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| This awesome thing is from a sermon series at our church! |
People comment all the time about how they would adopt, but they just can't afford it. I say, "Join the club!" Most people can't pay cash for a $40,000 car, but they find a way to finance it and make it happen. The major difference with paying for an adoption is while someone isn't going to buy a puzzle piece to sponsor your next car, they are more than willing to buy a puzzle piece to help give an orphan a home and family. There aren't grants for someone who wants a new car, but there are lots of grants to help with adoption. So, if you are considering adoption recognize God CAN do what you CAN'T do. Here are some ideas to create opportunities for God to inspire His people to join in the plan He's given you.
First, there are different ways to look at fundraising. You can offer a product for people to purchase. T-shirts, bracelets, coffee, Christmas trees, Scentsy, Jamberry or Thirty-One parties or parties for similar products, 5K runs, worship benefits, Chick-fil-a spirit nights, and silent auctions are all options. Each of these choices has its pros and cons. T-shirts and bracelets offer publicity for your adoption. They give people an opportunity to make a visible and lasting connection. Depending on the type of T-shirt and bracelets you sell, the publicity benefits may be greater than the amount of money you make. Coffee, trees, and parties where you sell something are great opportunities to communicate your heart behind your adoption but your monetary return may not be as great--depending on which product you sell. 5K runs, benefits and silent auctions require lots of preparation, finding sponsors, and asking for donations, but they can have a large return financially. All of these are great opportunities to offer a product. They all allow people to participate in your adoption. Different people connect in different ways, therefore creating a multitude of ways for people to connect is important.
Let's talk about publicity for a second. That sounds like a bad, self-serving word in this context, but it's not. Publicity gets people praying and aware of ways to become involved. Most importantly it creates awareness for adoption which is the major reason I love it. It's not about a spotlight being on you or your life. It shows people that adoption is a tangible and realistic goal if it is something they feel led to do. This is one reason we keep a blog and use Instagram and Facebook to let people know about the process and how they can jump in. It's the reason we try to be super transparent and honest about the process, our feelings, monetary needs and all the necessary paperwork. I want adoption to be in your face and I want you to consider it, I'm not beating around the bush about that fact!
Another way to look at fundraising is as an opportunity for someone to just simply give and team up with you in your goal. It's hard to just ask for money, trust me, I know. We live in a country where people pride themselves on paying their own way and not accepting handouts. I believe these are very important values. But do not let pride stand in the way of you doing what God may be calling you to do. Get rid of the pride and create some humble (non-begging) opportunities. Trust God will provide. We all know God allows hundred-dollar bills to rain from heaven, but while you're waiting for that day, remember normally God uses the body of Christ to support each other. So ask them. I have had many people tell me if they decide to donate money, they want all of it to go toward our adoption and they aren’t interested in a product. Offering ways for people to simply give a financial donation is humbling, but crucial. Great examples of this are sponsoring puzzle pieces, tag the bag, Pure Charity, Go Fund Me, Abba Fund, even good ole-fashioned fundraising letters... This list is by no means exhaustive. There are lots of ideas and websites for these types of giving opportunities. The sky truly is the limit with fundraising.
Grants. There are so many out there. I will do a separate post to list out what we have done. But, grants just take a little time, research and effort. We have received a third of our funds through grants alone.
When it comes to fundraising, it's not about picking the perfect fundraiser as much as getting your information in front of your audience and connecting. Here's some things to consider when fundraising.
- Think strategically. If you need to raise a substantial amount of money you need a plan. If you just need a little help, then there’s less thought necessary. For us, fundraising is pretty critical so we are trying to be wise on how we go about it. My suggestion if you are in our boat is mix and match the types of fundraisers you do. Remember, adoption is a marathon, not a sprint, so you have time. I definitely crammed a lot in early on. It worked out OK because people were excited and they jumped on board. This was a huge blessing, but it wasn't the ideal method. So, ideally, take your time, think about what time of the year is most effective for different types of fundraisers, mix smaller fundraisers with larger ones. Space out your fundraisers and offer a variety. If you have a shorter-term goal you may be more in a crunch for time, so plan out your fundraising rather than just jump in head-first.
- Expand your audience. Your friends love you, they want to support you, but they can’t and shouldn’t feel like they have to do it all. Think bigger than your immediate group of friends. If you do a 5K, publicize it through somewhere like Active, local gyms and other local establishments. Many people we didn't even know participated in our 5K because of the online and local advertising... Lifesong for Orphans has a Both Hands project that reaches beyond your friends to friends of your friends. Create community opportunities. If you can organize something for your community, you will reach beyond your church, family and circle of friends. People love helping, so give them a chance.
- Get creative. Friends have sold artwork, jewelry and hair bows. They have held painting parties, dances, silent auctions, garage sales, exercise-a-thons, tea parties, galas, bowling nights, sports tournaments, worship nights! So, make it personal and do what you love.
- Move forward with a purpose and communicate that purpose. People want to know what's going on and see movement. So, maintain a blog, create a Facebook group, create an adoption-specific Instagram, or have a regular email update you send out. Social media is your friend, so use it. Keep people involved and updated.
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