Extra Income Sources for Your Church

Tough economic times require an inventory of available cash, receipts and debt. We cut the excess, we prune, we get back to the bare minimum -- that important number which will allow us to continue operations.

But what do you do when you don't make enough -- to survive?

After you've cut the office staff, called in the volunteers, rented the Sunday school classes or church during off times, and minimized expenses and purchases, you may need even more ways to balance the budget.

The ideas on this website are intended to help you develop new sources of revenue for your church -- continuing streams of income with little effort! Many are web-based, so to implement them successfully there are pre-requisites: 1) Church Website, 2) Web savvy volunteer(s), 3) Membership base who are buying retail goods, and who would gladly change their buying practices for a good cause -- your church!

The goal of this lens is give you ideas about how to set up those revenue streams. But it is up to God, and you...

You may be wondering why these organizations/groups will help you raise money. Where's the catch? Will you be expected to pay startup fees, buy inventory, recruit sales reps, or meet a minimum sales requirement?

The resources listed on this lens are intended to help your church raise revenue without any cash layout or obligation to recruit paying customers in order to continue in the program. If there is a sales requirement and I know about it, it is listed here. Please let me know if you learn of any catches and I will either delete the link or explain the requirements so other churches can be aware of the requirements up front.

The sites listed on this lens get partners -- partners who can help them expand sales through your congregation, or grow the reach/use of their search engine. Those set up for charities also gain the satisfaction of helping good causes.

While there are many partnering opportunities on the Internet, you will find some do charge setup fees, monthly usage/storage fees, or require you to recruit paying members, etc.

This lens is intended to help you weed out those that may cost you money, more money than they are worth.

Affiliate programs abound online. The fact is, affiliates give products a real boost. Inbound links help a websites ranking with search engines. It helps traffic and so it may help sales.

A company's affiliates can bring in customers. If your church is large enough, you may have enough potential customers to make it worthwhile.

First, consider your congregation and their buying habits. What are they buying and how can you make it easy for them to get what they want and help the church at the same time?

Affiliate programs are an easy means for all who are willing to buy online. Here are some examples.

ZAZZLE

Zazzle is a print-on-demand company which offers a 15% commission on sales. They have products to choose from, which can be listed in an online church store. Or, simply provide a link to Zazzle's homepage from your church website and collect. There is no charge to become an affiliate. You are paid when you are owed $25 or more.

If you have graphic artists or photographers in your church that want to help, they could create Zazzle products using Zazzle's online tools and their artwork. If you are interested in this opportunity, I can speak from personal experience in advising you: Have quality products and have them in large numbers. Don't expect to put up 10 products and start making piles of cash. When you have hundreds of products, the search engines find you more easily and sales likely will climb, generating some steady revenue.

Your best chances to a successful endeavor, from my experience, is to combine the creative talents within your church with affiliate products you select to promote from the Zazzle marketplace to expand your store's product lines. Use the category offerings to help potential customers find what they want.

At Zazzle, you may make sales in the general marketplace without any promotional efforts on your part. Couple those sales with sales from your church members AND sales generated through volunteer marketing efforts, and now you are talking. Consider it a great training ground for budding online marketers. They can learn to make Squidoo lenses (more on that later), learn to use social media online, get links on church members' websites, etc.

Learn more about affiliating with Zazzle here.

CHRISTIANBOOK requires an affiliate application and a minimum of $250 in sales annually. You make up to 12% commission. Find out more here.

AMAZON
Amazon is a well-respected name online and many of your church members already may be buying from them. Why not encourage them to buy through your affiliate link and pocket a portion of the proceeds? Amazon gives affiliates 4% and up, depending on volume.

You can develop your own Astore and recommend items of special interest to your congregation, including recommended books.

There is no fee to become an affiliate. You are paid when you earn at least $10.

Learn more here.

