At the Journey Ministries, we don’t sell products to raise money for the ministry such as wrapping paper or candy bars. We believe selling products promotes consumerism and distracts youth from the real mission of the ministry. We are also careful about selling services to the community to raise money. As Christians, we want to serve others’ needs, not serve them to fill our needs. Our fundraising, therefore, has moved towards sponsorship fundraising. We believe that a Christian community that is committed to each other will support each other without always receiving goods and services in return.
Sponsor a leader:
Members of the church will be asked if they would like a sponsor one of the volunteer leaders in the youth ministry. They would be asked to donate $75 to cover the cost of the CORE training and yearly leadership retreat and send encouraging e-mails, phone calls, or cards to the volunteer leader. The volunteer leader would send them e-mails or letters updating them on the ministry and what they have been doing with the students.
Baked goods and coffee before service:
First Church services are casual and many people already bring a cup of coffee to church. Students will provide coffee and homemade baked-goods before services several times a year. The families of youth would be asked to donate the baked goods and the youth ministry would provide the coffee. A donation jar will be available for those interested in donating to the ministry. The donations would go to pay for students to attend retreats, camps, and mission trips throughout the year. Students will get funds based on how many mornings they helped serve before services.
Grant Writing:
The Journey Ministry applies for community grants to support our Homework Help tutoring program. The grant money goes to provide students with laptops at the Journey, school supplies, tools for tutors, and internet access.
Money Board:
A large bulletin board at church will be filled with information about the Journey Ministries and envelopes with a money amounts from $1 to $100 written on them. People will take down an envelope from the wall and fill it with the amount written on the outside, then return the envelope to the youth ministry. The goal is to get all the envelopes filled!
Donate a Ticket:
First Church is located in Madison, WI, home of the Wisconsin Badgers. Football and basketball games are always sold out. Season ticket holders will be asked to donate their seat to one of the games by giving their ticket to the ministry. The ticket will then be re-sold online. Tickets can sometimes be sold for more than 10 times their value.
Sponsor a Friday Night at the Journey:
Friday Night at the Journey happens at least twice at month at the Journey Coffeehouse with up to 75 students attending. Families from the church would be asked to sponsor one Friday Night at the Journey by covering the costs of one of the evenings. Costs go to providing drink discounts, games, prizes, and equipment. Families would donate on average $50.
