YouthWorker Journal wanted to know about youth workers’ experiences with fundraising, particularly the biggest mistakes youth workers have made. Here’s what you told us via Facebook, Twitter and reader response from our weekly eJournal.
YouthWorker Journal: What’s the biggest mistake your youth group made doing a fundraiser?
Jason Huffman: Did a Valentine’s theme, and single church members thought it was couples-only, even when it wasn’t. Had a bad turnout. Poor advertising, too, I guess.
Larry Darnell: Bought way too much stuff ahead of time…spent the next three years trying to sell it…haha that was a very bad idea.
Jen Bradbury: Doing them to begin with. I know that sounds awful, but strangely, I’ve really been wrestling with fundraisers lately. In fact, I just blogged about it over the weekend.
Donaldo Nigaldo: Jen, I am so with you on that. Great blog! The first church I served at had a tradition of lots of fundraisers, and everyone had a great idea for the “next fundraiser.” I got to thinking, “What if we spent the same time, creativity and energy focusing on the next ‘outreach’?” So much time was spent on fundraising that it trained our youth to look for ways to help themselves instead of training the teens to look for ways to serve others. It took a year or two, but we got there, and still always had the money needed, and THAT was a great lesson in itself. There are lots of people in our congregation willing to give if the need is there.
There may be a time and place for a fundraiser, but I do think you must choose them wisely — in number and type.
If you have any leftover baskets with homemade soaps, I’ll put in a bid 😉
