funding for mission trips

HOW TO RAISE MONEY FOR YOUR MISSION TRIP

There are many ways to fundraise for your mission trip. Create a plan that outlines how much money you need to raise and the timeline in which you would like to do it. You may want to break down your fundraising efforts into short-term goals, such as hosting one large event or multiple smaller ones, and also long-term goals, such as setting up an online fundraising page.

Organize a bake sale, carwash, or other events that people can attend and contribute to your mission trip mission. Hosting a dinner party is another great way to involve family and friends in your mission trip fundraising efforts while having the chance to spend quality time with them.

Online fundraising is also a great way to raise money. Set up an online donation page that provides mission trip details and explains why the mission trip is important to you. Share the link with family and friends so they can donate directly or share it on their social media accounts.

In addition, consider reaching out to your community for mission trip donations. Local businesses, religious organizations, and alumni associations may be able to help with mission trip funding.

Finally, you can also ask family and friends for mission trip donations. Ask them directly, or create a mission trip donation letter that you can send to your contacts in the mail or via email. Don’t forget to thank everyone who donates—their kind contributions go a long way!

LIST OF MISSION TRIP FUNDRAISERS

Here is a quick list of our favorite ways to raise money for your mission trip:

Host a bake sale, car wash, or other events
Hold a dinner party
Set up an online donation page
Reach out to your local community for mission trip donations
Ask family and friends for mission trip donations.
Send mission trip donation letters.
Thank everyone who donates.

The mission trip of a lifetime is within your reach! With careful planning and effective fundraising, you’re sure to have an incredible experience that will stay with you for years. Blessings on your mission trip journey!

What is a bake sale fundraiser?

A bake sale fundraiser is an event where people sell homemade baked goods like cookies, cupcakes, breads, and other treats to raise money for a mission trip. These events are usually held at schools, churches, or community centers. People usually charge a small fee per item so that they can recoup their costs and make some profit to go toward mission trip costs. Bake sales can also be held online, where people can purchase items from an online store or auction and have them shipped directly to their home. This is a great way to raise funds for mission trips without needing to organize a physical event.

What is a carwash fundraiser?

A carwash fundraiser is an event where people come to have their vehicles washed and detailed by volunteers. In exchange for the service, participants make a donation that supports mission trips. This type of fundraiser is best organized in areas with frequent vehicle traffic so that there are enough customers to generate a good amount of money. Carwashes are usually held in parking lots or other large open spaces with access to water. It’s important to note that carwashes require a lot of planning and organization, so it’s best to start early in order to give yourself enough time to set up the event.

What is a dinner party fundraiser?

A dinner party fundraiser is an event where people come together to enjoy a meal in support of mission trips. People can either pay for their meals or make donations toward mission trip costs. These events are usually held at restaurants, homes, or community centers. Dinner parties provide an opportunity for mission trip supporters to get together and have fun while raising money for a mission trip. Plus, it’s a great way to get mission trip supporters involved and excited about the mission. Organizing a dinner party fundraiser requires a lot of planning, so it’s best to start early and make sure you have enough volunteers and resources for the event.

How to set up an online donation page:

Setting up an online donation page is a great way to reach mission trip supporters all over the world. You can use platforms like GoFundMe or Kickstarter to create a mission trip donation page and share it on social media. This will allow people from anywhere in the world to donate to your mission trip cause. It’s important to include a mission statement and mission trip details on your page so that people have a clear understanding of what their donations are going toward. You can also include photos and videos to give mission trip supporters a better idea of what’s happening on the mission trip.

What is an example of a mission trip donation letter?

A mission trip donation letter is a written request for donations that mission trip supporters can send to family, friends, and local businesses. Here’s an example of a mission trip donation letter:

Dear Friends and Family,

I am writing to ask for your support in helping me reach my mission trip goal. I am planning to go on a mission trip and need help raising money for the expenses. I plan to use the funds for travel, mission supplies, and personal costs. Any donation that you can make would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you so much for your support of my mission trip. Your generosity will help me achieve my mission trip goals and make a difference.

By sending mission trip donation letters to family, friends, and local businesses, mission trip supporters can reach out for help in raising money for their mission trips. It’s important to include mission details so that people understand what their donations are going toward. Additionally, mission trip supporters should be sure to thank donors for their support.

Raising money for mission trips can be a challenge, but it’s possible with the right strategy and resources. By using online donation pages, carwashes, dinner parties, and mission trip donation letters mission trip supporters can reach out to more people and raise more money for mission trips. Blessings and happy fundraising!

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Home / Equipping Churches / Next Generation Engagement / Next Generation Missional Engagement Fund

Next Generation Missional Engagement Fund

Scholarships for mission.

The Next Generation Missional Engagement Fund helps make it possible for children, youth, and young adults to engage in Christ’s kingdom mission around the world. The fund supports scholarships for groups and individuals serving on domestic or international mission trips. These trips engage volunteers in Christian service with a focus on spiritual transformation and long-term impact on the partner and community.

Who funds the scholarship?

This fund was created by generous contributions from the RCA Church Growth Fund (CGF). The CGF supports the work and witness of the RCA by making loans to churches, classes, and other agencies and affiliates so they can purchase, build, or improve the facilities used in their ministries. The CGF contributes a portion of its earnings to support new church plants and also to this scholarship fund. Donations also come from individual donors throughout the RCA.

Learn more about the CGF

Types of scholarships

Scholarships are available for individuals and church groups to serve through mission trips. Mission trips help to engage volunteers in Christian service with a focus on spiritual transformation and long-term impact on the partner and community. Mission experiences that accrue academic credit are not eligible for a scholarship.

Scholarship requirements and eligibility

Individual applicants.

Applicant must be age 25 or under.
Scholarship must be used for a mission trip. A mission trip should engage volunteers in Christian service with a focus on spiritual transformation and long-term impact on the partner and community.
Applicant must be a member or regular attendee at an RCA congregation.
One scholarship application per calendar year, per person.
A scholarship will cover up to 25 percent of the cost of a mission experience. The maximum scholarship for individuals is $1,500.

Group applicants

Recipients of scholarship funds must be age 25 and under. This can either mean that the whole mission group or some members of the group are age 25 and under. Funds should be used to offset costs for group members that fit this qualification.
The mission group must be from an RCA congregation.
One scholarship application per congregation, per calendar year.
A scholarship will cover up to 25 percent of the cost of a mission experience. The maximum scholarship for a group is $3,000.

Apply for a scholarship

Here are the current scholarship application deadlines. (We recommend that you apply two to three months before you plan to serve.) The scholarship selection team of RCA Short-Term Mission , Global Mission , and Next Generation Engagement staff will make decisions within three weeks following the application due date.

We acknowledge in this application that these are uncertain and tumultuous times in the life of the Reformed Church in America. Scholarships given are intended to have a long-term, positive impact on the RCA. We kindly ask that only those that are committed to the RCA and intend to stay in the RCA apply for a scholarship.

Scholarship applications can also be requested by emailing shortterm@rca.org .

“God provided so many opportunities for us to learn from, as well as to really encourage the students.” Hannah Flood served with Arts Camp in Israel/Palestine

“The trip made us brave to do things that are not always easy.” Olivia and Lucia Penzotti served on a mission trip in Guatemala

“We learned that spreading God’s love isn’t as complicated as we often make it out to be. Showing people respect, kindness, and mercy is really where it’s at.” First Reformed Pompton Plains served in Belize

You were chosen for a scholarship. Now what?

If you receive a scholarship, you will be expected to complete a report following your mission experience. The report includes opportunities for you to share stories about your experience, thank donors who contributed to the scholarship fund, and provide photos that can be used in the RCA’s annual report.

Donate to the scholarship fund

Short-term mission trips allow RCA young people to develop as leaders, form relationships with RCA missionaries and mission partners, serve as catalysts for change in their home communities, commit to lifelong missional living, and engage their faith community more deeply.

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Mission Travel Grant

A short-term mission trip is an exciting, engaging experience in which faith is put into action by partnering with brothers and sisters from different cultures and life experiences. For us, such travel represents a special kind of experience, one that can influence a participant for life! In order to assist as many groups as possible, and to ensure consistency of awards, the following guidelines have been developed for Mission Travel Grants:

For mission trips within the bounds of the USA, a range of $50-$100 per participant with a cap of $2,000 for any one trip.
For mission trips outside the USA, a range of $100-$350 per participant with a cap of $4,000 for any one trip.
To help congregations or individuals who may not otherwise have access to these opportunities, additional funding MAY be offered for mission trips open to multiple congregations.
Preference will be given to first-time applicants and applicants within presbyteries that have not been awarded a Mission Travel Grant during the past two years.

To download the Mission Travel Grant application, click here . (After downloading this application to your desktop, it should appear as a fillable form. After saving the form, it can be emailed to the Synod of the Trinity at [email protected] . )

Note: An entity may only apply for one Synod grant per year. Please choose carefully as you consider your application.

DEADLINES Feb. 1: Funding decisions will be made by March 1 May 1: Funding decisions will be made by June 1 Oct. 1 : Funding decisions will be made by Nov. 1

Helpful Hints

Check out this quick video that explains how to download and prepare your fillable grant form, including three detailed ways to create that electronic signature that will allow for faster interaction between congregations and presbyteries. Find the video tutorial here . (For a free version of Adobe Acrobat Reader to help you view the application, click here .)

SYNOD GRANTS IN ACTION

North Sewickley Church sees fruits of its labor at Ugandan school/orphanage

For two weeks in March, a 25-person group that included five members of North Sewickley Presbyterian Church in Ellwood City, PA, traveled to Uganda, East Africa, to continue working with the God’s Love and Care School, a Christian School/Orphanage. Read about the trip here .

Trip to Nepal changes lives here and there

A group of 15 members from Plains Presbyterian Church in Cranberry Township (Beaver-Butler Presbytery) traveled to the hills of Ilam, Nepal, for 10 days to experience the culture, connect with the community, support local missions and make new friends. Read about the group’s experiences here .

