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50 Income & Funding Ideas for Christian Camps & Conference Centers & Schools 50 Proven Ways to Expand Your Annual Income 1. If you are like the average ministry, you have peaks and valleys in your annual schedule and income. You often need to provide a means of generating some additional income for balancing your budget and to help keep some full-time employees. 2. Some camps supplement their summer income by renting camp space during the non-summer months. This certainly is a great help, but often this too is insufficient to keep the budget functioning with a positive cash flow. 3. If you have a shortage of cash some months, called a “negative cash flow,” you may be interested in some of the following ideas. 4. Most camps desire to operate their programs and pay personnel from program fees. This is a great concept for those who run a full camp year-round. But for the summer-only camp, it becomes difficult to stretch the money from fees over the remaining nine months, even if it is concluded that it is financially and/or morally correct to do this. 5. The people and churches that use the camp should bear a fair share of the operating costs, as most do. But many churches are served by privately-operated camps. Often it is these camps who are neglected by the various churches; those whose members feel that such support isn’t their responsibility. 6. However, Christian camping is missions in the primary sense of the word and deserves church missionary support. It is our camping children who will become the church members and supporters of the next generation’s churches. 7. You should make every effort to present your program and outreach to every mission agency or board of every church that uses your facilities. You may begin small, but there is the potential of involving more church members during non-summer months each year. 8. While it is true that not everything a camp does is religious, it certainly can teach the unity of the spiritual life. As one author put it, “God didn’t save folks for Sundays.” 9. Certainly you should work to develop some of your support from the churches to whom you minister. This support is tied directly to the perceived value of your camp. Although camp fees continue to mount, most parents recognize the vacation bargain offered by Christian camps. 10. If you are typical, you are offering a substantial number of scholarships. This results because you are more interested in getting children to camp than the question of ability to pay. Now you see, “scholarships” and “missions” begin to take on a related quality and purpose. 11. One suggestion would be to involve more churches in a project to collectively underwrite your scholarship program. Not only can the churches provide the names of those who need some help in coming to camp, they can also help meet those needs. They need to know that your camp focuses on persons who need to know God. 12. But what if, as true as those statements are, you still don’t have enough cash income to stay out of that “valley.” 13. Most of us, when the normal cash flow cycle has run its course and we are standing in a deep cash flow valley, probably wish we had planned for some method to reduce just how deep the cash valley really is. 14. “What we really need,” we think, “is an opportunity. . . a plan. . . a method,. . . a ‘something’ which will result in additional cash.” 15. The primary means of generating new revenue is to raise funds through planned contacts with friends and supporters. Even if you have already tried a direct appeal for support, you still may be able to generate additional funds. To do this you need a special event - a special something that will produce the cash needed to help keep you out of the cash flow valley. 16. This “special event” really becomes another fundraising activity. Therefore, the event must be an activity in which the donor perceives the value of the organization justifies any increase in the price asked. 17. There appears to be two basic methods of raising money for your camp operation through your supporters. One method would be the selling of merchandise which has been purchased by you at a discounted price or donated. This is the traditional cookie, candy, and such sale. The other is to offer the product at an inflated price with the difference between the cost and the price going to the camp or organization sponsoring the event. 18. In either case, both the product and the organization must be looked upon as worthwhile by your supporters. 19. While some events are more productive than others, it would appear that almost any activity which doesn’t differ with the purpose and direction of your camp could be considered as a potential fundraising activity. 20. As Christians we must remember the admonition from Col. 3:23, “and whatever you do, do heartily, as unto the Lord, and not unto men.” 21. How then, do you choose the one event which will benefit you the most? 22. First consider the characteristics of the group that you desire to attract to your event. You need to answer these questions. What type of people will come? What do the people who support my camp like to do? 23. Every possible attempt should be made to understand the people who support your camp with their prayers and money. Do they like social events, entertainment, outdoor events, athletic events, banquets? 