Bonus Preparation Opportunities
The following preparation opportunities are not required.
1. Read one of books listed on the resource page before you attend the SRT. Example: tackle Scott Morton’s book, “Funding Your Ministry: Whether You Are Gifted or Not.”
2. Namestorm a minimum of 200 names of people you could potentially approach about joining your support team. Record their name, address, phone and email info. Then segment and prioritize them into top, medium, and low prospects.
For this assignment you will be brainstorming names of every person you have ever had a relationship with in your life. At this point you are not assessing if someone can support you financially; rather, you are asking the question, “Who are the people throughout my entire life that may be willing to hear the vision God has given me?”
Here are some keys on how to do this:
• Go through past records, photos, videotapes, address books, Facebook, etc.
• Think of categories of life (family, grade school, high school, college, professors, business associates, etc…)
• Whom have you prayed for?
• Name storm with the alphabet last names ("A" equals Anderson, Adams, Albert, etc.) and name storm with occupations (“A” is accountant. “B” is banker…)
• If you are married, include everyone from your wedding invitation list.
• College graduation ceremony list.
• Christmas card list.
• Invite some friends over for a meal and have a Brainstorming Bash. Let them help you namestorm.
• Who are people from your current and/or previous church?
• Pray daily for the Lord to remind you of people that you should contact.
• Pray also for the Lord to bring you into contact with people that may want to hear your vision.
Recording
Once you get each of the categories complete, begin to type these names into your database (See the next section of creating a database with TnTMPD). You may need to enlist the help of friends and family to obtain current addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses of all your contacts. We have also found the Internet to be an effective source for finding people’s addresses, phone numbers and emails. You can go to www.google.com and then search for www.whitepages.com.
Segmenting
A starting approach to using your lists of names is to think of whom you would like to approach first about joining your team. It will be encouraging to build some momentum in raising a budget, so who would your top 10, 25, and 50 people be to talk with?
When you are organizing and arranging your lists, think in proximity terms. For example, be sure to segment all of the people that live in the same city, state, region.
Prioritizing
As you work on your database, prioritize your lists of names based on high, medium, or low response. This will demand that you make an educated guess (to the best of your ability) about how people might respond. Put an “H”, “M”, or “L” next to each person’s name.
High Priority (H)
These are folks who have the capacity to give and would be receptive to your vision
These are people who know, love, and care for you.
These are people concerned about reaching and discipling others for Christ
Medium Priority (M)
These are folks who have the capacity to give and could be receptive to your vision
These are folks who know you fairly well
These are people whose faith commitment may not be as clear to you
Low Priority (L)
These are folks who have the capacity to give, but you don’t know if they are likely to give
These are folks you do not know very well
Once you prioritize the people on your lists, the strategy is clear: The idea is to begin to approach people who know you and are more apt to give, rather than someone who isn’t. By prioritizing your contacts, you will save valuable time and energy by focusing your attention and effort on those most likely to partner with you.
Note: If you choose to tackle this assignment before coming to the SRT, do not contact anyone on the lists until you have gone through the SRT. If you violate this instruction, a giant python snake will be sent to squeeze the life out of you.
Set up A Database
It is vital to develop a great database for fundraising purposes. Programs like MS Outlook, MAC address, Filemaker/Bento, or MS Excel are very helpful and it is up to you to choose what program and system you feel most comfortable using. There are many databases to choose from but we want to recommend a database tool for missionaries. It is called TntMPD and was designed by a member of Campus Crusade for Christ to help missionaries raise their support. The designer has graciously made it available to us as well.
Where can I find this program? http://www.tntware.com/tntmpd/
Why this database program?
• It was designed specifically for missionaries raising support.
• It is FREE. Wow! Many database programs like this cost hundreds of dollars.
What does it do?
• Helps you keep accurate records or your support team.
• Imports contacts from Outlook 2000.
• Synchronize (two-way) with Outlook 2000 (for syncing to palm computers).
• Easy mail merge with Word 2000. It is simple to use.
• You can store pictures (JPEG, BMP) with your contact. It is great to see pictures of your supporter and their family every time you want to call or write them.
• Links to auto dialer.
• Automatic reminders to send birthday cards. I love this feature.
• Helps you analyze your support in many key areas.
3. Go to YouTube and watch the support raising videos from Steve Shadrach:
1. Introduction to Personal Support Raising (1:57 minutes)
2. The Initial Phone Call for Support Appointment (2:15 minutes)
3. Building Rapport During Support Appointment (2:17 minutes)
4. Sharing Testimony and Calling at Support Appointment (1:55 minutes)
5. A Transformed Life Story During Support Appointment (1:17 minutes)
6. Sharing the Ministry Vision in a Support Appointment (1:43 minutes)
7. Asking for Monthly Support Face to Face (1:17 minutes)
8. How to Bring Closure at Support Appointment (1:43 minutes)
9. Follow Up Call to Secure Decision (1:53 minutes)
10. Getting First Check and Referrals (3:34 minutes)
11. Five Keys to Successful Support Raising (0:40 minutes)
4. Download and utilize this support raising brochure and video.