A Fund-Raising Guide for Poor Missionaries

                       Outline

 

•I.                 Develop A Plan

•II.             Identifying Potential Supporters

•III.         Effective Ways of Contacting

•IV.            Presentations

•V.                Maintaining Continual Support

•VI.            Excuses

 

I.     A.   Develop a plan

1.  
   1. Pray and meditate for this plan

   2. Know the state of your donors

   3. If you do not have a strategy, your fund raising will be from crisis to crisis

   4. Proverbs 19:21
      “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but the counsel of the Lord, it will stand”.

 

II.  B.    Identifying Potential Supporters

 

• A. You want to set a goal of aiming for 30+ financial partners, each continually giving a small amount (20-50). The goal is to aim high and go for it. Aim high so if some pull out your not seriously affected. People love supporting pioneer projects, and the people in your life are interested in what you’re doing.
• B. Aim for individual people more than churches, businesses, and organizations, but still aim for them. Set goals of the number of supporters you want to gain monthly or weekly. Remember churches, Christians, family, friends, businesses, organizations, clubs, etc.
• C. Make a list of everyone you know and write them all down. Every step you take make tangible! Write it all down. You want to stay well organized with all of this. You want to keep records of you communication with the supporters, their contributions to you, etc. Set aside time weekly to work on building a support base and communicating with people. The time you put into this will show. If you are putting effort into this people will see that, if you are not putting effort into it, they will see that also. Take everyone on the list and rate them, each one, where your current relationship is at now. Rate them A, B, or C. Are they interested or sympathetic to what you are doing? Rate them on how often you communicate, etc.
• D. Try to get tax-deductions for your supporters (if possible). Ask your home church.

        C.    Who are they?

 

              Who are the best prospective supporters?

 

• Those with whom you have a personal relationship (kinship)
• Those who have received ministry from you
• Those motivated to help your cause
• Those who have responded to you in some way
• Think of…
• A. Family
• B. Friends/Friends of the Family
• C. Anyone Who Knows You
• D. Anyone Who Trusts You
• E. Neighbors
• F. Co-Workers
• G. It’s different for every person/couple

 

 

III.  Effective Ways of Contacting Partners/Potential Partners (listed from most to least effective)

 

1) One on one conversation

      

-      Meeting for a meal

            -           Meeting for coffee

            -           Visiting them at work

            -           Whatever is best for them

 

A.         One – on – one conversation – how to set it up:

      

• 1. Call (or email) and make an appointment to talk to them about “what you are doing with THOP and support. They would generally know as soon as you say support that it will be about finance and prayer. Don’t hint at why you are contacting them; go strait forward, honestly and confidently. Let them know you are looking for people who will support you with pioneering THOP

And you would like to have an appointment with them to share what it is exactly you are doing.

Phoning/email guidelines for setting up an appointment

 

• i. Plan your outline before calling
• ii. The goal is to get an appointment, not a decision
• iii. Mention….
• 1. what your doing
• 2. why you want to meet with them
• 3. mention money
• 4. set a specific time
• 5. Expect to get the appointment (PRAY!)
• 6. BE BOLD! Don’t be ashamed!
• a. This is really important.
• b. If you are having appointments with Christians, and you are approaching support raising boldly they’ll see that you’re secure in what you feel called to.
• 7. You’re not a salesman!
• a. You’re doing something that is worthy of being supported by the Body of Christ
• b. Do you believe that?
• c. If you do, so will others

 

 

• 2. Go and visit with them, have as much visual stuff as possible. Book describing your ministry (from THOP and down to your specific job), Video, Booklet to leave with them – or magnet or something. Go through it with them and ask them if they will pray about being a partner with you financially and in prayer. Give them a pledge card so that they can respond. Generally leave it with them and call next day or week or something.

  * We will show you how to do this later on*

• 3. Good to meet with couples in their home, a housewife – you may want to invite out because home is a work environment. Meeting them in their territory is easiest for them.

 

         B.            Individualize your appeals

 

• 1. One-on-one visits enable you to individualize your appeal. How would this person like to be approached?
• 2. Communicate urgency

 

• Why do I need supporters?
• Why do I need supporters now?
• Give people a deadline

               3.     Be as specific as you can to help them know what you are asking for and how they can respond straight away.

 

2) Small group discussion

      

            -           Dessert/Small Meal Evening

            -           Family Gatherings

            -           Church Boards/Organizations

 

A.    Small Group – how to set it up:

 

• 1. Ask your friends (particularly if they are already supporting you) if they would like to host a dinner or something and invite some of their friends who may be interested in supporting you. They are blessed because they can help further, even if they can’t help more financially.
• 2. They would then set it up for you and invite their friends and mention to them that you will be there as their guest and that there will be an opportunity to support you – not to talk about money.
• 3. After dinner you should have your friends endorse you and what you’re doing – that they are supporting you etc… Introduce you and then you present what you’re doing for 15mins.
• 4. Don’t pressure them then and there for money – just tell them that you’ll call them in the next day or so.
• 5. Don’t have a monologue but a dialogue
• 6. Also ask them to be table hosts at your banquet
• 7. You are always the best to share the ministry – cos it’s your ministry, but you may not be the best person to ask for money. Then get someone who is good at it to intro you and then ask for the money after you have spoken.

