Whether you are fundraising for your church, your missions organization, or for yourself as a missionary; fundraising can be one of the most challenging aspects of any non-profit ministry. Many missionaries don't make it past fundraising, and many others leave the field because of it. Regardless of how you feel about raising your own funds, unless you're a highly successful tent maker, it's going to be a necessary part of your ministry.
While many people dread hearing the words, there are actually some tangible benefits from fundraising (or deputation, as some call it.) Here are just a few of the benefits of raising your own funds:
So, without further ado, let's dig into some of the various fundraising resources available. As usual, we'll provide a list of books and videos, articles, web links, and organizations. Before leaving, be sure to share your fundraising ideas, questions, concerns, frustrations, and advice in our discussion forum. God bless, and God speed!
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This article looks at the pros and cons of a yard sale fundraiser and how to maximize your efforts.
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This article will help you develop a 12 step support strategy for fundraising as well as introduce you to some key fundraising resources.
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by Joshua Jones
This toolbox has everything a new short-term mission team leader could need to get started. This is not another how-to book; this is a CD full of printable and editable documents that you'll use with your team. Team member applications, meeting guides, stock photos, the whole nine yards!
Published by Emercy (November 2005)
Buy at Amazon.com
by Dave Ramsey, Sharon Ramsey
Dave Ramsey is a Christian financial counselor with a nationally syndicated radio program. This is an excellent resource for learning to manage your families finances.
Published by Viking Press (December 2002)
Buy at Amazon.com
by Betty J. Barnett
Betty Barnett has performed a siginficant service for all "faith missions". This is a valuable tool for every-one preparing to build a missionary support team"....
Published by YWAM Pub (January 2002)
Buy at Amazon.com
by Scott Morton
Using a fun, comprehensive approach, Funding Your Ministry Whether You’re Gifted or Not addresses the obstacles faced by anyone in ministry who raises personal support.
Published by Dawson Media (July 1, 1999)
Buy at Amazon.com
by P. Burke Keegan
From amazon.com: "A guide that shows nonprofit organizations how to raise funds more effectively by working with their communities."
Published by HarperResource (April 13, 1994)
Buy at Amazon.com
by Peter T. Somer
Getting Sent is a clearly written, practical guide to raising financial support for ministry. It demystifies the deputation process, debunks myths about why people give and presents a step-by-step plan for building and maintaining a long-term support team.
Published by Intervarsity Press (October 1999)
Buy at Amazon.com
by Kennon L. Callahan
From Christianbook.com: "Here's the complete guide to setting and achieving the financial goals of your church. Exploring the principles, possibilities, and motivations for giving, Callahan's step-by-step manual will help ministers and lay leaders advance the mission of the church through well-planned budgeting and fundraising. Must-reading for pastors, church treasurers, and finance boards! 132 pages, hardcover from Jossey-Bass."
Published by Jossey-Bass (August 1, 1997)
Buy at Amazon.com
by Thomas H. Jeavons and Rebekah Burch Basinger
A truly spiritual way of looking at fundraising as an opportunity to nurture current and prospective donors and facilitate their growth in faith. Growing Givers' Hearts explores how development staff, executives, and board members from across the theological spectrum can make faith-building opportunities for donors their first priority; act on their confidence in God's abundance; draw from their theological tradition in their approach to fundraising; involve a vital cross-section of staff in planning; and cultivate spiritually mature leadership.
Published by Jossey-Bass (March 2000)
Buy at Amazon.com
by William Dillon
I have talked with William on multiple occassions. He is definitely knowledgable about fundraising and I highly recommend this book. EmercyCARD holders are elligible for discounts when going through the EmercyCARD website.
Published by Moody Publishers (August 1993)
Buy at Amazon.com
by Intuit
This is a great software program for financial management.
Published by Intuit (2005)
Buy at Amazon.com
by Dorsey E. Levell and Wayne E. Groner
Shows staff and volunteers how to integrate stewardship education and fundraising activities into congregational life all year long and year after year. Gives step-by-step details to turn fundraising from a mystery into a ministry. Dorsey Levell served for 31 years as founding executive director of the Council of Churches of the Ozarks. Wayne Groner was a senior-level college fundraising executive for 27 years including nine years as a vice president for development.
Published by Bonus Books (1999)
Buy at Amazon.com
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Website: home.snu.edu/~hculbert.fs/sample.htm
This is a sample support letter for an Asian prayer journey.
Website: www.abcfundraising.com/
They offer fundraising programs such as discount cards.
Website: http://chalkline.org
Chalk Line offers a complete prayer letter service for missionaries, churches or ministries that need to keep in touch with their ministry partners.
