FUNDRAISING TRAINING | GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT

COMPLETE THIS FORM AT THE END OF THE TRAINING

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Upon completion of this training, the Global Engagement Participant will:

  • Gain an understanding of the Biblical Foundation of fundraising for ministry-related programs

  • Engage with different elements of a strong fundraising letter and learn how to invite people to be apart of their support team

  • Learn the Global Engagement fundraising process and deadlines

  • Write their own fundraising letter for their MobileCause Profile

OVERVIEW

In this training, you will spend time exploring the biblical foundations of fundraising as they relate to Global Engagement trips through the Center for Student Action. We are called to be a part of short-term serve and believe that it can deeply change us. By participating in a Global Engagement trip, students are beginning to see themselves as active participants in the Global Church. We believe that an integral part of this experience is the fundraising process, as it is one of the main ways the Lord showcases His faithfulness to participants. By the end of this training, you will understand both the why of fundraising and how to fundraise through Azusa Pacific University for your trip.

BIBLICAL FOUNDATION OF FUNDRAISING

Fundraising has been around for centuries, and is a critical way the mission and vision of God is completed throughout the earth. Because of the hesitation and fear associated with fundraising, it is necessary for us to look at biblical examples that set a precedent for what you’re being asked to do as a part of your Global Engagement Team experience.

Through examining these stories, you will see that fundraising:

  • Allows people to join in the work that the Lord is doing, and

  • Points back to God and his Glory on this earth.

WATCH VIDEO - The Power of Fundraising

FUNDRAISING is seen several times throughout the Bible. We are going to take a deeper look into the story of King David raising funds for the Lord’s temple to be built. 

“1 Chronicles 29: 29:1 King David said to the entire assembly: “My son Solomon, the one whom God has chosen, is just an inexperienced young man, and the task is great, for this palace is not for man, but for the Lord God. 29:2 So I have made every effort to provide what is needed for the temple of my God, including the gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, as well as a large amount of onyx, settings of antimony and other stones, all kinds of precious stones, and alabaster. 29:3 Now, to show my commitment to the temple of my God, I donate my personal treasure of gold and silver to the temple of my God, in addition to all that I have already supplied for this holy temple. 29:4 This includes three thousand units of gold from Ophir and seven thousand units of refined silver for overlaying the walls of the buildings, 29:5 for gold and silver items, and for all the work of the craftsmen. Who else wants to contribute to the Lord today?” 29:6 The leaders of the families, the leaders of the Israelite tribes, the commanders of units of a thousand and a hundred, and the supervisors of the king’s work contributed willingly. 29:7 They donated for the service of God’s temple five thousand units and ten thousand darics of gold, ten thousand units of silver, eighteen thousand units of bronze, and one hundred thousand units of iron. 29:8 All who possessed precious stones donated them to the treasury of the Lord’s temple, which was under the supervision of Jehiel the Gershonite. 29:9 The people were delighted with their donations, for they contributed to the Lord with a willing attitude; King David was also very happy. 29:10 David praised the Lord before the entire assembly: “O Lord God of our father Israel, you deserve praise forevermore! 29:11 O Lord, you are great, mighty, majestic, magnificent, glorious, and sovereign over all the sky and earth! You have dominion and exalt yourself as the ruler of all. 29:12 You are the source of wealth and honor; you rule over all. You possess strength and might to magnify and give strength to all. 29:13 Now, our God, we give thanks to you and praise your majestic name.”

 This passage reflects how David was aware that the task of building the temple could not be done without God’s provision. When God sends us locally or globally, we go to be His hands and feet to serve the people we interact with. Financially, we cannot go without God’s provision. If He is the one sending us, surely he will provide as He did with David and the temple. David knows he’s dependent on God for all he has. The leaders don’t give to David or the temple, they gave “delighted with their donations” and “contributed to the Lord with a willing attitude” (2 Chron 29:9). As you dive into the journey of fundraising individually and as a team, remember the abundant provision of God and what a privilege it is to partner alongside Him. When you ask supporters for donations, ask with a cheerful heart knowing that they are partnering with God in His story of sending you and your team to serve.

