Preteens and teenagers benefit mightily from having a so-called “third space” to congregate with peers, learn social skills, and perform positive actions in their communities. Youth groups, in religious contexts or elsewhere, meet this need quite well. One of the primary challenges of groups is gathering enough youth group fundraiser ideas to provide fulfilling experiences, such as mission trips.
There’s nothing wrong with car washes, bake sales, and other traditional youth group fundraisers. We thought your group might want to do something a little different, though, so we compiled a list of seven creative youth group fundraiser ideas. Let’s dive in!
7 Fundraising Ideas for Youth Groups
The following youth group fundraisers ensure everyone gets involved, has fun, and engages the broader community:
1. Youths for Hire
Church members, especially older ones, could almost always use help with household chores. Mowing yards, putting up (or down) Christmas decorations, and fetching groceries allow students to perform simple tasks in exchange for money from willing donors.
This youth group fundraising idea provides great opportunities for fellowship and underscores the importance of service.
2. Olympic Games
Nothing brings out teenagers (and young-at-heart church members) like a little friendly competition.
Conducting a scaled-down version of the Olympic Games and charging small entrance fees can bring in some serious cash. Your youth group can hold relay races, dodgeball games, long jumps, and so much more. Establishing fair divisions for competitors ensures everyone has a great time.
3. Babysitting Night
Teens are reaching an age when many become interested in and capable of babysitting. Parents of young children are often more than willing to pay responsible babysitters for a date night, and they might be more motivated if the money goes to a good cause. It’s always nice to have a few parental chaperones to ensure babysitting night goes smoothly.
4. Flamingo Church Members’ Yards
This idea is a little off the beaten path, but plenty of churches have fun with it and raise substantial funds. It centers around unsightly (but not gross) objects, such as plastic flamingos, that can be placed in members’ front yards. After someone gets “flamingoed,” they can make a donation that allows the youth group to remove the objects. Having good-natured community members is key!
5. A Night of Entertainment
Teenagers are often discovering and honing their creative gifts, and the church can be a great place to showcase them. You can make a night of it by putting on a talent show and charging people a small fee to attend. If some students enjoy drawing or painting, have them bring their works for a silent auction.
6. Sit-Down Meals
Remember those parents and couples yearning for an enjoyable date night? Your youth group can bring the date night right to them by hosting an elegant sit-down dinner at the church. Try soliciting food donations from local restaurants and other community members to cover the initial costs, and have the students dress up for their “jobs.” Encourage attendees to tip their servers.
7. Shoe Drive Fundraisers
And now for something completely different: shoe drives organized by Funds2Orgs.
You don’t need any startup capital or specialized knowledge for this youth group fundraiser—just contact our organization, and we’ll send you supplies and instructions.
Collect gently worn, used and new shoes of all kinds from the community, place them in bags, and call our delivery team to ship them out. We pay fundraisers based on the collective weight of their donations.
Why Host a Shoe Drive Fundraiser?
Our shoe drive fundraisers provide unique benefits:
- Micro-entrepreneurs in developing countries sell the shoes at nominal markups, helping to lift up their local economies
- Shoe sellers create sustainable revenue streams for themselves and their families
- Fundraisers incentivize community members to clean out their closets and remove clutter from their homes
- Perfectly good shoes get put to good use instead of ending up in landfills
Youth Group Fundraisers: Fun for Students and the Community
Creative fundraisers for youth groups are the lifeblood of student ministries and small organizations across the country. Traditional fundraising ideas can get stale after repeated use, so consider this an opportunity to think outside the box. Your students will enjoy getting involved in bettering their community.
If you’re considering a shoe drive fundraiser with Funds2Orgs, get in touch with our team for more information or to get your fundraiser started. Whatever you decide, we wish you the best of luck!
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