.

• Step 6

  Host a church-sponsored dinner and invite community leaders and members. Explain the trip and allow each person to offer his own donation amount.

• Step 7

  Place a "coin collection bank" in local stores. Include information on the mission trip's location, date and attendees. Volunteer at a local animal shelter for a day or two and have a "coin bank" for people to donate money for your trip.

• Step 8

  Prepare a news brief and contact your local newspaper. Include the location and date of the trip, the sponsoring church and your individual contact information.

• Step 9

  Ask family and friends to help support your trip. Be realistic and reasonable in the amounts for which you ask. While you may not expect one person to donate $100, you might ask ten people to each donate $10.

• Step 10

  Create prayer cards to pass out to church members, family, and friends. Ask them to pray for the trip and its success.

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• Accounting System
• Accounting System
• Be prepared for people to say no, and do not get discouraged. Thank the person for his interest and time. Offer to share a few tidbits from the trip once the group has returned home.
• Be prepared for people to say no, and do not get discouraged. Thank the person for his interest and time. Offer to share a few tidbits from the trip once the group has returned home.

References & Resources

• Mission Trips Inc.
• Fundraising Ideas
• Ideas for Fundraising