How To Get Anyone To Give Towards Your Mission Trip

As a member of a church and a friend to many short- and long-term missionaries, I get a whole lot of fundraising e-mails and letters! I’ve certainly written a few such letters in my time, and I know fundraising can be a challenging process. Sometimes I receive a fundraising letter and think, “I’m so excited for them, but I can’t afford to give any money right now.” Perhaps more often I think to myself, “Oh, maybe I’ll give them a few dollars,” and then, I forget, or remain indecisive, or get distracted by a new book I want to spend my money on. But every once in a while, the follow-through happens, the check is written, and I get the privilege of supporting a great endeavor! So what makes the difference? What does it take to get this not-very-wealthy, sometimes indecisive, easily distracted and forgetful woman to give?

 

Tell me where you’re going and what you’ll be doing – and tell me why you’re excited about it!

 

Maybe you don’t know all the details, or all the history and needs of your destination, but tell me one or two things you DO know, and tell me what you’re excited to learn!

 

Tell me why it matters.

 

Why does this trip matter to you? Why do YOU matter to this trip? Why does your destination matter to you, and how will you matter to it?

 

Tell me why I matter.

 

Why are you asking me to give? Why would my partnership mean something to you? How could my gift (even if it’s small) make a difference?

 

Tell me what you need.

 

Tell me how much money you have to raise, and what it’s for (are you just raising money for your trip fees? Do you also need money for transportation, supplies, spending money on the road?). Be specific about your needs, and about how many people you need to partner with you.

 

Tell me how to give.

 

And make it as easy for me as possible! Include a return envelope and any necessary forms, or tell me how I can give online.

 

Tell me how you’ll follow up.

 

After receiving your initial letter, will you follow up through an e-mail or phone call soon? And after I invest money in your trip, how will you keep in touch with prayer request, updates, etc.?

 

Follow up!

 

I am forgetful. I am inundated with mail and e-mails constantly. Remind me of your request, and don’t hesitate to ask me to give you an answer either way as to whether or not you can expect my support.

 

Tell me about your trip!

 

If I give, or even if I tell you I can’t give but will pray, keep me posted! Send prayer requests, post social media updates as you’re able, and share as much as you can upon your return (either publicly or personally). It is a huge blessing and encouragement to me (and all of us who support and care about you) to get a glimpse of how God is working in another part of the world, and how He’s working in and through you!

 

If I can’t give you money, tell me if there is something else I can do.

 

Last summer, I found out that my church’s youth group needed lunch for their road trip to their destination. I e-mailed several folks and together we contributed all the fixings for sandwiches and snacks (SO MANY SNACKS!) for our youth group while on the road. This was a very practical way for us to support and love our group, in a way that was do-able for many of us who couldn’t afford to offer much financial support.

 

 

For those of us who can’t get in the van with you and go on your mission trip, supporting you financially and being kept in the loop of what God is up to through it are a great blessing! The work you’ll put into inviting people to partner with you will be worth it for everyone involved.

________________________________________________________________________________________________ Jenilyn Swett spent five years and a total of nine summers serving with YouthWorks in various capacities. God used YouthWorks to shape and influence her in countless ways — she credits her time on staff with introducing her to Chick-Fil-A, all things Southern, the beauty of places like New Orleans and Savannah, and many of her dearest friends. Beyond that, she developed a deep love for the Church. After graduating from seminary,she now serves as the Director of Women’s Ministry at a church in St. Louis, Missouri (where she spent her second YW summer in 2003.)