This post begins a new series of articles called “Recipes for Success.” Each “recipe” will be a successful fundraising model used by a Knights of Columbus council in a parish setting.
This post begins a new series of articles called “Recipes for Success.” Each “recipe” will be a successful fundraising model used by a Knights of Columbus council in a parish setting.
For the past 4 years, I’ve served my parish as the Financial Secretary for Knights of Columbus Council 6918. To get these ideas, I emailed my fellow Financial Secretaries across Georgia to hear what fundraisers work for them.
The first idea came to me from former Grand Knight Joseph Perez of Council 13052 in Lawrenceville, GA.
Get Creative
During COVID, times were financially hard for their council. As Grand Knight, Joseph and his Advocate Ken Jacobi reached out to the local AAA baseball affiliate about doing concessions for them. They signed a contract to send a certain number of Knights to run the concessions stand during each of the season’s 162 games.
The risk they took brought them an extra $7,000 during the 1st year, and since then they have earned more than $15K.
During their 2nd year, they partnered with another Council and a 4th Degree Assembly and helped both organizations to get extra income. Proceeds from each game were divided proportionally. If Council A had 5 people and Council B had 2, then the proceeds were divided by 7 and 5/7 to the first group and 2/7 to the other. Dividing the work in this way helps lighten the burden for all participating councils because one council isn’t responsible for providing all the manpower at all of the games.
Find the Opportunity in Your Backyard
Joseph pointed out that it doesn’t have to be baseball. There may be a racing event, college sports team, football games, or arenas looking for 501 (c)3 groups that they can pay for service.
One reason this approach works is that the Council does not have to purchase anything. The merchandise or concessions are provided by the event venue. The council only provides personnel. The venue may have a uniform requirement, but it is usually fairly basic and may be provided by the venue.
This fundraiser has several side benefits. For one, it provides a lot of quality time with other Knights outside the typical environment of church or council meetings. This kind of spending time together leads to forming better relationships between Knights. Fathers can bring their children if they are old enough to work for the venue. Wives also sometimes accompany their husbands.
Another benefit is that provides an opportunity for quiet evangelizing. They’ve been able to tell many people that they were volunteers and that their efforts support the Knights’ charitable activities. It can be a great conversation starter that leads to sharing their Catholic faith.
Not Just a Walk in the Park
The most difficult part of the endeavor is getting the members of the Knights Council to buy in because they are volunteers. Will they be willing to commit to showing up regularly during the entire season? This commitment is essential upfront because the contract is a responsibility that the council must fulfill.
It’s important to get the contract signed on time and follow the regulations contained in the contract. Remember both sides are trying to protect themselves legally.
If more than one council participates, ensure that all parties will treat one another as collaborative partners. In Council 13052’s case, only one group holds the contract with the venue and manages the money that is received. This is a significant accounting responsibility and should not be taken lightly. Joseph suggests a written agreement between groups if more than one council is involved. It doesn’t have to be a “LEGAL” agreement written by an attorney, but it should spell out each council’s responsibility and participation in the profits.
Our Mission Field is the Public Square
This creative idea provides councils the opportunity to turn volunteer time into charitable dollars. But it’s also more than that. St. Peter writes in his first letter, “…they may observe your good works and glorify God on the day of visitation.” (1 Peter 2:12) Our public good works are a way that we help reveal the goodness of Jesus to people who don’t know Him.
The Knights have a special role in the Church of sanctifying ordinary life. By exemplifying Christian character in the public square, we silence our critics in the most simple and direct manner possible, through our actions. If we really try to live and love more like Jesus does, then the people we encounter will experience the love of God first hand – through us.
Would you like to learn more about raising money for Church and Ministry? Check out Letters From The Almoner, now available on Amazon.com.
