The last time I tried to fund raise, I was trying to go on a trip with a travelling sports camp. We were going to go from church to church using sports to tell kids about Jesus. I needed to raise $1500. We were going to spend a few weeks in the US, then a few weeks abroad, then a few more weeks in the US. When they did a sports camp at my church, it was so fun. I was really looking forward to it.
I sent out letters to all my relatives and neighbors and everyone I knew telling them about this exciting opportunity. In the end, I raised $100...from my parents, which I told them to keep since no one else was going to support me. I called the company and told them I didn't raise any money. Thankfully, they still let me do the sports camps locally, but I wasn't allowed to go abroad.
This is my experience with fund raising. My current fund raising adventures are going a little better, but not a lot. I have lots of prayer support, but not a lot of financial support. So, for all those prayer supporters out there, please keep praying. :) I need it!
maybe you need to send your letter to more people? i think you didn't even send it to me at first!! =)
ReplyDeletealso, you could ask to visit people and share with them about romania. you could offer to meet with people and share with them if they are interested, and then also share your need for financial support too.
anyway, just some suggestions. i haven't fundraised much myself, but my parents have, and i know it's hard! but i think it helps people a lot to hear directly from you. send the letter to people you even think might not be interested. you can send it by email as well as regular mail too, even to people you already sent it to, and mention how much support you still need.
I detest fundraising. Yup, I used the "D" word there. I wish I knew some wealthy bored widows you could seduce locally - I'm sure there are tons of them around.
ReplyDeleteThe biggest thing about fundraising is that it's actually sales. You have to sell yourself to people - "heart string tugging" doesn't work very well for this work since you are competing with literally millions of charities and other various "good causes" who also need/want peoples hard earned money.
ReplyDeleteYou have to have a pitch, and that's not only easy to come up with, it's difficult to sell. You have to get people as excited about your work as you are so that they want to be a part of it. This is easy for people like your parents and friends who know you, but much harder on strangers or vague acquaintances.
Remember the things you learned in Gabi's seminar, follow the letters up with phone calls, people can forget about letters, but they can't forget when you are calling people! :) Also get a list of people that you know and start praying for them individually not just for the support but for them personally! We want you back soon too!
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