Presbytery of Philadelphia sends team to experience life at southern border

Five members of the Presbytery of Philadelphia’s Leadership Collegium traveled to El Paso, TX, to get a firsthand look at what is occurring at the southern border of the United States. Read about their experiences here .

First Church of Allentown digs deep during time in Honduras

Seven people from the First Presbyterian Church of Allentown, PA, traveled to Honduras to dig a well in a little village of 200 families. Even though they didn’t completely accomplish their goal, those who went were not disappointed. Find out why here .

Trip to Malawi deepens relational aspect of mission work for volunteers

The wife-and-husband team of the Rev. Dianne Kareha and the Rev. John Deisinger traveled with other participants from New Jersey to Malawi, Africa, in 2018. While there, their experience deepened their understanding that “love” and “covenant” are about being in relationship and partnership rather than just giving handouts. Read more about the trip here .

Work in Ugandan village leaves everyone feeling blessed

A team of 23 individuals, mostly from the western Pennsylvania area representing at least 10 different churches and several denominations, traveled along with Healthy Communities Unlimited to Uganda to love and serve at God’s Love and Care School as well as surrounding remote villages. Read about the experience here .

Workers from western PA congregations leave mark on Corpus Christi

A group that represented seven churches from western Pennsylvania traveled to Corpus Christi, TX, to participate in disaster assistance following the devastation caused by Hurricane Harvey, which destroyed large areas of Texas one year earlier. A recap of the trip can be viewed here .

Marion Center, PA, Church gives to Navajo Nation through preaching, teaching, working

Fifteen people, ages 8-78, from the Presbyterian Church of Marion (Marion Center, PA) ventured out of their various comfort zones to serve and minister at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Chinle, AZ, in an area that is better known as Navajo Nation. To read about their experiences, click here .

Church of the Mountain delivers medicine but gets more in return on trip to Cuba

In 1998, the Church of the Mountain in Delaware Water Gap, PA (Lehigh Presbytery) made its first mission trip to Cardenas, Cuba. While there, it quickly realized that all of the good it was doing didn’t compare to the relationships it was forming. Twenty years later, the church has now taken eight trips to the Latin American country. Find a recap of the latest trip here .

Presbytery of Lake Erie uses Synod grants to connect with brothers and sisters in Ghana

The Presbytery of Lake Erie engaged in an international mission partnership trip to Ghana, with 11 people representing the presbytery making the trip. It was a fruitful trip that will continue to help both presbyteries to build on this seven-year international partnership. It takes time to build trusting relationships, especially when people do not see one another regularly. Read more about the trip here .

Two from Lehigh Presbytery experience Romanian beliefs, culture

In June of 2017, Lehigh Presbytery commissioned Jim Ferlino and Jack Felch to continue its decades of partnership with the Hungarian Reformed Church of Romania via a journey to Romania. The purpose of the trip was to extend greetings of Christian fellowship to the Joint Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Romania and the two Districts of the Reformed Church in Romania. More details are available here .

Concord Church mission trip offers ‘different point of view’

In July of 2017, a group of a dozen worshipers from Concord Presbyterian Church in West Sunbury, PA, traveled to the community of Mabscott, WV, for a week of community service that centered around repairing houses. Read about their experience here .

Olivet Church youth repair homes during Philadelphia Project

This youth group from nearby Prospect Park, PA, spent a week doing home repair, running a kids camp and doing mercy ministries such as working with the homeless. For more information and to view a video, click here .

Columbia PC’s mission trip leaves lasting effect on ‘Dream Team’

On the surface, there aren’t a lot of similarities between the city of Los Angeles and the small community of Columbia, PA. But one thing the two have in common is homelessness, and the Rev. Dave Powers felt that by having a mission team make the trip west to see how the situation is handled on a large scale would be beneficial to his congregation. Read about the trip here .

9 Ways to Raise Money for Short-Term Mission Trips

In Scripture God is clear how he wants us to view finances (Luke 6:38, Luke 3:11, Matt 6:3-4, Prov 28:27). Jim Elliot, missionary to Ecuador and martyr for Christ said, “He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.”

British theologian and author, C.S. Lewis stated, “I do not believe one can settle how much we ought to give. I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare.”

And, Pastor Tim Keller proclaimed, “Nothing that you have not given away will really be yours.”

Reject Fear Yet, our sinful heart is fearful of asking others for money in God’s name. If we truly viewed God as the originator and distributor of all resources we shouldn’t be intimidated by asking for financial support. The fear of raising finances is a major reason why many Christians do not participate in missions. The reality is when we raise money for mission trips we are providing others who can’t go, with the ability to glorify God by sending us.

The following ideas are a few practical ways to raise support for short-term missions. Before we begin let’s review a few provisos:

1. Don’t start this process unless you are covering every aspect in prayer. 2. Reading beyond this paragraph assumes you have received permission to raise support from your church leadership. 3. Every participant in the mission trip should be a participant in the fundraising.

Letters Each participant in the short-term mission trip should write a Christ-centered appeal letter to a few dozen friends and family. Make the letters short. Include a return envelope and a deadline. Describe the work you will be doing and how the giver’s support will glorify God and impact the nations. Follow up to the recipients with e-mails and phone calls.

Yard Sale Ask members of your church, friends, and family to donate household items for a yard sale. Advertise in your church and community. Have all mission trip participants working at the yard sale. Promote the yard sale as a fundraiser for Christian missions. Donate all leftover items to another charity.

Three Servants Parable Based on Matthew 25:14-30 take seed money and put it in a large number of envelopes. Place some money (roughly $20) in each envelope. Stand before your congregation and read the passage. Pass out an envelope to every adult. Place a box in the back of the church. Invite everyone to participate in whatever way the Lord leads them. They can anonymously place their money in the box, keep it for themselves, or use it to purchase supplies for their own fundraiser. Invite participants to organize their own car wash, bake sale or other event. Allow several weeks for participants to complete their effort.

Car Wash Host a car wash in front of a local business in your community. Use lots of signage and energetic participants. Instead of setting a price, allow car owners to give what they feel is appropriate. Sell advanced sale coupons in your church and to friends and family.

Rent-A-Missionary Pick a weekend to rent out your short-term missionaries for yard work or babysitting. Allow the renters to pay as they feel led. Organize a parent’s night out at a home or church. Allow parents to drop off their kids at one location and have the missionaries babysit. Create a spring cleaning day and volunteer to take truckloads of trash to the dump.

Meal Tickets Host a crab feed, spaghetti feed or barbecue after church. Get your food, plates, and drinks donated or purchased at a discount. Sell advance tickets. Turn the event into a church social. Have the mission trip participants serve as wait staff, cooks, and table bussers.

Bake Sale Ask volunteers and mission trip participants to volunteer to bake cookies, cakes, pies, and cupcakes. Sell them all to the highest bidders after church. This can easily be combined with another meal or fundraising event.

Restaurant Discounts Many restaurants offer to help churches and philanthropic organizations raise money for special service events. Work with the restaurant on their method, but frequently restaurants offer a percentage of sales on a specific day or a percentage if your organization is mentioned at the register. Frequently restaurants offer advanced sale coupons where you get all the proceeds.

Crowdfunding There are dozens of websites (GoFundMe.com, GoGetFunding.com, etc.) that help you raise funds. The website hosts your page, receives the donations and takes a percentage. Crowdfunding support raisers work best when the URL of the fundraising site is shared via social media or e-mail. This is a near effortless way to raise support, you just have to get the word out.

Use your support raising opportunities as teaching moments for the mission trip participants and your church. Make sure everyone is regularly in prayer and seeking God’s glory and provision. Help everyone see how God provides resources for those who seek to serve in his name. Turn support raising for your mission trip from an anxiety ridden, sinful venture into a way to bring glory to the Lord and teach about his provision.

Mike Pettengill is a full-time missionary serving in Equatorial Guinea with Mission to the World.

GET INVOLVED

(not) just a nurse.

When a pregnant woman in critical condition stormed out of her clinic, Erin worried she might never make a difference on the mission field.

First a Lockdown, Then Two Hurricanes: Impact and Response in Honduras (VIDEO)

COVID lockdowns meant residents could not leave their homes for days at a time. Then two hurricanes devastated the already struggling area.

The Accidental Relief Program: COVID-19 in Honduras

In Honduras, the lockdown was total and immediate. MTW missionaries immediately thought of their neighbors who would need groceries—fast.

Pray for first-year missionaries who can feel incompetent and overwhelmed as they begin ministry on the field.

Pray for those going on mission trips this spring and summer as they raise finanical support and prepare for their trip.

Pray for current missionaries, future missionaries, sending churches, and donors to be willing to ask the question, "How could God use me?"

Pray that God would call pastors to serve at a Bible institute in Honduras, and elsewhere around the world.

Pray for our ministries in Honduras, impacted by severe lockdowns followed by two hurricanes.

Please pray for those in Honduras whose livelihoods have been devastated by the COVID-19 lockdown and for missionaries stepping up to meet their community's needs.

Pray today for Puerta de Esperanza (Door of Hope), which ministers to the needs of impoverished and vulnerable single mothers in La Ceiba, Honduras.

Pray for HIV/AIDS education in the Church throughout Africa, particularly in regions where there is still so much mis-information. Pray that the Church will become educated and lead a culture change!

Pray for MTW medical missionaries who serve longer-term in one location. Pray for those they serve and for a strong partnership with the local church.

Pray for our ministries in Africa, where many have come to expect broken systems and corruption. Pray that God would intervene and change hearts that would change communities.

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14 Successful Ways to Raise Money for Mission Trips

Tired of bake sales? Here’s a list of profitable fundraisers you can incorporate for your next church event. Discover how to make money fast with these successful mission trip fundraising ideas.

1. Advertise at Church

Sometimes the success of a fundraiser is determined by how easy you make it donate. You want to make it as easy as possible for people to give. Ask the pastor if you can get the mission trip in the weekly bulletin, church announcements, or added as a drop-down option in the online giving portal so members can easily donate to the mission trip.

