This all started when I began receiving letters in the mail asking for support for a variety of good missionary causes from friends and acquaintances. From some of them I had received multiple letters because the support process was not making much progress. During this season, my wife and I decided to offer our resources, experience, and time to help those with support raising that we could not support personally. The following words are a collection of ideas that have been spurred by others’ questions, experiences, and misconceptions about support raising. As I have reflected over the most common misconceptions it most often comes down to a support raisers understanding of the purpose for each part of the support process. Offering direction here seems to provide a lot of help, direction, and set expectations for funding their particular ministry.

The 5 parts of a support strategy are only as effective as is the clearness of purpose for each part of the process. Each part of the 5 step process is crucial to achieving the end goal. Each one is not supposed to achieve the end goal directly, but indirectly. Each one has its purpose to achieve and set up the next step in the process.

Therefore, rule number 1:

Never use a contact letter as a means for getting support. Letters provide a means for informing and connecting, not asking. People do not respond primarily to letters, but to people so do not let a letter stand in the place of a direct and personal ask. Letters to not let you capitalize on your emotion, your personality, your relationship with the person, nor a conversation. They can seem impersonal and do not communicate personalization and care for a person, but just their finances. A face to face appointment of the other hand communicates you have time for the other person and want them and not just what they can give you.

This is one of the most major misconceptions that I face when counseling and giving feedback to fund-raisers. They misuse the letter for its purpose. Its intention is to inform and set up an initial phone call. That’s all. Nothing more and nothing less. Now, its important because it is a first impression, but its sole purpose is to set up a phone call. That is its primary purpose. Do not try to make your letter a do it all, communicate all, cover everything, ask for money renaissance pamphlet.

Here are a couple of reminder:

1. Keep it to one page

2. Include a picture that is catchy and provides some color

3. Your letter should comprise of three parts:

- Introduction- update them on this present season of life

- Information – inform them about your ministry vision and vehicle

- Invitation – invite them to partner with you

4. Hand write a personal note at the bottom that communicates that you will be calling in one week to follow this letter up.

5. Sometimes if you send a letter to someone who is close to you can make the relationship feel impersonal. Only send a letter to those who you feel you cannot call on directly for your first contact (ie, sending a letter to close friends and family is not needed)

6. Be clear that your intention is to contact them and follow-up with them about the opportunity for them to partner with you financially and prayerfully.
Again, your purpose is to follow-up not gain support out of it. You want supporters, not just support and this comes by the grace of God and for those who sink time into this process. The role of the letter is to set up a phone call-Remember this!!