How to Raise Support While Still on the Field
Raising support while actively serving overseas can feel daunting. How can we raise support relationally while being separated by time zones and ocean water? The good news is—with the right strategies, it can absolutely work. Whether you’re far away on assignment or involved in full-time ministry locally, these tips can help you strengthen your support base and grow your network with confidence.
Top Tips for Raising Support While Overseas
Here are some key strategies to help you stay well-supported, even while you’re serving on the field:
1. Ask Existing Supporters For An Increase
One of the simplest and most effective ways to raise additional support is by asking current supporters for a small increase—typically 5–10%—as long as they haven’t made an adjustment recently. A personalized message (likely emailed) that acknowledges their ongoing commitment with a hearty amount of thanks and explains the current need can open the door to increased giving. It’s a strategic first step that often yields results without the need to expand your network right away.
Keep in mind, these asks are best if you haven’t requested an increase recently or asked them for support within the last 6–12 months. This approach is mainly intended for churches and individuals who have supported you for over a year.
Here’s a quick email template you can take and make your own:
Subject: Hello from Sweden + Support Update
Hi Pastor Ed,
I’m writing from Sweden! I hope all is going well there. I wanted to pop in quickly and share a few updates with you.
First off, thank you to you and 1st Assembly for continually supporting Zach and me as we’ve moved through various assignments in Sweden over the past six years. You all make what we do in CITY/MINISTRY possible, and we couldn’t do it without our team. We love and value you and are so thankful for your ongoing partnership.
Second, I wanted to let you know that we have plans to extend our term another year (🥳), and we’re reaching out to our existing partnership team to ask for prayer and support in this effort. We’re needing about $1,000 in additional monthly support and $12,000 in special gifts to make the extension happen.
If you know of any other churches or pastors who might be open to connecting with us, please let us know. And if 1st Assembly feels led to increase or give a special gift, we’d love to hear from you.
Just to give perspective—if every church on our team increased their monthly support by 10%, we’d already be halfway to our goal!
As always, thank you so much. We’ll continue to keep you posted via newsletters and social media. We’re attaching our most recent update below.
We’d also love to hear what’s happening at 1st Assembly. Stay in touch!
Many blessings,
Jenn (and Zach) Fortner
jfortner@eurasia
Sloane and Merrick
Giving #: ________
Sign up for Prayer Alerts: link__
[Attached Newsletter]
2. Use a Multichannel Approach
This is just a general tip that may come in handy as you think through ways to push out information on your financial need. Using multiple communication channels—newsletters, social media, phone calls, texts, videos, and Zoom—is key to effective support raising – period. Different people prefer different types of communication, so using a mix helps you reach a broader audience in ways that resonate with them. A multichannel approach increases the chances that your message will be seen, remembered, and acted on. So, if you are putting a goal of $1,000 increase in monthly support as you present your need in newsletters also use the same messaging in any social media (that you can based on security), phone calls or text messages (to existing partners telling them of your need), Zoom, emails, etc. I suggest starting with a great graphic and concise copy that you can sprinkle into all of your. communication pieces. Then, text or call or email your existing partners and let them know of your need (this may coincide with asking for increases – or point 1.)
3. Stay Connected and Communicative
As you grow into your role as someone who lives off of financial support, communication with your existing partnership team should become part of your regular lifestyle—not just something you do when you’re actively raising support.
While group updates are important, nothing replaces personal connection. Reach out to key supporters via direct emails, texts, phone calls, or Zoom. Just because you’re overseas doesn’t mean you can’t maintain meaningful relationships. These touchpoints deepen relationships and create opportunities for further engagement and support.
There are tons of great tools out there for staying in touch, especially when itineration time is limited. Use them to check in, express appreciation, and ask for small increases when appropriate.
Need ideas? Check out:
10 Easy Ways to Personally Connect With Financial Partners Without Taking Too Much Time
4. Expired Credit Cards
If a financial partner’s giving stops suddenly, don’t assume they’ve pulled their support. Often, the issue is something as simple as an expired credit card. A quick, friendly message to check in can resolve the issue quickly.
If you don’t follow up, you may unknowingly leave money on the table. Many partners are grateful for the reminder and are happy to update their info once they know there’s a problem.
Here’s a sample template from another worker you may use as you communicate with anyone who has lapsed on their giving:
We pray you are doing well!
I spent some time today catching up on our financial stuff and it looks like the last time you gave was on 8/20/24. Are you wanting to continue giving each month, or are you needing to adjust your monthly commitment? 🙂
(If you didn’t realize your giving stopped, the most common issues are either your card on file expired or you had a “deadline” for your giving from when you originally signed up to give.) If either of these were the reason your giving stopped, let us know and we can help walk you through how to restart your giving.
Regardless of if you’re able to keep giving, we are so thankful for your financial sacrifice thus far. Please let us know what you plan to do so we can keep our financial records up to date!☺️
We love you and are praying for you!
C&C
5. While on Assignment, Make It a Ministry Team Effort
Support raising doesn’t have to be a solo act. Creating intentional time with your ministry team—or even just a roommate or fellow worker—to work on support together can be a game-changer.
Set up a “support raising work party.” Think: cookies, coffee, laptops, thank-you notes, postcards, and good vibes. Working alongside others helps make the task less overwhelming and more enjoyable. (Bonus points if you take time to pray for your supporters as a group.)
Whether it’s writing updates, reaching out to lapsed supporters, or brainstorming fresh ideas, doing it in community builds momentum, accountability, and encouragement.
6. Try a Facebook / Social Media Campaign
You may try in your multichannel approach to existing partners to do a social media campaign. This would include coming up with a specific goal (10 partners at $50 a month), creating a great graphic, creating posts, and getting together a team of campaigners who can post on their walls on your behalf – spreading your need farther than you could get on your own. This is a bit of an older post that explains the basics in more detail.
What’s Next? Action Steps to Try
Feeling inspired? Keep in mind, creating a concrete goal and thinking through your overall strategy before jumping in may be helpful – but here are some simple things you can do to begin!
- Draft an email template to use when a financial partner’s giving stops—having it ready will save you time.
- Post a heartfelt “just because” thank-you to your support team on social media or via your newsletter or text.
- Take 10 minutes this week to pray intentionally for a segment of your supporters, then send them a message letting them know. (then, see if you can repeat that every month)
- Schedule with your ministry team on assignment (or a roommate or anyone you know who is also on financial support!) a regular team session focused on prayer and partnership development.
- Personally connect with your supporters in a different way than you have before—maybe even by postcard!
- Host a Zoom webinar from the field to share updates and answer questions to your existing partnership team. Record it and share it widely (as you are able to based on security)
- Draft an email to send to pastors and then another to send to individuals supporting you asking for an increase. Don’t forget to include in the email the ask of referrals as well!
- Start thinking through who may help you do a social media campaign, keeping in mind your need for security!
Financial Partnership Development 