It is quite effective when your project lends itself to a site visit from donors and potential donors.
When deciding which foundations or businesses to approach, do your homework first. Your project should fit reasonably within their guidelines of donating.
If your project is new and InterVarsity is not well known in the area, it may help your credibility to let them know IVCF has been doing urban ministry for over 20 years and that we have over 40 projects around the country. The only time this may not help is if the foundation you are dealing with and/or the residents in the community don’t care about anything beyond their own borders.
Community residents, community partner ministries, and the project interns should be emphasized as major beneficiary groups to your potential donors. The residents receive practical help and services; the community partner ministries are able to serve the community more effectively because of the volunteer help for programs they may not have been able to do otherwise or would have had to do on a much smaller scale, not to mention the encouragement and reinvigoration they receive from the interns; and the interns get intense hands-on urban leadership training, discipleship, direction and exposure to opportunities for vocational urban ministry, etc.
It should also be emphasized that we are not a fly-by-night operation, but that we have long-term benefits: the strengthening of community ministries that have ongoing programs and a presence in the community through partnering with our urban project; the continued help of interns who often volunteer their time with partner ministries year-round after the summer, and the long-term commitments often made by interns to return to live in and serve the community after graduation.
Remember that integrity should never be sacrificed by trying to hide that we are a Christian organization from potential donors. Do, however, avoid using “Christianese” buzzwords and lingo. When approaching secular foundations and businesses, emphasize the things they care about (i.e. helping at-risk kids improve, rather than leading them to Christ). Also, do not exaggerate the extent or impact of your project. What we do is impressive enough without stretching it.
Always promptly thank donors in writing! If the project is in progress and you already have a good story, include it briefly in the letter to add a personal interest.
