Fundraising 101

1. Fundraising 101

2. Topics • Biblical Models • Funding Foundations • Simple Strategy • MSC Support Process • Benefits of MSC

3. Jeremiah 29:11 • “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

4. Biblical Models • The Biblical examples that guide our fund raising efforts.

5. Biblical Models • Self-Support • Looking to God alone • Making Needs Known • Summary

6. Biblical Models • Self-Support Model • There were times in Paul’s ministry when he provided for his own financial needs by making tents. • “And because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them.” Acts 18:3, NIV • “For you recall, brethren, our labor and hardship, how working night and day so as not to be a burden to any of you, we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.”1 Thessalonians 2:9, NASB • In Acts, 1 Corinthians, and in 1 and 2 Thessalonians we are told that Paul labored in self-support.

7. Biblical Models • Looking to God Alone Model • There is the principle of looking to God alone. This means making one’s needs known to no one but God. • While there seems to be no text specifically describing this method, we do have His promise of provision. • “And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19, (NIV)

8. Biblical Models • Making Needs Known Model • Making needs known has both Old Testament and New Testament examples. Making needs known means sharing the vision and ministry with friends and asking them to prayerfully consider supporting the ministry financially. • Some Biblical examples of making needs known are:

9. Biblical Models • Making Needs Known Model • In Exodus 12:35, God instructed Israel to ask the Egyptians for articles of silver, gold and for clothing. In verse 36, we are told, “The Lord had made the Egyptians favorably disposed toward the people and gave them what they asked for .... • In Exodus 25:2, God commanded Moses to build a tabernacle and instructed Moses to ask the people of Israel to contribute the necessary building materials.

10. Biblical Models • Making Needs Known Model • “Tell the sons of Israel to raise a contribution for Me; from every man whose heart moves him you shall raise My contribution” (NIV). • In Exodus 35:21, Moses had presented the need, and the response was more than enough! “Everyone whose heart stirred him and everyone whose spirit moved him came and brought the Lord’s contribution for the work of the tent of meeting and for all its service and for the holy garments” (NASB).

11. Biblical Models • Making Needs Known Model • In 1 Kings 17 the Lord instructed Elijah to make his needs known to a widow living at Zarephath. As a result, she provided food and lodging for Elijah for as long as he needed it. • In Acts 11:28-29, a prophet by the name of Agabus came making a need known in a manner that prompted the following response. “The disciples, each according to his ability, decided to provide help for the brothers living in Judea.”

12. Biblical Models • Making Needs Known Model • It seems the Corinthians had at some point made a financial commitment to give toward a specific need (2 Corinthians 9:5). In chapters eight and nine, Paul writes, encouraging them to follow through with their commitment. He also sent Titus to ensure that they would follow through. It seems Paul is very aggressive in his fundraising.

13. Biblical Models • Summary • The three principles of financial support are: • To use personal earnings • To ask no one but God • To make needs known

14. Funding Foundations • The fundamental roots of any successful fund raising network.

15. Funding Foundations • Prayer • Preparation • Planning • Presentation

16. Funding Foundations • Prayer • Some aspects of the Lord’s work seem to require more prayer than others. Evangelism is probably one of these, as is fundraising. Perhaps more than any other single factor, prayer can be the key to raising funds. • As Andrew Murray observed, “God’s will needs prayer as its indispensable condition.” • In fund raising, it is necessary that we admit we need God and begin to bring our prayers before Him. The Lord can work without us obviously, but He desires that we ask Him. “Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete” (John 16:24, NIV).

17. Funding Foundations • Prayer • Daniel understood the principle that God’s will needs prayer as its indispensable condition. • Reading Jeremiah’s prophecy (25:12), Daniel realized Jerusalem was to be desolate and the nation of Israel was to be in bondage for 70 years after which God would bring His people back to Jerusalem and to the Promised Land. • Daniel also knew the 70-year period was completed. But instead of sitting back like a spectator at a ball game, waiting to see the prophecy come true, Daniel began to pray. He prayed earnestly, fervently, day after day–praying that the prophecy might become a reality.

