Support raising is one of the biggest obstacles for people to attend a Summer Mission. Because of that reality, we will do our best to help you learn how to raise the funds and assist you throughout the process. We will try to keep this very simple, but please read the entirety of this page because it is extremely important you know what is expected of you. Keep in mind that we are here to help and that we have already and will continue to pray for you!
****As of 5/1/2021 Please hold on to your deposit and bring to VA Beach. Do not send via mail.****
The project fee is $4,250 for this 10-week SM.
This fee includes all housing, utilities, materials, and books, as well as some SM activities and meals.
The bulk of the SM expense is our housing cost.
Items not included in the fee are things like food, travel, entertainment, etc. (You can raise extra support to cover travel, food, and support raising costs.)
The total SM fee must be paid by June 20th, though it is preferable that you settle this cost by the time you arrive on SM. If for some reason you are unable to raise the total cost, you will be expected to personally pay the difference on Sunday June 20th.
If you would like to be reimbursed for travel expenses and support raising expenses (stamps, envelopes and printing) you can bring those receipts (which means you have to keep the original receipts!!) with you to SM and you will be reimbursed...only if you raise additional support over $4,250!
The $300 deposit cost goes toward the total cost of $4,250. NOTE: However, this deposit will NOT show up on your giving website since it's processed differently than donations.
All checks must be made payable to “Cru.” Your donors will receive a tax-deductible receipt.
Within a season of uncertainty brought on by a global pandemic, Cru is seeking to care for both the participants and their donors by establishing clear guidelines, processes, and communication that enables confidence to engage in the mission.
In light of these uncertain times, where travel plans may suddenly change, Cru has worked out with the IRS a new method for financial partners to contribute to a participant for 2021 Summer Missions. There are now 2 ways to do this
Payments (refundable): are not tax-deductible and will not receive a tax-deductible receipt.
In the event that this mission trip is Cancelled by Cru, payments will be fully refunded.
In the event that the trip participant decides to withdraw from the trip, payments will be redirected to help offset the costs of the mission trip and will be non-refundable.
Once the trip occurs, payments will no longer be refundable.
Donations (non-refundable): are tax-deductible and non-refundable, donors will be issued a tax-deductible receipt.
In the event that this mission trip is canceled by Cru, donations will be repurposed towards other Cru opportunities at the discretion of Cru leadership.
In the event that the trip participant decides to withdraw from the trip, donations will be redirected to help offset the costs of the mission trip.
Once accepted, trip participants will receive an email with a link to their Investment Page. From there, a donor will see an explanation of the two funding options.
Follow this link to view a sample investment page.
The link to your personal investment page will look like this: https://smapp.cru.org/invest/XXXXXXX. The 7 x's are replaced by your 7-digit designation number.
Please share your personal investment page link with ministry partners as the option to give electronically.
**If a donor makes a check out to you.** If the check is made payable to you, please endorse the check on the back in the “Endorse Here” section: “Pay to the order of Cru” and then sign their name beneath that endorsement (sign the name as it appears on the front of the check). If your name is anywhere on the Pay to the Order line, you will need to endorse it, even if it says “Cru - Your Name” or something similar. Here is a short video that identifies common errors and how to endorse a check.
**If you receive cash, please do not send in cash!!** You will need to call the investor and thank them of course! Ask if they intend their gift to be a "payment" of a "donation". For both a "payment" and a "donation", you will need to turn the cash into a money order made payable to Cru. You will send the money order just like checks and make sure to include a post-it-note on it with the donor's name and address.
Note: Some banks don't offer free money orders, they could also check other banks or grocery stores.
From here you can personalize your summer mission support goal.
This site will walk you through step by step how to raise support.
We will be using this site and will reference it through the support raising process.
NOTE: Your $300 deposit will NOT show up here since it's processed differently than donations.
So familiarize yourself with the MPD-tool site and get started!
In years past some have chosen to think outside the box and have utilized alternative methods to raise their support for Summer Mission than instructed. Such as sharing their giving links on Facebook or creating and distributing a “Go Fund Me” link. We appreciate your artistic thinking; however, these methods break Cru policies. Make sure you DO NOT use “Go Fund Me” or other fund-raising sites to raise support for SM! Simply read through the SM Student MPD site we have provided, as it contains everything you need to receive the financial support you need!
As mentioned above, you may ONLY reimburse travel expenses and support raising expenses (stamps, envelopes, and printing). Reminder: you must keep your receipts for these expenses.
Additionally, it can be a huge blessing to "gift" your extra support to other students who have not raised all their support but have worked hard in trying to raise it. Please talk with the Operations Director if you would like to consider this option. They will know the students who may be short. If you are one that is having trouble raising support, please don’t assume that others will have extra money that you will be able to use.
Lord willing this will not happen for you, but if this situation arises, please contact the Operations Director for further details.
Two weeks after acceptance - $300 Non-refundable deposit to confirm your participation on Summer Mission. You can either mail your deposit or log in and pay your deposit here.
By April 4th - $800 raised
By April 25th - $1,600 raised
By May 9th - $2,500 raised
By May 21st - $4,250 raised and get ready to head out for a great summer!!!!
Make 2 copies of your checks (either make physical copies or take pictures and back them up on your phone, a flash drive, or computer)
Keep one copy for your records and bring the copies with you to Va Beach in case they are needed for reference.
Then follow these 2 steps:
Send all checks (and the 2nd copy of each check) to the address below; make sure they are payable to “Cru.” And do not send cash!
Fill out the below “support summary report” sheet recording how much money you are sending in the mail.
****As of 5/1/2021 Please hold on to all checks and money orders and bring them to VA Beach. Do not send via mail.****
****As of 5/1/2021 Please hold on to your deposit & checks, instead bring them to VA Beach. Do not send via mail.****
Cru
Attn: Rob Menko
3113 Scarborough Rd
Lansing, MI 48910
Please let your Operations Director know if you have questions regarding checks