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How to Write a Missionary Fundraising Letter

Every year, many groups and individuals go on missionary trips to other parts of the world. Such trips usually require the payment for an international flight, money for lodging and food, as well as supplies for the teaching that goes on during a missionary program. Groups and individuals usually write a fundraising letter to ask for a donation to help pay for these expenses. These letters are often sent to family members, Christian organizations and churches.

Instructions

- 1
  Address your letter with "Dear" followed by the person's or organization's name to which you will send the letter. If you're sending the same letter to multiple people or organizations, leave a blank space after "Dear" and fill it in once you've finished writing the letter and you duplicate it to make one for each recipient.
- 2
  Explain your objective in going on the missionary trip. Where will you be, what organization will you be working with, when are you leaving and how long will you be there. For example, you could write, "After much research, prayer and consultation with the pastor at my church, I feel God is calling me to go to (the country you plan to go to) to serve the (children, adults or particular community you will serve) alongside the (group you plan to work with). I will leave for (country) on (specific date) and, plan to stay there for (amount of time).
- 3
  List the different activities you plan to do on your missionary trip. What type of work will you do? How will you be helping the people and benefiting the community you plan to visit? For example, will you be conducting a Bible school? Besides teaching, do you plan to help build a school, church or other facility? This should be specific to the organization you will be working with, so make sure you obtain this information from them.
- 4
  Outline your goals for your trip. These could include building a school, teaching children about the Bible and Christianity, conducting baptisms, discussions, and other activities.
- 5
  Write a couple sentences about how important this missionary trip is to you. For example, if you have not already written this, and you feel God is encouraging you to go on this trip, then write this in your letter. You may also write that spreading the word of God to those in less advantageous environments is a very important goal or purpose in your life, and this trip is a major part of that.
- 6
  Ask for financial help at the end of your letter. Put together your budget, including all expenses from airfare to lodging and supplies. Detail this budget in your letter. The more broken-down it is, such as the amount for lodging per day, the amount per Bible, and the amount per notebooks, the more likely readers will want to help. Appeal for your readers to consider helping you with funds for a part of your trip. Write about how you appreciate any amount. Also include the deadline by which donors must send the money.
- 7
  Write about how you will be able to keep donors updated about progress made on your trip. If you plan to keep a blog or send out regular e-mail updates, for example, mention this, with a URL address to a website or blog if needed. If you plan to regularly upload photos, tell your readers this. Potential donors want to know they will be able to see the results of their donations.
- 8
  Include an address to which recipients can send checks. If a donation is tax-deductible, include this detail.
- 9
  Sign off the letter by thanking readers and closing with "Blessings," "In His Service," or something similar. Sign your full name and date the letter.

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