That\u2019s right, the great purpose behind your travel is what sets this trip apart from a typical vacation, a weekend getaway, or a honeymoon. And, this goal and good deed is also what will inspire your supporters to donate. They\u2019ll feel much more inclined to support a worthy cause and project, rather than feeling like they\u2019re footing the bill for your next vacation.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re unsure of how to identify the meat and potatoes of your story that your supporters will surely connect with, think over your answers to these questions:<\/p>\n Remember, you should also be prepared to explain your connection to the work you\u2019ll do and the overall positive impact this trip will have on that community. Knowledge is power\u2014the more details and information you can share with potential supporters, the better.<\/p>\n Now that you have your story sorted out, it\u2019s time to focus on the more logistical aspects of your fundraising efforts.<\/p>\n You likely won\u2019t be able to visit all of your potential supporters in person in order to collect fistfuls of cash. And, you don\u2019t want to expect your entire network to take the initiative to mail you checks.<\/p>\n If you want to see great results from your fundraising efforts, you need to make it as easy as possible for people to donate to your cause. The best way to do this? A fundraising page.<\/p>\n The organization that\u2019s coordinating the entire trip can establish team or personal fundraising pages<\/a> for their participants. However, if the sponsoring organization doesn\u2019t have an existing campaign to house these individual pages under, you can also easily set up your own site with CauseVox in order to fundraise for your trip.<\/p>\n Establishing a fundraising site is a great way to not only increase convenience and donations<\/a> but also lend some credibility to the fundraising efforts. Participants now have an official, branded site that they can send their connections to\u2014rather than simply knocking on doors and asking for spare change.<\/p>\n Your site is all set up, and you\u2019re ready to start bringing in some donations. Now what?<\/p>\n Well, it\u2019s time to contact your network and start asking for their support. Your first step is to come up with a list of everyone you know that might be somewhat willing to support your work and trip. Everyone from your grandma to your co-workers belongs on this list. After all, the larger your net, the more donations you\u2019ll likely collect.<\/p>\n Once you have your roster of contacts lined up, it\u2019s time to get in touch with them to explain your cause (remember the point about sharing your story from up above?) and ask for their support.<\/p>\n Fundraising letters are a classic, popular way of doing this. Plus, they allow you to make each connection somewhat personalized\u2014without needing to invest an unreasonable amount of time. If you don\u2019t want to use old fashioned snail mail, the modern convenience of email allows you to accomplish the exact same thing.<\/p>\n Remember to include details of your work, goal, and impact in your message. And, most importantly, point your recipients to your personal fundraising page as a place where they can easily offer their monetary support.<\/p>\n You might think that raising money for a mission trip is far different than any other fundraising efforts you\u2019ve ever been a part of. But, honestly, most of the key elements are exactly the same.<\/p>\n Much like any other instance that requires requesting assistance, making your supporters feel connected and in-the-know about your work is incredibly important. So, make sure you\u2019re proactive about finding ways that you can keep them in the loop. One great way to do this is by making frequent blog updates<\/a> while on the trip.<\/p>\n In your fundraising letter, ask them to pass along their email address so that you can add them to your list of people that will receive the blog through email updates<\/a> while you\u2019re on your trip. This not only reinforces that connection, but it\u2019s also a great way to demonstrate the impact of your work in real-time.<\/p>\n Social media<\/a> will also be your best friend when it comes to staying connected with your supporters. So, you should also include any necessary links or your social media handles in your initial letter, encouraging your supporters to follow your trip and progress.<\/p>\n Post frequent photos and status updates while you\u2019re on your mission trip, so that your supporters can actually see<\/em> all of the great work their contribution is helping with.<\/p>\n Finally, we all know that a hearty \u201cthank you\u201d can go a long way. And, making your supporters feel appreciated and valued is crucial\u2014particularly if you\u2019re planning on fundraising for another trip in the future.<\/p>\n![\"nonprofit](\"https:\/\/causevox.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/ShareYourStory-645x430-1.jpg\")
<\/a>
\nSo, before ever asking anyone for a dime, make sure you have a solid handle on how you\u2019ll share the purpose of your trip with your network.<\/p>\n\n
2. Set Up A Personal Fundraising Page<\/h2>\n
3. Reach Out To Your Network<\/h2>\n
4. Post Updates<\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n5. Show Gratitude<\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n