Fundraising
Fundraising is an increasingly important part of church life; whether it is to support ongoing church finances, a specific community project or capital and building works. Depending on the circumstances, you may need to organise your own church fundraising events, create online funding campaigns or look to develop grant funding bids.
Ongoing Church Fundraising
Many people raise funds for their church by organising a range of events and activities. These often include coffee mornings, cake sales, summer fetes, and music events and so on. Each church will have a different take on things, but to a greater or lesser extent these events can all play their part in helping to raise finance for your church and its mission.
Another way to raise funds from the comfort of your own home is through “easyfundraising". Take a look at our dedicated easyfundraising web page to find out more about this quick and easy way to earn free donations for your church through online shopping.
Introduction to Ongoing Church Fundraising (Parish Resources)
Fundraising Code of Practice for Churches
Grant Funding
At some point, your church may be looking to develop a new idea or project which requires specific funds. This is where developing fundraising bids may prove useful. There are a lot of grant giving trusts and foundations, many of whom are keen to support churches.
Parish Resources have produced a national list of charitable grants for churches. This booklet has six funding categories relevant to your church, as well as useful websites and organisations to contact: Charitable Grants for Churches (July 2020)
Ecclesiastical also have a range of specific fundraising guides to support churches;
Ecclesiastical (Church Fundraising Support Hub)
Ecclesiastical (List of grant funders for churches)
Ecclesiastical (Fundraising in less affluent areas)
Ecclesiastical (Fundraising in rural parishes)
As well as looking at national funders, you should also keep an eye out for any grant funding that is available locally. Below is a list of just some of the North East based organisations you may wish to contact:
Partners in Community Action (PICA)
Northumbria Historic Churches Trust
Environmental Projects
For a list of grant funding organisations for environmental projects in churches, please see the Carbon Footprint webpage on our website.
Large Capital Projects
For this type of work, you may be interested in looking at our Inspired North East page, (the umbrella organisation for several specific projects including the current Rural Churches for Everyone) which offers lots of project planning tools and resources to help congregations looking to improve their buildings or facilities.