SMASHWORDS

If your church's pastor has a written a book or two, or more, he/she may want to consider publishing ebooks with Smashwords.com. Smashwords supplies a free ISBN number for the digital version as well as distribution for the book to major online stores like Amazon, Apple, Sony, Barnes & Noble, and more. Smashwords has an affiliate program as well. So if your pastor publishes, or not, you may want to consider this affiliate program. As an affiliate you earn 11 percent or more on sales after accruing $25 in your account. You make more when the author offers higher than the standard commission to encourage affiliate sales. Learn more here.

NEW CHRISTIAN ONLINE MAGAZINE

This online magazine by your lensmaster Cheryl Rogers has an affiliate program for its store featuring Christian books. Commission is 15%. Signup for free at New Christian Books.

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The sad truth is many people are trying to make money online -- and -- they are not making it! At least they are not making very much. They are not making enough to live off of, or even write about. A few have done well and we hear about those, but we usually don't hear about the hoards who have not.

A church with members actively buying products -- products you can share the profits in -- is ahead of the individuals trying to make money. So take a look at products your church members may still be buying. They may include Christian products which offer them encouragement and the comfort of the Holy Spirit. They may include Christian books, posters, witnessing tees, Christian mugs, etc.

These are products your church can offer for sale from an existing web site -- with little effort after setup. It's a lot easier than a garage sale for the right volunteer(s). And, it can continue to bring in revenue indefinitely. A team of volunteers means you can upload and offer more products, which can multiply your earnings.

While you can choose to sell these from your church book store, you'd have to have inventory. If your merchandise doesn't move, your profits vaporize. The good news with a web store is that no inventory is required.

If people aren't buying because they don't have the money, you don't want to coerce them into it. You remember the saying, you can't squeeze blood from a turnip. So if your church members are in desperate straits, they won't actively be buying anything but the bare essentials.

I can't assure you the tips here will be worth your time and effort. Many people are online trying to make money. For some, it's the only workable solution. For others, it's a second or third job. I can tell you it will give you another iron in the fire.

There are others out there, other charities and schools competing with you.

Part of the attraction is the perception this is easy. It can be a complicated mess if you don't have experience with it. But these days you shouldn't have to look too hard to find someone who can figure this out for you.

An individual might have a hard time trying to make this a profitable endeavor, unless they are an expert marketer, hit on profitable sales products, etc. But an active buying group -- by that I mean a congregation with a sizable number of people willing to shop online or through chosen merchants -- has a much better chance.

Is it worth the effort? You'll never know unless you try. Anything is better than nothing. And it can grow.

The temptation will be to set this up and let it fly. Move on to something else. What I have learned is: It is better to keep adding products and updating your shop, so others will have a reason to keep coming back. As you add products, there is more likelihood the search engines will find your store when people are looking for a product online. But you need to keep your products organized and easy to find.

Do you have some avid writers at your church? Squidoo will enable them to hone their craft and make money for your church -- at the same time.

They can make webpages like this one -- called a lens -- about just about any topic that interests them. (There are a few taboo subjects, but that shouldn't be a problem.)

The lenses are easy to set up because of pre-configured modules which allow them to add text blocks, photos, links, link lists, even products available for purchase. They can spend a little or a lot of time adding content and updating it, then donate their share of the ad revenues and sales to ... your church. They also can advertise your Zazzle store or stores.

Of course your church must be approved as a Squidoo charity. Find out how to use Squidoo to make money for your church here.

Teach or reinforce the lesson of Jonah to 10 to 14 year olds at your church and tell them about a chance to win cash prizes for their writing! New Christian Books Online Magazine is holding a Summer Writing Contest where youths write a wail tale, or exaggerated tale of woe, about a modern Jonah. First price is $100 cash, a $50 Walmart card, and books from Christian authors.

The contest is being run by your lens master, Cheryl Rogers, publisher of New Christian Books Online Magazine, in conjunction with the John 3:16 Marketing Network, a group of Christian authors who have banded together to share the gospel of Jesus Christ.

You can teach the lesson using Cheryl's free lesson plan, The Lesson of Jonah: There is a Price to Pay when you Disobey, available at New Christian Books Online Store and at Smashwords.com.

Submissions open June 1 and run through July 15.

