How do you lead a successful support-raising appointment?

In this episode, Jenn Fortner and Josh Sears walk through a simple, proven structure for effective partnership meetings. They explain how to prepare well, build genuine rapport, and confidently guide the conversation from connection to a clear ask.

You’ll learn how to share your story, present the need, invite others into the solution, and keep the conversation natural and engaging. They also cover practical steps like preparation, follow-up, and setting clear expectations after the meeting.

How do you confidently make phone calls for support raising?

In this episode, Jenn Fortner and Josh Sears break down a simple, practical approach to partnership calls—from preparation and prayer to guiding the conversation with clarity and purpose.

They share how to start the call, transition naturally into your ask, and communicate clearly about both prayer and financial partnership. You’ll also learn what not to do, how to handle follow-up, and why persistence (without being pushy) matters.

If phone calls feel intimidating, this episode will give you the tools to approach them with confidence and turn them into meaningful conversations.

RESOURCES:

Ghosting and The Final Contact

Sample Text Messages

Effective Peer-to-Peer Fundraising Tips for Gen Z

How do you stay connected with your supporters over the long term?

In this episode, Jenn Fortner and Josh Sears break down the importance of consistent communication and how it directly impacts your ability to stay fully funded. They cover best practices for newsletters, how often to send them, and what content actually keeps supporters engaged.

You’ll also learn the difference between macro communication (like newsletters) and micro communication (like texts, calls, and personal messages), and why both are essential for building lasting relationships.

If you want to retain your partners and strengthen your support team, this episode gives you the practical tools to communicate with purpose and consistency.

In this episode, Jenn Fortner and Josh Sears explain the purpose and power of the invitation letter—a key tool for starting meaningful conversations with people on your contact list.

[High-quality color photo of Don & Dawn smiling]

Don & Dawn E_______ Training church planting teams to make Christ known in the Arab world.

May 5, 2014

John & Jane,

Dawn & I feel like kids who've just figured out what they'd like to do when they grow up! At 51 years of age, God is leading us into a new season of life, to work full-time as missionaries among unreached people in the Arab world. And ____________, the capital of ____________, will be the place we call home from 2027 to 2029.

It's been a while since we've had an opportunity to sit down with you and catch up on the things happening in each other's lives, so we wanted to write to you and share that we're transitioning out of the "normal" American life into God's missionary vision for our lives. After five years of active preparation for missions, we've committed ourselves to join a church planting team in ____________ and help support the visionary work of its team leaders in making Christ known where He is currently not known.

Last March, we became officially commissioned Missionary Associates through Assemblies of God World Missions (AGWM). Our plan is to move to ____________ in March of 2027, but before we can go we must raise 100% of our financial budget.

We would love to have the opportunity to share our mission with you in more detail. We will call you in the next week to chat about it a little more. In the meantime, will you commit to praying about being a prayer and financial partner with us, to help bring Jesus to ____________ and the Arab world?

We look forward to talking with you,

Don & Dawn

[Contact information clearly displayed] [Account number] [Email, phone, mailing address] [Website link]

[Handwritten PS at bottom:] "John & Jane - We still remember that wonderful dinner at your house in 2012. Your hospitality meant so much to us! Looking forward to reconnecting soon. - D&D"

[Enclosed: Prayer card with photo and ministry details]

What Makes This Letter GOOD:

1. Professional presentation - Clean design, high-quality photo
2. Personalized greeting - "John & Jane" not "Dear friends"
3. Catchy opening - "Feel like kids who've just figured out what they'd like to do when they grow up!"
4. Concise - One page, easy to read
5. Clear structure - Follows the outline (what they've been doing, how they came to decision, what they'll do, invitation)
6. Honest but not apologetic - Confident in calling without being pushy
7. Specific but not overwhelming - Names country/region without information overload
8. Sets expectation - "We will call you in the next week" (clear next step)
9. Respects their process - "Will you commit to praying about..." (gives them agency)
10. Handwritten PS - Personal touch that shows they remember the relationship
11. All contact info included - Easy to respond or find more information
12. Prayer card enclosed - Visual reminder and additional context
13. Professional but warm tone - Feels like a letter from friends, not a form letter
14. Clear organization affiliation - AGWM mentioned for credibility
15. Appropriate length - Can be read in 2-3 minutes
16. Good use of white space - Easy on the eyes, not overwhelming
17. No financial details - Saves that for the appointment
18. No presumption - Doesn't assume they'll give, just invites conversation
19. Ministry tagline at top - Immediately communicates the vision

Where do you start when raising support?

In this episode, Jenn Fortner and Josh Sears walk through the first practical step in the support-raising process: building your contact list. They introduce the concept of “name-storming”—creating a list of everyone you know without filtering or guessing who might give.

Jenn and Josh explain how to aim for a list of around 300 contacts, organize them into groups, and begin gathering the information you need to start meaningful conversations.

RESOURCE:

SendingCircle

Why do missionaries raise support from individuals?

In this episode, Jenn Fortner and Josh Sears explain why individual partnership is foundational to becoming funded & sent. Research shows that most charitable giving comes from individuals, and personal asks are far more effective than mass emails or letters.

Welcome to the very first episode of the Funded & Sent Podcast. Hosts Jenn Fortner and Josh Sears introduce the heart behind the podcast and their passion for helping global workers be funded & sent to the field.

With decades of combined experience in missions and support coaching, Jenn and Josh share their own journeys in support raising and explain why they created this podcast. Each episode will provide practical, evergreen tools to help missionaries, ministry leaders, and coaches navigate the support raising process with confidence.

In this episode, you’ll hear the story behind the podcast, who it’s for, and what you can expect in the episodes ahead.