24. It is best if you also know the public’s attitude toward your camp. This may be the result of your own survey or that of a professional organization that measured public response to your camp. A demographic study can be made of your campers, supporters, and friends which will help you understand their background and interests. 25. Be careful in depending or relying on any projections of your demographic data very fair into the future. Even professional demographers are unsuccessful in predicting what people’s interests will be in the future. 26. Before selecting an event, you must decide on its purpose. In this decision you must evaluate the results you desire. Is it just to make money? Is it just for public relations and goodwill? Is it some combination of both of these desires? 27. After establishing a general idea of who will attend and your major purpose, you must accurately evaluate the resources you have available to perform the event. Here is where most beginning event planners make mistakes. 28. Every additional event will take additional resources of time, money, administration and personnel. The question becomes then, do I have the necessary assets to carry out the special event? 29. Since you are contemplating methods of providing auxiliary funding for your camp or project, it is important never to violate the number one rule: Never pay for an event with your own money. 30. You may be tempted to explain some part of the unrecovered costs as public relations or marketing. However, it’s best to make every event pay for itself. Break-even should be your minimum goal. 31. What should the “event” accomplish? Besides making money for your needs, there is a potential for reaching a new group of supporters, for combining the event with a purpose of recognizing and thanking important supporters, for generating support for a new project, and for establishing an annual source of funds for your camp. 32. Beginning with the easier events, you could do things like the old standby pancake breakfast or dessert sampling party. Or perhaps using the potential drawing power of music and drama, you could have a benefit production. There remains the familiar bazaar or auction. We have found that by donating one or more camping weeks to the auctions of our local Christian schools we help them with their event, demonstrate our support, and it gives us visibility in our market place. 33. Their constituency will probably remember you when you hold a similar event. These and similar functions are easily performed, but the funds received are generally smaller. 34. A number of events that can potentially provide larger cash receipts are events like concerts, banquets, special occasion or holiday dinners, award or tribute luncheons. These all require more work involvement and longer preparation time. The off-setting reward is that they can involve more people and provide a potential method for increasing the community’s awareness of your camp. 35. If you are thinking of having a tribute event involving a meal, choose a luncheon. It is less expensive and the professionals say “equally as effective.” 36. This holds true for large cities, but isn’t necessarily true in small communities. It depends upon how many of your potential ticket purchaser live out of the city and wouldn’t return for an event. 37. Because of the popularity of sporting events, you may consider a golf or tennis tournament, marathon or lap-runs with a specific amount per lap to be donated, as your fundraising event. 38. In her great little book on raising money by special events, Mira Sheerin (see bibliography) suggests what she calls “original events.” These are events held in unusual places or are for celebrating special anniversaries. 39. These events are the ones that involve major effort and major expense. You certainly wouldn’t attempt an event of this type as your first event unless you had a large source of professional help available to you. 40. Street fairs or telethons are examples of this kind of event. Examples of special locations include: museums, stadiums, aboard ships, in parks, or perhaps your camp. The one common thing is that expenses for these events will run extremely high. 41. I believe that after you have tried one of these events and it proves to be a substantial success, then you should consider doing it annually. This event could become a reliable source of revenue each year. Be certain, however, that your budget adequately forecasts some funds for contingency. The interest of your supporters may change. 42. Initially those closest to your organization will be the main supporters of your special event. As the years continue, you should draw others into the event and increase their interest in your camp. 43. Whatever you decide to do for an event, there are minimal procedures or check points to insure you reach your goal. Of major importance are budgets and planning. You need budgets for your resources of money, help and time; and planning schedules are needed for the correct sequencing to achieve a maximum return on your investment. 