Download an invitation to enter the contest. with more details

There are lots of great Christian books and ebooks your church may want to sell. Here's one that will encourage those praying for a spouse.

Mission Possible by Deborah McCarragher is about standing in the gap for your mate's soul. This ebook, which you can sell through the Smashwords Affiliate Program, was awarded the 2010 Gold Seal Best Book in the Chistian Non-Fiction category on Readers Favorite.

Fundraising Idea Workbook Based On Fundraiser's Directory Of Ideas by Creativity . $21.95 from Smashwords.com
News Release Every year millions of funds are raised by thousands of individuals, groups, organizations, non profits and businesses. Annual or ongoing events, activities, festivals, fairs, sales, giving events, and more take place. Fundraising possibilities and ideas continue to contribute to economic sustainability for many.

Finding God: Biblical Answers to Questions about Our Maker is a book you can use in your ministry to help folks connect with God. The book by your lensmaster, Cheryl Rogers, is available in multiple ebook formats.

"I wrote the ebook because I realized how vulnerable people are without a relationship with God," says author Cheryl Rogers, a former newspaper reporter. "It is short, to-the-point and hopefully provides the answers people need to really connect with God."

The ebook answers questions like who is God, who is Jesus, what God expects of us, how we can find God and how we can accept the gift of salvation.

The book is available for free for a limited time at New Christian Books Online Store and at Smashwords.com using the coupon code SQ34D at checkout.

Make sure your Internet activities comply with laws in your jurisdiction. Do you require a business license? Would you be in compliance with zoning laws?

And, would your customers be required to submit their own tax payments for their purchases? Are they covered by your tax-exempt status? You want to make it easy for your customers to comply with the law.

You may want to build your own web store with a shopping cart pre-figured to charge the tax, which you would then have to remit to the state. Too much trouble? Set up a store which deals with only in-state vendors who would charge the tax.

A new anthology published by the John 3:16 Marketing Network, a group of authors who have banded together to share the gospel, is available in digital formats. It gives readers a sampling of 58 writers of Christian fiction and non-fiction, young adult fiction, children's picture books and more.

"It's a win-win for everyone. Readers discover new authors, and authors get exposure to readers who may want to buy their books," says Lorilyn Roberts, the book's editor.

The book includes a sample chapter from your lensmaster's book, "Just Like Jonah Wail Tales." "I designed the cover using mini book cover images supplied by the writers," adds Cheryl Rogers, the author of "Just Like Jonah Wail Tales" and other books intended to bolster the Christian faith.

Contact Cheryl to learn more about this book.

I have been online since late 2004 sharing what God has inspired/blessed/enabled me to create. I am actively seeking partners to expand this ministry and would be honored if you consider offering any of my products for sale in your store. I have started an affiliate program at New Christian Books Online Magazine. Below are some of my products, I will be expanding this store as I am able with kingdom-building books and music you can feel good about selling to your congregation and others.

* One product is a devotions book, aimed specifically at new and young believers eager to learn Bible principles fast. I have put my experience as a newspaper reporter to work distilling biblical wisdom into 40 short lessons -- lessons designed to help God change lives quickly, freeing his people to live the lives he intends for them. The book is called Fast Track to Victory, A Christian Guidebook.

* I also have three very unique Scripture song CDs: Victory!, Arise, Shine, and Bring my Soul out of Prison. These songs were sung to me in my spirit. They are intended to help folks memorize Scriptures, pray the promises in God's word, and stay connected to God's word. They are mostly traditional in style, with some melodic and others with a country twang. Lyrics are modernized and updated from the King James Bible. Listen to the songs here.

You also may want to consider becoming an affiliate at Smashwords.com. There are a number of Christian books there that you may want to promote. I have the following books listed for sale through Smashwords:

Fast Track to Victory, A Christian Guidebook is available as an ebook through Smashwords.com, along with Just Like Jonah Wail Tales, a fiction book teaching obedience to preteens and teens, and Making Choices: Life is Like Acorns, a children's Bible study teaching things are not always as they appear to be. Making Choices: Life is Like Acorns is targeted for 5 to 10 year olds and is intended to read with with an adult desiring to share his or her faith. My latest title is I Can See Christian Storybook Treasury, a unique book that helps dispel doubts about God as a child grows. Smashwords has a free affiliate program which allows you to profit from book sales. Learn more here.

