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Successful Large-Scale Fundraising Effort Uncovered! By Jaime Morgans
It’s the gasoline for every student ministry worldwide, unless, you’ve found the elusive private donor to fund your float trips and conventions.
Youth Ministry is on a never ending search for the perfect fundraiser with the biggest pay-off. Put 12 youth workers in a room for an hour and it’s guaranteed their conversations will wind around to fundraising within 30 minutes
Check out the story of one district youth team.
Coolest, Biggest Fundraiser Ever? The Missouri District Youth team has stumbled on what seems like the coolest fundraiser on a large scale yet. The team contacted Branson’s Celebration City theme park and asked to rent out the entire park for the day for MO Pentecostal families.
Last year was the first effort with this now annual event called Praise N the Park, and they had 1,200 people in attendance. The park opens and runs just like normal minus the bikinis and general craziness usually at theme parks. The park stages are booked with Apostolic bands (think: Splendor 7, IBC Praise, David Dimock Praise Band, Chosen, Live Wire) and comedy acts. The best part besides shorter lines? The ticket sales (after covering the park rental) go back to the MO District Youth as pure profit.
Another cool aspect of the event is the location. Branson is family-friendly central, and the MO Youth team took full advantage of that. They personally approached hotels, restaurants and attractions all over Branson to create a Bonus Card each ticket holder receives with purchase. It’s good for the whole weekend and offers 50-75% off ticket prices to shows and museums and restaurants: everything from Dixie Stampede to the Titanic Exhibit to IMAX. They negotiated with hotels to offer rates as low as $39.95 a night. MO Youth doesn’t earn any kickbacks on the Bonus Card. It’s just a great addition to make it easier for families to spend a whole weekend in Branson at half the cost.
This year is ramping up to be another successful fundraiser (something all youth ministers search for). MO Youth has already sold tickets to people in Iowa, Arkansas, Missouri, and Illinois. Proof that fundraising on a large scale, out of the box event is actually possible.
© 2007, Jaime Morgans
--------- Jaime Morgans is an Indiana Jones of sorts. As a youth pastor in North Central MO, she’s constantly on the hunt for the perfect fundraising effort . . . and the private donor to fund her youth group. |
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