Fundraising Support Letter - Forward Edge

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Fundraising Support Letter

Letters are vital to raising support for your mission trip.

If you have to choose between letters and events, choose letters. Here’s why:

They work. People love to see others serve, and they will respond. Even if they might not go themselves, they can be a part of your experience. Send it to Christians and non-Christians alike. Share WHY this cause is important to you – WHY you want to go on this trip.
It’s not just about money. It’s about prayer support. This is absolutely necessary. Any trip that has a spiritual component will have spiritual opposition and requires a good prayer support team!
They’re wonderful faith builders. As team members see God provide both prayer and financial support (often times in the most unexpected people!), their faith grows and they go on the trip very aware that they’re supposed to be there.

Practical Thoughts on Letter Writing

Don’t beat around the bush. You know why you’re writing. They know why, too. Get to it.
Make it personal. Tell about what’s been going on in your life. Share from the heart. And even though we provide a sample letter, be sure your letter sounds like it’s from you. Keep it personal and in your own voice.
Have somebody read it over for you. Spell-check it. Basically, do an excellent job.
Let them know exactly what you’ll be doing (as much as you know) and WHY!
Ask for both prayer and financial support. Give specific prayer items (maybe you want to make a daily prayer list, asking for specific requests for each day. This encourages daily prayer.)
Provide a return envelope with a stamp already on it. This will cost you a bit, but it encourages a response.
Blog before, during, and after your trip. Or provide your email address if they want updates along the way. And add posts or write emails regularly. That’ll get them engaged.
Take a step beyond a blog and create a crowdfunding page. You can use someone like Pure Charity, Crowdrise or GoFundMe.
Find out if it’s okay to send letters to people within the church (only applicable if you’re sending on behalf of the church to people with whom you are NOT acquainted). Most likely you’ll just be sending to family and friends.
Send lots of letters.
Send a follow-up postcard or thank you note to those who’ve indicated they’re going to support you for your trip, letting people know where you’re at, and tell them that if they forgot or would still like to support you, it’s not too late! Immediately send a thank you note when you receive the money or their response.
Send a follow-up letter upon your return. Share your experience and how they helped make it possible.

SAMPLE LETTER

<DATE>

Dear <NAME OF RECIPIENT>,

<TELL A LITTLE ABOUT WHAT’S GOING ON IN YOUR LIFE RIGHT NOW>. Because of your important role in my life, I’d like to share with you about a great opportunity that I believe God is leading me to – an opportunity to serve people in <DESTINATION> on a short-term mission trip. That’s why I’m writing…I’d love for you to be a financial and prayer partner in this mission with me.

For the past few weeks and months, I have been thinking and praying about going on a mission trip to <DESTINATION> with <GROUP NAME>. I believe this is a new step that God is asking me to make. I am excited for all that I will learn in the months leading up to the trip, during the trip, and after I return home. I believe God is going to “do a good work in me” as a result of this incredible opportunity.

<GROUP NAME> is traveling with a missions and relief organization, Forward Edge International, to our final
destination: <DESTINATION>. Forward Edge International offers complete logistical coordination for our team, on-site support, and connects us with invaluable partners in <DESTINATION>. They have worked with local churches in <DESTINATION>, developed relationships and gained acceptance among the community there. I am excited for the opportunity to serve with Forward Edge.

My team from <GROUP NAME> will spend most of our time focused on <PEOPLE GROUP OF DESTINATION>.
Above all, we are devoted to serving the local people and developing relationships with them! This was Christ’s model for evangelism and we are excited to be a part of the Great Commission in <DESTINATION>. Additionally, our team will be <NAME SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES OR MINISTRIES YOUR GROUP WILL BE DOING>.

I am very excited to be a part of this team! As I prepare for the trip, I need your prayers for safety and God to work in and through me, and I want to humbly ask you to consider supporting me financially. The cost of the trip is <COST>. Any amount would be great, but if you would be willing to contribute $20, $50, $100 or more, it would really help me to reach my goal!

Please prayerfully consider how you would be willing to support me during this trip—either through prayer, financial support or both. All donations are tax-deductible and directions for financial contributions can be found below. Thank you for partnering with me and supporting me as I prepare for this adventure! I look forward to letting you know how the trip impacted my life when I return!

