Posted by Aaron Jeschke on November 16, 2009
Too often have I seen groups involved in Christian Fundraising programs that require an exorbitant amount of work from the fundraising team. The truth is that usually Christian Fundraising is a secondary concern. There are very few ministries that have access to individuals who are full time fundraisers. The majority of Christian Fundraising is done by part-time volunteers which means that is of the utmost importance to have a Church fundraiser that is simple and easy. Time is even more of the essence during the Holiday season where everyone is caught up in the Pre-Christmas pandemonium. The key is finding a fundraiser that will work for you. Something that avoids forms, bulky products, return visits, and low profitability. Some of the more popular Christian Fundraising products, such as cookie dough, popcorn, wrapping paper, etc., simple aren’t cutting it as far as the above categories are concerned. Both you and your Christian Fundraising team’s time is very important.
Selling the Samaritan Card is an excellent holiday fundraiser that allows you and your team to raise money quickly and easily. The Samaritan Card is a shopping discount card that provides donors with discounts of up to 50% off at over 100,000 merchants nationwide. There are no forms, orders, or return visits after the initial order and the card is so easy to distribute to the members of your Church fundraising team. The best part is that takes only minutes to sell. With the Samaritan card that is no more organizing of complicated fundraising events! You also can earn profits of up to 70% per card! Why settle for less when it requires more time and effort? Christian Fundraising has never been easier.
Posted by Aaron Jeschke on November 13, 2009
Considering that it is only a couple weeks until Thanksgiving it is important to draw some attention to giving thanks for those who serve and labor on your Christian Fundraising team. Putting together a successful Church fundraiser is much more than selecting a quality fundraiser. In order to ensure fundraising success it is of the utmost importance to have passionate and caring people involved in the process. Whether you are a leader or simply part of the Christian Fundraising team it is vital that you show appreciation for all the hard work that your fellow team members. Why not celebrate Thanksgiving by giving thanks for your fundraising team? In every vocation that I have had from youth ministry to Samaritan Fundraising I always perform better when I know that I am appreciated. The same holds true for your team.
At Samaritan Fundraising we strive to be your fundraising “Armor-Bearer”. We realize that Christian Fundraising isn’t always what you want to be doing which is why we want to make your fundraising experience as simple as possible. That is why we recommend the Samaritan Card. Selling the Samaritan Card is fast, easy, and beneficial to donors. Who doesn’t want a discount card that gives you up to 50% off at over 100,000 merchants nationwide? Our goal is to ease the Holiday stress by providing you with great church fundraising products!
Posted by Aaron Jeschke on November 12, 2009
I think many times when we engage in Christian Fundraising many groups fail to communicate properly just what they are fundraising for. I have had groups come to my door on a number of occasions who are so focused on selling the product that they forget to explain what I am giving to. Why would I spend my precious time and money on a product I may not need to support a cause that I know nothing about? The “because” of your Christian Fundraiser is often times what is most important to the donor. You could have the greatest product in the entire world but without properly communicating why you are fundraising or for what you are fundraising your efforts may prove useless.
In order to correctly communicate the “because” or the “why” of your Church Fundraiser you must first determine that for yourself. Formulate in your own mind a brief yet concise explanation of your mission and vision for the fundraiser. An example could be, “We are raising money for a trip to Peru where we will build houses for the homeless and where we will share the love of Christ with those who do not know Him”. Once you have formulated your vision in your mind communicate it clearly to those who will be helping you raise the money that you need. Be sure to emphasize that promoting the vision is as important as selling the product. Once you and your helpers are ready to communicate both the importance of the vision and benefits of the product then you are ready to begin fundraising. Be sure to invite your potential donors to join you in your efforts for your vision by giving. This way the donors will not only have a great Christian Fundraising product but also will be able to join you in your vision! Christian Fundraising is never more satisfying to the donor than when they have the knowledge that they are supporting a great cause and are able to use a great product!
Posted by Aaron Jeschke on November 11, 2009
Don’ t look now. It’s about time to start thinking about those Christmas shopping lists. The Holiday season is always a hectic time for ministers and donors alike. The problem is that even during this time many groups put on church events and activities that require some measure of Christian Fundraising. The typical Christmas fundraisers usually involve products or services that can only be used seasonally and is something that donors may already have, such as Christmas wreaths. Wouldn’t it be great to provide people with a gift that keeps on giving throughout the entire year and raise the money you need? Can such a Christian Fundraising product exist?
