4 of the Best Fundraisers for Youth Groups

As Youth Pastors, one of our key roles is to inspire and mobilize our youth groups towards activities that not only foster growth and unity but also contribute to the financial health of our ministries. Fundraising can be a powerful tool to teach responsibility, teamwork, and the joy of giving back, all while having fun. Here, we explore four engaging fundraising ideas that have proven successful for youth groups.

In youth ministry, we’re always looking for ways to make cool stuff happen, such as: trips that open eyes, camps that build character, and events that leave memories. These experiences foster growth in students who are lucky enough to participate, by helping our kids see the world, connect with each other, and make memories that help them along their spiritual journey.

But let’s be real, all this amazing stuff costs money, and that’s where fundraising comes into play. It’s not just about collecting cash; it’s about getting our youth involved in creative, teamwork-driven ways to earn their own way to these life-changing experiences. One of the most common questions we see Youth Pastors ask is for ways to fundraise with their group. In this article, we’re talking about fun, practical fundraising ideas that work, not just in theory but in real life, and can help turn our big plans into reality.

So, let’s dive into four fundraising strategies that are not only effective but also bring our groups closer together.

1. Car Wash-a-thon

The Car Wash-a-thon combines community service with fundraising, offering a great way to engage with the local community while raising funds. The concept is simple yet effective: supporters pledge a certain amount of money for every car washed over a set period. You give students a few weeks to find sponsors, and then you host a free car wash where you can hit as many cars in a few hours as possible.

This fundraiser not only motivates the youth to work hard but also turns the event into a fun competition. To maximize participation and donations, advertise the event well in advance through social media, community boards, and local businesses. Encourage the youth to get creative with signage and promotions, and ensure you have a visible and accessible location. My group held this event one year right after church, and we also had a food truck come in that gave us a portion of their proceeds. We had our students aim for $10 per car through sponsors (mostly at .50/car) and we washed over 120 cars. Not every student hit that goal, but With 25 students our total per car was about $210, bringing in over $25,000.

If you’re going to do a car wash fundraiser for your group, this is the way to do it!

2. Big Game Auctions

Big Game auctions tap into the excitement of one of the biggest sporting events in the United States. These come in all shapes and sizes, and can be a great way to get your students involved. We saw one post recently in a Facebook group where a Youth Pastor had their group make food to auction off. That idea is great, and could be a great time to do a Boston butt fundraiser – who doesn’t love pulled pork while watching football?! These can range from a home-cooked meal delivered on game day to a basket filled with snacks and fan gear. Utilize online platforms to reach a wider audience and encourage bidding wars. The post we saw in the Facebook group, the Youth Pastor shared that they had raised over $20,000 with this years fundraiser. Sounds like a lot of great food going out!

3. Envelope Wall

The Envelope Wall is a visually engaging and straightforward fundraiser that encourages donations of all sizes. If you’ve been a part of a Youth Ministry Facebook group for a while, you’ve probably heard about this one.

Create a wall or board filled with envelopes, each numbered and representing a monetary amount. For example, if you have 150 envelopes, number them from $1 to $150. Participants choose an envelope and donate the corresponding amount. This method allows for inclusive participation, as it offers options for all financial capabilities. It’s an excellent way to encourage 100% participation from your congregation or event attendees, making everyone a part of the fundraising effort. If each of the 150 envelopes in your fundraiser gets filled with an amount corresponding to its number (1 through 150), you would raise a total of $11,325.

The main knock against this fundraiser is that it’s hard for students to get involved. One idea you could do is to have students write a card of thanks to put into each envelope. Your group could easily write 100 notes of appreciation, 100 hopes they have for the trip or for the camp, to put one in each envelope. There are a number of ways to use the envelopes to help students connect with those who are giving in a way that carries the mission of the event.

4. Trivia Night

Hosting a Trivia Night is an entertaining way to bring people together for a cause. I served at a church that did one of these in the fall and spring, and they were always huge hits. They charged a nominal fee to sign up, and then had a menu with pizza, chicken wings, tacos and more, available for purchase. Each table had a student that served as “waiter” running to get food and drinks. They also sold a few “extras” for the night, such as $50 got you a correct answer if you missed one. For $100 you could put a player from another team into “jail” for that round (so the Bible round led to all the Pastors and Elders being put into jail!).

Trivia nights can be themed to attract specific interest groups or kept general to appeal to a broad audience. Promote teamwork and community spirit by encouraging mixed-age teams. This event served as a great community building event for the whole church, was an easy way to get new members more connected with the church student ministry, and had plenty of ways for students to be actively involved in raising funds.

Depending on the participation, this event could easily raise a few thousand dollars.


My hope is that with these 4 options, you can see that fundraising for your youth group doesn’t have to be a tedious task.

By incorporating fun, community-oriented activities like a Car Wash-a-thon, Super Bowl auctions, an Envelope Wall, and Trivia Night, you can mobilize your group to achieve their financial goals while strengthening their bonds and making lasting memories. Remember, the success of these fundraisers lies not just in the funds raised but in the sense of accomplishment and community impact achieved through these collective efforts.

Encourage creativity, participation, and most importantly, the spirit of giving back, as you plan and execute these fundraising activities.

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