Effective Catholic Fundraising Strategies and Trends You Need to Know

An image of a group of church members putting their hands together during a Catholic church fundraising event

Catholic fundraising plays a strong role in the church and various religious activities. Funds support operations, salaries, and educational programs. They may also aid charitable initiatives like food banks, homeless shelters and disaster relief.  

Fundraising can be challenging, but with the right strategies and insights, churches can support their cause. They must maintain strong donor connections, use technology, and plan events that inspire the spirit of giving. With the right approach, they will raise the funds they require and meet their goals.  

 

Table of Contents  

 

  

Catholic Fundraising Data and Trends 

Image of a church building, with people going inside for a Catholic fundraising event

Catholic fundraising trends dictate giving patterns. A recent Christian Post article reports a reduction in donors but higher donation amounts.  

A survey looking at 939 Catholic churches across the U.S. examined how the pandemic impacted donor giving. It found total donations measuring $891 million between April 2021 and March 2022 as compared to $840 million between April 2020 and March 2021.  

However, although donor amounts increased, donor numbers dropped by 26% after the pandemic. In 2022, they were still below pre-pandemic numbers.  

The State Church Giving 2024 report shows that 40% of churches saw an increase in donations in 2023. 33% of churches saw a 4% to 10% increase in giving. 22% saw an 8% to 10% increase.  

 

 

Proven Fundraising Strategies for Catholic Organizations 

Illustration of a fundraiser checklist, calculator, and money, representing a Catholic fundraising event budget

Several strategies have been proven to help boost Catholic fundraising including various traditional methods. Here are some to consider.  

 

Traditional Fundraising Methods 

Although it is unclear when nonprofit giving started in the Catholic church, the concept of offering gifts to God is prevalent throughout the Bible. Here are some methods that have withstood the test of time.  

  

Offertory Collections During Mass 

Fundraising mass events remain one of the strongest forms of financial support. It also helps Catholics show their gratitude to God.  

The weekly offering, typically collected at Sunday mass, pays for utilities, salaries, and other daily expenses. Many churches will also host additional collections throughout the year to support specific causes, activities, and events.  

The average weekly donation is $17 per churchgoer adding up to $73.67 per month and $884 each year. Churches often pray to inspire giving before an offering is made.  

Annual appeals and Pledge Drives 

Pledge drives are extended periods of fundraising activities. Pledges are typically collected through pledge drive letters. Fundraising letters for parishes ask donors to commit to giving a certain amount of money, typically to generate recurring donations.  

Here are some tips for writing an effective pledge drive letter: 

  • Make It Personal: Use the donor’s name to make the letter personal.  
  • Evoke Emotions: Bring emotion into the letter to connect donors with your cause.  
  • Get to the Point: Don’t make the letter too long. Cater to people with short attention spans by getting to the point early on.  
  • Give Directions: Explain how they can donate online, by phone or by mail.  
  • Determine Your Vehicle: Will you send letters by email or snail mail? Snail mail may be more personal, but email is more cost-effective.  
  • Use incentives: Use incentives to make people want to support your goals. Make it interesting by asking them to help you reach a specific donation amount or offer a gift or service in return for their donation.  
  • Say Thank You: Send out thank you notes to let people know you appreciate their donation.  

Organizing Events: Bake Sales, Raffles and Festivals 

Events are a popular way for Catholic organizations to raise money. They build a sense of community and strong donor relationships. Popular Catholic fundraiser events include: 

  • Bake Sales: Bake sales can be conducted inside or outside the church. Set up a few tables and invite people in your organization to donate their baked goods. It’s a yummy and inexpensive way to make money.  
  • Raffles: Raffles are another simple fundraising solution. Ask local businesses if they would be willing to donate items to the raffle. You can also do a ‘win the pot’ raffle which means everyone donates and the winner gets half the pot. Often, the winner will donate their share to the church.  
  • Festivals: Festivals require a bit more work because you must hire people to work the festival and offer festival games and activities. However, you can host the festival on church grounds limiting some of the expenses. They tend to be successful fundraising ventures.  