2. Write Fundraising Letters

It’s incredible how many people will give if you simply ask. It all comes down to how you present your request, which you can tactfully write in a short, fundraising letter. Your missions team can write to their friends and family, or you can host a letter-writing party where you divide up a list of the congregation, and everyone on the team tackles a few.

Pro tip : Bonus points if you hand-deliver the letters before or after church service and save on postage!

3. Crowdfunding

Crowdfunding is an extremely easy way to raise money for mission trips. By uploading your cause online, you can get hundreds of people to donate. Even with several small donations, you’ll fund the mission trip costs in no time! Check out this article for tips on running a successful crowdfunding campaign .

4. Candle Sales

Candles are appreciated year-round, whether you’re on a diet or not. Yankee Candle fundraising makes it incredibly easy and extremely profitable to raise money for your mission trip. Yankee Candle prices their products so your group earns a 40% profit on all purchases. This campaign is straightforward and affordable to run; the materials don’t cost you a penny, and you don’t need an order minimum.

5. Fun Run / Walkathon

Charity runs raise the most money since anyone can participate, and participants are excited to join the cause. Participants pay a fee to join, and they find their sponsors for additional funding. By sharing the event with their friends and family in person or on social media, you’ll gain free publicity for the walkathon and your mission trip. The potential profits are limitless.

6. Sunday Coffee & Donuts

An easy way to raise money for mission trips is by serving coffee and donuts after or between Sunday services. Ask a few people to run the booth. Set a small price for the goodies or request a free-will donation. If your church already serves Sunday coffee and donuts, get creative! You can provide fancy creamer for an extra charge or cater-in some tasty treats from a local bakery.

Pro tip : Check out Krispy Kreme fundraising to supply your goodies, even if there isn’t one near you. Mission groups can raise 50-60% in profits from each sale!

7. Shoe Drives

Instead of asking for money to fund mission trip costs, you can ask for shoes and donate them to an organization like Funds2Orgs . Funds2Orgs repurposes shoes by sending them to micro-entrepreneurs in developing nations so they can work their way out of poverty. Funds2Orgs collects the footwear and provides the mission group with a check, making it an easy fundraiser for mission trips.

8. Restaurant Fundraisers

Many restaurants and fast-food chains will support mission trip fundraisers. All you need to do is choose a participating restaurant , pick a date, and spread the word! Anyone who shows up to that restaurant location will automatically donate a % of their bill toward your mission trip. Some restaurants request hands-on helpers to serve the food, which can make the event more interactive and fun.

Pro tip : Your restaurant fundraiser can gain greater traction by promoting it as a Facebook event, which makes it easier to share and gauge attendance.

9. Church Cookbooks

Do you wish you knew how to make that legendary casserole at every potluck? Now you can! Ask the congregation to submit their best recipes, and your missions team can compile them into a book. You can scan, print, and bind the books yourself, or you can create and order a professional-looking album through a company like Shutterfly or SmileBooks . Make sure you take pre-orders before buying physical copies, so you know you’ll sell enough to make a profit.

10. Doggie Daycare

Set-up a doggie daycare for an entire day, or create a sign-up calendar for congregation members to request services for their pooch. Your missions group can give dog walks and puppy baths or clean-up backyards. Set charges for the different duties and watch as you grow closer and closer to your mission trip fundraising goal.

Pro tip : If you want to grow and promote your dog care services, you can join the world’s largest network of 5-star dog walkers: Rover .

11. Live Auctions

Groups and organizations use auctions all the time to raise money. Why? Because they work! If people know the money is going to a good cause, they will most likely spend more–even more than what an item is worth! You can get as creative as you want with the items or services you auction: homemade pies, original artwork, photography sessions, babysitting services, etc.

12. Pizza Delivery

Who doesn’t love pizza? You can do a pizza fundraiser to raise money for your mission trip in several ways: offering fresh pizza, selling coupon cards, or providing frozen pizza kits. Dominos delivers to any location, making it super easy to sell-by-the-slice during an event. Papa John’s fundraiser cards produce incredibly high profits (up to 93%!) and lets buyers get discounted pizza at their leisure. Little Caesars’ fundraising assembles frozen pizza kits so buyers can make their own while your mission team makes the “dough.”

13. Envelope Fundraiser

Envelope fundraisers are straightforward and super effective. You set out a stack of envelopes and write a different dollar amount on the front of each. Anyone can pick an envelope and place the correlating amount inside. For more secure transactions, you can request that people make out donations via check rather than leaving cash.

14. Service Vouchers

Everyone has house chores they dislike: raking, painting, pool cleaning, etc. You can brainstorm a list of tasks and auction off the services or create a general service voucher people can exchange for the aid they need. This way, the congregation can finish their spring cleaning, and the missions team can reach their fundraising goal!

Make sure your mission trip team gets travel insurance before they leave!

*Disclaimer: None of the brands or fundraisers mentioned in this article are affiliates or endorsed by Faith Ventures, Fly For Good, or Brotherhood Mutual.

AUTHOR: Erik Sorensen

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I need to raise funds?

Dominican Republic

Raising Support for Your Summer Mission

Going on a Summer Mission sounds exciting – until we start talking about costs. But you will be on a missions trip—which means that we need to have a different (God-based) perspective about the 'money thing'. First, let's look at three important TRUTHS, and then we'll explore some MYTHS and then get PRACTICAL.

TRUTH #1: God sends you and God provides for You.

"Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass," says I Thessalonians 5:24. God sends people into the world (Matthew 9:37-38, Romans 10:14-15) to make a significant change in the world (Matthew 9: 36; Romans 3:23, 6:23, Matthew 11:28-30, John 3:19b , John 11:25-26). Not only does God call you to go, but He provides for you because His resources are infinite (Psalm 50:10-12) and He can abundantly provide (Ephesians 3:20). It's part of God's character to provide for your needs - especially financial and especially when on his mission (Philippians 4:19, Genesis 22:14).

TRUTH #2: On God's Mission, you are God's ambassador.

2 Corinthians 5:20 says, "Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, 'Be reconciled to God.'" You don't just represent yourself, but rather God, His Gospel and all of God's people to whomever you reach.

TRUTH #3: God provides for His ambassadors through His people.

God's People want to invest in Missions. Seriously! People work hard for 40-60 hours per week. They use a lot of that money to provide for their family, but they want their money to affect the world too! So God's people are looking for ways to support God's work in this world. In fact, He commands that His people give to His mission like the church, ministers and missionaries—to help spread the Gospel and help those in need. God loves working through His people to provide for His causes.

Now, let's look at some common myths of raising support for a summer mission.

Myth #1: you are on a school extracurricular trip or personal educational experience or vacation..

Yes, you will be doing something amazing and cool. But it's not a vacation. The person mostly benefiting from this trip won't be yourself—but those who receive the Gospel. In that sense, going on a Summer Mission trip is completely unlike the car washes, fund-raisers, and parents-paying trip that you might have done when you were younger. Instead, this is God sending a missionary—you!

MYTH #2: You are begging for money.

Driving to campus last week, I saw a new billboard next to the McDonald's billboard. Instead of saying "Invest in a Big Mac and you'll be happy", it said "Invest in a Missionary and you'll change the world". Is McDonald's begging for money when they offer to give you food in return? Yet when we give God's people a chance to put their hard-earned finances into something more amazing than French Fries (i.e. the Gospel), some call it "begging for money"? No! You are inviting others to participate in the greatest cause of all time! And if they don't want to give, someone else will jump at that opportunity.

MYTH #3: God doesn't know who is going to support you.

Okay, admittedly, this sounds ridiculous. But let's talk about the reality: God already has your team of prayer and financial supporters lined up for you! Yes, now... at this point, months before you even pack your suitcase... God already knows who is going to give! It's your job to then pray and go find those people and be amazed at His provision when you do find them.

MYTH #4: I can raise the support from my own pocket.

If we're talking just about financial support, then yes—you probably could find the finances yourself. But who's going to pray for you? Who's going to be rooting for you? Who's going to be excited to hear about what you did when you return—knowing they invested in something great? Your bank account (or your parent's bank account) cannot pray for you when you're in the middle of the Gospel conversation. Only people can do that—people who are on your "prayer and financial support team".

MYTH #5: Cru Staff call it "Support Raising."

Actually, Cru Staff don't often using the phrase "support raising". We actually call it "Ministry Partner Development" (or "MPD", for short). Why? Because we want them to truly partner with us, like Paul said in Philippians 1:3-5, "I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now." In addition to partnering with our ministry, we want to develop our relationship with them as well and experience mutual encouragement through ministry updates and prayer requests.

Biblical Truths about You in Support Raising

I serve the Lord God whose resources are infinite (Psalm 50:10-12) and who can abundantly provide. (Ephesians 3:20)
God has promised to meet all my needs, especially financial. It is a part of His character to provide for me. (Philippians 4:19, Genesis 22:14)
My team of ministry partners is laying up treasures in heaven and is greater involved in the fulfillment of the Great Commission because of their participation. (Matthew 6:20)
I am inviting people to be partners in ministry with me by committing their time, prayers, resources and finances to what God is doing in our world. I am not begging for money or asking for a contribution. (1 Thessalonians 1:8)
My ministry is very significant since people have a need for God. (Matthew 9: 36; Romans 3:23, 6:23)
My ministry is very significant since I am providing solutions to life's day-to-day problems. (Matthew 11:28-30)
My ministry is very significant since it addresses the root problem of our society and world. (John 3:19b)
My ministry is very significant since I am calling others to consider decisions that will affect their eternal destiny. (John 11:25-26)
God promises that those who give to my ministry will be more blessed by the giving than I am by the receiving. (Acts 20:35)
I am an encouragement to my support team in their own walks with God as they see what He is doing through me. (1 Thessalonians 1:8)
God is using me as an opportunity for obedience when others give to my ministry since He has called everyone to give financially to His work regardless of the amount of their personal income. (Malachi 3:8,10; 2 Corinthians 8:1-5)
I am freed to do all He has called me to do when I am fully funded. (1 Timothy 6:6)
As a laborer in the harvest, I am an answer to prayer. (Matthew 9:37-38)

And finally, some practicals...

