how to raise support for
your yom mission trip
Raising support as a YOM team member is a journey of faith, commitment, and communication. It involves sharing your vision, goals, and needs with potential donors, churches and organizations. A team member must build genuine relationships, clearly articulate the impact of their work, and demonstrate the need for financial and prayer support. By creating and using support letters, conducting personal meetings, and posting on social media, team members can keep their supporters engaged and informed about their progress and challenges. It’s not just about seeking funds; it’s about fostering a community of partners who share the mission and are invested in seeing it succeed. The process requires patience, persistence, and a strong sense of calling, as each contribution, whether large or small, plays a crucial role in advancing the mission.
Raising Your Support Handout
Support Letter Templates
1. Make a Contact List.
Start by listing all the people you know. Here are some groups you’ll want to include:
Your Home Church
Talk to your pastor. He may be able to connect you with other churches or individuals who could help!
Also, reach out to your youth pastor, church staff, Sunday School teachers, and Children’s Ministry leaders.
Relatives
Ask your parents if they can look over your list. They might think of friends or family members you forgot to write down.
Also, remember to include siblings, grandparents, uncles, aunts or cousins.
Friends
While your college friends may not have significant financial resources of their own, they can help spread the word to their parents and churches back home.
Pass out your support letter to roommates/suitemates, residence assistants, classmates or friends from your classes and collegian.
Other Contacts
Think of other caring Christians you know. Your teachers, residence hall supervisors, and work supervisors are just a few.
2. Reach Out to your contacts.
The best way to share with others about your trip is through conversations in person. While one-on-one communication is the most personal method, you can also use presentations to reach groups of people as well.
Whether talking to an individual or a group, follow these tips:
- Tell them your destination and the dates of your trip.
- Explain what you’ll be doing.*
- Share your heart for missions and purpose for the trip.
- Give them time to ask questions.
- Ask for their email address, phone number, and mailing address for follow-up.
*Typical ministry activities include tract distribution, Bible clubs, medical clinics, evangelistic campaigns, church services, and public school outreaches.
How do I write my support letter?
YOM provides support letter templates to help you get started. If you choose to use a template, make sure to customize it to fit your mission trip. Use this link to see the support letter templates.
Give specifics, including:
- Destination, trip dates, and ministry activities
- A Bible verse or brief testimony about how God led you to this mission trip
- Prayer requests
- Amount of funds needed*
- Deadline for receiving funds
*You can also mention that funds cover the cost of airfare, lodging, food, transportation in country, country exit fees, ministry materials, and missionary supplies.
If you can, add a couple pictures of you on previous missions trips/other ministry outreaches. Before printing, check the letter for grammar errors and typos.
How do my supporters send funds to YOM?
Off-campus supporters can provide funds online or through the mail using the address below.
Youth Outreach Ministry
PO Box 18315
Pensacola, FL 32523
For online donations, they can click Donate on your team’s website or YOM’s home page.
On-campus supporters can drop off checks at the Information Desk’s YOM Deposit Box. They can take cash donations to the Cashier’s Office.
Important Reminders
• Please ask supporters to make checks payable to Youth Outreach Ministry. They must write your name/your team name on the check memo line.
• Please do not send cash donations in the mail.
• Financial donations given through YOM are tax-deductible.
• YOM will provide all donors (except cash) with a mailed receipt as long as we are given the name of the donor and their return mailing address.
When do I need to have all my funds?
Start raising support now! Your goal should be to have most of your support raised over Christmas break. The fundraising deadline for your mission trips is April 5th.
3. Keep Praying and Trusting God.
Prayer is the key to your summer ministry. Make this a daily part of your life, and ask others to pray, too.
Ask them to pray specifically for. . .
- your team as you prepare.
- effective language skills.
- good health and traveling safety.
- you to reach souls for Christ and encourage the missionaries.
Just as you took a step of faith when you followed God’s leading to this mission trip, you can trust God as you raise support. He can provide for your financial needs!
raising support FAQs
Below you’ll find answers to frequently asked questions. For more info, read the
Raising Your Support Handout you received during training sessions.