Here are some tips on how to successfully run a raffle: 

 

Modern Approaches to Fundraising 

Recently, technology has paved the way for more innovative Catholic fundraising methods. Here are some that are popular today.  

 

Online Giving Platforms and Digital Donations 

An online Catholic donation platform allows donors to donate money online. The digital format makes donations easy to track. They also encourage recurring donations.  

Popular online giving platforms include Tithely, ChurchTrac, and DonorBox.  

Social Media Platforms for Broader Reach 

Social media allows your organization to reach people outside your donor base. You can use it to connect with followers and get them interested in your cause. Post to relevant groups to attract more donors.  

Paid ads are another effective social media Catholic fundraiser solution. You can use the platforms to set your budget and specify your target audience. The system also provides analytics that you can review to determine what works and what doesn’t. 

Vanco offers a social media strategy guide that can help with your online outreach. It provides ready-to-use posts including images and tests, a free social media post generator, a free YouTube description title and tag generator and helpful tips. Sign up to download it today.  

Fundraising for Specific Projects or Causes 

Organizations fundraising for a specific project or cause may use a Crowdfunding platform. To conduct a religious crowdfunding campaign, you must: 

  1. Choose a platform: There are several crowdfunding platforms available including ones that cater specifically to Catholic organizations such as Give Central, MISSIO and Catholic Funding Guide.  
  2. Set a Fundraising Goal: Set a realistic goal for your cause.  
  3. Create a Compelling Campaign Page: Explain your cause. Use emotion to inspire Catholic parish donations.  
  4. Develop Reward Tiers: Use a tier system to encourage people to increase donation amounts.  
  5. Promote Your Campaign: You can promote your campaign through social media, emails and other forms of digital marketing.  

 

 

Planning and Executing Successful Fundraising Events 

Events are great fundraising instruments because they help you connect with donors and build a sense of community. The right approach will ensure your event is a success.  

 

Event Planning Essentials 

Here are some essentials to implement during the planning stages.  

 

Set Clear Objectives and Goals 

Your objectives and goals should outline how much money you want to raise and the cause you want to support. You may also have other goals in mind such as increasing awareness for your cause and recruiting new supporters.  

Selecting Appropriate Venues and Dates 

It’s ideal if you can host your event at the church eliminating some overhead costs. However, you may choose to rent an alternate venue for more glamorous events or to take advantage of certain amenities. Ensure the venue you choose is close to the church and easy to access.  

Choose a date that you know will work for most of your supporters. For example, if you host a holiday event, plan it a few weeks before the actual holidays so you know most of your guests will be in town. Consider work and school schedules when scheduling your event.  

Recruiting and Training Volunteers 

Volunteer involvement in Catholic church activities can help you reach your fundraising goals. Start recruiting volunteers early so you have plenty of time to train them. Many nonprofits have a pool of volunteers they work with making it easy to get the help you need. You may also ask donors and supporters if they’d be willing to lend a hand.  

Vanco offers a Church Event Planning Kit with all the tools and templates you need to plan your event. It includes event letters, permission slips, and event planning worksheet, an event evaluation form template and promotional fliers for various church events. Download it to reduce stress and ensure your event is a success.  

 

Promoting the Event Effectively 

Once you have your event plans figured out, you must begin marketing. Marketing ensures a bigger turnout hence more donations. It can also help you get the word out about your cause and potentially collect donations from people who can’t attend.  

Here are some marketing tips that will help you promote your event.  

Creating Compelling Marketing Materials 

The first step is to create completing marketing materials. Design fliers and generate text that describes the event and the cause it supports. Ensure your materials can be resized and are optimized for various formats.  

Using Parish Bulletins, Websites, and Social Media 

Parish bulletins, websites and social media should be incorporated into your marketing efforts. Here are some tips for utilizing these assets to promote your event.  

