Perspective
Fundraising: It’s the word that can send a potential missionary running. It often causes anxiety to course through the body and overwhelm the mind. But what if it didn’t have to be that way? What if a few perspective changes could rewrite the story of your fundraising experience?
Let’s first address the term ‘fundraising” or even ‘support raising.’ Though they aren’t negative terms (and we will continue to use them throughout this blog), they can tend to bring the focus solely to the funds needed and overlook the concept of working together with your partners as a team to achieve a common goal. Asking someone for money can indeed feel so humbling and even sometimes embarrassing. This is a normal feeling in almost any culture. However, it isn’t just about you and your need for money.
There is a bigger story happening here: the very reason missionaries exist – the lost.
Everyone has a different journey with raising funds in missions, but we can all be consistent in our communication with our friends, families, and supporters. A common theme they need to see and hear from you is a desire to see lost people come to know Christ. This is what it’s all about. You get to remind your supporters that they too can be a part of the story of reaching those people with you. You aren’t reaching the lost for them or trying to prove to them that the goal is important. Instead, you get to lay out a need on the table and invite them to be part of the solution alongside you. People love to feel needed. We aren’t simply talking about filling your financial need, but the need for people all over the world to hear about Jesus!
On top of the obvious need for the world to hear the gospel, remember that these are your family members and friends that you plan to share with. They also care about the ‘why’ behind the ‘what’. Believe it or not, they do want to hear your heart and why you are so determined to do the thing you plan to do. Why you are called to missions. So plan to share just that! Think about the ways you want to actively bring the gospel to others and explain to them what that will look like for you. Feel free to share any practical ways you plan to execute your vision and where you plan to be in the future. This is part of building that foundation of relationship with your supporters and simply sharing your heart with them.
Sustained support and long-lasting relationships
There is nothing wrong with a bake sale, making items to sell, or working for some time. These are all good and helpful tools that show that you care enough to put effort into your goals. However, if you’re seeking sustained support, focusing on building long-lasting relationships with your partners is key. If you’re always simply doing enough to get by, you’ll eventually grow tired and burn yourself out. Once you’ve committed to missions, consider partnership as an integral part of your full-time job. It’s crucial to build a team and maintain regular contact with them.
Now, there are various ways to jumpstart that financial relationship between you and your partners. Right from the start, it’s important to be clear about your motives and what you are asking for. Therefore, as you plan events and meetings, make sure your potential partners are aware in advance that you intend to invite them into a financial partnership. This sets them up for success and avoids any awkward moments.
Three Practical tips to get you going
1. Prayer
While the following tips can be helpful in support raising, your first course of action should always be prayer. Make His presence priority. Ask God how He wants to guide you in the partnership-building process. He may have individuals in mind for you to partner with whom you hadn’t considered, and He may prompt you to focus on reaching out to fewer people. Since He knows far more than we do, bring these tips before the Lord and allow Him to lead the process.
2. Knowing who to ask
Everyone! Okay, that might sound extreme or overwhelming, but in the end, knowing you reached out to as many people as possible will put your mind at ease. Go through your contacts and Instagram followers and compile a list of at least 200 people. Then, start reaching out via calls and messages! Assume that people want to partner with you unless you’ve heard otherwise. Briefly share your upcoming plans and explain that you need prayer and financial partners. Invite them to meet in person.
Assure them that agreeing to meet does not entail any official commitment. You would appreciate their support, but they are free to walk away without contributing, and there will be no hard feelings.
3. Individual meetings
Agree upon a location for your meeting. Arrive on time and come prepared with your dreams laid out on paper or in a slideshow. Show your supporters your expected timeline and the purpose for which you’re raising funds. Clearly communicate your vision for being in missions and the things that you’re excited to step into. Again, emphasize the great need for the lost to hear about Jesus, and express your desire to work together to fulfill the mission at hand, however you choose to live that out. Show them that they are not only serving as an answer to the Great Commission, but they are also playing a role in your story. Share your financial needs while allowing them to decide if they would like to contribute.
