How to Fund Mission Trips

When individuals go on short or long-term mission trips, they often need to raise money to pay for their travel to the location, along with food, transportation and lodging while on the trip. If you are planning to go on a trip soon, the organization you will travel with should have provided you with an amount of money you need to raise to cover the costs of the mission trip. Start fundraising early so you have as much time as possible to try different approaches to funding your mission trip.

Things You'll Need

• Printer
• Paper
• Envelopes
• Stamps
• Thank you cards

Instructions

Ask for Donations

1. Talk with the pastor of your church about the process of receiving money from the church's mission fund. Many churches will provide part of the support for a member of the congregation who is going on a mission trip. The church may allow you to talk about your trip during the service and have congregation members give a special offering to help fund your trip.

2. Write a fundraising letter to send to your friends and family members. The letter should include information about the area of the world you will be visiting, the projects you will work on during your trip and your financial need.

3. Include information in your letter about how people should send money. In most cases, the check needs to be written out to the organization with which you are traveling for it to be tax-deductible for the donor.

4. Find a photograph of the area you will be visiting on your trip and include it in the letter. The mission organization might have photographs from previous trips to the area that you could use.

5. Print copies of your donation letter and send them to friends and family members.

6. Send a thank you card to everyone who makes a donation.

Hold an Event

1. Talk with other people who are going on the mission trip about holding a fundraising event together.

2. Select something to sell. For example, you may decide to sell tickets for a fundraising dinner at which you serve food inspired by the area to which you will be traveling on the mission trip.

3. Arrange a time and place to hold the event. Churches are often willing to host fundraising events.

4. Gather supplies for your event. If you are hosting a dinner, you will need to set up tables and chairs, purchase and prepare food and beverages, and have plates, utensils, napkins and cups for the guests.

5. Advertise the event through local churches and to family, friends and neighbors.

6. Hold the event and have a box for additional donations where people can make donations in addition to the ticket price.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are hosting a fundraising event, keep track of any money you spend on supplies for the event. Make sure you receive reimbursement for these supplies before dividing the proceeds between the people involved in holding the fundraiser with you.

References

• Simple Fundraising Ideas: Fundraising for Mission Trips - How to Raise Funds for your Short or Long Term Project
• Southern Nazarene University: Fund Raisers for Short-Term Trips