  • Parish Bulletins: Likely, your organization has a parish bulletin that communicates information to church members and visitors. Include information about your event in the bulletin to encourage parish members to attend.  
  • Website: Today, many churches have websites. Ensure your website markets your event. You can post an event ad on your front page or write a blog describing the event. Consider creating a separate landing page for your event to increase interactions.  
  • Social Media: Social media is a powerful event-promoting tool. Post-event fliers on various platforms. Create an event on Facebook and invite your followers. Post in groups and use paid ads to increase your reach.  

Here are some additional tips for marketing events on social media.  

 

Engaging Local Media and Community Influencers 

Consider getting the media involved. You may have a local paper that you can contact to find out if they will run a piece on your event. Consider creating a press release they can publish to make them more willing to offer publicity. You may also purchase a paid ad to advertise your event.  

Community influencers may also help with marketing. Perhaps someone in your church community is active on social media and has connections to followers who might be passionate about your cause. Ask them if they would consider promoting your event through text and video.  

Make sure to read our article ‘The Top 20 Church Marketing Strategies for 2024’ for more helpful tips.  

 

Post Event Follow Up 

The steps you take after your event can help forge a stronger connection with donors making them more likely to continue supporting your organization. Here are some recommended tips.  

 

Thanking Donors and Participants 

Thanking donors and participants goes a long way in building strong relationships between your nonprofit and your supporters. Send them an email or direct mail letter letting them know you appreciate their support. If you are unsure of what to write, this Vanco article will provide useful tips.  

Use Vanco’s customizable templates to save time and money. Customize each template for a personalized approach.  

This video will provide some additional tips on creating the ideal thank-you letter.  

 

Sharing Event Outcomes and Impact 

Organizations should also study event outcomes and impact to determine if their marketing strategies were worthwhile. Some outcomes are more measurable than others. For example, most digital marketing platforms will provide analytics that indicates how well your ads performed.  

You can also look at metrics like how much money you raised and how many new donors you gained throughout your campaign.  

Collecting Feedback for Future Improvement 

Feedback is another strong indicator of your campaign’s success. Send out surveys to your attendees to determine what worked and what didn’t. You can find out the impact of your marketing and whether they enjoyed the event.  

Get the Free Post Event Survey 

You may be surprised to find how difficult it is to create a survey that is effective in gathering the right type of feedback. Vanco can help. We offer a Free Post Event Survey that will help you measure various aspects of your event.  

Looking for More Surveys for Your Church? We’ve Got 19 More in This Free Kit 

Surveys do more than provide insights into your event's performance. They can be used to glean all types of information that make your fundraising efforts more effective. We offer 19 surveys your organization can use to get feedback from your community. Download them today.  

 

 

Leveraging Technology in Catholic Fundraising 

Catholic fundraising dates to ancient times, but today’s modern technology has helped it become more impactful. Here are some ways you can use it to make your campaigns a success.  

 

Online Giving Platforms and Mobile Donation Apps 

Online giving platforms allow organizations to access and process donations online. They may provide features that support: 

  • One-time and recurring donations 
  • Peer-to-peer fundraising 
  • Crowdfunding 
  • Text to Give 

Text to give is especially effective as it sends messages directly to people’s phones, so they are likely to see them. They can donate by responding to the text. Statistics show it can result in a 99% open rate and a 90% read rate within 3 minutes of sending.   

Vanco offers an online giving platform and mobile donation app that generates more donations and simplifies the donation process. The tools helped the Knights of Columbus a great deal. The organization was struggling with low donation rates after COVID. After adapting to the Vanco platforms, members and dues increased by 75%.  

 

How Event Ticketing Software Can Help 

Event ticketing software allows event organizers to sell tickets virtually. It offers features like pricing, ticket creation, payment processing and delivery. It can even help promoters market the event.  

It also provides analytics on performance data so you can track attendance, demographics, and revenue trends. Try Vanco’s ticketing software to find the ideal solution for your Catholic fundraiser events.  