The Samaritan Card, a shopping discount card that gives donors up to 50% off at over 100,000 merchants nationwide, is the gift that keeps on giving. The card can provide savings for an entire year and is extremely easy to sell. In times such these savings might be the best gift that you can give. The cards are also wallet-sized so they can be a great stocking stuffer! If you want a low stress Church fundraiser that can yield profits of up to 70% per card than I recommend you check out the Samaritan Card.
Posted by Aaron Jeschke on November 10, 2009
When putting together a Christian Fundraiser it is of vital importance to have goals in mind. Having written goals is proven to increase one’s chances of success in any area of life. It is important not only to approach goal setting from a financial perspective but it is also important to have goals concerning what type of Church fundraiser you want to engage in. What do I mean by this? You want to set specific categories for your Christian fundraiser such as profitability, ease, benefit to donors, etc. Here is an example: We want a fundraiser that has a profitability of 50% or more, a product that can be sold by anyone in our organization that doesn’t require forms, up front costs below $500, and that gives donors a very practical and obvious benefit. We would also like to raise $2,000. When you set up your Christian Fundraiser this way you are much less likely to settle for an average Christian Fundraiser that doesn’t meet your needs.
There are a few specific categories that I would recommend you include in any goal setting process. Those include profitability of the Christian Fundraiser, low risk, simplicity, speed at which money can be raised, and benefit to donors. If you can find a Christian Fundraising idea that allows you to meet your goals in all of these areas you are well on your way to putting together a successful fundraiser.
Is there a product that gains high marks in all the above categories? I believe that the Samaritan Card, a shopping discount card that provides donors with up to 50% off at over 100,000 merchants nationwide, does just that. The Samaritan Card can provide groups with up to 70% profitability. After the initial order you do not need to pay for your cards until 45 days after which greatly lowers risk. The cards are remarkably easy to sell and can be sold in just minutes. Lastly, the cards are significantly beneficial to any donor. What donor doesn’t want to save more than they give? Christian Fundraising has never been easier!
Posted by Aaron Jeschke on November 9, 2009
It is always important when putting together a Christian Fundraiser to know just to whom you will be pitching your fundraiser. This could have a very significant impact on the profitability of your Church Fundraiser. If your “target market” includes those desiring to save money and not spend uselessly then likely a cookie dough fundraiser for you. Too many groups attach themselves to a Christian Fundraiser without ever thinking critically about their audience. If you have a group of donors who are willing to donate a significant amount than I wouldn’t suggest selling small items such as candy bars.
The vast majority of those to whom ministries will be “pitching” their Christian Fundraiser are typical Americans desiring to save money in tough economic times. The unemployment rate just recently climbed above the 10% mark so donors will be looking to save more now than they have in recent years. It is of vital importance to select a Church fundraiser that meets the demands of donors. Something that doesn’t cost much up front and ideally might even save them money in the long run. Savings are of the utmost importance. Every dollar counts.
I believe that the Samaritan Card is the perfect fundraiser for the majority of American donors. Individuals who purchase the card tap into exclusive savings of up to 50% off at over 100,000 retail, recreation and restaurant merchants nationwide. After just a couple of uses (sometimes only one use) it is as if the donor has paid anything at all. All the donor needs to do is make a one-time $20 payment and then begin saving what could amount to hundreds of dollars over the course of the year. Providing a quality Christian Fundraiser that meets donors needs has never been easier.
Posted by Thomas Freiling on November 6, 2009
In our modern society it seems that we enjoy making everything as complex as possible. Everything is multi-tasking, technological innovation, and mass communication at lightning speed. As we delve further into the information age life it seems things are going to increase in complexity. Often this emerging complexity puts undue strain on ministries and church groups who not only have to deal with technological complexities but also the intricacies of the human personality. Ministers are now required to wear so many “hats” (manager, fundraiser, pastor, event coordinator, web developer, etc) that life can sometimes seem impossible. It is very important for ministers to simplify where they can, especially in areas that they don’t particularly enjoy dealing with. Why not start by simplifying your Christian Fundraising? So many Church fundraisers include pesky forms, impractical products, and are difficult to coordinate.
At Samaritan Fundraising we strive to provide Christian Ministries with the simplest and best Christian Fundraising products. A prime example would is the Samaritan Card, a shopping discount card that gives donors up to 50% off at over 100,000 merchants nationwide. After the initial order there are no forms or return visits. It couldn’t be any simpler. The Samaritan card also pays for itself in as soon as one use! No more impractical products and pesky forms. Keep it simple with the Samaritan Card!
