Typical engineer, I constantly doodle on graph paper. My fundraising motivation has been staring at me sideways from my white-board since the beginning of the new year. January through March has been a window of opportunity I’ve taken to devote a lot more time to find new financial support. Two things are driving my need at this point: a much needed reality check on my salary and benefits, and the need to find matching dollars for new staff recruiting. Let me unpack those…

After being back on InterVarsity staff now for over 6 years, I’ve been taking a hard look at where my budget is on the salary scale for staff directors. I’m at least one full level behind whether you are counting my seniority or my role. That means the annual salary I’ve settled into is about $17K behind where I could be. And if that’s the salary increase I am aiming for, that means I need to raise about $24K in total budget increase. That was a pretty steep climb.

As of the end of March, I’d have to say three things about my funding picture. 1- Funding is hard work, and it’s just always difficult to do ministry and fund ministry at the same time. I opened 34 contacts with people over the course of 12 weeks (34 contacts that took an outrageous amount of communication to make happen). 2- I did find some new, repeating funding over those weeks. I’m grateful for 10 new pledges totaling $9,200 per year going forward. Most of that was from new supporters. Some of that was increased giving from current donors. Thank you to all who made space for me to make my ask and tenaciously follow it up. 3- I am also somewhat heavy-hearted about the remaining $16,000 of annual support that I still need to find. There are very few of my 34 asks that have not closed yet. I need to persevere. I need refreshed energy and hope. A full budget with a level 10 salary still doesn’t seem in view for me. Please pray for my encouragement. Pray for me to find new sources of support to approach. Pray for me to be able to do the support-raising while doing InterVarsity’s mission in my Area.

Fourth-quarter come-back.

What I’ve been chatting about in this post so far is just my budget ($128K). When you look at the rest of my team and my Area expenses, the total funding picture is over $600K annually. As we enter the fourth quarter of our fiscal year, we’re pushing and praying and hoping for our entire budgets to come in. Our paid staff and even some of the volunteers take responsibility for their own budgets. They each have a team of ministry partners giving to their salary, benefits and ministry expenses. We’re so grateful for the hundreds of people who keep our Area funded and prayed for each month!

Ministry budgets can run a little behind during the last quarter. Some donors give in Spring after they have gotten the new year up and running and their taxes filed. If you need a reminder about giving this spring, please know that our fiscal year end happens each June 30th. I would love your prayers for a strong fourth-quarter finish. Pray for the impact of my funding work from February to start paying off in my overall budget picture. Pray for me to be able to find the remaining $16K I’ll need before I can move my salary up. As always, pray for our work on campus with Grad Students and Faculty.

Click here to donate to Tim’s ministry budget.

Thanks for your partnership!