Staff Support Strategy

At Inner City Youth Alive we want to give our staff as many resources as we can to help them accomplish the goal of raising full time support.

ICYA will commit to supporting you though the process through a number of tangible ways:

• We will give you the information for getting started on the process.
• We will help you with your initial letter and accompany that letter with a letter from the Director.
• We will provide you with letterhead, pledge forms, return envelopes and information about the Direct Withdrawal program.
• All pre-approved costs related to your fundraising efforts will be paid for.
• Any questions that you have about the ministry can be answered by talking with the staff at ICYA.
• We will come along side you for the purpose of coaching and role-modeling as it relates to making contact with your donors.

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Two books we recommend
Friend Raising by Betty Barnett gives you practical ideas on raising support and does so from a Biblical perspective. The overall gist of the book is a little softer than "People Raising". If you like to take things slower and less aggressive than go for the "Friend Raising" side.

People Raising by William P. Dillon. Mr. Dillon is a little more aggressive in his approach and yet has great ideas. "People Raising" comes with forms for tracking your contacts and comes at it from more of a strategic approach. If you are a go getter you might find the "People Raising" book more your style.

If you have the time, reading both would give you the perspective from both sides.

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Some ideas on how to get going on your fundraising
Summary statements of the 12 steps mentioned in "People Raising" (minus the 12th step which does not fit for us).

1. Begin with your home church
In making contact with your local church you will want to begin with your pastor. It is important that you have a sense of commissioning from your church and that you do good process on how to begin your fund raising process with the church. Does your church have a budget for missions or do they ask you to contact individuals within the congregation. There are plus' and minus' to both of these scenarios.

2. Determine to whom you will go for support
Systematically list your acquaintances be creative and try to remember anyone that you met who you feel may have a connection to you or your family. Do not take shortcuts; carefully consider who could help you surface people whom God will use to meet your support needs.

3. Record and catalog prospects
Record and catalog the names. Although it is time consuming and difficult (especially for those who are not detail-oriented), a thorough job now will save time and reap great benefits. Prioritize your list of prospects to select the top ten contacts. These are prospective donors on whom you will initially concentrate your support-raising efforts.

4. Mail your first prayer letter
Take a look at the sample letters in this package and begin your process of writing the letter. Once complete let ICYA take a look at it to give you pointers. Some people take hours to produce a simple letter, but you do not need to produce the perfect letter. Your time will be better spent preparing to meet people one-on-one.

5. Make appointments
Call the people on your top ten list to set appointments with prospective donors. Have a clear sense of what you will say when you make the calls. You know that your goal is to get to sit down with the person.

6. Conduct the visit
You've set an appointment for a certain day, time, and location. Before leaving for that first appointment. Pray that the Lord will guide you and be glorified during your time with the potential donor. Chances are the person you are meeting is somebody you know and for that reason should know how to approach.

7. Track support
After each appointment, add the name to your donor roster and systematically follow up on each contact

8. Say thank you
When you receive a support gift, write a thank you letter within twenty-four hours (or whatever time period is practical). Showing appreciation is key to maintaining your support, so don't neglect those who lovingly support you.

9. Conduct a letter/phone strategy
If you cannot visit a potential donor, you need to write a letter and follow up with a phone call.

10. Expand contacts
There will come a time, as you pursue your support, when you will think you have run out of contacts. Don't be discouraged. The people are out there. It is up to you to network through your friends and broaden your support base. Remember that expanding your number of contacts is possible.

11. Cultivate Your Support
All of your support is in. You have reached your goal. You say "Praise the Lord; support raising is done." Wrong! You should continue to cultivate your support.

At Inner City Youth Alive we believe that raising financial and prayer support is not just a necessary way to run our ministry but can be a real spiritually growing experience and a blessing on both the missionary and the supporter. The approach we have adopted has been proven in other organizations such as Youth For Christ, Youth With A Mission, Living Bible Explorers, The Navigators, and the majority of mission organizations that send people over seas. Our support raising policy will certainly take staff out of their comfort zones, and that can be a great catalyst for growth.