REFLECTION

For each question, write a thoughtful and thorough response (you will need to record your responses in the survey at the end of this training):

  1. What fears or hesitations do you have regarding fundraising?

  2. Why are you going on this trip?

  3. What do we learn about God from scripture regarding fundraising? How does that apply to you now?

WHAT MAKES A SUPPORT LETTER

A fundraising letter is a helpful tool that can be used to ask for donations. These letters allow you to connect with your donors while you present your message for going on the trip. Asking people to donate to your trip can be an intimidating thing to do, but you would be surprised how many people are willing to support you in your journey. 

Attachment: Sample Support Letter

KEY COMPONENTS OF A SUPPORT LETTER

Key Components to a Fundraising Letter:

  • Open up your letter with a short greeting and a brief update about where you are in life (year in school, what you’re studying, how you are doing, etc.). Be sure to address them directly in your letter - the more personal you are with your potential donors, the better. 

  • Then, transition into the trip and why you are going on that trip. Keep it short but detailed. Give details such as dates, location (if you safely can), and what you’ll be doing on the trip. You might also want to include background on the specific organization that your trip is linked with. 

  • Next, invite your donors to financially partner with you. Present your goal in a direct yet humble manner. Explain the different ways in which they can make their contribution, such as through mobile cause (APU’s online giving portal), a check, cash, or coming into the office. It’s important that they know how easy it is to contribute to your trip. 

  • When writing a letter, not only do you want to communicate your financial needs, but also any spiritual and logistical needs they can help with. Invite them to be praying for you and your team, the place you’re going, and the people you’re going to meet. An example of a logistical need would be any physical donations your team may be accepting such as kids toys or clothing. It’s important that donors are aware of all the ways that you may need support so that they can pray about which way to partner with you. 

  • Finally you want to thank them for taking the time to read your letter and making any contributions both financially and in prayer. 

  • When you sign off, be sure to give them contact information so that they can keep up with you regarding your trip. 

  • Once you return from your trip, it’s important to send your donors an update on how the trip went - be sure to do this. If they hadn’t donated, you may not have been able to go. Their investment in you and in the Lord’s work matters.

ACTIVITY

Write your own support letter and …

  • Take some time to write out your support letter. Remember to include the key components:

    • Greeting and life update

    • Overview of trip: location, cost, dates, and what you’re doing

    • Invitation to support

    • Ways to give

HOW TO FUNDRAISE THROUGH MOBILE CAUSE

MobileCause is an online fundraising software that APU utilizes for all of their online donations. By becoming a fundraiser on MobileCause, participants will be able to create a personalized fundraising page that will include a profile picture, goal amount, and a letter to their supporters. Their fundraising page will have a specific link that is easily integrated with all social media platforms and can be sent to their supporters directly.

APU FUNDRAISING 101

Donations vs. Payments

  • Donations are from a supporter towards an individual or team. All donations are tax-deductible, meaning that donors do not need to pay taxes on this money. APU is a non-profit organization, which allows for donations to have an IRS write off, which most donors would like.

  • Payments are from the participant themself paying towards their individual balance. 

  • How are Funds Received:

    • Donations and payments can be made by cash, card, or checks payable to “AZUSA PACIFIC UNIVERSITY”

      • Note: checks cannot have a student's name on them - the university will be unable to process them. 

    • Payments and donations can also be made online here: https://www.centerforstudentaction.org/payments-donations 

    • Donations are processed by the University Advancement Office. Payments are processed through the CSA office. 

    • If someone wants to donate physically (not online), they will need to fill out an APU Support Card. These cards are available in our office for you to give to donors. Below is an example of what they look like:

Every MobileCause profile must consist of:

  • Your Name

  • Email

  • Phone Number

  • Fundraising Goal

  • Team

  • Appropriate Profile Picture

  • Support Letter

When you click onto your “sign up to be a fundraiser” link, it will take you to a page that looks like this:

Once you fill in the required fields, click “Sign me up!” From there, you’ll be taken to the page to build your profile. It will look like this:

Here, you will upload your photo, input your fundraising goal (these can be found on the CSA website if you look at your trip cost), and input your support letter that you wrote earlier in this module. Then, you’ll click “Save” at the bottom of the page. It will then direct you to your “pending” page, which looks like this:

From here, you must click “Submit for Review” at the top of your page. Then, our staff will review your page before making it live. Once your page is live, you’ll receive an email from MobileCause with your personalized link - you’ll be able to begin using that link to fundraise for your trip!

FINAL ACTIVITY

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COMPLETE THIS FORM AT THE END OF THE TRAINING