Partner Raising

Over the past two and a half years, I've been around a lot of church planters. I've not heard one church planter say, "I'm great at fundraising." But I have heard a lot of them say, "I'm horrible at fundraising." God didn't call us to fundraising anyway. Great or horrible, I do think there are a number of ideas to consider when raising partners to help support the vision for a church plant.
Let me also say, my church planter friends think I've raised more money than I really have. Personally, I take it as a compliment. I can say I've raised more partners than they think I have. Money doesn't matter, for me it's about the partners. My goal is to share with you what I've researched, done, and seen others do. I believe we are living the greatest adventure in the Kingdom and God wants people to partner. So, here are some assumptions:

• You have a God given vision. People are giving toward something that is God given, has been bathed in prayer, God sized and will honor His kingdom. This isn't just some idea you're asking God to bless. This is more important than you think, you'll see in a moment.
• It's not about the money. You're not fundraising. If you say its a matter of semantics, then I believe there is a heart issue that needs to be dealt with. Fundraising is for the United Way and other organizations. We're given a vision for a church, not to raise money, but to raise up partners who will come alongside the vision.
• It's not about the amount of money. No doubt you've set a goal that you desire to reach in order to make the vision happen. But when it comes down to it, it's not about the amount of money that people give to help reach that goal. It's about how God can accomplish the vision with what is given. I've seen guys with a half million do far less than guys with $50K.
• You're asking people to give above their tithe to their local church. It's not up to us to transfer God's kingdom resources. People may have all sorts of reasons as to why they want to give to your church plant instead of their local church, but I've not heard one reason that honors God and maintains the integrity of the gift. If they insist, ask them to talk to the leadership of their church. Call potential partners to accountability.
• You're tithing. You would think that doesn't have to be said.

Now that we have those assumptions, here are the ideas and thoughts:

