Each student attending Collide Mobile is responsible for raising funds. Not just cover the cost of their individual ticket, but to help make the mission trip as a whole a success. The key aspect of any missions fundraising is sending support letters. Below is important information for your support letters. You cannot underestimate the importance of these letters.
Content:
- Prayer: Preparing your heart and asking God boldly to provide.
- Writing Letter: Writing a letter that talks about what your team will actually be doing.
- Sending Letter: Brainstorming potential supporters and sending out a letter to the potential supporters.
- Contact Recipients: Contacting recipients of the letter to talk about the trip.
- Follow-up: Thank you note or follow up post trip.
1. Prayer:
As with all fundraising, begin in prayer. Approach the throne with boldness and ask God to provide all that you need for this trip. When you do you will be amazed at how God does provide.
2. Writing Letter:
When you write your letter, make sure to talk about the mission that you are going to come alongside of; talk about how you specifically will be impacting the Kingdom. Often times groups fall into the trap of just talking about how much fun they will have on the trip and the relationships they will be building with each other. While these are all wonderful outcomes of a trip like this, that is not what you are going out to do. Tell them the impact you expect to have and what you will be doing on the trip.
Tips for Writing a Support Letter:
- Bold the most important information.
- Talk about how God has prepared you for this opportunity.
- Talk about the impact you will have.
- Don’t be afraid to ask for support and prayer.
- Emphasize that you are part of a team.
- Keep it short.
- Add a “PS” line that sums up everything.
- (See Sample Support Letter.)
3. Sending the Letter:
Once you have written a support letter you need to come up with a list of people you will send it to. Don’t be afraid to send your letter to every Christian you or your family knows unsaved family as well. Use the attached sheet to help you brainstorm ideas of people to whom you could send a letter. Once you have come up with a list, create a spread sheet to track your contact with each potential supporter. In that spread sheet you should track whom you have sent letters to, who has responded, and your follow up with every giver.
When you send the letter out, include a response card (see example) and an envelope correctly addressed with a stamp for a quick and easy response.
Sample Letter
Mr. and Mrs. Schulte,
Over the past three years I have had the opportunity to grow so much in my faith through the exciting youth ministry at our church. I have been involved in a Bible study with a group of 8 boys; we have been studying the book of I Timothy. We have been holding each other accountable to studying the Bible on our own and praying for each other. I have also been involved in the church’s children’s ministry by leading games during the weekly Wednesday night program.
Jamie Brandon, our youth pastor, has seen the growth that has happened in me and asked me to come on a mission trip this summer to the Pawley’s Island, SC / Belize, Central America. When he told me about the opportunity this trip will give us to share Christ with the people of Pawley’s Island/Belize through construction and a children’s ministry my heart jumped. I have been looking for a way to take my faith share it with those who have not heard the Good News yet.
(Belize)On our trip we will be doing construction and outreach projects to local children in Belize. The students are actually planning and running the children’s programs! Belize is a beautiful country with big needs. We will be partnering with a local church in one of the rural villages. We will even have the chance to minister in the same community next time we travel there on a mission trip.
(Pawley’s Island) On our trip we will be doing construction and outreach projects to local children in Pawley’s Island, SC. The students are actually planning and running the children’s programs! Pawley’s Island is a beautiful area with big needs. The rich and tourist areas are mazing, but there are areas that most people don’t know about. These areas suffer from great poverty. We will be working with “Teach My People.” This mission group aims to fostering healing between the upper and lower classes in an area that has seen great increases of health for some and growing poverty for others.
Would you aid us on our trip by covering our whole team in prayer, as we will need diligence to work hard and courage to share the Gospel with the children?
Would you prayerfully consider sending us out as bearers of the Gospel to the people of Pawley’s Island/Belize by financially supporting us?
(high school) I must raise $1,500 by May 6th in order to carry the Message to the people of Belize .
(middle school)I must raise $600 by June 24th in order to carry the Message to the people of Pawley’s Island .
Thank you so much for your prayers and support.
In His Love,
Kristin Peterson
PS- Please prayerfully use the enclosed response card and envelope to come alongside myself and our team as we reach out to the Navajo people this June.
4. Contact Recipients:
Don’t rely on a letter alone to raise the support you need for your trip. Personally contact recipients and tell them again why you are excited to be going on this trip and ask them again to join your prayer and financial support team. Many people will choose to call the people on their list and touch base with them about the trip one more time. When you talk to them say something like this:
Greeting:
Chat briefly. Exchange pleasantries:
“Hello Grandma, this is Kristin. How are you doing?… What has been happening at church?…”
Transition:
“Things are going well here Grandma. The school year is going well, but I am really excited about the opportunity I have to serve this summer on the Navajo Reservation. It is going to be a stretching and growing time, but a very fruitful time in the Kingdom as our team…”
Remind them of your need:
“Did you get my letter last week about the support I need to raise for this trip? I am looking for friends and family like yourself to come alongside me in prayer and financial support.”
Thank them in advance:
“Thank you Grandma for your prayers as we are on this trip, it is going to be an amazing time of outreach and I look forward to telling you all about it when I come back.
5. Follow-up:
Be sure to follow up with all of your prayer and financial supporters upon returning from your trip. You should send them a thank you note within three weeks of getting back. When you send them a note, tell about the “fruit” that you saw come of your trip and remind them that their partnership helped make that possible. Talk about how you grew and about the impact it had on the people that you served. Remember to track this contact as well to be certain you haven’t forgotten anyone who joined you in support.
Potential Supporter Brainstorming
- Friends from church (and their parents)
- Friends from school (and their parents)
- Friends from other churches (and their parents)
- Friends of my parents
- Co-workers of my parents
- Relatives
- Out-of-town friends (and their parents)
- Mentors/teachers who have had an impact on me
- Business/ministry associates of my parents