18. Funding Foundations • Prayer • Moses understood this principle. Exodus 17:11 says, “When Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.” Prayer made the difference. • Jesus endorsed this principle when He taught His disciples to pray, “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done.” • Prayer gives God an opportunity to work in the hearts of those with whom you will be sharing. Proverbs 21:1 tells “The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases” (NIV).

19. Funding Foundations • Prayer • You should pray that God will lay it on the people’s hearts to give in response to our solicitation. • An important aspect of prayer is faith: faith that God has led you to your current ministry, faith that He has chosen you for this particular ministry, faith in the fact that He desires you to make your needs known and that He will provide your needs, faith that He will provide you with the time and energy to assume the responsibility He wants you to take.

20. Funding Foundations • Prayer • You can have the attitude of the people in Matthew 13:58, “And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.” • Or you can have Sara’s attitude as it is described in Hebrews 11:11, “Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.” Sara believed God. • She refused to think about the impossibilities of her physical limitations, and a miracle resulted. Sara trusted God to do the impossible, and He did it.

21. Funding Foundations • Prayer • The question to ask yourself is “Am I really trusting God or is my mind preoccupied with possible problems and failures?” By an act of the will you can determine to trust God to make you effective in raising funds. • You should also pray that your own commitment to the task of personal solicitation of prayer support (and financial as God directs) will be wholehearted. • If you secretly hope to ease yourself through this program, putting a minimum of effort into it when God has directed otherwise, you should reevaluate your commitment.

22. Funding Foundations • Preparation • The most important element in your success in raising support is your spiritual life. Set aside time every day to get alone with the Lord. Spend time reading the Scriptures, praising God and claiming His promises. • God has promised to meet the needs of those that are called according to His purpose. He abundantly supplies, and He knows all of our needs. (Phil. 4:18-19) • God promises that: • He will give you what it takes to develop your support team. (1 Thessalonians 5:24)

23. Funding Foundations • Preparation • He will give you what it takes to develop your support team. (1 Thessalonians 5:24) • He will guide and direct you. (James 1:5) • He will give you a joyful time of raising support. (John 15:10-11) • He will protect you from the enemy’s lies, such as: “You’re a beggar.” “These people don’t want to see me.” “I’m not good enough for Christian work.” (2 Tim. 1:7) • He will not allow anything to happen to His child that is not for your best. (Romans 8:28) • He will not fail or forsake you. (Rom. 8:35)

24. Funding Foundations • Planning • “Any enterprise is built by wise planning, becomes strong through common sense, and profits wonderfully by keeping abreast of the facts.” (Proverbs 23:3,4, Living) • If the Lord directs you to make your needs known, you need to ask the Lord how to plan and prepare. In the process of developing plans, it is always necessary to set clear-cut objectives. • Claim that the primary objective of a fundraising program is money. To claim otherwise would be devious, disguising fund raising behind a cloak to make it more palatable.

25. Funding Foundations • Planning • But money is not an end in itself. Money is simply a resource, an indispensable one for achieving one of the objectives Jesus gave you, which is “to go and make disciples of all nations.” • We must be about the business of being good stewards of the resources Jesus has given us. • We must be willing to give an account of how we are using these resources to advance His Kingdom.

26. Funding Foundations • Fund Raising Plan • My Personal Sacrificial Giving $___________________ • Family Support $___________________ • Prayer Teams $___________________ • Support Letters/Visits $___________________ • Home Church $___________________ • Other Churches $___________________ • Group Projects $___________________ • TOTAL $___________________

27. Funding Foundations • Presentation • Remember that people give to people. It is not a fancy brochure or a clever presentation that evokes a gift as much as it is who asks and how they do it. • Keep in mind that you are not going for the person’s money, but you are going for Him. Avoid the approach that communicates “I’m here to get something.” Emphasize the idea that “I want you to join me in this exciting ministry of helping to fulfill the Great Commission.”