You may want to become an affiliate at Zazzle.com. It pays 15 percent commission on sales. I have a Zazzle gallery featuring Scripture posters, Scripture cards, mousepads, tees and a variety of nature products. The Scriptures often are placed against a backdrop of a nature photo -- a flaming river sunset, a blooming rose wet from the rain, or a butterfly drinking nectar from a flower. All Scripture quotes are from the King James Authorized Version of the Holy Bible.
The store also includes my USA "In God We Trust" product line of tees, posters, personal cards.
Visit my gallery here. If you have a large population of Spanish-speaking people in your congregation, I now have a Spanish Zazzle store featuring products with Bible verses from the Reina Valera 1909. Visit it here.

Learn more about biblical financial principles through Crown Financial Ministries, a ministry founded in 1976. The ministry has a Road to Financial Freedom program which your church can use through your Bible study, School school, small groups, or church. It offers resources for pastors, adults, children and teens/college age.

Crown offers help with church finances, church borrowing, church administration, and church taxes as well as general help with budgeting, fundraising and bankruptcy.

Let me know of other ministries with help for churches and I'll start a list.

Open Your Hymnal: Devotions That Harmonize Scripture With Song by Denise Loock. $2.95 from Smashwords.com
Do you ever catch yourself singing a song in church without paying attention to the words? Open Your Hymnal is a collection of thirty devotions that transport the wisdom of classic hymns and gospel songs into the twenty-first century. Introduce yourself to the rich spiritual heritage that hymnals contain or gain a new perspective on songs you've sung since childhood.

I'm a writer. I came to know the Lord as the result of a serious immune disorder I suffered -- as an adult. When I truly surrendered me life to him, he healed me.

So it's not surprising that I have discovered what my lifelong passion for writing really was about. It was for him. It was about sharing the knowledge of him with others.

While I was eager to share my testimony following my healing, it didn't go much beyond that -- until he began giving me Scripture songs. That really got my attention.

As a child, my dad always encouraged my sister and I to write songs. I never could. And then one day, on the second anniversary of my earthly father's death, a melody was sung into my spirit as I was reading Psalm 18. It was December 18, 2001, in the aftermath of the tragic Twin Towers attacks. It seemed David's experiences recorded for us so long ago were somehow similar to what our nation was facing.

When the melody came, I didn't really have a usable keyboard. I had learned to play the piano as a child, so I made a rough draft of the song on paper for later reference. The draft eventually evolved into a song, "My High Tower."

After that I got a few more songs, but I didn't know what to do with them -- except make my little marks on paper and sing the songs to myself. They pretty much sat on a shelf -- until my church held a talent show in 2003. I believed I was called to sing my second song, "I Will Give Thanks to You" from Psalm 30, in the show. I didn't have more than the melody, but the church's music minister supplied the rest. He did such a great job with the arrangement that I was inspired. I also learned he was he a composer and that he ran a music studio two blocks from my house. Talk about a setup.

Well, God wanted it and he got it. I had tried to avoid it for awhile, but now the songs came in like a flood. I recorded three CDs worth and the studio moved across town. God told me his purposes were accomplished. I realized if I could record Scripture CDs with God's help, when I wasn't really a musician, then I could certainly do what I had been trained to do: Write. I began writing newspaper style columns based on the lessons God taught me. That eventually resulted in Fast Track to Victory, A Christian Guidebook.

When the songs stopped, God began inspiring Scripture posters from my nature photographs. So along with a growing number of ebooks, I design posters and other Bible-based products.

I believe I am called to encourage others to seek God early, so they will be spared the needless grief that comes from not knowing God. It is my hope and prayer that many will come to know him and know him better through my work. And that's it, in a nutshell.