You will need communication skills, hard work and faith to raise support.

Okay, let's take a step back. You are not the first person ever to have raised support to go on a Summer Mission with Cru. Don't you think we've developed some way of coaching you on how to raise your support? We've come up with some time-tested principles and helps. No matter whether you have a well-connected network of believers or if you are young in the faith who doesn't know any believing adults with a job, we can help you! Each Summer Missions with Cru has an "Operations Director" who will guide you on your support-raising trail - and you might also have some local Cru staff who can help too... ask them for guidance. Once you're accepted, you'll get access to an online tool specially created for you to raise support and teach you how to communicate what you will be doing.

But the support doesn't raise itself. It will take some time and energy. Sure, about 3% of applicants don't raise their support - and the common denominator in almost all of them is that they didn't do much of anything to make the support happen. Going on a Summer Mission is something worthwhile - and you'll need to put some effort into it.

Faith is trusting God that He will provide. This is commonly expressed through prayer. Perhaps you'd like to even pray right now as you think about going on a Summer Mission with Cru,

"Lord, I thank you that You are a God who sends and a God who provides. As I consider being an Ambassador for you this summer, I pray that I would have a right and Biblical attitude about raising support - that it's You providing through Your people for Your mission. Help me overcome any fears in raising my prayer and financial support team so that I can fulfill your calling in my life to follow You wherever you want me to go with Your Gospel. Amen."

Ellis Goldstein: Biblical perspective on raising support

Ellis is the Director of Ministry Partnership Development (MPD) for our US Staff serving worldwide. He and his team help train and equip our staff to successfully build partnerships with others who desire to impact eternity by giving and praying. It is important and encouraging to know what God has to say about MPD, so listen in as Ellis shares about this from scripture.

Dave Dickens: Practical tips on how to raise support successfully

Dave oversees MPD for our US Campus Ministry staff. Listen in as Dave shares some things you will want to keep in mind as you begin to raise up partners for your summer.

Questions? email [email protected]

United Methodist Center Contact Information

Resident Travel Grant Humanitarian Trips

Humanitarian medical efforts can be immensely rewarding and serve as a reminder to the motivation for choosing medicine as a career path. Travel grants provide residents who are Academy members an opportunity to contribute professional service to people in countries with limited resources. The deadline for grant applications for missions taking place July 1 – December 31, 2021, is May 31. Learn more .

Humanitarian Travel Grant: Medical Mission in Phnom Phen, Cambodia

In January 2020, a team of volunteers from Northwest Medical Volunteers and Face to Face traveled to Phnom Phen, Cambodia, to provide care to patients with congenital, traumatic, and neoplastic face deformities.

Jonnae Y. Ostrom, MD and Sarah R. Akkina, MD, MS

The annual mission to Cambodia is truly one of the highlights of the year for all involved. Patients come from all over Cambodia and sometimes wait for days to be evaluated for a potential surgery. The Soviet Friendship Hospital becomes their home while they wait for their operations and recover before starting the journey home. Historically, the mission has been completed once per year, but the number of patients presenting for evaluation continues to rise. Northwest Medical Volunteers, therefore, hopes to increase the frequency of their trips to Cambodia in the future to further offset the reconstructive needs of the Khmer people.

Humanitarian Travel Grant: Medical Mission in Mongolia

In May 2020 I traveled with the New York University (NYU) Department of Otolaryngology to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, for a humanitarian mission.

Zahrah M. Taufique, MD

In May 2020 I traveled with the New York University (NYU) Department of Otolaryngology to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, for a humanitarian mission. The surgical team was composed of head and neck surgeons Theresa Tuyet-Phuong N. Tran, MD, and Adam S. Jacobson, MD, along with me, a fourth-year resident, and microvascular fellow Jason L. Yu, MD . We were accompanied by physician assistant Sabrina Tarafdar, as well as operating room nurses Ana Mae Gaolingo, Justine Padilla, Chris Abanico, Vicsyl Rodriguez, and Lauren Hamill.

Mongolia is an East Asian country that lies between China and Russia. The Mongolian Empire was the largest empire to have ever existed due to the leadership of Chinggis Khan, a figure who still heavily dominates current Mongolian culture. As a result of its historically nomadic culture, its capital Ulaanbaatar only settled in its current location in 1773. The group traveled with the Virtue Foundation, a nonprofit organization that has been sending surgeons to Mongolia for over a decade.

There were two hospitals in Ulaanbaatar where the group attended clinic and operated: the military hospital and the National Cancer Center. Though team members performed a variety of surgeries ranging from rhinoplasties to oncologic resections, they discovered there was a great need for education on reconstructive techniques for oncologic, traumatic, and iatrogenic defects. Specifically, microvascular reconstruction is a relatively new field in Mongolia. The only hospital in Mongolia currently performing free flaps is the National Cancer Center, where the first free flap was performed about 10 years ago. Still, the demand for free flap reconstructive expertise is high, and the surgeons performing these surgeries were eager to learn from the NYU group throughout the week.

One exemplary case was a fibular free flap for an orocutaneous fistula in a young man who had suffered from a gunshot wound to the face one year prior. He had undergone mandibular plating immediately after the injury; however, there was nonunion of the bone and fistula development. He had been following up at the military hospital for some time for local wound care. Upon arrival in Ulaanbaatar, the NYU team reviewed his case, and he underwent segmental mandibulectomy, excision of orocutaneous fistula, tracheostomy, fibula free flap, and plating. His postoperative course was uneventful. He was decannulated on postoperative day four and was able to resume a diet one week after surgery. Though the surgery itself was a success, even more valuable was the ability to teach the local surgeons these techniques and improve on their baseline knowledge of head and neck surgery.

By the end of the week, it was clear that a strong partnership developed between the American and local surgical teams, and there is ongoing discussion on how to continue this educational relationship in the future.

Humanitarian Travel Grant: Cleft Care in Kijabe, Kenya

For the past 20 years, teams of otolaryngologists have provided continuous cleft care for patients in Kijabe, Kenya, through Samaritan’s Purse World Medical Mission and partnering with IAC-CURE Children’s Hospital and Smile Train.

Heather A. Koehn, MD

With the support of the AAO-HNSF Humanitarian Travel Grant, I was able to serve with this team of talented surgeons and compassionate caregivers. It is humbling to see how a short surgery can provide such a profound difference in a patient’s life. Of the 72 surgeries that were performed over five days, one patient’s story will not be forgotten. Jackline is a 22-year-old mother of three who traveled to Kijabe from a rural Maasai village. She was brought by a local missionary who heard of our team’s visit to provide cleft surgery free of charge. She was born with a bilateral cleft lip and palate. She existed in her community, constantly keeping her lower face covered because of the deformity. She was the only person in her village with a cleft. Once arriving at the AIC-CURE Children’s Hospital campus, she saw the many children with clefts and immediately felt a sense of community and trust and uncovered her face. She underwent bilateral cleft lip surgery with our team. Two days later she left the hospital with a big smile and no covering on her face. She is pictured with her three-month-old baby and friend from her village as well as her surgeon team, Dr. Christophel, and me.

There is a lasting impression of this opportunity to provide cleft care as an otolaryngologist internationally. As a future pediatric otolaryngologist, I hope to establish a long-term service relationship like the team I was privileged to join and inspire others to do the same.

Privacy Overview

Apply For Grants

Equipping the local church grant cycle 2024, grant summary:.

Applications are CLOSED for this grant cycle. Check back in January 2025

Grants for $5,000 or $10,000 will be awarded to small and medium** church congregations, or clusters of churches working together, in a Wesleyan-tradition denomination. The grant is intended to help launch an experiment or initiative to share the Gospel in word and deed, build relationships, and invite others into a discipleship journey with Jesus.

Any church or group of churches fitting the criteria may apply. Up to 50 possible grants will be awarded in the summer of 2024. The Foundation for Evangelism Equipping the Local Church grant initiative seeks to empower pastors, laity, and smaller local congregations to dream, take risks, and partner with God in the transformation of lives and communities. These grants are made possible through the generosity of donors, friends, and partners with The Foundation for Evangelism.

* We define Wesleyan-tradition as based on the ministry movement begun in the 18th century by John and Charles Wesley. Responding to God’s pursuit of us, all are invited to the lifelong journey to love God and neighbor with their whole heart.

**250 or fewer participants

The Foundation for Evangelism recognizes that Christian disciple-making happens in the local church. With the Holy Spirit’s guidance, the local church invites members of their community to enter a life-transforming relationship with Jesus Christ, grow in grace, and live out their faith by loving and serving God and neighbor.

The Equipping the Local Church grant cycle is open to Wesleyan-tradition* congregations in the United States. Grants are intended to enable small and medium-sized** churches to launch an experiment or initiative to share the Gospel and invite others into a relationship with Jesus. Through these funds, FFE desires to provide an opportunity for faith communities to be creative and take risks.

Who Qualifies for this Grant:

1-99 persons in worship, including virtual attendance (designated Small Church) OR
100-250 persons in worship or a cluster of small congregations working together, including virtual attendance (designated Medium Church)
Non-profit, Wesleyan-tradition* organizations serving the above churches
The applying church/organization must be based in the United States

The Following Do Not Qualify for this Grant:

Non-Wesleyan-tradition* churches/organizations
Mission trips, service projects, or 1-time events or projects. While we encourage the marriage of mission and evangelism, to qualify for this grant, such a project would need to show intentional relationship building that leads to invitation into life-transforming relationship with Christ and discipleship as part of your congregation.
Campus Ministry (at colleges or universities)
An established or on-going ministry or project
Capital improvements
Additional staff requests or equipment purchases not integral to the ministry
Individuals
Nonprofits that are not 501(c)(3), denominationally affiliated, or IRS recognized as a religious organization.

