Posted by Fundraising Pro on February 25, 2010
America is the most charitable country on earth. And according to a recent essay by Adam Meyerson, president of The Philanthropy Roundtable, one third of all this charitable giving–$100 billion a year–goes to religious organizations. For churches and Christian organizations that rely on Christian fundraising to meet financial needs, this is great news!
But you may be thinking “Then why is it so hard for my Christian organization to raise money?” Even with modest fundraising goals, many churches and Christian organizations cannot seem to raise enough to meet their financial needs. Here at Samaritan Fundraising, we realized that this was because many Christian organizations were using traditional Christian fundraising methods that were either outdated or not appealing to donors. That is why we created the Samaritan Card!
The Samaritan Card is a new Christian fundraiser, one that your donors will want to buy. The Samaritan Card is a discount card that is revolutionizing the world of Christian fundraising. Marketing a Christian fundraising product to your donors that allows them to save more money than they spend has helped numerous Christian organizations find huge Christian fundraising success.
With $100 billion dollars to go around, your Christian fundraiser needs to be efficient and easy, and appealing to donors. With the Samaritan Card, Christian fundraising will never be the same.
Posted by Fundraising Pro on February 6, 2010
Last Tuesday, the Washington Post reported that charitable contributions to colleges and universities fell nearly 12% in 2009, the steepest drop in three decades! Though not surprising, this news is certainly disappointing, especially to churches and Christian organizations that rely a great deal on Christian fundraising to meet yearly budget goals. You may be thinking “If Harvard can’t even raise money in this economy, how will my church ever make it through the year?”
But here at Samaritan Fundraising, we know that news like this only brings new and amazing opportunities for Christian fundraising. We truly believe that there has never been a better time to ramp up your Christian fundraising effort, and that this year will prove to be your most successful yet!
The Samaritan Card is a prime example of a Christian fundraising product that can help your church or Christian organization find fundraising success in any economic climate. A good product that donors want to buy is essential to any successful Christian fundraiser, but is especially necessary in this bear market. The Samaritan Card, a discount card that can be used at thousands of popular retailers nationwide, removes the need for you to “sell” your Christian fundraiser to your donor. Once your donor realizes that they will save more than they donate, the sale is made!
Don’t let the state of the economy get you down! Christian fundraising with unique products like the Samaritan Card is helping Christian organizations around the country find Christian fundraising success even in the middle of this economic storm.
Posted by Fundraising Pro on February 2, 2010
Entering the new decade in the midst of a recession is obviously not the most ideal economic situation, especially for churches and other Christian organizations whose funds rely largely on giving and Christian fundraising. But there are lessons to be learned about fundraising from the past decade and the perils of the economic recession that can make Christian fundraising in this coming decade more successful than ever.
As the stock market suffered in ‘08 and ‘09, many Christian organizations and churches worried that their funds would diminish as people seemingly had less and less money to give. In this recent article , Tom Freiling of Samaritan Fundraising stated that “Church giving is down in every area, as well as giving for missions and special projects,” as it was reported that giving to churches fell between $3 and $5 billion during the recession. Obviously, fundraising became essential for Christian organizations to continue their mission. Ensuring that your Christian organization has experience when it comes to Christian fundraising is a must for the coming decade, as well as knowing where to turn for help with the Christian fundraising process. Companies such as Samaritan Fundraising offer quick and easy ways to help your Christian organization raise money—even in the midst of the economic recession.
But another thing we learned from the recession is that, though people’s personal finances suffered, many came to the aid of struggling churches and Christian organizations when it came to giving and fundraising. Many churches even saw growth as those hurt the most by the recession turned to the church for relief. People proved willing to give to struggling ministries, and the Christian fundraising process, as Samaritan Fundraising has observed, remains as successful and important as ever. The Samaritan Card, a discount card from Samaritan Fundraising, is finding huge success in Christian fundraisers throughout the country!
Streamlining your Christian fundraising process for the new decade with products like the Samaritan Card can help you prepare for whatever the next ten yeas have in store!
Posted by Fundraising Pro on January 26, 2010
With the new year well under way, churches across the nation are thinking about fundraising: setting goals, making budgets, and exploring options. As you make your plans, be sure to remember that time is of the essence, especially in this tough economic climate. Working with a fundraising company is a great way to raise money, but it requires effective planning. Allotting time for exploring options, ordering your product, selling your product, and collecting your money is essential when planning for your next Christian fundraiser in 2010.