44. A financial budget would anticipate the greatest portion of your expenses with some set aside for contingencies. But most of all, this budget will tell you how much money you will need to accomplish the event successfully. This is the only way to set the price of the tickets correctly and insure that you maximize the return. 45. Since no event can be successfully accomplished by one person, you must assign required tasks to specific persons. This assignment must also describe the time period in which the responsibility is to be accomplished. In this way personnel support works hand-in-hand with your time schedule by displaying for each item the ask and date by which it must be accomplished. 46. If the event is to be of a high potential, it will also be accompanies by large time and money requirements. You must be careful to have a support group large enough to insure that the event can be performed in a manner that will benefit your image as well as your financial needs. The last thing you need is an event which is a special disaster or financial bust. 47. I presume you have been interested in this because of your need to provide alternative sources of funds for your camp operation. There may be some concern on your part as to whether you should be engaged in an activity that is not strictly camping. 48. I am convinced that if you are careful to tune or match your event to the characteristics and interests of the groups you serve, then you should have no negative results. 49. I realize that this depends entirely upon how your supporters perceive what you are doing. But remember, you have a large measure of control over how they perceive what you are doing. 50. Inform them about your needs and what you are doing to help your camp be in a better position to serve them. I am sure that your friends and supporters will be willing and maybe even eager to help with your “event.” Source: Journal of Christian Camping. Author: James T. Pancoast
Life Changing Reasons to Become a Generous Giver to God's Work This message was given by Brian Kluth when he was a guest speaker at a large church in California
WATCH VIDEO OF THE FULL SERMON (or click on individual clips below) AUDIO ONLY
Introduction Key point: We're often told we "should" do something without being told "why" (i.e. we "should" read our Bible every day and we "should" give to God). This message will give everyone (regardless of their financial circumstances) 5 REASONS "WHY" to faithfully give to God's work based on Scripture and real life stories. Humor: Story of $1 bill and $100 bill on the way to the furnace.
1) Giving to God allows you to see God as your Provider
Scripture
references: Deut 8:17-18, 1 Chron 29:14-17, Matt 6:24 Real life stories: (1) Quote from former communist. (2) In-debt George learning to give and then seeing God provide a need. Key thoughts: (1) Is the Master in charge of your life or is the Master Charge in charge of your life? (2) Christians cannot serve God "and" Money, but Christians must learn to serve God "with" their money.
2) Giving to God allows you to overcome financial fear and worry Scripture references: 1 Kings 17:10-16, Gen 28:20-22, Matt 6:31-33 Real life stories: (1) Single mom tithing off her grocery money. (2) Man asks Brian to start a "tither's support group". WATCH THIS "12 MIN" VIDEO CLIP
3) Giving to God allows you to bring order to your finances
Scripture
references: Prov 23:4-5, Deut 14:22-23,
Prov 3:9, Mal 3:10-11
Key point: Money talks, it says "good bye". Illustration: Brian's 3 button suit -- giving is the first button in your financial life. Get the first button in the wrong hole and everything else is messed up. Real life story: African man's tithing illustration about his children jumping out of the tree into his arms paralleled to parents taking their child to the playground slide.
4) Giving to God allows you to fight the dragon of materialism Scripture references: Luke 12:15, 1 Tim 6:10, 1 Tim 6:6, Hag 1 Real life stories: (1) Businessman from Chicago who would fight the dragon of materialism with the sword of giving. (2) Woman who overcame a desire to buy an expensive dining room table by giving $20,000 to the Lord's work.
5) Giving to God allows you to experience more joy
Scripture
references: 2 Cor 8:7, 1 Cor 16:2, Matt 6:19-21 Real life stories: (1) Brian and Sandi giving $4,000 on a $15,000 income by learning to "count their blessings" each week. (2) Man who gave over $1 million dollars while maintaining a $50,000/year lifestyle. (3) Poor man in India who was "rich in Christ". Key thoughts: (1) God provides for us in many ways beyond our normal income. (2) You can be a faithful tither and never become a generous giver. (3) God is always calling us to "excel" in the grace of giving and take steps forward to becoming more generous. WATCH VIDEO OF THE FULL SERMON
CLICK HERE FOR MORE BIBLICAL FINANCIAL & GENEROSITY MESSAGES BY BRIAN (WITH AUDIO AND HANDOUTS)
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(c) Brian Kluth. All articles and products copyrighted. For permission to reprint Brian's materials for for personal, committee, church or ministry use, click here. |
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