In evaluating grant applications, the strongest proposals will demonstrate alignment with The Foundation for Evangelism’s values and address the following questions:

Evangelistic – How will this grant be grounded in God’s abundance , and invite others to enter, develop and deepen their relationship with Jesus? Have you intentionally listened to your community to learn what difference the Good News might make in their lives?
Wesleyan – As a Wesleyan-tradition* congregation, is this project developed according to the model of John Wesley, inspired by Jesus, that intentionally connects love of God with love of neighbor? In what ways will this grant invite people to accept and grow in God’s grace and address needs of the whole person and community?
Steward – In addition to soundly managing grant funds, how is this initiative engaging the context of ministry and utilizing your congregational gifts, strengths, and resources to equip disciples to share the Good News?
Leaders – How are clergy, ministers, and laity working in partnership and sharing leadership? Is the congregation focused on identifying leaders and equipping lay leaders?
Equip – How will you equip and empower the congregation to participate in this initiative and what are your plans to share your findings and learnings with others?
Catalyst – How will this grant spark transformation and greater impact?

Awards will be granted in two amounts:

$5,000 awards will be available to congregations with participation from 1-99

$10,000 awards will be available to congregations with participation between 100 and 250 or a cluster of congregations working together

29 Feb. 2024 – Receive and screen grant applications

May 2024 – Grant recipients notified and receive expectations and report forms

15 June 2024 – Grant money released to recipients

Nov. 2024 – Check-in email / Zoom with grant recipients

15 Dec. 2024 – Mid-program report due

Spring 2025 – Gather stories of grant impact

June 2025 – Final reports due

For the 2024 grant cycle, up to 50 grants of $5,000 or $10,000 are available to small and medium church congregations, or clusters of churches working together, in a Wesleyan-tradition denomination.

*Total number of available grants depends on distribution of applications received.

We use the phrase “Wesleyan tradition” to describe an approach to the Christian faith and discipleship that showcases awareness, understanding, and implementation of the practices and teachings attributed to the movement begun by John and Charles Wesley. Theirs is a practical theology central to the life and identity of every Christian. This identity is evidenced by a focus on the God of love who, through Jesus Christ and empowered by the Holy Spirit, makes it possible for that love to transform hearts and lives. Relying on God’s proactive grace, it strongly encourages systemic spiritual practices, and works through the faith community to actively share the Good News and invite persons everywhere to a life-transforming relationship with Jesus Christ.

Applications are accepted through our Grant Seekers page by clicking on the blue button labeled “Apply for This Grant” on the right side of the page. You will need to create an account with our online portal provider, Submittable. Once you do this, you can begin filling out the application. You will be able to save your application, working at your own pace.

If you are unable to fill out the application online, please contact us at [email protected] .

A strong proposal will address each of The Foundation for Evangelism’s six values:

Evangelistic

As an example, a (Wesleyan-tradition) church started a shower trailer ministry to provide hygiene, clothing, and meals to their unhoused neighbors. The congregation – including pastor and lay persons (Leaders) – work together to provide these services to individuals in the community on a monthly basis. Those individuals have been invited and accepted into the life of the church (Evangelistic). The church is working with other organizations and churches in the community which has allowed them to continue and expand (Steward & Catalyst) to offer additional classes and programs on topics like parenting, budgeting, and resume building (Equip). This experience has helped the church build deeper relationships and respond to the realities their community faces.

The Equipping the Local Church Grant Cycle is an annual grant cycle. If you feel like your church/churches need a little more time to develop a vision for a grant-funded ministry or program, you will have other opportunities in the future. You can subscribe to our email list for Grants & Resources or follow us on social media to find out when grant cycles begin. We will publish information about our current grant cycles on our Grant Seekers page.

If you aren’t sure where to start or feel that you need to begin building a culture of evangelism in your congregation, visit our resource page and contact us for recommendations.

Depending on your language, we may be able to connect you with someone to assist in the grant application process. Please contact [email protected] .

Current Grant Cycle Info

Get updates on future grants, other grant focus areas, raising up gospel leaders.

Evangelism Training for Ministry Professionals

Grants designed to equip leaders who are called to vocational ministry and desire to lead witnessing congregations and organizations. These grants range from one to three years and address training across a wide spectrum of leader designations. . up to endowment funded positions at Wesleyan-tradition seminaries or other leader training programs that expose students to a Wesleyan understanding of evangelism and discipleship. Endowed grants are available by invitation only.

Meet the E. Stanley Jones Professors of Evangelism

Harry Denman Doctoral Fellowships

Fellowships granted for 1-4 academic years to support students completing a PhD, Th.D., or equivalent in evangelism or related discipline. Fellows are equipped and encouraged to then teach in Wesleyan-tradition schools of theology or institutions of higher education. Applications for fellowships are processed through our partners at A Foundation for Theological Education and are due each January.

Meet the Harry Denman Doctoral Fellows

Engaging the Ministry of the Laity

Training Lay Persons to Share Their Faith and Invite Others

Methodism and the Wesleyan tradition became a movement because everyone participated in sharing the Good News. These grants support efforts to equip the laity to become comfortable with telling others about their personal faith in their daily lives or as they are in mission situations, inviting others to join them to live as transformed followers of Jesus Christ.

Harry Denman Evangelism Awards

The Harry Denman Evangelism Awards are given annually across the nation to recognize laity and youth who empower their church and equip disciples to share Good News of Jesus Christ in Word, Sign, and Deed.

Nominate Laity or Youth for this award

mission trip grants

One of the reasons that the SBTC exists is to mobilize churches for the purpose of making disciples around the world. We now offer limited, one-time grants for pastors of affiliated churches towards direct missional engagements and partnerships around the world.

grant parameters

Grants will be targeted for, but not limited to, pastors whose church budgets do not provide adequate funding for missions projects.
Grants will be limited to one per church with priority given to the primary pastor attending the trip.
Qualifying participants may receive up to $1,500 or up to half their total expenses.
Limited to SBTC affiliated churches which are actively participating in the Cooperative Program through the SBTC.

We ask that you fill out the form below to apply for the grant and begin communication regarding how the SBTC can come alongside you in these evangelistic and discipleship efforts.

The SBTC has several Vision Trips planned each year which aim at providing all churches with opportunities to build and develop potential missional relationships in Texas and around the world. If your church would like a grant to participate in one of these pre-planned Vision Trips, please select “I would like to participate in a SBTC Vision Trip” below.

There are grants offered to SBTC churches wishing to begin or continue their own missional partnerships. If your church would like to request funding for a representative to take a trip that it is planning, please select “I would like to submit a proposed mission trip to request grant funding” below.

Tony Mathews

Senior Strategist of Missional Ministries

Tony Mathews has been in ministry for thirty-eight years. Thirty-five of those years have been spent providing pastoral and ministerial care not only to African Americans but also to other races and people from other cultures. He recently celebrated thirty years as Senior Pastor of North Garland Baptist Fellowship in Garland, Texas. He transitioned from that position to the SBTC to serve as the Senior Strategist for Missional Ministries. He has earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from Angelo State University, San Angelo, Texas, a Master of Arts in Christian Leadership from The Criswell College, Dallas, Texas, and a Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry from Southwestern Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas.

Tony is the author of There’s More Than One Color in the Pew: A Handbook for Multicultural, Multiracial Churches, and he is a contributing author for both the North American Mission Board’s Journal of African American Southern Baptist History, and for the Next Steps Resources published by the International Mission Board. He also served two terms as a trustee at Southwestern Seminary and is a former president for the African American Fellowship of the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention. Tony has traveled on mission trips to South Africa, India, Ecuador, and Montreal. His trip of a lifetime was to the Holy Land in Israel. He loves people and has a heart for pastors. He also has a passion for inspiring pastors to be mobilizers for missions in the local church. He is married to Angela Mathews, and they have three adult children and one granddaughter.

Colin Rayburn

Missions Mobilization Associate

Colin Rayburn is the Missions Mobilization Associate for the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention. He partners with churches by equipping them to assess, develop, and implement effective missional strategies within Texas, the U.S. and the unreached people groups around the world. He also develops and partners with compassion ministries in order to mobilize the church to meet the felt needs around Texas.

He earned his Bachelor’s Degree from The University of North Texas in Philosophy and a Masters of Divinity from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Great Commissions Studies. Colin is a former pastor and missionary, having served in Western Europe for five years. He lives in Fort Worth with his wife Cindy and two children: Theo & Kaiyah.

Rebecca Burk

Missional Ministries Assistant

reach cities

Texas missions for kids, people groups, for information in connecting with a namb send city or to find out about potential sbtc partnerships, contact tony mathews..

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THE COOPERATIVE PROGRAM
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Get Funding

Grants will be awarded to missions where the impact would be great and primarily for the total cost of the project being considered. If the grant is only for a part of the total project, the grant will only be released when the applicant can prove that the additional cost of the project has been raised. Any grant awarded should be a significant part of the whole project cost.

Our grants have historically ranged from $500 to $5,000. We like to award between 8 – 12 grants each year and the average grant is roughly $3,000.

The fund focuses on three priorities

U.S. based ministries who have

A 501(c)(3) nonprofit status.
Been thoroughly investigated by our Missions Advisory Committee
Display honesty, character, and are above reproach in the way that they conduct their ministry

Grants will be awarded for innovative projects and certain tangible items.

Please note, we do not award grants for:

The personal support of mission members.
The salaries of the mission’s staff.
Ongoing ministry operations.

Testimonials

Kingdom Mission Fund refers to us as their ministry partners, but they also routinely call us part of the KMF family. For a small Christian-based nonprofit those words, on the challenging days, those words are like manna and protection knowing people care and prayerfully have our back. They mean encouragement, equipping, support, and cheering us on to do the work to which God calls us. We are better for being part of this family of good and Godly people. Cinde Rawn Executive Director, Threads of Hope

KMF has been a constant presence of both support and encouragement for my organization, ForgottenSong. Not only do they support other ministries with their resources and time, but they actively invest in the advancement of ideas, innovations, accountability, and discipleship worldwide. Both ForgottenSong and I would not be where we are today without KMF. Charles Davidson Executive Director, Forgotten Song

I am very grateful for the Kingdom Mission Fund’s understanding and support of missionaries around the world. Their gifts helped us employ and disciple more teenagers from our neighborhood in our summer camps and after-school programs. To be supported by KMF is not only to receive financial support but to be invited to a family of believers who care and partner with you in the gospel! Kristin Walker Executive Director , Urban Promise

Submit a Grant Application

Please share a little bit about your project and goals. if it seems like a fit, we will send a full grant application., sign up for our newsletter.

