Fundraising.

[Justine]

I'm working towards going on a 5 month missions trip with YWAM later this year and have just begun the first steps towards raising support. I wrote a letter to friends and family and will be sending that out soon. What are some other ways of raising support? My church does not provide support for individual short-term through programs like ywam, so that is not an option. If anyone has any ideas I would appreciate it! And most of all, any prayers would be wonderful.
God bless~

[Pawl]

Let me strongly suggest that you meet with many of the people who are local FACE-TO-FACE. Explain the ministry and give them the opportunity to give. Suggest an amount, somthing such as "If 10 people give $100 then I'll be at full support," or whatever amount it is.

It is usually much easier to raise money for short-term endeavors than long-term.

You may want to reword your letter to the local people so that they anticipate a phone call to schedule coffee (you pay) or whatever to introduce them to your short-term service with YWAM. Regardless of whether they are local or not, FOLLOW-UP! Call or email reminding them to make a decision a couple weeks after your mailing has been received.

Relationships are key. People will not expect but will appreciate being asked face-to-face.

And I just want to encourage you for making a 5 month committment! That is more than most are willing to make. Can I ask if this is something you are doing to look into long-term service?

[david]

Here are the best webpages I've found which are full of ideas for raising funds for mission trips, especially for youth groups!

http://home.snu.edu/~hculbert.fs/short.htm
http://home.snu.edu/~hculbert.fs/funds.htm
http://home.snu.edu/~hculbert.fs/support.htm
http://home.snu.edu/~hculbert.fs/funds2.htm

http://www.fundraiserhelp.com/ lots of great resources and ideas!
http://www.peopleraising.com/

Search for fundraising links at www.youthspecialties.com also, specifically, a forum discussing fundraising ideas: YS Forum

[Kevin Paszalek]

I compiled list of several pages worth of fundraising ideas working with Brigada a year or so ago. You can download it from my new site, MissionTripTools.com on this page:
http://www.missiontriptools.com/page2.html
Cordially,
Kevin Paszalek

[Jennifer Du Bois]

I raised 2500 this summer to go to Russia. Here's what I did. First of all I wrote many people the support letters but I also had a garage sale with all the money going towards the trip. In our town we have a Luby's and our group asked the Luby's if we took people's trays that night to their tables for them then could we keep the tips. They do this sort of thing all the time and we did it and earned a couple hundred. Then we also had a dinner where we set up our church like a restaurant and invited people to come to the "dinner". We served them and kept all the tips for our trip. You have to get real creative....car wash, bake sale, sit outside of a store with a jar asking for support. In Wisconsin the popular thing to do with organizations is ask a grocery store to use their parking lot and then cook brats in the parking lot and sell them to the hungry customers as they grocery shop. Hey it makes money!

[madison]

[color=darkred]im going on a china trip in 7 months and have not a dime to my name i was wondering if anyone had any good ideas on how a teenager can earn money thorugh fundraising

madison b[/b]