• individuals
• churches and groups
• • partner a project
  • gift aid
  • request a speaker
  • fundraising ideas
  • campaigning
• co-ordinators

 

Getting your fundraising off to a good start

• Publicise and plan well in advance, the best event in the world won't be a moneyspinner if no one knows about it. Remember to put up notices at church, send a press release (315kb PDF) to the local paper and e-mail everyone you know.
• Keep it simple by giving yourself enough time to prepare and to get people involved
• Be imaginative and relevant.  By doing something a bit different you may get more publicity (and more money). Use the skills and existing opportunities that your church has.
• Keep it safe and legal, for example you may need to check with the council before running a street stall or carol singing - or with parents before the youth group's sponsored skydive!
• Educate people about MRDF's work through your activity as well as raising funds. For example, serve food from a country where MRDF works at a fundraising event, put up MRDF posters at a bake sale, or give an MRDF leaflet to everyone who sponsors you.
• Get your whole church/group involved by linking into an existing church activity.  Make sure there are roles for different groups within the church, such as the youth group or the women's network, in planning and in the event itself. The more different people and networks you can get involved right from the start, the more successful your event will be.
• Tell us about it! As well as receiving your money to pass on to our partners, we would also love to hear about your success stories and your photos and share them with other supporters.

 

Fundraising events and ideas

 

Food and fellowship

Highlight the importance of access to food by selling homemade or homegrown food, such as cakes and biscuits or garden produce. Why not turn your sale into a show as well, with certificates awarded for the best produce entered?

Bring and Buy: St John's Methodist Guild in Whitstable held a Biblical Bring and Buy. Parts of the Bible mentioning food were read aloud and each reader placed a sample of that food on a Harvest table. At the end of the evening, everyone had learnt something new and the food was auctioned to raise money.

Special events

Sell tickets for an international evening with food, drink and entertainment such as a fashion show or concert. 

Organise an aution: The Young People's Fellowship of Marlowes Methodist Church raised money for MRDF with a promise auction, where people offer their skills and services to the highest bidder.

Collections

Draw attention to the church collection for MRDF, by filling a map with coins or making a 'Blue Peter' style thermometer to show how much the church has raised. 

Be creative Kirkby Stephen Methodist Church encouraged people to throw coins into a well in the church entrance as part of an ongoing collection for water projects.

Organise a special collection at Harvest. You can find a range of resources here.

Sponsored events

Why not do a sponsored run, walk or climb for MRDF? Visit Sponsored events for more information

Thank you for raising money to help MRDF partners tackle poverty.