Email : [email protected]

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7 Guidelines for Navigating Missions Funding

How to build a missions program with financial integrity.

Last Reviewed: May 1, 2024

Missions is an essential component of any church budget. But the ins-and-outs of supporting missions and missionaries are fraught with potential tax and legal issues. By following these seven guidelines, you can avoid many financial headaches and more easily navigate the often tricky area of missions funding.

1. Donors give to missions, not to missionaries

Zach wants to give to his niece’s summer missions trip, so he writes a check in her name and drops it in the offering plate. But Zach might be jeopardizing his chances of receiving a deduction.

Why? Donations must be given to a specified fund and not to an individual.

CPA Elaine Sommerville explains: “The church can allow the donors to indicate the particular participant they wish to support. However, a church must convey to the donor that it may use the donation for other participants, other missions trip expenses, or even future missions trips in the event the selected participant receives excess designated funds or the indicated participant does not go on the trip. This message should be contained in any fundraising material.”

See “Designated Contributions” in Church Finance (pages 72-76). For specific insights on fundraising, see “Rule 3—individual quid pro quo cash contributions of $75 or less” and “Rule 4—individual quid pro quo contributions of more than $75” (pages 81-83).

2. Fund foreign activities through missions agencies

While on a business trip, Lindsey, one of your elders, visits a small, struggling church in a developing country. She is impressed by the pastor’s efforts to reach out to his impoverished community. When she returns home, Lindsey talks to her pastor and fellow elders about providing funds to help this pastor and his church.

While Lindsey’s heart is in the right place, Frank Sommerville, an attorney and CPA, says such funding ventures are extremely risky.

“The IRS rules require that you maintain something called ‘expenditure responsibility’ over the funds that you send outside of the United States,” says Sommerville. “What that means is your church is responsible for how those funds are spent. So when you’re sending funds overseas you need to make sure the lumber that you paid for actually goes into building the church and not building the house for someone who’s over there.”

Then there’s the problem of funds inadvertently falling into the wrong hands.

“If any of those funds end up in a terrorist state, or in a terrorist organization, or supporting a terrorist or even a suspected terrorist,” says Sommerville, “that’s a criminal offense and the church treasurer and the missions committee that approved the transfer [of funds] could be looking at prison time.”

Sommerville strongly advises churches to work through their denominational missions agency or a well-established nondenominational missions organization.

See “Contributions made to or for the use of a qualified organization” in Church Finance (pages 70-71).

3. A church must justify compensation for missionaries it supports

Tyler has attended your church from infancy and is now graduating from college with a degree in missions studies. Within the next 18 months, he hopes to head out to a foreign missions field. Your church is excited to support him and makes plans to do so. But how much support should he receive?

Frank Sommerville says that funds given must further the “exempt purpose” of your missionary endeavors and they must also add up to a “reasonable amount” of compensation.

“The church has a responsibility for determining what a reasonable amount of compensation would be,” says Sommerville. “The church also needs to determine whether or not other churches are involved in supporting this missionary. If you had 20 churches sending $1,000 a month, that’s $20,000 in income. In most places in the world, taking even $10,000 a month is going to be considered excessive. So you have to be aware of all of the funds coming from U.S. churches and how those funds are spent.”

Sommerville says that careful records must be kept of all expenditures, and he suggests that the missionary keep a daily activity log to help justify his or her compensation.

See “Missionaries” in the annual Church & Clergy Tax Guide (Chapter 8).

4. Distinguish ministry days from personal days

A group of adults from your church is heading off to Ecuador for a three-week missions trip this summer. At the end of the volunteer ministry work, the group plans to spend a couple of days seeing the local sites. Before the group leaves, this question comes up: “Will all our travel expenses be deductible?”

The answer: Only those days spent in actual ministry are deductible.

“A ministry day is where you are ministering for the benefit of others,” says Frank Sommerville. “A personal day is a vacation day. And the expenses related to a personal day are not tax-deductible.”

To validate actual ministry days, Sommerville encourages the missions team to keep a daily log of missions-related activities.

See “Principle 3: no significant element of personal pleasure” in the Church & Clergy Tax Guide (Chapter 8).

5. Participants must actually participate

Tim, your church’s youth pastor, wants to take his wife and young children on a summer missions trip. Although he’s pretty sure funds raised for his family’s travel are tax-deductible, he admits that his wife will be busy taking care of the kids and that she’ll have little involvement with “doing ministry.” Is Tim’s assumption correct?

“No,” says Richard Hammar. “Contributions given toward the travel expenses of the youth pastor’s wife and children would not be tax-deductible, because their travel is not primarily for ministry purposes.”

6. Serving is not deductible

Your missions team has enlisted three carpenters for a summer trip to India. During early planning meetings, one of the carpenters asks: “Will we be able to deduct the time we spend using our skills?”

Church Finance says, “No deduction is allowed for contribution of services. Church members who donate labor to their church may not deduct the value of their labor.”

See “Donated services” in Church Finance (page 66).

7. Travel expenses must be ministry-related and correctly documented

During prep meetings for an upcoming missions trip, the missions pastor assures participants that all “reasonable travel expenses” will be deductible.

The missions pastor is most likely correct. The Church & Clergy Tax Guide says, “Travel expenses incurred during a short-term missions trip which may qualify as a charitable contribution include air, rail, and bus transportation; out-of-pocket car expenses; taxi fares or other costs of transportation between the airport or station and your hotel; lodging costs; and the cost of meals.”

But remember: The travel must be for ministry and not for fun. And for expenses exceeding $250, the participant must keep a record of travel expenses, such as a copy of the plane ticket, and have written documentation from the church. This documentation should detail the services provided by the participant and should state that the participant received no goods or services in return for his or her volunteer work.

For a list of four specifics that should be in the church’s document, see “Unreimbursed expenses” in the Church & Clergy Tax Guide .

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Clergy Financial Resources

Contributions for short-term mission trips.

It is a common practice for churches to raise funds to send volunteers on short-term mission trips. The funds are often raised by a participant preferenced for his or her own trip expenses, as opposed to raising the funds for the group of volunteers as a whole.

Tax-deductible contributions for short-term missionary trips must be made “to or for the use of” the church.

If the giver only intends to benefit the person—using the church as an intermediary in order to obtain a tax deduction for an otherwise nondeductible gift—the contribution will not be tax-deductible. Such a motivation may be encouraged by promises of a refund if the person does not go or if too much money is raised.

However, when the church exercises control over the project, the contributions, and who participates; and when contribution requests emphasize funding the project, as a whole, the giver’s contributions should be treated as tax-deductible gifts to the church.

IRS Publication 526 is pretty clear about there being “no significant element of personal pleasure, recreation, or vacation in the travel” in order for a donation to be deductible. This means that most of the days of a mission trip must be essentially filled with activities directly related to the purpose of the mission. This does not mean that an afternoon tour of a museum during a mission trip makes the trip non-deductible. What it means is that the expenses surrounding the museum visit are not deductible. Religious organizations need to be mindful of this and should also be careful to disclose what is and is not deductible.

In some trips, individual will be raising funds toward the cost of their participation in the trip. Since this can be viewed by the IRS as ‘gifts for a specific person’, there are guidelines that should be followed in order for these contributions to be considered tax-deductible. The key points are:

the donation should not be designated to an individual
the organization must have complete control over the use of the funds

To support these guidelines, the check, payable to the church, should not indicate an individual’s name. This gives the church complete control over the use of the donated funds and allows the donation to be considered a tax-deductible contribution. Contributions intended for team members who must cancel their participation, who raised more than the needed funds, or who become disqualified for any reason are then redirected to other charitable purposes related to the missions trip or other activities of the ministry.

Clergy Financial Resources serves as a resource for clients to help analyze the complexity of clergy tax law, church payroll & HR issues. Our professionals are committed to helping clients stay informed about tax news, developments and trends in various specialty areas.

This article is intended to provide readers with guidance in tax matters. The article does not constitute, and should not be treated as professional advice regarding the use of any particular tax technique. Every effort has been made to assure the accuracy of the information. Clergy Financial Resources and the author do not assume responsibility for any individual’s reliance upon the information provided in the article. Readers should independently verify all information before applying it to a particular fact situation, and should independently determine the impact of any particular tax planning technique. If you are seeking legal advice, you are encouraged to consult an attorney.

For more information or if you need additional assistance, please use the contact information below.

Clergy Financial Resources 11214 86th Avenue N. Maple Grove, MN 55369

Tel: (888) 421-0101 Fax: (888) 876-5101 Email: [email protected]

Complete the request form and a clergy tax, payroll or HR advisor will contact you

Medical Mission Grant Programs

We know that the cost of medical mission trips can be prohibitive at times. For providers who would like to attend a trip but do not have the financial resources, the Making a Difference Foundation wants to help you find a way to get the funds you need.

Our mission is to help ignite and support your passion to give back through medical mission trips.

First Time Medical Mission Trip Grant

Going on a medical mission trip can be a lifelong dream for some medical providers, but often finding the time, finances, or even the right medical mission trip can be challenging. If you have never gone on a medical mission trip and want our help to find one, please reach out to our team at [email protected] .

If you already have a medical mission trip planned with another nonprofit but are still in need of some financial support, we want to help. If your medical mission trip meets our eligibility requirements, then we can help cover the program cost of the trip, with grants available up to $2,000. The foundation will not cover any other expenses related to the medical mission trip, including travel. Please fill out the application and someone from our team will get back to you.

Eligibility Requirements Grant Application Contact Us

Financial Assistance Grant

We are so impressed with the number of medical providers who are committed to sharing their talents with communities across the world. So many of you go back to the same communities year after year, developing long lasting relationship that are vital to sustainability. We would like to support your passion of giving back by offering $500 grants towards the program costs of your trip.