1. Have a "God Given Vision Perspective" (It's not about you): You've got a God given vision, then He's also called others to partner in that vision. God didn't call you to be alone in the vision. God has called you to be obedient to the vision. To be obedient to the vision is to call others to join in that vision and partner with their resources. Before each time I've talked with partners, I've reminded myself its not about me, its about the vision. If people and churches partner, then its because God has compelled them to partner. If they don't partner, then God has not compelled them to partner. That sounds like I'm saying you're absolved of any responsibility, but I'm not. You asking people to partner is not about them, its about you and your trust in God. You're not doing this because you're capable, you're doing this because God has made you capable.
2. Get a "Cornerstone Partner" first. Go for the easy "Yes" first. Find those partners who will act as a cornerstone for other potential partners to build upon. This can be a credibility issue. You need a partner that will give you credibility. Hopefully, this will be a mother church or as in my case a strategic partnership of churches. You will be asked, "How much have you raised so far?"
3. If you're casting a big vision, cast a big net. I've heard too many church planters cast a compelling vision but then cast a small net. Quite honestly, their budgets don't align with their vision. Many of the people we'll approach understand budgets. When they don't see the two align, then they see red flags. Your budget should be 20% bigger than your vision. Why 20%? 20% sounds good. Choose a % and go with it.
4. Customize your vision and net to your potential partner. I've heard guys talk about how they've gone to big churches and small using the same approach. I'm not saying it can't work, but customize it. Don't cast a big vision to a church that doesn't understand big vision. Likewise, don't cast a small vision to a church with big vision. Personally, God has given me a vision for StonePoint to be a significant partner in launching over 100 churches in the next 25 years. I didn't tell every church that, because some churches were wondering how do you launch one, let alone 100. Other churches wanted to know that they were giving to something larger than just StonePoint. Customize your prospectus and your message. One approach doesn't reach all. Always ask for more than what you know they may be willing to commit to.
5. Know your potential partner. Do your homework. Know their vision, core values and catch phrase. Tie the two visions together. Make it a point to cast their vision back to them and tell them how they will be fulfilling their vision by partnering with your church plant. If they don't have one, find out what they're passionate about. One of my partners was adamant about not partnering with a church plant in the "Bible Belt." I found out by asking the Mission Pastor, "What does your team need to hear from me?" He told me and I went in to that meeting locked and loaded on why we need another church in the Bible belt. I later found out that about 80% of their mission's team didn't want to partner. After the meeting, they told me that I challenged them to rethink their church planting efforts.
6. Know your launch date. Have a launch date and know it. I was surprised to have a guy ask me, "What's your launch date?" The question caught me so off guard that I almost forgot it. After all he was holding my prospectus in his lap and the date was right on the cover. Don't fumble that question.
7. Don't do the "I just mailed out over 100 letters!" routine. Be strategic! Before I began the process of launching StonePoint, I served on a church plant staff for two years. In order to do so, I had to raise my salary for those two years. Over half of the people I mailed letters to partnered with me in ministry. That's 50%! Again, I credit God with compelling people to do so. But I can say, I didn't treat people like an address. I only mailed as many letters as I could follow up with in one week. I wrote personal letters, not business letters (still be professional i.e. letterhead). I talked about how they impacted my life and ministered to me; how they were responsible for bringing me to church planting. I included a packet of information about church planting (not a prospectus). I also told people in my letter that I would call them and ask if they had any questions. You can't effectively follow up with 100 people the week after you mail them a letter. (If you've already done this, stop reading this blog and get on the phone.)
8. Give a self addressed envelope with a commitment card. Give people specific levels to partner with. You decide what the levels are. Don't aim too high, without aiming too low. Always include a blank and one time gift opportunity. Still give a personal phone call and give them the commitment card. Some people will want to pray about it, some people will put it in their bill holder and come back to it when they pay their bills.
9. Always ask for "Prayer Partners." This is not an "opt-out." If you think it is, then you're underestimating prayer. You can spin it if you want, but I treat my Prayer Partners like my financial partners. More miracles come out of prayer than money.
10. Have a monthly newsletter. For me this is my PrayerPoints newsletter. Each month, I send a newsletter to all my partners (prayer and financial.) I've recently gone electronic through Constant Contact, but before that I had a form newsletter out of publisher. It was simple front and back, folded in half with space for an address label on card stock paper. However, for my financial partners, I always included a self addressed, stamped envelope, with a personal letter mailed in an envelope.
11. Sometimes "No" means "Yes." Periodically, throughout the year I would send out an opportunity to partner with a special project. I've had some "No" partners become partners because of my newsletter and/or they wanted to partner with a particular project. During my two years at a church plant, I asked people to partner with me and my wife to send us to a church planting conference. We not only raised partners for one conference but two conferences.
12. Call every now and then. I programmed my partners in my cell phone. They knew when I was sitting in the Atlanta traffic because I would call them, thank them, and let them know the difference they're making. More than that I would call and see how God is working in their lives. I would ask, "How has God blessed you by being a partner?" I can't tell you the number of times when I called up partners to talk with them and they encouraged me more than I did them.
13. Get every dime you can get. And know when to say when. I'm not sure I believe the first part, but it is what I've been told and hear others saying. I can say there was a time when I was raising partners for my salary at the previous church plant and I knew I didn't need to send another letter or make another phone call. Trust me, we still made in two years what some guys make in one and I believe it was right where God wanted us. No when He is saying, "Stop." It's God compelling people to partner with you.
14. Be Creative! We just had a baby shower for StonePoint. We've raised half of our needs for the nursery and preschool ministries. We still have one more baby shower that we're praying we fulfill all of our needs for these ministries. Ask partners to sponsor and support outreach events. They may not be willing to make a commitment, but they may be willing to take on an outreach event.
15. Always say Thank You! Don't ever forget this one. Pray for them and constantly thank God for them.

Again, I haven't raised all the money to accomplish the vision we have for StonePoint. I don't believe God would allow that. There has to be faith. I can say that I am excited about the partners we have, their commitment to pray for us, and to know I am not alone. Together, we'll accomplish the vision.