Support Letter Guidelines

Getting started in support raising: 

• Pray over your own heart and those you will reach out to throughout this process

  • Consider using this prayer guide throughout your support process

• Read this article about the Biblical-basis for raising support

• Take 20 minutes and just “namestorm” different names of people—check your church directory, school, doctors, dentists, friends, sports clubs, as many names as you can! 

  • Aim for at least 50 in your first pass, but repeat this brainstorming process often to keep growing your list

  • You can track these in your personal raising site

Writing the letter: 

• Personalize the letter, even if it takes more time. It makes a big difference.

• Introduce/catch them up on what is going on in your life, comment on what is happening in theirs (if you know).

• Share about your chance to serve on mission and how you hope God will use you

• Tell them your specific need and what it is for.  

• Challenge/ask them for a specific amount. Don’t make “assumptions” about who you send letters to… let them make their own decisions. We’d suggest asking them for “$300, $200, $100, or some other amount”. Be bold!

• Use something “eye-catching” on your letter – include pictures of yourself and beach graphics.

• Make sure your supporters know how to give online or via check

• All checks need to be made payable to “Epic Movement” or “Cru” 

  • Pick one of these for ease (the movement you're coming from makes the most sense)

  • This will save you great headaches later! You are not allowed to change the payee line on the check – a new check needs to be written if it’s made out to anyone else

• Keep it to one page 

• Sign it yourself (you can scan your signature and paste it too)

• Have a staff member on your campus proof-read it before you print everything or send them out.  If you don’t have staff on your campus and would like someone to proof it, show it to your Bible study leader, your college pastor at church, another Christian you respect, or email it to one of us!

sending your letter: 

• Send letters to at least 75 people. 

  • Ideally you’ll send to 150 people. Yes, trust us! Don’t cross anyone off your list even if YOU think they can’t help you out. You never know who God will use to bless you this summer.

  • Remember to ask your church for support as well.  Talk to your pastor and/or your missions committee members.  

  • See the Sample Support Letter for additional guidance 

• Enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope—make it easy for them to support you! 

  • It may be best to have the checks sent to your home address, instead of at school—that means you will have to be diligent about getting the info and sending out thank-you notes!  But that also means you won’t have to worry about people sending you checks to your school address after you left for the semester.

• Send it ASAP!!  The quicker you get letters sent out, the quicker you will hear back from them! And make the return date (“please return it to me by… “) 14 days after the letter is sent, so it won’t be “put aside” and forgotten.

  • If you haven't heard from them within a few days, follow-up with a phone call!

• Remember, if they don’t choose to support you, it’s not an indictment on your person or your character! You are still loved deeply by God, and you are giving them a chance to be involved in eternity through their investment in your summer.

• Send thank you notes as soon as you get the checks.  That will be much easier than trying to write 75 notes while you are on summer mission. 

• Then send them a postcard from Wildwood this summer! Yay! A general guideline is “THANK BEFORE YOU BANK!”