Blessings,

<YOUR NAME>

Download this resource as a FREE PDF to use whenever you need!

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Change the World for One

This June, let’s match 30 sponsors with 30 children in our programs for the vulnerable. That is a lot of children learning their true worth in Christ through relationship, but it starts with one sponsor choosing one child at a time. Are you ready to change the world for one?

forward_edge

International children's programs and mission trips that transform lives.
Share your story: #MyForwardEdgeStory

A message from Joseph Anfuso, Founder and Presiden

A message from Joseph Anfuso, Founder and President of Forward Edge
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Our country is reeling right now. As if the global pandemic wasn’t challenging enough, the senseless murder of George Floyd has turned our country upside down. So how are we, as followers of Jesus, supposed to respond? •
First, it’s totally appropriate to be angry. Scripture confirms in Psalm 4:4 and Ephesians 4:26 that there are times when all of us become angry. Jesus Himself was angry at the money changers in the temple—an anger that could only be described as “righteous.” •
Anger is only constructive, though, when it motivates us to focus on a specific problem and offer a solution. That’s what those of us involved with Forward Edge have been doing for decades. Outraged by the injustice of a billion children trapped in extreme poverty—children who in some cases are sold into prostitution or domestic slavery by their own parents—we’re motivated to do something about it. Outrage alone would have been understandable and appropriate. But would it have been enough? •
In the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder, those of us who follow Jesus need to let our anger motivate us toward constructive action. It might be personal expressions of love and solidarity with our African-American friends, along with a willingness to listen and learn. It might be fervent prayer that God would give our nation’s leaders the wisdom and courage to implement reforms that purge injustice. Or it might be repenting of the pride, insensitivity, and prejudice in our own hearts. •
Crises are always opportunities for something good. Right now, each of us needs to ask and respond to the question: What good is God calling me to do today?

This is Silvia. She is 10 years old and lives in O

This is Silvia. She is 10 years old and lives in Oaxaca, Mexico. To her, being sponsored means so much because, “My sponsors tell me in letters about their family and I can tell them about mine. That makes me feel they love me.”
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For the month of June, we’ve set the goal to match up 30 sponsors with 30 children in our vulnerable children’s programs! Relationships can show the love of Christ, reach across cultural borders, and transform hearts. Through letter writing, our sponsors are able to deeply invest in their sponsored child’s life, making them feel heard and loved, just like Silvia. Forward Edge sponsors are even able to meet their sponsored child through a church, school, open, or SAHSAC mission trip.
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Will you pray, share, or sign up to help 30 children get sponsored in the next 30 days?
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If you sponsor a child through Forward Edge or another organization, please share with us below or through a DM, what has sponsoring a child meant to you?
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#forwardedge #childsponsorship #sponsorachild

We’re honored to have such committed and creativ

We’re honored to have such committed and creative Christ-followers in Cuba, Kenya, Haiti, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Uganda on our team who are continuing to support vulnerable children and families during these difficult times.

Please, if you think of them, or know any of them by name, lift them up in prayer today. We’d also love to pass on some letters of encouragement to them from our extended Forward Edge family. If you'd like to send a letter of encouragement to any of our international staff you can email it to fei@forwardedge.org.

Did you receive your save the date in the mail yet

Did you receive your save the date in the mail yet? If you’ve donated or volunteered in the recent years yours should be on its way or already landed in your mailbox! 🎉 If you’re new to the Forward Edge family, you’re also invited to join us this Fall!
We can’t wait to celebrate with you everything God has done, and continues to do even in these hard times, as well as dream together for what is possible in the future 🎈 ✨Save the date ✨for our first-ever nationwide virtual banquet! October 24, 2020 🌏

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Transform a Child's Life Through Sponsorship

Habari (hello), my name is Lucia

Kenya
13 yrs. old

04-03-2007

Entered the program: May 2018

Lucia lives with her parents and 3 brothers in a small sheet metal house with no floor, electricity, or clean water. The home does not have a toilet so the family shares a community pit latrine with their neighbors. Her parents are casual laborers and often don't have work; they sometimes live on less than $1.00 a day. Lucia's brother, Douglas, is also in the Mama Beth program.