But what many churches find out after experiencing a fundraiser like this is that it simply takes too long or is too cumbersome. With a tight budget, many simply do not have the time to wait for fundraising companies to finish paperwork, return profits, or ship products. Time is short, especially in the world of Christian fundraising. Samaritan Fundraising offers these three fundraising tips that will help you make sure your Christian fundraiser in 2010 is both easy and timely:
First: make sure that your fundraiser is well-prepared. Spread the word and make sure your potential donors know exactly when the fundraiser will be taking place, and how they can participate.
Second: know the deadlines! Make sure that your fundraising goals can be met within the time frame offered by your fundraising company.
Third: get excited! Fundraising, especially with the Samaritan Card, is exciting! Making sure your ministry is active and willing in raising money is the most important element to generating sales quickly and easily.
To help you with planning your fundraiser for 2010, Samaritan Fundraising offers a free fundraising e-kit. Happy New Year!
Posted by Thomas Freiling on December 10, 2009
If you are looking for a Church Fundraising product or are already familiar with the Samaritan Card than I have some exciting news for you. The Samaritan Card,a wallet-sized shopping discount card that allows donors to save up to 50% off at over 100,000 merchants nationwide, is expanding its already broad array of merchants! Our original list included dining, retail, and recreation merchants all across the country. Now Samaritan Card members will be able to tap into exclusive automotive and golf discounts! Imagine saving up to 50% off at over 1,700 golf courses nationwide and also at many golf supply shops and online stores. Is maintenance on your car costing you an arm and a leg? With the Samaritan Card you can save up to 50% on oil changes, transmission repair, new tires, muffler and other automotive repairs. Donors may also save at popular automotive supply merchants as well as on automotive warranties and financing. These latest additions could save donors hundreds of dollars a year on top of the discounts they will already receive!
In today’s economic climate church fundraising groups are in desperate need of a christian fundraising product that allows them to raise money fast and provides value to the donor. What more value could there be than allowing the donor to save more than they give! Church fundraising has never been better!
Posted by Aaron Jeschke on December 9, 2009
I remember back in High School my youth pastor would always make the claim that “persistence breaks resistance”. At the time I rejected the idea and fully believed that when a person decided something they stuck with it. A couple of my friends, however, wholeheartedly adopted this notion of “persistence” and began inviting their friends to youth camp unwaveringly. Even if they were rejected multiple times. By the time camp rolled around these same friends were responsible for bringing a number of kids on the trip. I, on the other hand, was responsible for bringing approximately zero friends. It’s not that I didn’t invite people either. I asked a couple of my friends but gave up as soon as they said no. Did my buddies end up bringing more friends because of their charisma? Or was it something else? After years of experimenting with this theory I have discovered that the squeaky wheel ultimately does get the grease.
This same concept can easily be applied to any form of church fundraising. It is usually those christian fundraisers that accent persistence and vigilance that end up being the most successful. Some of this comes out of a natural desire for the vision but some people are simply not as emotionally driven as others. That’s why accenting such principles and practicing them yourself regardless of how motivated you feel on any given day is so important. If you are not persistent donors aren’t going to believe in vision you represent or the church fundraising product you are selling. Why would they believe in something that they don’t think you genuinely believe in? You might have a sincerely passionate heart but it doesn’t matter unless the donors can see it. Being persistent is a very tangible way of showing your passion and belief. A persistent church fundraising team is much more likely to be a successful church fundraising team.
Posted by Aaron Jeschke on December 8, 2009
It is vitally important that when engaging in Church Fundraising that you get as many members of your church as possible. Too many christian fundraisers are not nearly as effective as they could be simply because a few people try to put together a fundraiser. As the person heading up the church fundraiser you can’t put the entire burden on yourself. Always remember that many hands make light work. The more people you have working on your church fundraiser the faster you will raise the money you need.
There are a few practical ways to get your church involved. First, be sure that the church is fully aware that the fundraiser is going on. Make an announcement or send out a chain of emails to church members explaining the purpose and vision of the fundraiser in order to ensure that church members are informed. Secondly, bring it up in conversation constantly. Repetition is the mother of all knowledge. The more you repeat to those around you that a fundraiser is going on the more likely they are to remember and get involved. Thirdly, generate excitement for the fundraiser by being excited yourself and exciting your team. The more “buzz” you generate the more likely people are to get involved. Lastly, use of fundraising method that you can believe in and present to your church with absolute enthusiasm. Most churches don’t want to hear about another cookie dough fundraiser.
