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The development of a ministry partnership team, including raising financial support, is an essential responsibility for CIs and CSMs. Campus Volunteers may also raise financial support for ministry expenses and conference scholarships. We refer to this process as Ministry Partnership Development (MPD).

Philosophy and Approach

• MPD is Biblical. Jesus, Paul, and many other "full-time ministers" of the gospel were funded and encouraged by a partnership team.
  
  
• MPD is mutual ministry. We bless our partners with an opportunity to invest their time, talent, and treasure. We in turn are blessed by their generosity, love, and prayers.
  
  
• MPD is relational. We are not out to sell candy bars or guilt-trip people into giving us money. We engage them as partners and friends.
  
  
• MPD is vision-driven. We invite partners to support our ministry because of our vision for the campus, not just because we need a salary.
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• MPD is spiritual formation. We find ourselves changed as we learn dependence on God, experience interdependence with others, and reframe our view of money and security.

The Relational Process

• Identify: Determine who could become your partners in ministry--make a list of everyone that you already know.
  
  
• Engage: Create interest in the ministry with an introductory letter
  
  
• Ask: Invite individuals/churches to partner by sharing vision, generally in a face-to-face appointment
  
  
• Follow Up: Bring closure to an ask and help partner begin giving, often with monthly gifts
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• Thank and Report: Express gratitude and share the impact of the ministry with partners

Training and Materials

• We equip you for MPD. InterVarsity provides extensive training and coaching for campus staff. Paid staff will attend two overnight MPD trainings in late spring and summer and will receive ongoing coaching and encouragement from an MPD supervisor.
  
  
• We provide MPD materials. InterVarsity provides professionally designed ministry brochures and templates to assist you in your MPD. These materials demonstrate to partners that InterVarsity is a respected, credible organization that they can trust with their money.

Myths of MPD

One barrier that keeps potential staff candidates from joining staff or even applying is MPD. The idea of raising money as part of the job is unappealing and can be scary. There are a number of myths about MPD that need to be debunked so we can have a healthy view of developing partners in our ministry.

Myth: MPD is just another way of saying that I’m asking people for money.
Truth: MPD is fundamentally different from merely asking people for money. We are not just inviting people to send us a check so we can go do ministry. Instead, we are inviting them to engage actively in the ministry that we’re doing on campus. Our ministry partners are co-laborers with us, not just check writers.

Myth: I don't know enough people to do MPD well.
Truth: You know more people than you think. There are dozens, if not hundreds of people you know from church, family, social networks, and beyond who would love to partner with you. You may not know who they are yet but they are out there. You can learn how to find them and invite them to partner with you.

Myth: MPD is too hard.
Truth: MPD is hard but it isn’t impossible. Staff have been doing MPD with InterVarsity for decades. Those staff will tell you that MPD isn’t easy but it is possible. We provide you with the coaching, the training, and the materials you need to get started. Ultimately, God is the one who is our provider and He will provide.