Posted by Aaron Jeschke on November 5, 2009
During this time of year it is not uncommon for one to see various groups selling large tins of flavored popcorn. Popcorn is one of my favorite snacks and the pictures always look delicious. As is the case with many Christian fundraising products I love the idea of popcorn as a fundraising product but is it really as effective as it is often made out to be? For me, popcorn is one of those products that I enjoy but I can also easily do without. In recent months I have rarely had the opportunity to have any popcorn and I actually hadn’t noticed until I had been thinking about popcorn fundraisers. Can a product that is very much secondary in the minds of society be a genuinely effective Christian Fundraising product? Perhaps, but are there better Church Fundraising methods?
To me, popcorn has a couple of flaws as a christian fundraiser, it is a secondary item (and by that I mean nonessential to daily life) as we have discussed and it only yields a maximum profit of 50%. Popcorn tins are also quite large and cumbersome so it is difficult to transport them. What donors really need is a product that can meet essential daily needs, that allows groups to raise money quickly, easily, and that is highly profitable.
I believe that the Samaritan Card, a shopping discount card that gives donors up to 50% off at over 100,000 merchants nationwide, provides the solutions to all of the problems surrounding the popcorn Christian Fundraiser. First, it is helpful to donors in the most primary of senses. Savings, especially in this economic climate, are a daily need of potential donors everywhere. It is something that almost anyone can use year round. Secondly, the Samaritan Card provides Christian groups with profit margins as high as 70%! Lastly, the Samaritan card is wallet-sized which makes it extremely simple to transport. What’s worth more to you? Saving money for a year (with which you can buy popcorn) or taste popcorn for a moment?
Posted by Aaron Jeschke on November 3, 2009
When churches put on extracurricular activities, trips, and retreats typically some measure of Church fundraising is needed. Generally speaking, such events are lead and organized by volunteers who also happen to have full time positions elsewhere. This puts significant time constraints on those involved in leading the fundraiser. Churches need Christian Fundraising ideas that are fast, profitable, and easy to put together. I have been involved in churches for over 20 years and often an extra event means extra fundraising. Pastors and other staff have a myriad of responsibilities that require their fullest attention. Fundraising is the last thing they want to be thinking about (I am also a pastor’s kid so I know this from experience).
I think that the Samaritan Card is a great fundraising solution for churches. Volunteers and church members don’t need to spend a significant amount of time planning intricate and complex fundraisers with unpredictable results. Instead they can sell the Samaritan Card which allows their donors to save up to 50% at over 100,000 merchants nationwide. Best of all, churches can bring in profits of up to 70% per card. If you are a church that needs to raise money consider the Samaritan Card.
Posted by Aaron Jeschke on November 2, 2009
One of the things I enjoy about the winter season is frequently catching the fresh aroma of scented candles. Who doesn’t enjoy a sweet strawberry scent being peacefully dispelled from a nearby candle? Not to mention the enjoyment that often comes from softness of candlelight. It is undeniable that scented candles can provide enjoyment and in some cases a subtle sense of comfort and satisfaction but can the selling of such items be an effective Christian Fundraiser?
The selling of scented candles is a pretty commonly used Christian Fundraising technique. The theory is simple, one would approach a potential donor and sell a scented candle for a profit. Typical candle Church fundraisers yield a maximum profit margin of 55%. These Christian fundraisers typically utilize order forms rather than having the product readily available for the donor. This causes a couple of problems. First, the order forms can be confusing and make it more difficult and time consuming to put together your Christian Fundraiser. Secondly, the fact that the product is not readily available to the donor upon payment makes it more difficult to sell the candles. We live in a culture that desires speed and timeliness, the longer one has to wait for their product the less likely they are to purchase. If one were to have the product readily available it would become an issue of transportation. Even a modest supply of candles can be quite cumbersome to carry. What is needed here is a Christian Fundraising product that is light, easy to sell, profitable, and immediately beneficial to donors.
The Samaritan Card, a shopping discount card that provides donors with discounts of up to 50% off at over 100,000 merchants nationwide, allows groups to raise money quickly and easily. First, it is wallet-sized so one can carry around a relatively large supply with ease. Secondly, it provides the the group that is fundraising with up 70% profit which could mean hundreds more than selling products at 55% profit. Lastly, with the Samaritan Cards their are no forms or return visits. One simple order is all it takes to start an effective Christian Fundraiser. Candles might be an enjoyable luxury but the Samaritan Card has undeniable practical benefits. Who doesn’t want to save when they shop? Church Fundraising has never been easier!
