| When an individual feels led by God to participate | | | | leadership board before starting any fundraising. |
| in a short term mission trip, they are stepping out | | | | Ask for the opportunity to speak before the |
| on faith and trusting that God will provide all their | | | | congregation during a service with a love offering |
| needs for the experience. Likely the most worried | | | | to follow. It allows the Holy Spirit to move people |
| about aspect, fundraising can seem overwhelming. | | | | to give, more so than asking the board for a gift. |
| However, God promises that He will provide as | | | | It is also helpful if an announcement can be made |
| we obey. God also expects us to take an active, | | | | about the love offering the week or two before |
| not passive, roll in seeing His will accomplished. | | | | so people can be prepared. Also make sure that |
| Here are some great ways to actively pursue | | | | you can speak at the service with the highest |
| your fundraising goal. | | | | attendance (Sunday morning vs. Wednesday |
| The first and most crucial piece to your | | | | night) and all at services times if there is more |
| fundraising will be your personal support letter. | | | | than one. |
| Develop a CFRAN list of at least 200 people or | | | | The last thing is fundraising events. The array of |
| families. A CFRAN list is a list that consists of | | | | possible options for fundraising events is very |
| Christians, Friends, Relatives, Associates and | | | | broad and while some may work great in one |
| Neighbors. Write a support letter to send to these | | | | location it may not work at all in another. It is |
| people based on our ‘Short Term Mission Trip | | | | always wise to spend time researching options, |
| Support Letter Writing Guidelines’ resource | | | | the history and success of past fundraisers, and |
| also available at Mission Solutions website (see link | | | | consider the culture of your church or area. It is |
| attached with this article). Make sure your letter is | | | | important to note that often fundraising events |
| proofread by others and revised at least two | | | | tend to focus on money. However, people that |
| times. Include a return envelope for gifts with the | | | | give donations typically care more about the |
| appropriate address on it. | | | | mission at hand, the participant(s) desire or heart |
| Your church should also have a strong presence | | | | for the mission and/or the participant(s) |
| among your supporters. Here is a technique that | | | | themselves. Try to focus your fundraising event |
| has worked well before when raising funds from | | | | on the impact your trip will have for the Gospel, |
| a church that has a group or multiple members | | | | how it will change you or your team spiritually or |
| from the same trip attending that church. Ask the | | | | how it will meet the needs of the less fortunate. |
| congregation for monthly pledges (if the trip is six | | | | People put money where their heart is. Appeal to |
| months out, ask church people to give any | | | | people’s hearts, not their checkbooks. |
| amount they choose each month for six months). | | | | Fundraising events typically work best for a team |
| The key is that you emphasis that this is the way | | | | rather than an individual due to the simple fact of |
| that the team needs them to support. Tell them | | | | necessary manpower. Bake sales, rummage sales, |
| that if they can only support in one way, that this | | | | ice cream socials, spaghetti dinners and car |
| must be it. They are welcome to participate in or | | | | washes are hard to run with one person even if |
| help with other fundraisers if they like, but that | | | | he/she recruits a few helpers. Divide profits |
| this is the way that the team needs support | | | | from fundraising events between all team |
| from the church. It is important that team | | | | members that participate in the event. This |
| members also then try to avoid raising personal | | | | encourages team members to participate in the |
| support from the church people to avoid hitting | | | | fundraiser and also provides more manpower. It |
| people up twice. There may be a few exceptions | | | | will also help to eliminate the passive role that |
| to this, for example if a team member has | | | | some team members may take toward the |
| extended family members in the church. | | | | fundraising efforts. It gives them the sense of |
| If you are the only individual from your church | | | | personal responsibility for it because it is up to |
| going on your trip then your strategy will change. | | | | them, rather than someone else, to raise the |
| Speak to the church’s mission board or | | | | funds they need. |