 

Engaging Donors Through Email and Social Media 

Email marketing is known to produce high ROIs for nonprofits. According to NP Tech for Good, nonprofit emails have open rates of around 28.59% and an average click rate of 3.29%. They are an effective way to get the word out about an event.  

Social media is also an effective fundraising tool. According to a Global NGO Technology Report, 71% of nonprofits agree social media helps with fundraising efforts. It drives 57% of traffic to campaign pages.  

The Archdiocese of Washington raised more than $720,000 through the #iGiveCathlic campaign. Although it focused on direct mail, the organizers found social media and emails were effective in keeping donors engaged.  

Social media and email writing can be challenging for organizations that struggle to achieve the ideal messaging, but AI can help you create text that engages donors. These videos explain how you can use the technology in your campaigns.  

 

 

Importance of a User-Friendly Parish Website 

You can use the most advanced technological tools, but they won’t mean much without a user-friendly parish website. A user-friendly website ensures users can find your donation page easily. Donors can complete the donation process without complications, so they are less likely to abandon their donations.  

Ensure your website is easy to navigate so users can find the pages and information they are looking for. Simplify donation forms by eliminating unnecessary fields. Accept various payment options and apps to make donations convenient.  

 

 

Building and Maintaining Donor Relationships 

Strong donor relationships are vital for nonprofits that want to stay afloat. They make donors feel connected to your cause, so they continue supporting your organization. Here are some ways to strengthen relationships and get the ongoing support you require.  

 

Identifying and Engaging Potential Donors 

The first step involves identifying the right donors for your organization. You can do this by collecting demographic data on your average donor. Where do they live? What are common donor professions? What is their income bracket? What are they passionate about? 

You should also identify what social media channels they like to use. This will help you connect to them where they are at.  

Once you have this information, you can use it to create paid social media ads. Ads allow you to target demographics to engage with your ideal audience. You may also connect through social groups that are passionate about aligning causes.  

 

Best Practices for Donor Communication 

Nonprofits should maintain donor communication through various channels. Here are some best practices to consider. 

  • Use Various Platforms: You can maintain donor communication through social media, email, texts, and other messaging channels. Determine where your donors are and the communication methods they prefer. This will help you avoid wasting time with channels that don’t reach your target audience.  
  • Send Updates: Once you determine how to reach your target audience, you must create content. Update donors to let them know how their contributions have helped. Tell them what you are currently working on. Let them know what happened at various events to make them feel like part of the community.  
  • Segment Donors: Segment donors according to demographics, donor amounts, and donor status. Doing so will allow you to send personalized emails that build relationships. According to Campaign Monitor, segmentation and personalization can lead to a 26% increase in open rates and a whopping 760% increase in revenue. Welcome new donors, attempt to convert one-time donors into recurring donors, and ask loyal donors for continued support.  

Expressing Gratitude and Recognizing Contributions 

All types of communication can help you build loyalty with your donor group, but expressing gratitude may be the most essential. Thank donors for their contributions. Catholic donor appreciation will encourage them to keep giving.  

An automated email is better than nothing, but you can go that extra mile with a handwritten letter. Donors who have given exceptional amounts may be recognized with swag, donor plaques, social media shoutouts and more.  

 

 

Catholic Fundraiser Ideas That Work 

Here are some of the most effective Catholic fundraiser ideas: 

 

Top Traditional Fundraising Ideas 

These are some tried and true methods that withstand the test of time.  

 

Offertory Drives, Bake Sales, Raffles 

  • Offertory Drives: Congregants typically make donations to the church. The tithe is what’s owed to God (traditionally one-tenth of one’s income). Offerings are anything contributed beyond that. Tithing campaigns help raise funds for Catholic church causes.  
  • Bake Sales: Bake sales are a convenient way to make money. You may ask your supporters to donate home-baked goods, or they can even make something from a package. Set up a table in the church or a community center and start selling.  
  • Raffles: Raffles are relatively easy ways to raise money. Perhaps someone in your community, such as a donor or local business, would be willing to donate something of value. Have the donor pay for a raffle ticket. Then choose a name out of the pot and announce the winner.  

