How to Get Start-up Capital for My Ministry

Ministries often include an outreach component that involves providing assistance to those in need.

If you are starting a ministry in your area, you may be faced with the difficulty of finding funding or start-up capital to help get your ministry up and running. Whether you need funding for operating costs, staffing, supplies, travel or other expenses, there are a number of avenues to find start-up capital, including private donations and support from foundations. Costs for operating should be examined closely prior to establishing your ministry so that you may establish a means of support.

Instructions

Creating a Budget

1. Outline what you want to provide through your ministry, such as food, support for the homeless through clothing or shelter, reading material like Bibles, books for children or other supplies. This outline should be kept to help you create your ministry budget.

2. Create a budget for your ministry by including the costs of salaries, benefits, operating expenses, property and equipment like utilities or rent, insurance and supplies.

3. Determine what support you might receive through volunteers. Outline how many hours volunteers may work per week and include what tasks they might complete while volunteering.

4. Include what in-kind support you may receive, such as donated space, supplies or other items. Make sure you include this in your budget.

Private Donors

1. Select individuals to approach for funding, such as those who already donate to local churches or those on your mailing list. You may consider basing your decision on their donation history to other organizations in your area.

2. Write a letter to request financial support to the potential donor. Introduce yourself, explaining what programs you want to implement with your ministry and what your ministry hopes to achieve by offering such programs. Discuss the project that you need funding for and detail your specific needs and how funds will be used.

3. Discuss what you have accomplished thus far in your ministry, if you have recently started operations. If you have not started your operations, explain what you hope to achieve and give a goal date.

4. Close the letter by requesting a specific amount of financial support from the prospective donor. Thank the donor for considering your request for financial support.

5. Send the donor your request by mail by printing it on your ministry's letterhead and using appropriate postage. Avoid sending brochures unless they were requested by the potential donor.

Foundation Support

1. Conduct a funding search to find potential foundations that will support your ministry. Choose the type of support you need, either capital or start-up costs.

2. Create a cover letter to outline the operating costs of your ministry, your ministry's contact information, tax identification number if you have one, and any other applicable information.

3. Prepare a proposal that describes the mission and goals of your ministry. Include a statement about the programs that you want to start, what you have accomplished thus far, and describe who started the ministry and why it was started.

4. Discuss the programs that you want to implement, including your target population, what you will offer, and what you hope to achieve. Explain the rationale for needing the specific program which you are discussing, such as the rising rate of homelessness in your area, the number of unemployed, statistics regarding single mothers, etc. Discuss what impediments you currently face to complete your programs.

5. Outline the goals and objectives and describe specifically what you hope to achieve and when you hope to achieve it by. Make sure that each goal and objective directly relates to the program or operation of your ministry.

6. Outline how you plan to evaluate your programs and your ministry, such as ongoing evaluations by participants, tracking the number of recipients, how many the ministry will serve and other aspects of your programs.

7. Invite the foundation to fund your ministry. Submit the request for funding by submitting it online through the foundation's website or via mail. Prior to submitting your request, you will need to determine if the deadline is a postmark deadline, meaning that you need to submit your request by the date mentioned. Include the budget that you've outlined in Section 1 if requested.

Tips & Warnings

• Some fund providers may have their own proposal or outline that they require to be completed.

References

• Management Help; Finance
• Foundation Center: Proposal Writing Basics
• Foundation Center: FAQ

Resources

• Inc.com's Start-up Guide: How to Raise Start-Up Capital
• Leading a Movement: Funding your Ministry