Provide practical goals you’re aiming for and offer them several options to choose from. Always express gratitude and convey excitement about the prospect of working together as a team. Give them about a week to consider your request, and inform them that you’ll follow up via phone call or text to discuss their decision. Consider giving them a card with instructions on how to give, in case they decide to contribute before your follow-up call.
Be diligent in following up, regardless of your assumptions about how the meeting went. Some people need time to pray and discern before committing. Trust that the Lord may be working in their hearts during this process.
If they agree to partnership
When you follow up, express gratitude again for their time and ask if they’ve had a chance to consider joining your team. If they agree to partner with you, thank them sincerely and remind them of the steps to take to give. Always be sure to set a clear timeline for their commitment to give. Ask them to donate for a specific number of years, or whatever is needed.
Don’t leave them hanging after the call. Be sure to let them know that you plan to continue to follow up with them, whether that be through meetings, phone calls, texts, etc. You desire to continue in a relationship as they partner with you financially. Conclude the conversation with a prayer for them and inform them of when you’ll be sending out newsletters with updates.
If they decline partnership
If you follow up and find out that they don’t wish to partner with you, simply thank them for their time and let them know that you understand their decision. Close the call with a prayer, asking for God’s blessings on them, and inform them how they can continue receiving newsletters if they are still interested in staying updated on what God is doing in their life.
Connect with your church
Aside from one-on-one meetings, it’s important to reach out to your church pastor as well. Arrange a time to meet with them and ask if they would allow you to share your mission and seek their blessing. Allow your pastor to provide input and spend time in prayer with you regarding your fundraising efforts. Take their advice seriously and bring it back to the Lord in prayer, seeking His guidance throughout the process.
Events
Throw a party!
Invite your family, friends, and church members to an event where you can share about what God is doing in your life and mission. Be open and honest about your needs and invite them to participate. Provide them with something to take home, such as a prayer card or giving instructions, to consider how they can support you.
During the event, create an atmosphere where people feel comfortable asking questions and engaging with your stories. Share testimonies that highlight the impact of your work. Offer opportunities for people to sign up for newsletters or updates so they can stay connected with your journey. Finally, express gratitude to everyone who attends and show excitement about partnering with them.
Provision testimonies
Now that you’ve heard some practical tips, it could be encouraging to hear some testimonies of God’s provision toward our YWAM Lancaster staff.
- One secondary student had spoken at their home church before their school. They had asked their pastor if they could include a pledge form in the bulletin, along with an envelope already addressed to their home. At the end of their sharing, they invited the congregation to seek the Lord’s guidance on becoming mission mobilizers- either by sowing through prayer or financial support. What happened next was amazing! The student needed $4,000, and during that time, the Lord provided $3,000 of it.
- During their DTS and secondary school, a missionary family needed to raise over $50,000 to cover school fees, outreach expenses, and living costs. They diligently prayed over a list of family and friends to arrange partnership meetings, and then they courageously stepped out to ask for God’s provision. Although challenging and uncomfortable, God met them in their weakness and timidity. People enthusiastically joined their team and gave generous gifts! God provided every cent for this family, though their need was great!
Provision in the Word
The Bible gives three significant examples of what to do when in need of finances.
1. In Luke 8, we see that God uses women who walk in friendship with Jesus to support His and His disciples’ needs. This is similar to what it would look like in present-day scenarios, where a team comes alongside someone to provide for their needs as they go out.
2. In Matthew 17:27, Jesus sends His disciples to go fishing, knowing that when he catches a fish, there will be a coin inside its mouth to provide for their needs. This serves as a reminder that sometimes God doesn’t prompt us to ask people directly; instead, He has creative ways of providing for us.
3. In Acts 18:3, we see that Paul spent time working as a tentmaker with his friends. This example shows us that in some seasons, God might ask us to step away from the usual fundraising efforts to engage in work alongside people we know or others who need to hear about Jesus.”
All that to say, during your journey, discern with the Lord when to ask, when to be quiet and trust Him to provide, and when to step into the field of work. He is faithful and loves to provide for His children. Let’s emphasize it again: Fundraising can be uncomfortable and challenging. However, no matter how God leads you, take a leap of faith and witness how He provides through your simple steps of action. Learn more about YWAM’s Discipleship Training School and Catalyst Bible School.
