Fundraising

You may be feeling intimidated at the prospect of raising the funds necessary in order to participate in this mission; that’s normal! Also, we are here to help! As full-time CCO missionaries, we are required to fundraise our entire salary, so we are more than willing to give advice from what has worked in our experience.

• Pray, Pray, Pray! - Ask God for inspiration of who to ask; what to do to raise the funds. Pray for boldness to ask for money, and pray in thanksgiving when He provides for you
• Trust that God has called you to be part of this mission and therefore He will make it possible for you to get there.
• Start Early: Let's be real; fundraising is not always a fun thing and it's easy to procrastinate. However, the task will only get more daunting the longer you wait. Start by asking a few people - you will be encouraged to keep going when donations start coming in.
• Don't be afraid to follow-up: Often people will receive letters or emails asking for money and intend to give, but then forget - don't be afraid to give them a call or send a message reminding them.
• Encourace each other: Connect with others in your area to share ideas, write letters, do follow-ups and pray together. You're not in this alone!

Raising Money: A Test of Faith

The process of raising money is a great opportunity to grow closer to Christ’s heart. It challenges us to really rely on him and to trust in his providence. It is a time where we face our doubts in God's plan for us. Of course, theoretically, we know God is all powerful and loving, and therefore can and will provide for our every need. However, our own desires for control and our individual wounds make it harder to believe this when faced with raising a few thousand dollars and we don’t know where it’s going to come from.

Yes, you have to make the effort to find people, but in this, remember that God is in control. These people are waiting for you to bring them hope in a world filled with messages of despair. They are waiting to become involved in a great mission where they can build the kingdom of God side by side with you. They are waiting to be invited and want to hear about God’s Kingdom being built through your work on this mission project. For some people, your missionary work may be the only source of concrete hope they hear about!

Your heart needs to be humble and totally dependent on God. He is the one who will inspire people to give. It won't be easy, but it will be worth it! You will be more certain of God's love and faithfulness after this time. However, you must be open to what God wants to do in you! Open your heart to God the Father and let the Holy Spirit direct you.

God is calling us to work hard. We can do all the praying and hoping possible, but if we don't mail our letters or pick up the phone, we will not get donations. Yes, God wants to provide for us, and he will, through our hard work. This famous quote from Saint Augustine sums up fundraising nicely:

"Pray as though everything depended on God. Work as though everything depended on you." - St Augustine

“For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call up- on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.” - Jeremiah 29: 11-12

One common stumbling block in brainstorming is the question you are asking. Most will ask: "Who can I ask for donations?". This will really limit your list. If you are just looking for people who you can ask for money, you will be nervous to jot down certain names. The proper question is: "With whom can I share CCO's mission?".

You are not alone; even CCO staff find it difficult asking people for financial support. But we do like talking about CCO and what God is doing through our movement in the lives of young people. It is one of the best parts of our job. With that in mind, do not limit your list to people who are in good financial situations. Everyone you know could use a dose of hope. Essentially, when you disregard someone because you think they would not give, you are effectively making the decision for them. In the words of Fr. Bob Bedard (founder of the Companions of the Cross), "Don't deny a person an opportunity to be charitable".