Samaritan Fundraising, an innovative Christian fundraising company, has introduced a groundbreaking new way for church youth groups to raise money. The fundraising product, called the Samaritan Card, is catching on fast with youth leaders nationwide due to its ease of use and recession-proof appeal.

The Samaritan Card is a wallet-size shopping discount card. It’s similar to a coupon book in that it gives the cardholder discounts of up to 50 percent at retailers, restaurants and recreation venues. Unlike a coupon book, however, the Samaritan Card is good at more than 100,000 merchants nationwide. The discounts are better; and according to Tom Freiling, the company’s founder, “There are a lot more of them.” Freiling says the product “leverages the need for retailers to attract more customers and the need for consumers to save money.”

Youth groups sell the card to raise money. Fundraising profits are up to 70 percent, and youth leaders report they like selling the Samaritan Card for fundraising because there are no order forms and no return visits. It’s a faster, easier way to fundraise in contrast to other products, such as candy or popcorn.

“Church giving is down in every area,” Freiling says. “General giving is down, as well as giving for missions and special projects. Giving reportedly was down between $3 billion and $5 billion last year; and The Barna Group says “one out of every five households has decreased its giving to churches or other religious centers.”

“This makes it especially difficult for youth groups,” says Freiling, “because they are already on tight budgets. Now it’s even more difficult.”

Freiling reports that churches and similar Christian organizations from across the country have contacted Samaritan Fundraising for information about this innovative new Christian product. Already tens of thousands of cards have been used for fundraising and visits to the company’s Web site have soared.

“I think lots of people are just sick and tired of selling cookie dough or other wasteful and expensive products,” says Freiling. The Samaritan Card gives donors a great way to save money rather than spend money. This seems to be why youth pastors like it so much. Freiling says the company is planning a special spring campaign to help teens raise money for summer youth camps.

Information about the Samaritan Card can be found at SamaritanFundraising.com or by calling toll-free, 888-545-GIVE (4483).