If you have found the perfect opportunity but just need a little financial help to get there, please apply below, or reach out to our team at [email protected] .

Medical Mission Grants: Goals and Guidelines

November 14th, 2019 marked the 20th anniversary of the creation of The DAISY Foundation. We never imagined that DAISY recognition of nurses' extraordinary compassionate care would spread as far and as wide as it has, thousands of healthcare organizations and schools of nursing around the world committed to celebrating their nurses with us. We kicked off that anniversary year with an announcement of yet another expression of our gratitude to nurses- a grant program offering funding to DAISY Honorees who want to share their clinical expertise and extraordinary compassion by participating in a medical mission.

Why Is DAISY Offering This Grant Program?

According to the World Health Organization, some 3.8 billion people lack access to basic healthcare services. Nurses who volunteer their time and expertise to medical mission trips, providing care in under-served areas, are making a significant difference to those populations. Often, medical mission trips require that volunteers pay their own expenses. From time to time, we have been asked to contribute to those expenses, and we have not, until now, had a means to do so.

Therefore, as a new benefit, The DAISY Foundation is offering grants to DAISY Honorees who require funding for their expenses to volunteer on medical missions. We hope this new initiative will encourage nurses who have demonstrated extraordinary compassion in their daily practice to contribute to patient care for the world’s most under-served and vulnerable people.

If you are planning to go on a medical mission and are hoping DAISY can help fund it, here are the guidelines for this grant program:

Grant Amount

Grants of up to $1,500 each will be funded for upcoming mission trips. Funding is not available for mission trips already completed.

Who is Eligible?

Applicants must be DAISY Award Honorees who have been registered with The DAISY Foundation. If you don’t know if you have been registered with us, please visit www.DAISYFoundation.org . Type your name into the search bar at the top of the home page. You should find your DAISY Spotlight page. You’ll need the URL for this page for the application. If your page does not appear, please ask your organization’s DAISY Coordinator to register you before you complete your application. Please note, you may not apply for and receive this grant more than three times.

What We Will Fund

Should your application be chosen, we will pay your direct costs to participate in a medical mission, not to exceed the grant amount of $1,500.00. An example of a direct cost would be your travel expenses, not indirect costs, such as wages and vacation days lost by your participation in the mission. For the purposes of this grant, your medical mission must be recognized as a provider of clinical and/or medical/health education services to populations in need.

Criteria for Selection

A team of Reviewers will review your statement through a blinded process and score based on four criteria:

1. Medical Mission purpose and alignment with your professional skills (Professional Perspective)

2. Why this mission is important to you (Personal Perspective)

3. Expected contributions and outcomes as a DAISY Nurse (Scope of Impact)

4. How you will share your story with others (Dissemination)

Funding Your Grant

Checks will be issued to our Grantees as individuals- not to your organization nor to the mission organization-

When you return from your mission and provide documentation that you participated. Please understand that we appreciate that sometimes, someone will commit to a mission trip, and then, unfortunately, have to cancel at the last minute. Our payment process ensures we are paying for missions actually taken.

Please check with your tax preparer to ensure this grant is not taxed as income. The DAISY Foundation is not responsible for any tax liability to this grant may incur.

To view details on previous Medical Mission Grant Recipients click here !

Next Application Cycle: August 3, 2023-September 30, 2023. Apply here!

Grant recipients will be notified by email whether or not their application is approved for funding.

If Your Application is Accepted

Grant recipients will be notified by email whether or not their application is approved for funding. All applications will require a waiver document with your signature to ensure that The DAISY Foundation has no liability for your safety in the medical mission that you will participate in, should you be selected for a grant.

Following Your Mission Trip

Within 30 days of your return from your mission trip, to receive reimbursement, you will complete a form on this website where you may describe the impact of your medical mission and your contribution to it. You will be able to upload photos for our use in the publicity of your experience and future promotion of this grant program. Also, through this form, you will provide the receipts for your expenses that we will reimburse.

DAISY looks forward to using your description and your photos in marketing the Foundation and the grant program in the future.

Finally, we require that you share the story of your mission experience as you described you would in your application.

10+ Fundraising Ideas for Service Projects & Mission Trips

10 +fundraising ideas for service projects and mission trips.

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The Best Mission Trip Fundraiser

Matching gifts.

The Best Fundraising Idea for Service Projects and Mission Trips

What are matching gifts?

Matching gifts are a type of corporate philanthropy where businesses donate to the same causes their employees give to, matching their donations at a dollar-per-dollar rate.

Why is it great?

84% of donors state they are more motivated to give if they know their donation will be matched. This means you can earn more through your fundraiser by promoting matching gifts, and earn extra funds from donors’ employers.

How can I begin?

Talk to a matching gift software provider about adding a matching gift database search tool directly to your donation page. That way supporters can check if they’re eligible for a matching gift right when they make a donation.

The Most Popular Fundraising Idea

Crowdfunding.

The Most Popular Fundraising Idea for Service Projects and Mission Trips

What is crowdfunding?

Crowdfunding is a fundraising method that helps individuals raise money for any cause through an online donation page.

Crowdfunding is a top fundraising option for service projects and mission trips because it allows the campaigns to reach far and wide for donors, bringing your cause and goals across the world to supporters who want to help you succeed in service.

First, you’ll want to pick a crowdfunding platform . Then, to begin your campaign, you simply set a fundraising goal and create your crowdfunding page. Once the page is up and running, share your campaign with your entire network, including your church, school, neighborhood, friends, and family.

Click to start your own campaign like Leah’s.

Check out this example crowdfunding campaign for a mission trip.

Use our most popular fundraising idea to raise money right now.

Other Great Fundraising Ideas

Cook-off fundraiser.

Learn more about hosting cook offs.

Are you a talent in the kitchen? Do you have a lot of friends and supporters who love to cook? A cook-off fundraiser lets you and your friends have fun while raising money to support your upcoming service trip.

Have participants enter their culinary creations into a contest, judged by event attendees. To vote, ask attendees to deposit a donation in their favorite food’s donation box.

At the end of the competition, tally everyone’s donation collections and the chef with the most money wins. To maximize participation, be sure to promote, promote, promote!

Carol Singing

Learn more about caroling for a cause.

Are you looking to fundraise around the holidays? Do you have a group of supporters with beautiful singing voices? Hosting a caroling event might just be the perfect fit for mission trip fundraising!

Recruit your carolers to walk through your community’s neighborhood and bring Christmas cheer door-to-door. Have the carolers carry a donation jar to collect funds.

Make sure your carolers take a moment during their set to explain who and what they’re fundraising for. That way, your carolers will be raising cheer and awareness.

Have a Bake Sale

Learn more about bake sales.

Bake sales are a classic fundraiser for a reason. They’re popular with supporters of all ages! They’re fun to prep for and even more fun to donate to.

You can advertise your bake sale in advance once to recruit bakers and later to promote the actual sale.

Get creative and be sure to provide options to accommodate any picky eaters! To fundraise, you can charge for the treats or collect donations or even both. Make sure to place signs up around to bake sale explaining the service project that the proceeds are going toward.

Recipe Book Sales

Learn more about recipe sale fundraisers.

Selling recipe books is a great fundraising idea for mission trips because it’s affordable to set up, lets you ask for donations in exchange for a product, and will sell well in your church community.

Put together a cook book with the best recipes that you have. Then, sell the book within your community.

Have the book professionally bound or do a digital version of the book for free on the computer. Be sure to add a dedication in the book to the cause you’re serving.

Karaoke Night Fundraiser

Learn more about karaoke nights.

Karaoke nights are a classic fundraising idea.

Partner with a local restaurant to host a karaoke night to raise funds for your service project. Get the equipment donated and be sure to promote the evening well in advance.

To fundraise, charge a cover for the night and encourage attendees to vote for their favorite “acts” with their dollars.

You can also make arrangements with the restaurant that’s hosting to split proceeds and/or set up food and drink specials. If the restaurant plan doesn’t work out, you can always host at a community center or your church’s rec room.

Penny Drive

Learn more about penny drives.

Penny drives are the perfect low-stakes fundraiser rooted in one principle: small donations can add up to a very large sum. They work well for mission trips because your church is an ideal spot to leave a collection jar.

Get started by setting up a collection jar in a high-traffic area, put a sign explaining your cause next to the jar, and collect donations from people who walk by.

It’s really that simple! You’d be surprised how much you can make with such a simple set up. Pennies add up!

Product Fundraising

Learn more about product fundraising.

When running a product fundraiser, you are selling products (often times products that are branded to your organization) in exchange for donations.

Pick a product (from t-shirts to water bottles to key chains), customize your product design, gather your inventory, and sell, sell, sell.

Put the time in to create a logo or brand that you can place on your products and use to help remind supporters of your goal with your service project or mission trip. Plus, include information about your volunteer trip in all your promotional materials.

Envelope Fundraiser

Learn more about envelope fundraisers.

Envelope fundraisers aren’t that well known, but they’re quite easy to plan and execute well. To prep, you’ll need envelopes and a bulletin board that you can use at your church.

Put your envelopes on the bulletin board and assign each a dollar value. Then, donors interested in funding your mission trip walk by and put cash that matches the dollar value in the envelope they pick.

The overhead costs are practically non-existent. Just be strategic about the number of envelopes you put out and the dollar amounts you assign them.

Used Book Sale

Learn more about used book sales.

Looking for a fundraising idea? Try selling used books to raise money.

Do you have a number of avid readers in your church community? Good! Your church is the ideal place to host a used book sale fundraiser to raise money for your mission trip.

Gather used books, find a communal space to set up shop, promote your fundraiser, and sell your books for a low price. Your can even lean into the theme and create a true bookshop atmosphere!

Promotion will be key here. Send out email blasts and share news about the event on social media. You need folks willing to buy books as well as people willing to donate, so focus on volume with your advertising.

Want to learn more about corporate giving programs?

Top Resources to Help You Fundraise

117+ fundraising ideas for all causes.

This comprehensive resource contains over 200 fundraising ideas.

