Fund Raising Pointers/Truths...
Here are a few free pointers for those of us that find ourselves involved in missionary fund raising...
WAIT - IMPORTANT NOTE: Before I begin, to those who have given generously and sacrificially to us, we thank you! Your sacrifice sustains us. Your generous giving is grace to us. We are at a loss for words to say thank you.
Back to fund raising... Let me be very honest. I am NO EXPERT. I constantly feel like I have no idea what I'm doing. As we enter into these things together, I want to share the following pointers that I've found to be helpful to revisit time and time again.
Be Authentic - There is no amount of manipulation that is healthy or helpful.
Trust God - It isn't about you. Don't get discouraged, seriously, God is at work in you and through you in this process.
Be Truthful - Never deceive. Never hide.
Dream Big - Don't underestimate what God is going to do.
Embrace Overhead - Many want to shy away from talking about it. It's a reality of life so embrace it and be honest about it.
Entitlement Warning - NEVER, and I mean NEVER think you deserve anything. The more success "you" have, the more you will need to resist this entitlement attitude. The more you sacrifice, the more you start thinking you are owed. This is disgusting and we see it all too often. Fight this with everything that you have. You deserve nothing. God deserves everything.
Be Faithful - It takes really hard work. God can choose to drop things in your lap sure with no work on your part, but personally I've found that isn't the norm. Don't just sit back and wait. God calls us to be involved in the process. At the same time, don't ever think your hard work will produce anything outside of his blessing either. Be aggressive. Set hard goals. Don't get lazy.
Be Creative - There are SO MANY ways to raise funds. Google it. Consider doing things differently. Yet, it's important to remember, no amount of cute pretty wrapping paper can manufacture anything. As an example, a pretty blog is simply a helpful tool, but you can't expect good design to produce magic on it's own.
Ask - Many want to shy away from actually asking. I think asking is part of being faithful to the task that God has given you. Many want to share the need, but never actually ask. We must surely be sensitive in our ask and season our ask with humility and grace, but I have found it to be true that you usually don't receive when you do not ask.
Plan Well - Having a plan is a plan to have. Think strategically. Make lists. Set goals. Be organized. Don't stop executing the plan. Track and analyze your giving history. Tweak the plan when it's not working, but plan nonetheless.
Be Confident - Your confidence should grounded in God's omnipotence. If God has called you to this, he will supply your needs. Hard stop.
Say Thank You - Never get so wrapped up in yourself that you stop saying thank you.
Report Back - Tell stories. You must communicate. Help people gain the vision for what and why you are doing what you are doing. Help them understand why it's a worthy investment to invest in you and what you are doing.
Relationships - People give by relationship and justify by cause. Good luck if you are missing one or the other! You can do all you can to explain why they should give, but if they don't have a relationship with you, if they don't trust you, if they don't believe in you, if they don't respect you, if they don't know you, you have a very tall hill to climb. Of course, this means you must actually have character, be one who is trustworthy, believable, respectable, and knowable.
All to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine...
WAIT - IMPORTANT NOTE: Before I begin, to those who have given generously and sacrificially to us, we thank you! Your sacrifice sustains us. Your generous giving is grace to us. We are at a loss for words to say thank you.
Back to fund raising... Let me be very honest. I am NO EXPERT. I constantly feel like I have no idea what I'm doing. As we enter into these things together, I want to share the following pointers that I've found to be helpful to revisit time and time again.
Be Authentic - There is no amount of manipulation that is healthy or helpful.
Trust God - It isn't about you. Don't get discouraged, seriously, God is at work in you and through you in this process.
Be Truthful - Never deceive. Never hide.
Dream Big - Don't underestimate what God is going to do.
Embrace Overhead - Many want to shy away from talking about it. It's a reality of life so embrace it and be honest about it.
Entitlement Warning - NEVER, and I mean NEVER think you deserve anything. The more success "you" have, the more you will need to resist this entitlement attitude. The more you sacrifice, the more you start thinking you are owed. This is disgusting and we see it all too often. Fight this with everything that you have. You deserve nothing. God deserves everything.
Be Faithful - It takes really hard work. God can choose to drop things in your lap sure with no work on your part, but personally I've found that isn't the norm. Don't just sit back and wait. God calls us to be involved in the process. At the same time, don't ever think your hard work will produce anything outside of his blessing either. Be aggressive. Set hard goals. Don't get lazy.
Be Creative - There are SO MANY ways to raise funds. Google it. Consider doing things differently. Yet, it's important to remember, no amount of cute pretty wrapping paper can manufacture anything. As an example, a pretty blog is simply a helpful tool, but you can't expect good design to produce magic on it's own.
Ask - Many want to shy away from actually asking. I think asking is part of being faithful to the task that God has given you. Many want to share the need, but never actually ask. We must surely be sensitive in our ask and season our ask with humility and grace, but I have found it to be true that you usually don't receive when you do not ask.
Plan Well - Having a plan is a plan to have. Think strategically. Make lists. Set goals. Be organized. Don't stop executing the plan. Track and analyze your giving history. Tweak the plan when it's not working, but plan nonetheless.
Be Confident - Your confidence should grounded in God's omnipotence. If God has called you to this, he will supply your needs. Hard stop.
Say Thank You - Never get so wrapped up in yourself that you stop saying thank you.
Report Back - Tell stories. You must communicate. Help people gain the vision for what and why you are doing what you are doing. Help them understand why it's a worthy investment to invest in you and what you are doing.
Relationships - People give by relationship and justify by cause. Good luck if you are missing one or the other! You can do all you can to explain why they should give, but if they don't have a relationship with you, if they don't trust you, if they don't believe in you, if they don't respect you, if they don't know you, you have a very tall hill to climb. Of course, this means you must actually have character, be one who is trustworthy, believable, respectable, and knowable.
All to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine...
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