Check out this video to ensure your bake sale is a success.  

 

Creative and Modern Fundraising Ideas 

Thanks to technology, several fundraising ideas support church efforts. Here are a few you can try: 

 

Crowdfunding Campaigns 

Crowdfunding campaigns are typically launched for a specific cause like disaster relief or emergency aid. Start by choosing a crowdfunding platform. DonorBox specifically supports Catholic organizations, but any platform can help you connect with your audience.  

Create a page that explains a bit about your organization and your cause. Aim to forge an emotional connection with your text. You must also offer a donation tier encouraging donors to give more.  

Charity Walks and Runs 

A charity walk or run involves people walking or running a certain distance to support your cause. Participants typically pay to enroll providing funds for your nonprofit. You can give prizes to winners and/or to everyone that participates.  

Walks and runs are great ways to inspire a sense of community and build awareness for your cause.  

Online Fundraising Challenges 

An online fundraising challenge challenges people to perform certain tasks to raise awareness for their cause. The Ice Bucket Challenge was the perfect example. People filmed themselves pouring ice-cold water over their heads to raise awareness for ALS. According to CBS News, it raised more than $220 million worldwide.  

 

Seasonal Fundraising Activities 

The holidays are a great time for giving and there are various activities you can host that will get people in the spirit. Here are some suggestions.  

 

Lenten Giving Campaigns 

Lenten Almsgiving Campaigns encourage people to participate in prayer, fasting, and almsgiving during Lent. Here are some examples:  

  • 40 Acts: This generosity campaign is run by the Christian charity Stewardship. It encourages people to honor Lent differently. Instead of giving something up, they help others by sharing a skill, sending gifts, or saying thank you.  
  • Christian Aid’s Count Your Blessings App: This app offers daily stories and images to help supporters act, reflect, and pray. They have the option to give a small sum each day in the form of a pledge.  

The Comprehensive List of 114 Church Fundraisers 

We’ve worked with tens of thousands of churches for decades and built a comprehensive list of all the successful fundraisers we’ve seen. The list features the costs, some tips for pulling them off, and the level of difficulty for each fundraiser.  

Get the Complete List of 114 Church Fundraiser Ideas!  

 

 

Compliance and Ethical Consideration 

Catholic organizations must remain compliant with fundraising standards to ensure a high level of transparency. Failure to do so can lead to donor mistrust and sever relationships. Here are some considerations to keep in mind.  

 

Legal Requirements for Fundraising Activities 

Catholic fundraising organizations must meet specific legal requirements. The organizations don't need to register as fundraising professionals with the Attorney General’s office. However, they must do so within 30 days of receiving property or if they hire a third-party professional. Registration fees must be paid and renewed annually.  

Charities must also have a contract in place with fundraising professionals who work with their organization stating all relevant obligations. Professionals must file a notice of intent to solicit ten days before starting a solicitation campaign. However, if an emergency occurs, they may file when the campaign begins.  

  

Transparency and Accountability in Financial Reporting 

Nonprofits must file an annual financial report with the registry itemizing all collections from the previous year. It should list donor names and addresses, and the details of all cash and non-cash contributions as well as expenses and the names and addresses of all personnel. Records must be maintained for 10 years.  

Charities must also file annual reports when they meet certain thresholds. For example, organizations must file reports if they raise more than 50% of their annual income or if they collect more than $1 million from donors in California.  

 
Ethical Standards in Donor Solicitation and Fund Management 

Charities must be transparent in their fundraising methods. They must disclose all relevant materials. The organization must not use deceptive practices to raise money.  

Nonprofits must provide donors with the charity name and address, tax-exempt status, and explain whether donations are tax deductibles.  

Bingos, raffles, and private lotteries may be considered illegal under state law. However, non-profits may be able to host these Catholic fundraising events if they meet certain conditions. For example, they may be allowed if a certain amount of the money raised is used for charitable purposes. There may also be restrictions on where the activities can be held. Organizations may also need a license to host these events.  

 

 

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