It's not as scary as it seems

World Concern gives help and coaching to people dedicated to working with people in need around the world. Many of our workers say that their commitment to this calling is even stronger, knowing that friends and loved ones are behind them.

Attitude

Support-raising is not begging for money. It is giving others the opportunity to take part in the biblical call to care for “the least of these” around the world. Through the support-raising process, the candidate stretches his or her faith, strengthens relationships, develops prayer support, and builds a support team of people who understand and are involved in the work. 

Getting Started

After World Concern has accepted the new candidate, he or she will be contacted by World Concern’s support-raising coach, and given information about getting started. We offer an orientation class to familiarize candidates with the organization, which includes discussions, lectures, videos, and the practice of support-raising skills.

Principles of raising support

The main principle of support-raising is this: People give to people they know, trust, and care for. Therefore, focus support-raising efforts on people and churches you know. A second principle is that the most effective way of raising support is to meet with people personally, share your vision and excitement with them, and ask them to support you.

Steps:

1. The candidate develops a list of potential supporters of people they know, perhaps by starting with their Christmas card list. It is good to have both churches and individuals on your list.
2. Meet with people personally, explain what God is calling you to do, and ask them to support you financially on a monthly basis.
3. The candidate also makes presentations about what he/she will be doing to churches, or other groups.
4. The fieldworker sends out newsletters once a month, both before leaving for the field, and after he/she is on the field, to keep in touch with supporters, to invite them to pray for specific requests, and to give them the opportunity to continue to give.

Questions?

People who are considering applying to World Concern, but who have questions about raising support are welcome to contact World Concern’s Human Resources department at hr@worldconcern.org. Support raising does not begin until a candidate is accepted by World Concern. People outside North America need to find a sending agency in their country that could assist them with support-raising and send them to work in a World Concern project.

It's possible!

Raising support is possible, and results in a team that will stand behind the fieldworker financially, emotionally and in prayer. Fieldworkers are an essential part of World Concern’s work to relieve suffering around the world. Helping fieldworkers raise support to get into the field with the people we serve is a high priority for World Concern.