Mission trips can be expensive. Even a short-term mission trip requires a lot of monetary support!
That's why fundraising letters are so crucial to your mission trip preparations. Requesting prayer and financial support through a mission trip support letter can be an effective way to ready yourself for the opportunity that God has given you to do foreign evangelism.
However, successful fundraising is about more than just dropping a note in the mailbox. A well-crafted fundraising letter can make the difference between having the funds you need versus having to personally cover the total cost of the trip.
Keep reading for easy and effective fundraising letter templates and tips you can use to ask for monetary support from friends, family, church members, and even businesses!
Subject: "Join me on my life-changing mission journey"
Dear [Donor Name],
God has presented me with an opportunity to go on a mission trip to [your destination] through [name of church/mission org].
The trip begins on [first day of trip] and I will return on [return date]. We will be partnering with [name of org/church] to share the love of Christ with the people they serve.
During our time, we will:
[list of responsibilities and tasks you will perform on the trip]
I know the experience will not only bless the people in the community, but will also bless me and everyone who is sending me. I am excited to see God work in the lives of everyone we minister to and I look forward to sharing stories with you when I return.
In order to go on this trip, I have to raise $[enter trip cost]. This cost includes housing, food, transportation, and supplies. Our goal is to raise the money through sponsorship.
I am praying that God blesses me and the rest of the team with the courage to take the Gospel to people who have never heard of Christ. I am also praying that we receive sufficient support before and during the trip.
The biggest way to support me is through prayer. Please pray for [mention a few specific prayer needs]
I will also need to raise $[entire trip cost] before [fundraising deadline]. If you can support me financially please know that it will be used to make an impact for God's Kingdom.
I will be taking donations by cash or check. Please make any checks out to [church name] and put my name in the memo so your donation can be tax-deductible.
No matter how you are able to support me, I am extremely grateful. If you are interested in following along with my mission trip experience, you can do so here - (link to blog or social media page).
In Christ,
[Your Name]
Reaching out to friends and family.
This mission trip fundraising letter template is primarily aimed at people who already have a close relationship with you. Use this to announce that you feel called to this purpose and ask for your loved ones to partner with you as you prepare to go.
Subject: "Support our church's mission trip to [Destination]"
Dear [Donor Name],
God has presented me with an opportunity to join the mission trip to [name your destination] led by [mission trip team leader].
As you know, the trip begins on [first day of trip] and I will return on [return date]. We will be partnering with [name of org/church] to share the love of Christ with the people they serve.
During our time, we will:
[list of responsibilities and tasks you will perform on the trip]
I know the experience will not only bless the people in the community, but will also bless our church. I am excited to see God work in the lives of everyone we minister to and I look forward to sharing stories with you when I return.
In order to go on this trip, our team has to raise $[enter trip cost]. This cost includes housing, food, transportation, and supplies. Our goal is to raise the money through sponsorship.
I am praying that God blesses us with the courage to take the Gospel to people who have never heard of Christ. I am also praying that we receive sufficient support before and during the trip.
The biggest way to support us is through prayer. Please pray for [mention a few specific prayer needs]
We will also need to raise $[entire trip cost] before [fundraising deadline]. If you can support us financially please know that it will be used to make an impact for God's Kingdom.
We will be taking donations by cash or check. Please make any checks out to [church name] and put [your group name] in the memo so your donation can be tax-deductible.
No matter how you are able to support us, I am extremely grateful. If you are interested in following along with the mission trip experience, you can do so here - (link to blog or social media page).
In Christ,
[Your Name]
Asking for the support of your church.
This mission trip sponsor letter is best used to let your fellow church members know you plan to go on this trip and ask for the support you need. Use this to get everyone excited about the work that God is going to do on the trip!
Note: This letter doesn't ask the recipient to support just you, but the entire team. The reason for this is to avoid your church members getting multiple support letters, each asking for a donation to a different teammate. Since most members can't donate to each person on your mission team, it's best to pool all donations from church members and evenly split them among the team.
ChurchTrac Online Giving allows members to give to your church from anywhere. Support missionaries, donate tithes, and more on the go!
Subject: "Help [Company Name] make a difference on our mission trip"
Dear [Business Owner's Name],
I'd like to share a unique opportunity for [business name] to sponsor a humanitarian aid team to make a positive impact and leave a lasting legacy for your organization.
On [trip start date], we will be arriving in [your destination] to provide relief for the local community. On this trip, we will:
[List the work you will be doing]
This community has faced tremendous challenges and persevered. Though we will only be with them for a few days, our efforts will help give them a brighter future. You can help give them the relief they need by supporting us!
You can support our work by making a tax-deductible donation today! Any amount will be appreciated, but we recommend [list three amount options - i.e. $250, $500, $1000]. Make the donation to [name of church] and put [mission team name] in the memo so that your donation can be tax-deductible.
Thank you so much for your support and consideration.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Requesting sponsorship from local businesses.
You can encourage local businesses to support what God is calling you to do by letting them know of an opportunity to make a positive difference in the world, as well as make a tax-deductible donation.
Subject: "We're halfway to our mission trip goal – Thank you!"
Dear [Donor Name],
Because of you, we're halfway to our fundraising goal! Thank you for your support.