Telephone: 1-800-463-6382
Website: www.covchurch.org
Covenant Mission Connection is a service available to local Covenant churches to assist in planning for and preparing work teams sent to locations in the U.S. and abroad (usually for 1-2 weeks)
Website: www.donormanager.com
This software tool is designed for missionaries to use the power of a personal pc running windows to enable better management of their supporters, support and communications.
Website: www.dpimagine.com
DPI offers professional quality prayer cards at ministry budget prices. They custom design Photo Cards, Magnetic Cards, Post Cards, Bookmarks, and Business Cards. Online designing and ordering is available, as well as samples, prices and contact information.
Telephone: 612-670-9714
Website: www.ecfa.org/
ECFA is an organization that provides financial accountability for religious organizations and ministries.
Telephone: 800-323-9473
Website: findmissionaries.org
A resource for busy Christians, where they can connect with U.S. missionaries and view their profiles by criteria and offer support. FindMissionaries.org is a sister site of MinistryHome.org.
Telephone: 206-883-8257
Website: http://www.thejourneydeepens.com/aamtopic.asp?tid=1
Multiple answers from various missionaries to questions such as:
- What perspective should I take towards support-raising?
- How do I raise support?
- How do I handle my debts and still go into missions
- How can I minimize debt while in school?
- Is there any way other than begging for support?
- How much money should a missionary raise and how long does that take?
Telephone: 918.493.7818
Website: www.ghm.org/resources/youth.htm
This site has a good list of fundraiser ideas.
Website: globalmission.org/infobase/public/ask/askview.cgi?tid=1
This site offers some fundraising tips that are worth a look.
Website: http://www.guide-to-funding-ministry.net
This site helps staff and volunteers better fund their ministries, and helps members and friends become better donor-stewards.
Telephone: 417-883-4532
Website: https://www.ikobo.com/ref.cgi?r=JJ938589US
They claim to be "The Fastest Growing Money Transfer Company." where you can " Send money online and Receive money from over 800,000 ATMs in 170 countries."
Telephone: US:1-866-800-4562 International: 1-678-483-4562
Website: http://www.interconnectednessunlimited.com
This charity-focused site offers links to click-to-donate sites of various charities such as the Hunger Site, allowing users to simply click on a link, see a sponsor's ad, and generate a donation for the charity or cause listed. Donations are paid for by each site's sponsors.
Website: www.MinistryHome.org
MinistryHome.org provides website hosting for missionaries, pastors, and other ministry workers. They offer many different features and tools, like a live journal, photo albums, prayer requests, and a contribution page, all geared specifically for missionaries and other workers.
Website: http://mission-world.com
Missionaries can register on this (free) website, to be in a resource that helps find people for themselves to support. If your profile is on the website, supporters can find the people they want to support. It's great resource for people wanting to support a team, that don't know anyone in the missions ministry.
Telephone: 206-883-8257
Website: www.missionaryprayercard.com
This site is offering missionaries high quality prayer cards and bible markers. Use these cards to help raise financial support for your family.
Telephone: 727-448-0434
Website: www.missionaryprayercard.com
They provide great service and pricing for missionary prayer cards, business cards and bible markers. Give this product code mr506 for a $20 additional discount of your order thanks to your viewing on this site.
Telephone: 727-448-0434
Website: www.missionfinder.org
Missionfinder.org has great if you don't know where you want to go or what you want to do in the missions field.
Website: www.oanda.com/
This site has a wide variety of tools and articles on currency conversion. Find up-to-date currency conversions and tables.
Website: https://www.paypal.com/us/mrb/pal=9SKV3KTVVTR84
Paypal is an online service for sending and receiving money. An excellent tool to add to your website for receiving donations. They also offer a subscription feature for recurring payments.
Website: www.peopleraising.com
People Raising offers a wide variety of fundraising seminars and courses, including videos, tapes, and worksheets.
Telephone: 877-611-PEOPLE
Website: http://www.sendthemforhim.com
Your supporters do their regular online shopping with over 300 major US retailers and your ministry will receive cash donations for purchases.
Telephone: 770-617-4931
Website: www.shorttermmissions.com
Shorttermmissions.com is a central place for people to learn about, interact on, and discover short-term mission trips.
Website: www.freewebs.com/soulwinning
giving unto evangelism in the remote ares of the world starting from Africa.
Telephone: +2348029573522000
Website: www.cmalliance.org
The Christian and Missionary Alliance (C&MA) is an evangelical denomination with a major emphasis on world evangelization.
Website: home.snu.edu/~hculbert.fs/support.htm
Some strategy outlines for support raising that are worth a look.
Website: www.wowfundraising.com/?page=index
This organization has a good variety of fundraiser packages to choose from.
Have a missions related question? Ask it here in the discussion forums and our volunteer staff will be glad to help you find an answer.