 

 

3) Large group discussion

 

            – See Dessert/Small Meal Evenings

 

4) Telephone

 

            – People that you would not be able to meet with.    

                                 

5) Mail  (most to least effective)

 

•A.                 Handwritten letters

•B.                  Typed letters

•C.                  Mass letters

•D.                 Newsletters

 

                                                                                            Direct Mail – Sample

Who do you send mail to, what and how: (sample – Eric)

Core Group                Supporters and Family – 67         monthly

Newsletter Group     larger group – 180                         4 times a year

Christmas List           everyone – 200                              1 time a year

 

•E.                  Newsletter vs Personal Letter

•a.     Newsletter:

•                                                                         i.      is news

•                                                                       ii.      is colour and fun and photos

•                                                                     iii.      is not at all personal

•                                                                     iv.      NEVER ask for money

•                                                                       v.      Asking for money is personal not casual

 

•b.    Personal Ltr:

• i. is a letter
• ii. really personal
• iii. has no photos

                       

                        *DON’T COMBINE THE TWO – THEY ARE VERY DIFFERENT AND HAVE DIFFERENT PURPOSES.

 

•F.                  Tips for ministry to those on your mailing list

1.    Devote 10% of your ministry time to your constituency (those helping you).

2.    Failure to Ask…Assuming Money Always Follows Ministry

3.    There is a difference between making needs known and inviting people to give.

4.     People do not naturally gravitate toward making stewardship decisions unless they are asked.

 

9) Brochure

            -           Business Cards

            -           Refrigerator Magnets

            -           ETC. – Be creative

 

IV.       1.     Presentations

 

• A. Do your homework. You want to show them you are responsible, prepared and serious about what you are doing. If you are young, you will need to display your maturity and confidence for your supporters to see. Have presentation completed and ready to go before hand. Have copies in an organized, professional manor ready for them.
• B. You want to share with them in a way that wins their support. Remember that.
• a. You want a relationship with them to develop.
• C. You want to keep the supporters that you have.

2.     Presentation Book: Include…

• A. THOP – Phases of the Ministry, Areas of ministry, Beginning of THOP, Vision
• B. Your Personal Roles & Responsibilities
• C. Information on Yourself
• D. What a partner does/benefits
• E. Budget
• F. Give them a response card – leave it with them to pray
• G. Leave with them a brochure or magnet or something they can take away

 

The Four Elements of a Personal Support Interview

E. Clear the deck: “Any questions?”

D. Ministry strategy with illustrations

C. Challenges you face in ministry

B. Video (If you have one)

A. Your spiritual journey and calling to ministry

1. Opening

2.  Transition…

3.  Presentation

4. Close

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

V.    Effective Methods of Continual Communication and Maintaining Supporters

 

• A. Website
• a. There are free websites i.e. Blogspot, wordpress, etc. (look for them on Google)
• B. Phone Calls
• C. Sending Gifts/Cards in the Mail
• a. Birthdays
• b. Holidays
• c. Just Because they are helping you
• D. Visiting when at Home
• E. Encourage them.
• a. Bless them with gifts, words of encouragement, acts of service. The key is to keep the long term relationship.
• b. Show them you appreciate them helping you.
• c. People want to know you appreciate them and what they are doing.

 

•F.                New Name Acquisition (attainment)

•a.     As people become acquainted with your vision, they will welcome a fundraising call.

 

• G. Enlarging your mailing list
• a. Cultivation of future givers
• b. Make a list of all potential givers
• c. WRONG QUESTION: Would this person like to give?
• d. RIGHT QUESTION: What area of my ministry is this person interested in?

 

 

VI.   Excuses Will Stop You

 

• A. Everyone has excuses as to why they cannot do something. It’s too hard, I’ve never done it before, I’m not smart enough. I’m not worthy of support, etc. Don’t let your excuses keep you from raising partners. Pray through these issues so that you not ignoring them, but know the enemy will add confusion to this area of your life. If you don’t have clarity, then seek it.
• B. God will provide, you take the initiative.