The Samaritan Card, a shopping discount card that provides donors with up to 50% off at over 100,000 merchants nationwide, is a product that you and your church can get excited about. After the initial order there are not forms, orders, or return visits and the cards take just minutes to sell. The best part is that your donors will save potentially hundreds more than they give! Christian Fundraising couldn’t be better!
Posted by Aaron Jeschke on December 4, 2009
Are you a Christian Sports team or organization looking for a product that will help you raise money quickly and easily? Many sports teams have a difficult time raising the money they need because it is usually pretty difficult to communicate the mission and purpose of a sports team to those who are not directly involved. It’s imperative for Christian sports teams to have quality church fundraising products that donors actually want to buy otherwise you might have a pretty difficult time raising money.
The Game Saver Card is the perfect product for Christian Sports fundraising. The Game Saver Card works like the Samaritan Card, but offers sports-themed discounts to golf, automobile, dining, and recreational venues. Save up to 50% at more than 1,700 golf courses nationwide, plus savings on golf instruction, gear, apparel and more. Also save at restaurants, on automobile expenses like oil changes, plus recreation including theme parks and tickets to professional sporting events! The best part is that the Game Saver Card is designed specifically for Christian Sports groups and is amazingly simple to sell! Have any friends that play golf? Who wouldn’t want up to 50% at over 1,700 golf courses nationwide?
It you are having trouble raising money for your Christian sports group than I would highly recommend the Game Saver Card. Its the card that sports fans want to buy! Raising money for your Christian Sports team has never been easier!
Posted by Aaron Jeschke on December 2, 2009
The truth be told, church fundraising is not exactly the easiest job in the world. There are a million possible complications. I can’t really blame those ministers who almost continuously put off church fundraising simply because it is usually very difficult. A problem that I often see Christian groups run into is a lack of commitment to a church fundraiser over an extended period of time. Usually when a christian fundraiser first begins groups are excited about it and very willing to get involved. As time passes team members tend to lose interest and enthusiasm. Especially because the later half of any church fundraiser is more difficult than the beginning. This is true even when you are utilizing the best Christian products.
There are many ways that you can avoid losing momentum when engaged in a church fundraiser. As a leader you can never stop encouraging your team. An important rule to remember is “don’t expect what you don’t inspect”. There always needs to be some measure of accountability on any given fundraiser. If, for example, students in your youth group are selling church fundraising products and you don’t inquire about how it’s going with each individual the students may lose interest, motivation, or simply might forget about it. As the leader of the Christian fundraiser you are the heart and soul of the project. Whether you like it or not people look to you for leadership.
Another way to avoid losing momentum is to pick a church fundraising product that allows you to raise money quickly. The faster you reach your goal the less chance there is of lost commitment. The product I would recommend is the Samaritan Card, a shopping discount card that provides donors with up to 50% off at over 100,000 merchants nationwide. The Samaritan Card allows you to raise money fast which reduces the chances of your group losing momentum. No product, however, is a guaranteed success when it comes to keep your group committed but a product such as the Samaritan Card certainly can make it easier.
Posted by Aaron Jeschke on December 1, 2009
Finish up the turkey and bring out the Christmas tree, Thanksgiving is officially over and it’s that time of year again. Do you have that winter event coming up that you have avoided thinking about for the last two months? It’s not too late to start fundraising. This is a ripe time of year for Church Fundraising groups of all shapes and sizes. All that they need is the right church fundraising products. It’s during the Christmas season that people are more willing to give than any other time of year. After all, what is Christmas really about? It is important to keep in mind that most donors don’t want to simply add to their collection of useless products. Donors, especially during this time of year, are likely spending a lot on various products and ultimately they want something useful.
The Samaritan Card, a shopping discount card that provides donors with up to 50% off at over 100,000 retail, restaurant and recreation merchants nationwide, is the perfect holiday church fundraising product. The Samaritan Card provides something that donors can actually use during the holiday season. With every purchase donors make they will save even more. Ultimately a small $20 donation could result in hundreds of dollars worth of savings! Best of all selling the Samaritan Card allows church fundraising groups to raise money quickly and easily. After the initial order there are no forms, orders, or return visits. The cards are also enormously easy to sell and the wallet-sized cards are perfect for stuffing stockings! Christian Fundraising has never been better!
