Make Yourself Uncomfortable to Raise the Money

In this process of fundraising, who is it that needs to raise the money? You. So, between you and your partners, if someone is going to do the hard work, it should be you!

Don't push the work on to your partners, expecting them to get back with you or move through all the obstacles. Make it as easy as possible for them to say yes - do the hard work for them. Make a clear ask, follow up, and be gracious no matter the final decision. If anyone should feel uncomfortable, it should be you. You're the one who needs to be pushing out of your comfort zone, not asking your potential partner to go the extra mile. And we're not the only ones saying this; the great people at SRS also advocate for a direct financial ask.

Following up with people shouldn't be complicated. Keep it simple! Just have one sentence of personalization, i.e., "Hi Sarah, I hope you and your family are enjoying your holiday preparations!" This would be followed by the main point of your email (your chance to follow up). "I wanted to see if you had a chance to consider a partnership, sharing the gospel of Christ with people in South Africa?"

IF ANYONE SHOULD FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE, IT SHOULD BE YOU.

Adding a bunch of extra information can feel like you're trying to come up with other things to say, so it's better to just stay focused and clear. It also communicates how much you want to respect your reader's time by keeping it brief. So, do the hard work of editing out all the extra and allow your financial partners the chance to join you.