FUNDRAISING FAQ

AS A TEAM MEMBER, WHAT IS MY FINANCIAL COMMITMENT?
The entire cost of the trip is to be covered through your payments or donations from sponsors towards your account. You assume full responsibility to make trip payments by deadlines in order to remain on the trip. All trip funds are non-transferable and non-refundable.

WHAT IS INCLUDED IN MY TRIP FEE?

  • International round-trip airfare
  • Trip insurance for emergencies
  • All lodging at destination
  • All meals at destination + bottled water
  • All ground transportation at destination
  • Visa application fee (if required)

WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED IN MY TRIP FEE?

  • Spending money, souvenirs, snacks, airport meals, beverages, etc.
  • Optional activity fees
  • Transportation to/from airport (New Orleans)
  • Passport fees, photos for visas (if needed)
  • Vaccinations

CAN I USE FREQUENT FLYER POINTS TO HELP PAY FOR MY TRIP?
Unfortunately, we are unable to accommodate paying with points for any portion of the trip.

A SPONSOR MADE AN ONLINE DONATION TOWARDS MY TRIP, BUT IT DOES NOT SHOW UP IN MY MANAGED MISSIONS ACCOUNT.
All team member payments and donations go through the Reach Our World Global Department. Depending on when the payment was received, it may not be posted to your account for several days. Always feel free to contact us with any questions at 985.292.3152.

WHAT IF I DROP OUT OF THE TRIP?
We begin making financial commitments for airfare and ground accommodations as soon as we receive your application fee. Therefore, if you drop out of the trip, the application fee and any other payments are non-refundable. Trip funds are non transferable to other trips.

WHO CAN I CONTACT WITH QUESTIONS?
Reach Our World Global Department at 985.292.3152 or [email protected].

LEARN HOW TO RAISE FUNDS

  • God has prepared for your needs to be met; however, He will probably not send you a personal check!
  • God’s plan is individual and requires different processes with each one of us. Some will discover support quickly, some very slowly (Psalm 139:16-17).
  • God will provide in a way that benefits each one of us individually, in the way that will bring the greatest growth in our Christian life.
  • God requires our participation. Part of your short-term mission experience is the effort you put forth in discovering the support God has prepared for you.
  • Pray daily, walk in purity (Colossians 3:1-17).
  • Have faith (Hebrews 11:1).
  • Keep current and accurate records.
  • Be very prompt with thank you notes.
  • Send update letters to your sponsors and prayer team.
  • Stick to your timetable! Write out a reasonable daily schedule and stick to it.

Only ask, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance,
the whole earth as your possession. - Psalm 2:8

PEOPLE GIVE TO PEOPLE.
Sending letters will not be enough to accomplish your support raising goal. Make sure you personally follow-up with people. Make a personal visit. Call each person or company one week after the initial letter is sent to see if they have received it and what they thought about your request. Don’t just assume they will remember to send in the money if the funds have not yet been received. If they are not giving to this specific outreach request, ask that they pray for safety and success of the team.

FUNDRAISING STEPS

Part of your experience is learning how to build financial and prayer support much like a long-term missionary would. This requires sending a letter to everyone you know, building a prayer support team, and raising the needed funds.

STEP ONE: CREATE A POTENTIAL SPONSOR CONTACT LIST

  • Brainstorm and write down everyone you know: family members, social media friends, co-workers, co-workers of parents, neighbors, classmates from school.
  • Create a list with name, email, mailing address, and phone numbers. The more information you have, the better your list will be.

STEP TWO: CREATE YOUR ONE-PAGE SUPPORT LETTER
 The letter should include:

  1. A statement of how and why you have chosen this trip.
  2. When and where you will be going and what you’ll be doing.
  3. What you hope to see happen in and through your life during your mission trip.
  4. Your request for prayer and financial sponsors.
  5. Your trip cost and support deadlines.
  6. A self-addressed, stamped envelope with each mailed support letter along with donation instructions.

OTHER TIPS:

  • Your letter should be genuine with no gimmicks.
  • Be sincere. Don’t pressure. There is a balance: do your part to present the need and allow God to touch the individual’s heart.
  • People need to see that the mission trip will have an impact and make a difference.
  • Proofread your letter.
  • Pray over every letter and ask God’s blessing on those who receive it. Do not underestimate the power of prayer.
  • Send your letter to your potential sponsor list.
  • It is vital that you respond promptly with a sincere thank you note to those who have sponsored you.
  • Keep accurate records of your sponsors. After the trip, be sure to send an update. Focus on one story, not many. Include how God touched you and how He touched those you served on the trip.

STEP THREE: MAKE PHONE CALLS

  • You’ve no doubt heard how important it is to make personal contact. Meeting people face-to-face, or at least voice-to-voice, may actually make the difference as to whether or not people support your ministry!
  • Take the time each evening to call several people on your mailing list. Some make all their calls prior to sending out their support letter. Others call after everyone should have received the letter. Both methods work!
  • Share your passion and excitement for the trip!
  • God is the Great Provider, but He expects that we will do our part in communicating the need to those who will be used of God to support your ministry. This brings the greatest number of people into the circle of blessing. Matthew 10:41 “He who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward.” God wants to bless as many people as possible in every Kingdom action.

STEP FOUR: SOCIAL MEDIA
Maximize your social media presence via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.

SUPPORT LETTER SAMPLE

  • The Support Letter Sample is provided as a guideline only. You should not quote it word for word.
  • You can copy the trip description text from your Managed Missions Public Profile Page to include in your letter.
  • Use spellcheck! Proofread your letter before printing.
  • Sign each letter personally, using a different colored ink so it is obvious you have hand signed the letter.


SUPPORT LETTER SAMPLE:

Dear Friends,

I hope this letter finds you in good health and enjoying all God’s blessings. I thank God for each one of you and the interest you have had in my life. Because of this, I am excited to share my present opportunity with you. Recently God has opened a door of ministry for me to take part in a Global Reach Mission team through Church of the King.

I have been placed on the Argentina Team which is scheduled for April 3 – 21, 2012. My team will spend time training together where we will go through intensive preparations for ministry. At training we will learn important skills that will help us to minister to nationals and live together as a unified team. By April 3 our training will be complete and my team will fly out of New Orleans. We will be helping the missionaries with their daily work as well as running several special projects and events. We might find ourselves conducting open air meetings, distributing literature, leading Bible studies, teaching English classes, working in children’s ministries or doing work projects. Whatever we do, I am certain that God will use us to further His kingdom.

First, I will need prayer support. I need to have at least 10 prayer partners, people who will pray for me every day that I’m in ministry. This form of help is vitally necessary to the success of the team. So please consider committing to be one of my prayer partners. Also, I will need your help financially. The total cost of the mission trip is $2,400.00. You can help through one time gifts or through monthly gifts over the next three months.

If you feel God is calling you to be a part of this ministry by contributing financially please use one of the following options:

  1. Give online at ReachOurWorld.org. Select Argentina, then Give/Donate. You will then be able to log in to a secure web site to make an online donation towards my trip. If you have any questions during the process of online payments, you can contact the Global Reach Department at 985-292-3152 for assistance.
  2. Make a check payable to Church of the King and attach a note to the check with my name on it. Please write “Missions Trip” in the memo but please do not write my name on the check. I have enclosed an addressed, stamped envelope for your convenience. The deadline when all of my support has to be in is March 14. Thanks again for the interest that you have shown in my life. You have been a great encouragement. I look forward to sharing with you all that God accomplishes this summer. Please call or email me if you would like to talk about this opportunity.

God Bless,

[Your Signature]

Your name & contact info
(phone, email, Facebook name)