Your donations have set a powerful example of generosity and faithfulness. We are getting closer and closer to our opportunity to serve and share God's love with people who need it desperately.
Would you prayerfully consider increasing your donation? You have already given so much, so do not feel burdened to give more. But if you are able, an extra donation could push us the rest of the way to cover the full cost of the trip.
Again, thank you so much for the support you've given. We wouldn't be able to spread the Gospel without you!
Blessings,
[Your Name]
Updating supporters on the fundraising progress and expressing gratitude.
As you receive donations, take a moment to thank your supporters and share your progress. This keeps them connected to your journey as you prepare and it can also motivate a few to donate a little more to get you even closer to your funding goals!
Subject: "You're invited to our mission trip fundraising event!"
Dear [Donor Name],
We're hosting a fundraising [enter type of event here - i.e. dinner/bakesale/car wash/etc] at [name of church] to help raise funds for our mission trip to [name your destination]. I want to inviting you to come, have a great time, and hear the story of what the team will be working on during the trip.
Below are the details of the event:
[Share date, time, and address of event]
We will share with you the challenging road ahead, what God is already doing in the country, and how we hope to see God work while we are there.
We are excited to be a part of this story and want you to be a part of it, too!
Looking forward to seeing you there,
[Your Name]
Inviting supporters to a fundraising event.
Is your church or ministry hosting a fundraising event for your mission trip? Invite everyone you know with another missionary fundraising letter!
Subject: "Only 1 week left to support our mission trip!"
Dear [Donor Name],
The deadline is almost here!
Our mission trip is getting very close and I still haven't quite raised the full 100% of the trip cost. Please prayerfully consider making a donation today. If you have been waiting to send financial support so that I can take the Gospel to people who need it desperately, now is the time!
I still need to raise $[enter remainder of trip cost] by [enter fundraising deadline]. You can write and send your mission trip support to [church name] with my name in the memo so that your donation can be tax-deductible. Any amount will help.
Thank you so much for your encouraging support. I couldn't do this without you.
Blessings,
[Your Name]
Urging last-minute donations as the deadline approaches.
Some people do everything at the last minute, including supporting to a missionary like you. Send this letter as the deadline fast approaches to motivate those last few people to send a check they've been meaning to send you.
Subject: "Double your impact with our mission trip matching campaign!"
Dear [Donor Name],
Exciting news! A generous donor has pledged to double your gift!
Any donation made between today and [enter deadline] will be matched by this generous gift. If you have been waiting to send financial support for this trip, now is the time to double the impact of your donation!
I will be taking donations by cash or check. Please make any checks out to [church name] and put my name in the memo so your donation can be tax-deductible.
No matter what, thank you so much for your support and prayers.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Announcing a matching donation period to encourage support.
This letter is unique in that it requires a donor to offer a large sum and match all other donations. But if you are blessed with such an opportunity, this letter is the perfect way to spread the word and get more people to donate.
Subject: "See the difference your support makes on our mission trip"
Dear [Donor Name],
The mission trip to [enter your destination] is about much more than just [briefly share details of the work you will be doing]. It's also about ministering to the community and sharing God's love with them.
I was blessed to go to [enter destination of previous mission trip] and see God do amazing things. Below is a story that has stayed with me ever since:
[Briefly share a story of transformation and life-change that occurred on the previous mission trip. Keep it to 1-2 paragraphs]
This trip will be no different. God is getting ready to change lives. You can be a part of that impact by making a generous donation today. Any amount will help, but a donation of [enter three amounts - i.e. $25, $50, $100] is recommended to get me to my goal of $[enter entire trip cost].
Thank you for your support. As always, please keep me in your prayers as I get ready to go and share the Gospel.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Sharing stories and testimonials from past mission trips.
If you've been on a mission trip before, consider putting together a written presentation of the impact of that trip. That way your donors will have more than an abstract notion about "making a difference". This works even if your past mission trip was to a completely different region than the one you're preparing to go to now.
Note: Never been on a mission trip before? The missionary organization you're working with may have material you can use to illustrate the impact others can make through their generosity. Check their website to find out.
Subject: "Thank you for supporting our mission trip!"
Dear [Donor Name],
You did it!
You successfully helped me raise $[entire trip cost] so I can take the Good News to [your destination]! Praise God!
Thank you so much for your support. This would not be possible without your love and generosity.
Now that the money has been raised, the real work is about to begin. I ask that you be my prayer partner as we make the final preparations for this trip. There is still much to do before I go, but I am excited to be able to see God move in a mighty way on the trip.
You have been a big blessing to me. I promise to share that blessing with the people in [your destination] and put your support to great use.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Acknowledging and appreciating your donors.
Every letter you send needs to express appreciation, even if the recipient doesn't send any support at all. However, you should also send a follow-up letter to every person who donated to your trip. No matter how big or small their donation, we can't let them think we take them for granted.
As you send each letter, create a social media post that corresponds with that letter. Below are some ideas to inspire you:
We offer these free mission trip donation letter examples to simplify the most important part of the preparations. That way, you won't have to overthink or stress over sharing your heart to go on this trip.
Personalize and adapt the templates to fit your needs and your audience. We wish you nothing but success in your fundraising journey!
Matt
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