Ah, what we could do with and among God's young saints if money weren't an obstacle. But, wait. There's always fundraising. You know, car washes, bake sales and Easter breakfasts--the Trinitarian of youth fundraising.

In congregations of every size and location, youth are busy raising funds. Some youth ministries beat their congregation over the head with pleas, while others are thoughtful, creative and deliberate in their fundraising techniques.

Congregations in the latter group likely view fundraising not only as a means to an end
(money for ministry), but recognize the value of fundraising, such as:
* Building relationships/community among participants
* Giving participants a sense of trip/event ownership
* Providing service to others
* Giving others, especially adults, an opportunity to invest in youth ministry
* An opportunity for youth ministry public relations
* Promoting equity among youth of all incomes

In essence, fundraising enables youth to "do." Youth ministry is a ministry on the go--it's nothing if not active. That "doing" may include a ski trip, weekend retreat, or servant event.

Here are some fundraising ideas. Create your own list. Keep clear records, evaluate carefully, and offer your thanks, thanks and more thanks to those who support youth ministry.

1. Ask for a stakeholder investment
Congregation members and others make an investment in youth ministry with an outright donation. This is often followed with a stakeholder appreciation dinner complete with trip/event highlights.

2. Host a silent auction
Goods and services are provided by youth, families, congregations and community. Buyers offer silent bids. No overhead; great creativity and community building.

3. Combine fundraisers
Combine events, especially those that are a lot of work and little money. Get pledges for every car washed and double your car wash money. Add fundraisers to special days or events already on the church calendar.

4. Provide services that say "free" or "donation"
Some people simply can't resist handling over a $10 or $20 bill when told they don't have to.

5. Create partnerships with businesses
Provide labor for community businesses. Wait tables for the caterer or do inventory for a store owner. Hold a car wash at a business where it can't be missed. Ask businesses to donate goods and services for fundraisers in the congregation. Offer youth talent, such as youth who could create a business Web page, in exchange for what a business has to offer.

6. Join forces with other ministries
Get help by making another ministry group your partner. Ask the women's group to help with a rummage sale, or the men's ministry to help with a breakfast. They bring much wisdom and experience. Always look for opportunities to make fundraising intergenerational.

7. Do something pure fun
If you have to raise funds, you might as well have fun. Get the pastor to shave his beard if a certain amount of money is raised. Host a variety show that provides the congregation with an evening of laughter.

8. Be clever and visual
Put a new twist on old standards. Turn a bake sale into a Christmas cookie extravaganza, selling cookies by the pound. Place gas cans in the narthex for "gas money." Collect a mile of pennies.

9. Mix servant events with fundraising
If you've adopted a highway or do an annual river cleanup, ask for donations "per bag" of garbage. Many youth groups make money year-round by recycling newspapers and cans.

10. Look for special gifts, memorials
Be on the lookout for funds that might be tucked away and waiting for use, like un-designated money or anything that could pertain to youth ministry. Start your own Youth Ministry Endowment Fund, into which money is placed on a regular basis.

11. Remember matching funds
Matching funds is not only the last phrase in fundraising, it's the first. Ask individuals to match the funding of others. You could say, "We have five people willing to match whatever we raise on the quilt auction."

Fundraising can be a drag. But fundraising, done with a sense of mission and meaning, opens the possibilities for ministry on the go, and for participation from youth of all incomes and situations. Fundraising is an equity booster.

Julie B. Sevig is the associate director for resources/youth ministries for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, www.elca.org.