28. Funding Foundations • Presentation • This places the emphasis where it ought to be–on developing friendships rather than on getting money. • If you create the impression that you are only after their money, they will never forget it. Make them feel that you care about them and want them to become part of a ministry that is accomplishing something significant; communicate that they are joining a meaningful, worthwhile effort and not that someone just picked their pocket.

29. Funding Foundations • Presentation • The point is to emphasize that they will be part of a ministry that is helping win the world to Christ. • Presentation ideas: • Talk with your pastor about what he prefers concerning approaching the church about your prayer and financial needs. • He may want to share for you, or he may rather you just write letters to individuals. Sometimes the church will decide to give out of a special account, the general budget or a love offering. • If your pastor approves, confirm a date and how long he can give you in the service.

30. Funding Foundations • Presentation • Presentation ideas: • Make careful plans to prepare your presentation taking into consideration the needs of your church family. • INTRODUCTION. Introduce yourself clearly if some may not know you. Mention the work you are doing and the people you are working with. • BODY OF PRESENTATION. Share about the people and the work to which the Lord has called you. Be sure to share any personal goals the Lord has spoken to you concerning your ministry. Perhaps He wants you to learn complete servanthood as you serve those living in multihousing communities. Make yourself vulnerable with your church family.

31. Funding Foundations • Presentation • Presentation ideas: • Make careful plans to prepare your presentation taking into consideration the needs of your church family. • CLOSING. Share your need for a support team of people that will commit themselves to pray consistently for you (this can be done in a variety of ways as the Lord directs them). Also share your financial responsibility as a multihousing minister. Mention as much detail as you feel you should here about the money. You can mention that the total cost of your ministry includes specific needs (lodging, food, supplies, training, etc.). State that you’re trusting the Lord to provide the funds and prayer support necessary for your work. Tell them if they have any questions they can talk with you.

32. Funding Foundations • Presentation • It is very important to understand: • IF the Lord has called you, and • IF you are responsible to share Jesus every opportunity you have on in your ministry, • THEN You are not sharing your need. You are asking for the people you are ministering to.

33. Simple Strategy • The master plan used to launch any successful fund raising effort.

34. Simple Strategy • Self-Support • Involving Others • Prayer Teams • Community Service • Corporate Sponsors • Support Letters • Follow Up

35. Simple Strategy • Self-Support • Before asking for support from anyone else, ask yourself what you will sacrificially give to your own support. You cannot ask others to sacrifice financially if you are not willing to do the same. • As you begin to think about your own sacrifices, consider what you can alter in your lifestyle that would provide money for the mission project. • Give up eating out. • Give up movies.

36. Simple Strategy • Self-Support • Give money usually spent on clothes. • Give up movies. • God might call you to take a part-time job to help support yourself. Short-term jobs, such as babysitting, housecleaning, mowing lawns, etc., can bring in funds. • You may have money saved that could be contributed. • Again, do not ask others to give from their savings if you are not willing to do the same.

37. Simple Strategy • Involving Others • It would be wise to enlist a team of supporters for prayer and finances. • Support teams are a means of accountability. • No one owes you because you are volunteering for mission service, but God may impress upon His people to accept responsibility for your commitment as their representative. • Be sure and consider your responsibility as well as (and before) the responsibility of others.

38. Simple Strategy • Prayer Teams • One suggestion is to recruit five prayer teams of five people each. • Each team would commit to meeting and praying for you once a week for at least 15 minutes. Each time the team meets, they bring $2 per person. Over a 10-week period, each person would contribute $20.00. Five teams of five each would raise $500. • Have a designated team leader that will call the group to collect the money. • Keep each group posted on specific prayer needs.

39. Simple Strategy • Community Service • Another suggestion is to do community service (cleaning litter off of streets or graffiti of walls, etc.) and ask for financial sponsorship by the hour as a lump sum in return for their work. • The donors receive the double bonus of having a cleaner community and assisting God’s work internationally. • Check with your local law enforcement about community service projects for your group. • Keep in mind that you do not have to solicit financial support from just Christians, for the Lord can also use nonbelievers. Remember in Exodus 12:3-5 how the Lord used the pagan Egyptians to supply the needs of the Israelites.

