Fundraising Effectively
Groups can raise funds for a mission trip in any number of ways, from holding car washes or sponsored footraces to selling coffee and doughnuts or hosting church spaghetti dinners. One thing is constant, though: The bigger the expenses, the earlier that teams need to start the fundraising effort.
Raising money can begin up to a year in advance. In the end, fruitful fundraising boils down to relationships. Facebook and the Internet can help build awareness but shouldn’t take the place of personal interaction. The best sponsors are those that team members know personally.
“The key to successful fundraising is to help people understand the team’s goals and draw them in as shared participants in the ministry,” said Bosworth. “At the end of the day, people give to someone because they believe in that person and their cause.”
Many group leaders find that fundraising comes most easily when they are able to effectively share the vision and purpose of the trip with others. It’s often beneficial to involve church leadership or people in the church or community who have a heart for missions. Written communication adds another level of credibility.
“We’ve found the most effective idea is to create a brochure or video about the destination with statistics and a personal story about someone living in that country,” said Homan. “When I share my heart about why I want to go, people understand the need and also the why behind the trip.”
Keys to Good Leadership
Flexibility, a teachable spirit and the ability to keep your wits about you in a crisis are crucial characteristics for team leaders. Preparation through prayer and Bible study can be crucial because sometimes groups have no idea how a culture’s shocking conditions will affect them spiritually, emotionally and physically.
“The enemy doesn’t want us to go. Leadership needs a mindset of prayer and that this trip is a foray into enemy territory,” said Smith. “We try to have a designated intercessor on each team conduct teachings on prayer and intercession.”
Bosworth recommends checking out Standard of Excellence in Short-Term Mission at www.soe.org. The site outlines seven standards of excellent short-term missions trips that were developed with the input of hundreds of missionaries and group leaders.
Good communication — written and verbal — ranks high on Homan’s list. She believes that leaders must spend time with the team praying together and facilitating ministry among team members. Leaders also need to have fun with their group.
“Above all, a leader needs to hear the Lord,” said Homan. “And they must be a servant-leader, not someone who just barks orders but the first one to serve and work hard.”
