Fundraising for Mission Trips

By: Laurie Kagay

How do you ask people for money?

Often, the first question you ask after signing up for a mission trip is, “how in the world am I going to raise funds?” 

Usually, your thoughts go to working extra jobs or utilizing your savings to cover the cost. Rarely do people start by making a request of loved ones. This is a mistake. Each of you has people who invested into your life to help you become who you are today. Allowing those individuals to help you follow Jesus is a gift to them, not a burden. But, you have to be genuine. 

Working extra shifts and selling your excess may both useful things to do in the end. However, it's best to prioritize communicating why you’re going on a mission and how those in your network can help you do it.

Start with who you want to communicate to, then tailor what you’re going to say to the appropriate audience. One method used by people at G.O.D. Int’l is to make a list of people you know, people you know and love, and people you know, love, and trust. So get out a piece of paper and start there. Each group should get a different communication. 

For those you know,

A letter is a good route. People rarely get mail anymore. Facebook shares are everywhere, but a personal letter stamped and in the mail still means something to people. Put their name at the top of the letter and not “dear reader” or “dear friend.” 

For those you know and love, 

A letter is still a great choice, followed by a secondary communication like a text, phone call, or DM that lets them know you’ve got something coming in the mail for them. This will help them feel special that you remembered them and put them on your list. 

For those you know, love, and trust,

Try to meet with them, either by phone or in person. Share with them, from your heart, what God is doing in your life, and what it would mean to you to have their support. It’s much harder to turn someone down when you hear their voice, or they’re standing in front of you! Remember, these are people you trust and who trust you in exchange. They’ll likely feel honored to have such a special request. 

How do you write a mission support letter? 

Make sure you believe in what you’re asking. 

If you don’t, don’t ask. If you do, be confident in what God has done in your life, and use this as a moment to testify -- not long, but clear and potent.

If you’re feeling any sense of shame regarding asking for help, there’s likely one of two things happening. One, you’re likely ashamed of what you’re doing (in which case, don’t do it!). Or, you’re operating under a cultural idea that “asking for help is always bad.” This is not the rule of Christ. Jesus himself received financial support in his ministry (Lk. 8:1-3)! So did Paul, over and over again. 

Consider this endeavor part of your spiritual preparation for the trip. Are you able to talk about (or write about) why you're going to those who know you best? If not, why not? Are you thankful for those who have raised you and contributed to your life of faith? Bring them along for the journey. 

Talk about yourself. 

These people know YOU. So it’s not your job to explain the ministry you’re going with or even the situation of the people you are helping. Your job is to talk about what this trip means for YOU, the person they know or love or trust, or all three. What are your goals, and what do you hope to accomplish?

Include the ways you’ve been preparing to show you have skin in the game.

You can let your supporters know about your Spanish study over the last year. Tell them the Bible Studies you're preparing to teach or the songs you're learning. Or, share that you've been studying the culture of the people you're going to serve. If you are working to save money for the trip, include your plans. All of these things help establish you as someone prepared, not just expecting someone else to fund their trip. 

Cover the big 5 questions: who, what, where, when, why. 

Sometimes people get so carried away writing about their hopes and dreams they don't name the goal and deadline. Answer the questions:
Who are you going with?
What you're going to do?
Where you're traveling?
What are the dates of your travel?
What is deadline of your fundraising goal?
Why are you going? 

Make your SUPPORTER feel important in this story, and compelled to give. 

In all of your talk about yourself, don't forget to talk TO the person you're writing to. (You are asking THEM for support, after all.) Help them to understand THEIR role and why you need them to achieve your goal. 

Be specific with your goal. 

When you tell them the financial goal you have and the deadline for it, remember this does not have to be the total price of your trip. You can say, "I've already raised the first $1,000.” Or, "my goal is to raise half of the cost myself and trust God to provide the rest. I know I have a supportive network around me, and I wanted to invite you to help answer that prayer."

Make sure that your supporters have all the essential information, including your contact. 

What if they want to give but have questions and don't know how to contact you? Avoid this by including contact information that can be accessed by various generations (i.e., phone number, email, and address, and not just DM and Snap). The same can be said of the ways to give. Include information for who to make a check out to and an address to send it, as well as a URL or QR code where someone could donate to you online. Giving to an organization and not you, as an individual, allows it to be tax-deductible and comes across as more accountable. Make sure your readers know this, and how to access that information.

Note: If you’re going on G.O.D.’s Summer Internship, checks should be made to G.O.D. International with “Summer Internship - Your Name” in the memo. Or, they can give online through your profile page. Contact the Summer Internship Coordinator to learn more!

Follow Up--the MOST Important Thing. 

The most important thing when asking support is showing gratitude when you receive it and updating them after your trip. I've spoken to supporters who have sent large checks to organizations. Because they never got a phone call or note of thanks, they assumed they must not have needed it that badly. So they didn't give again. I've spoken to other supporters who say they continue to give to one person because they always visit them and talk to them about their trip afterward. YOU have the potential to bring blessing and honor to their life by incorporating them into your story. In being blessed with financial support, you cannot forget to turn around and say thank you. Again, it needs to be genuine, personal, and timely. 

Conclusion

Asking for support for your mission is far from the only thing you can do to raise funds. But it is one of the most meaningful and most sustainable ways to ensure support not only for this trip and for mission experiences for years to come. If you nurture this relationship, they can be a partner for you in the work you are doing for Jesus THIS summer. Let God be God! He can stir people's hearts to have hope for good in the world again through the clear and compelling communication YOU give.   

Titus 2:7-8 Show yourself in all respects a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, seriousness, and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be shamed because they have nothing bad to say about us. 

1 Timothy 4:12 Let no one despise your youth, but set the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. 

P.S. What about using Crowd Funding and Social Media to Raise Support? 

Social media is beneficial for sharing about your trip and conducting crowdfunding campaigns. However, watch out for the fees attached to many crowdfunding platforms. Many of them take up to 9-10% of your total in the process! These platforms visualize how much support has been raised, which is very helpful for the viewer. See if a platform like this is available with the organization you’re traveling with. Then utilize that link, with another condensed, shortened communication, on your social media platform. It is a far less personal approach but does often receive quick results in small increments.

Facebook allows you to link a fundraiser directly to nonprofit pages, which will then receive a direct deposit of your donation with no fees attached. The Instagram donation sticker option allows you to do the same. If you’re going to do this, you MUST let the ministry you’re working with know you’re doing so, otherwise your support will be deposited in their (likely large) account, and they will have no idea it’s for you.

These are helpful for small, quick gifts, often from younger viewers, but can work. But if your goal is more significant and longer-lasting support, you’ll likely still need to put in the work of creating a letter and personal calls with family and friends, not followers.