Still looking for more fundraising ideas and inspiration? Good thing we’ve compiled a diverse list of over 100 fundraising ideas to help you! You’ll select a fundraiser in no time!

Crowdfunding: The Beginner’s Guide

This crowdfunding guide will help you plan your campaign if you choose crowdfunding as your fundraising idea.

Crowdfunding is one of our top fundraising ideas. If you’re interested in pursuing it but not sure where to start, this guide will give you all the necessary background.

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Have you requested donations from companies? There are many businesses in your community that might be open to donating. This guide shows you where to look!

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COMMENTS

Where Missionaries Can Find Grants for Missions Work (2024)
Types of Grant Suppliers. Here are three main grant websites to look into for raising a mission trip's financial necessities. 1. Grants.Gov. Grants.Gov has a long list of various mission trips that you can go on with grants that that already been attached to the trip itself. Warning though, many other people will be applying for these grants, so the competition rate will most likely be high.
How to Raise Money for Your Mission Trip
Here is a quick list of our favorite ways to raise money for your mission trip: Host a bake sale, car wash, or other events. Hold a dinner party. Set up an online donation page. Reach out to your local community for mission trip donations. Ask family and friends for mission trip donations. Send mission trip donation letters.
Next Generation Missional Engagement Fund
The fund supports scholarships for children, youth, and young adults to serve on domestic or international mission trips with a focus on spiritual transformation and long-term impact. The fund is supported by the RCA Church Growth Fund and donations from individual donors. Learn how to apply, donate, and share your stories.
Mission Travel Grant
For mission trips outside the USA, a range of $100-$350 per participant with a cap of $4,000 for any one trip. To help congregations or individuals who may not otherwise have access to these opportunities, additional funding MAY be offered for mission trips open to multiple congregations. Preference will be given to first-time applicants and ...
Earning Money & Asking for Mission Trip Funds
Search for mission trips according to your budget: Under $500, $500 to $1,000, and $1,000+. See also our Fundraising Resources and Funding Your Mission Trip and Ways to Bring Your Friends Along. Have more ideas for fundraising for mission trips that you want to share? Email [email protected].
9 Ways to Raise Money for Short-Term Mission Trips
1. Don't start this process unless you are covering every aspect in prayer. 2. Reading beyond this paragraph assumes you have received permission to raise support from your church leadership. 3. Every participant in the mission trip should be a participant in the fundraising. Letters.
10 Effective Mission Trip Fundraising Ideas
To help you with that, we've compiled ten creative ideas to help you accomplish your mission trip fundraising goals. 1. Make a "Pick a Number" Board. This missionary fundraising idea focuses on creating a large board with many different numbers. You can choose how many numbers to include (e.g., 1-50). You can present them on a board in a ...
14 Successful Ways to Raise Money for Mission Trips
6. Sunday Coffee & Donuts. An easy way to raise money for mission trips is by serving coffee and donuts after or between Sunday services. Ask a few people to run the booth. Set a small price for the goodies or request a free-will donation. If your church already serves Sunday coffee and donuts, get creative!
I need to raise funds?
Mission Trips Volunteer abroad this year on a short term global missions trip offered by one of the best, most-reliable Christian missions organizations in the world. 1-Year Full-Time Internships Internship opportunities with Cru's ministries. Careers If you're looking for the best Christian jobs and careers, check out Cru's ministry job ...
Funding Your Mission Trip and Ways to Bring Your Friends Along
Raising Missionary Support with Global Frontier Missions. Web services to help you with funding that some people use: Give Send Go a crowdfunding site. MissionLinked , and Continue To Give online donor management tools. Go Fund Me popular crowdfunding site. Fund the Nations Sell T-shirts on social media to fund your trip.
Mission Trip Grant
A grant is available through the IGRC Board of Global Ministries specifically for district and conference approved international mission trips. This grant is to encourage first-timers to travel outside of their comfort zones to minister in new places worldwide. Deadlines: Feb. 1 and July 1 each year. The IGRC Board of Global Ministries will ...
Resident Travel Grant Humanitarian Trips
Travel grants provide residents who are Academy members an opportunity to contribute professional service to people in countries with limited resources. The deadline for grant applications for missions taking place July 1 - December 31, 2021, is May 31. ... A significant goal of the mission trip is to bridge this gap by providing lectures ...
Types of Missionary Funding and What Works Best
Learn how to fund your missionary work by raising support from family, friends, community, churches, and others. Find out the benefits and challenges of different ways to fund missions, such as raising support, working a trade, or applying for grants. Get tips on how to communicate your needs and goals to potential donors.
Grant Seekers
Grants for $5,000 or $10,000 will be awarded to small and medium** church congregations, or clusters of churches working together, in a Wesleyan-tradition denomination. ... Mission trips, service projects, or 1-time events or projects. While we encourage the marriage of mission and evangelism, to qualify for this grant, such a project would ...
30 Fundraising Ideas for Mission Trips
Sunday Morning Doughnuts - Some doughnut franchises offer fundraising opportunities — perfect for Sunday mornings! If there is no minimum order, this is good for individual fundraising, too. Bagels are another alternative. Fundraising Website - Simplify giving by creating a group fundraising page with trip information and fundraising details.
Mission Trip Grants
grant parameters. Grants will be targeted for, but not limited to, pastors whose church budgets do not provide adequate funding for missions projects. Grants will be limited to one per church with priority given to the primary pastor attending the trip. Qualifying participants may receive up to $1,500 or up to half their total expenses.
Get Funding
If the grant is only for a part of the total project, the grant will only be released when the applicant can prove that the additional cost of the project has been raised. Any grant awarded should be a significant part of the whole project cost. Our grants have historically ranged from $500 to $5,000. We like to award between 8 - 12 grants ...
7 Guidelines for Navigating Missions Funding
But the ins-and-outs of supporting missions and missionaries are fraught with potential tax and legal issues. By following these seven guidelines, you can avoid many financial headaches and more easily navigate the often tricky area of missions funding. 1. Donors give to missions, not to missionaries. Zach wants to give to his niece's summer ...
Contributions for Short-Term Mission Trips
Clergy Financial Resources. 11214 86th Avenue N. Maple Grove, MN 55369. Tel: (888) 421-0101. Fax: (888) 876-5101. Email: [email protected]. It is a common practice for churches to raise funds to send volunteers on short-term mission trips. The funds are often raised by a participant preferenced for his or her own trip expenses ...
Medical Mission Grants
If your medical mission trip meets our eligibility requirements, then we can help cover the program cost of the trip, with grants available up to $2,000. The foundation will not cover any other expenses related to the medical mission trip, including travel. Please fill out the application and someone from our team will get back to you.
Medical Mission Grants: Goals and Guidelines
Nurses who volunteer their time and expertise to medical mission trips, providing care in under-served areas, are making a significant difference to those populations. Often, medical mission trips require that volunteers pay their own expenses. ... Grants of up to $1,500 each will be funded for upcoming mission trips. Funding is not available ...
10+ Fundraising Ideas for Service Projects & Mission Trips
Selling recipe books is a great fundraising idea for mission trips because it's affordable to set up, lets you ask for donations in exchange for a product, and will sell well in your church community. Put together a cook book with the best recipes that you have. Then, sell the book within your community. Have the book professionally bound or ...

HOW TO RAISE MONEY FOR YOUR MISSION TRIP

LIST OF MISSION TRIP FUNDRAISERS

What is a bake sale fundraiser?

What is a carwash fundraiser?

What is a dinner party fundraiser?

How to set up an online donation page:

What is an example of a mission trip donation letter?

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What is a Missionary? Learning from Biblical Examples

Guatemalan Wildfires Cause Nationwide State of Calamity

Mission Discovery’s Secret Tradition

What is Contextualization?

Next Generation Missional Engagement Fund

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Mission Travel Grant

Note: An entity may only apply for one Synod grant per year. Please choose carefully as you consider your application.

Helpful Hints

North Sewickley Church sees fruits of its labor at Ugandan school/orphanage

Trip to Nepal changes lives here and there

Presbytery of Philadelphia sends team to experience life at southern border

First Church of Allentown digs deep during time in Honduras

Trip to Malawi deepens relational aspect of mission work for volunteers

Work in Ugandan village leaves everyone feeling blessed

Workers from western PA congregations leave mark on Corpus Christi

Marion Center, PA, Church gives to Navajo Nation through preaching, teaching, working

Church of the Mountain delivers medicine but gets more in return on trip to Cuba

Presbytery of Lake Erie uses Synod grants to connect with brothers and sisters in Ghana

Two from Lehigh Presbytery experience Romanian beliefs, culture

Concord Church mission trip offers ‘different point of view’

Olivet Church youth repair homes during Philadelphia Project

Columbia PC’s mission trip leaves lasting effect on ‘Dream Team’

9 Ways to Raise Money for Short-Term Mission Trips

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First a Lockdown, Then Two Hurricanes: Impact and Response in Honduras (VIDEO)

The Accidental Relief Program: COVID-19 in Honduras

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14 Successful Ways to Raise Money for Mission Trips

1. Advertise at Church

2. Write Fundraising Letters

3. Crowdfunding

4. Candle Sales

5. Fun Run / Walkathon

6. Sunday Coffee & Donuts

7. Shoe Drives

8. Restaurant Fundraisers

9. Church Cookbooks

10. Doggie Daycare

11. Live Auctions

12. Pizza Delivery

13. Envelope Fundraiser

14. Service Vouchers

Make sure your mission trip team gets travel insurance before they leave!

AUTHOR: Erik Sorensen

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I need to raise funds?

Raising Support for Your Summer Mission

TRUTH #1: God sends you and God provides for You.

TRUTH #2: On God's Mission, you are God's ambassador.

TRUTH #3: God provides for His ambassadors through His people.

Now, let's look at some common myths of raising support for a summer mission.

MYTH #2: You are begging for money.

MYTH #3: God doesn't know who is going to support you.

MYTH #4: I can raise the support from my own pocket.

MYTH #5: Cru Staff call it "Support Raising."

Biblical Truths about You in Support Raising

And finally, some practicals...

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