Personal Fundraising

From YWAMKnowledgeBase

Contents 1 Personal Fundraising 2 Books and Resources 3 Types of missionary support 3.1 2.Trusting God for Finances 3.2 1.Relational Principles of Missionary support raising 3.3 Sharing of ideas

Personal Fundraising

Personal fundraising has two major aspects:

1. it is a skill to be learned and can be learned
2. it is a spiritual process requiring faith, growing trust in God, confidence in God that I am called and spiritual warfare against an enemy who hates God and will do all he can to obstruct God's work.

There are many good principles and resources about building support teams and living the YWAM way:

Principles:

• A lifestyle of Simplicity is encouraged to be practised for its pragmatic and spiritual benefits
• A lifestyle of Generosity is encouraged as it is in the image of God. Being Generous in giving time, hospitality as well as money.
• A lifestyle of Relationships and interdependence is the key to a growing support base.
  • Interdependence between missionary and supporters, mission partners, etc. is the essential function of fundraising.  
  • Example: (this was taken from a YWAM missionary profile folder explaining the cooperation in the mission between missionaries and supporters)

"Each believer is commanded to share the Gospel with others, however not all of us are called beyond the borders of our home country to do so. Missions is a partnership. Those who are called to “go” need the partnership, prayer and financial support of others. Those who “stay” need contact with missions to develop God’s heart for the nations by being involved with missionaries first-hand.
Youth With A Mission, like many missions organizations, does not salary its staff. Each YWAM staff person, from the president to the base cook, is required to raise their own financial support for the term of service they have committed. I am very grateful for each person who partners with me in prayer, regular giving, gifts, or in many other practical ways. These individuals, families, and churches have in a very real sense been on the mission field with me from the beginning.
I want to develop a circle of personally involved “mission partners”. Each mission partner is equally significant whether the financial support is large or small. Please pray about partnering with me in missions through prayer and/or finances.  Let’s GO together into all the world to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ!"  (B.van de Loo, 2007)
 

Books and Resources

Funding the Family Business ISBN Resources:

• Friend Raising: Building a Missionary Support Team That Lasts, by Betty Barnett (an old video is still around). ISBN 1576582833
  
• Daring to Live on the Edge:  The adventure of faith and finances, by Loren Cunningham.  ISBN 0927545063
  
• Funding the Family Business, by Myles Wilson.  ISBN 0955332001 Can be found at Funding the Family Business website.
• Funding Your Ministry:  Whether You're Gifted Or Not, by Scott Morton. ISBN 0967248000
  

Types of missionary support

Tent making: Hard access countries, Hard work! Acts 18:3 Job in a country: Job in country – influence in churches Faith missionaries: Living on fresh air! Never ask for help – the Lord supplies (NOTE! Muller and Hudson-Taylor wrote lots of letters!) Legacy/Trust/Retirements: own support – have few balancing factors? Half and Half: Half wage, Half gift. Missionaries have to do lots of furloughs and church visitation: Supported by lots of churches Relational Faith: supported by a legion of small donors or a church (if church votes not to support...) – very close to the action.

2.Trusting God for Finances

• Faith (Hebrew 11:1-2)
• Asking and keep asking (Matthew 7:7) seek, knock
• Seek first the Kingdom of God (Matthew 6:33)
• Take small steps of Faith
• Build up faith muscles

Balance this with

1.Relational Principles of Missionary support raising

• Be called – don't die by faith!
• Be a part of a community of believers – who verify your call
• Break it down – 30 people supporting you one day a month!
• Communicate well
• Right Relationships
• Budget and openness
• Explain clearly what you do!
• Breakdown the task
• Always thank
• Prayerfully ask for support (ask people to give monthly)
• Prayerfully ask for renewed support (once off – infrequently, regular givers set a regular schedule – e.g. every two years)
• Communicate well!
• Build a team/partnership

Sharing of ideas

• Newsletters
• Email letters
• Blogs – little and often
• Stories!
• Supporters nights – parties – time to share!
• Take time to write to, telephone to and pray for supporters
• Include with a missions trips
• Try to match peoples desire to give with the right projects (Eddie Cnudde and Andy etc.)

See also communication and writing stuff