40. Simple Strategy • Corporate Sponsors • Many companies set aside money for philanthropic activities. • Check with local companies about using some of this money to sponsor you and the work you are doing amongst those living in multihousing communities. • One or two companies may underwrite your entire ministry and giving you an opportunity to minister in your community by sharing your stories at these corporations. • For example, GuideStone donates money and toys to a former employee’s ministry to children in south Dallas every December.

41. Simple Strategy • Support Letters • An effective way to receive both prayer support and financial assistance is through the sending of support letters. • You could begin by using a worksheet to complete a list. Do this in two phases. • Phase one is creative. During this phase don’t analyze or evaluate the names you think. This stifles creativity. Simply write down every name you can possibly think of as the Lord brings them to mind! • Phase two is analytical. Think about each prospect–pray about them and eliminate the names of those you have no freedom to visit or write. But don’t eliminate names too casually–the Holy Spirit may lead some of your most unlikely prospects to give.

42. Simple Strategy • Support Letters • Make personal face to face appointments. • Send the support letter and then follow up with a call to make the appointment. • Give them time to respond to your request for support. • There is no need to beg. • Be cheerful, honest and cast a vision. • Present your financial reality, vision, solution and how they can respond.

43. Simple Strategy • Support Letters • Suggested Techniques • Introduction. Begin with some good opening statements (i.e., family news, ask how they are doing, tell how school has been going, etc.). Make the letter warm and personal. • Presenting your ministry. Explain what you want to do to emphasize your call to this ministry and your excitement to be involved. Share about the specifics of the work in which you will be involved and the practical training you are receiving.

44. Simple Strategy • Support Letters • Suggested Techniques • Present your need. Explain your need for financial and prayer support to be involved in practical Christian ministry this January. Explain the concept of a support team and the accountability system. • Follow up plans. Tell the person you are writing about any plans you have to call them or visit them to discuss your letter in person. You may also want to include a commitment to write after the trip is over, sharing what the Lord did.

45. Simple Strategy • Support Letters • Suggested Techniques • Follow up letters with a personal call or visit. However, if you do not plan to do either, omit this section from your letter. If you do tell someone you are going to call, remember to call promptly as explained in your letter. Keep an accurate record of letters sent, dates, times and other information you need to follow up. • Closing. Finish your letter with a personal touch, and express appreciation for the friendship of the person you are writing.

46. Simple Strategy • Support Letters • Special Hints • You can hand-write or type personal letters depending on how many you want to send. • Write correctly. Incorrect use of the English language can be offensive. • If you are sending more than about 25 letters, you may want to consider using a form letter. Be sure that it does not lose its personal touch.

47. Simple Strategy • Support Letters • Special Hints • Write simply and clearly. Vague details and muddled paragraphs can prevent a letter from communicating effectively. • Write positively. Negative attitudes or criticisms of other groups can defeat a person faster than any other problem. Strive to give your letter a pleasant, joyful tone (Phil. 4:4). You want your reader to be encouraged by the work the Lord is doing in your life.

48. Simple Strategy • Support Letters • Special Hints • Be specific about the amount you need. Tell them the total amount and give them an amount to consider. • Here is a three step strategy that might help: • Ask most prospects for small amounts ($15-$50). • Ask several prospects to consider giving a slightly larger amount ($50-$l00). • Ask a few prospects to consider giving a larger amount ($100, $200 or $300).

49. Simple Strategy • Support Letters • Special Hints • Write personally. Personal letters say that the individual receiving the letter is important. They say fundraising is important enough to you to give special time to your efforts. • Mass-produced letters when done very carefully and with special guidelines will work. However the general rule is to be personal. A form letter can give a negative impression. Be very careful! Hand-sign each form letter and perhaps add a few personal handwritten lines.

50. Simple Strategy • Support Letters • Special Hints • Be clear and concise in stating the purpose of your ministry. A well-written letter should be one page (there are exceptions to the rule). Edit your letter until you are confident you have used the least amount of words to share the most important message. • Make it easy for people to respond. Enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope.