We strongly encourage you to invite others to partner with you in your ministry. Many students each year build incredible relationships with donors and see the Lord provide in unexpected ways. The simple fact is that most people who have an interest in your life are very willing to give, but they need to be asked. Here are some tools and ideas to help you with the process.
As you are considering the Kanakuk Institute, money will certainly be a large factor in your decision. Rightfully so. Perhaps you graduated from college debt-free and are now concerned about taking on debt for the first time. Or maybe you already have student debt, car payments, health insurance costs, phone payments and the like swirling around your head. Regardless of what your circumstances are as you prayerfully consider joining the Kanakuk Institute, know this: where God calls, He also provides. If He wants you at the Kanakuk Institute, He WILL provide financially.
For some of you, finances can be an obstacle to the path God has set before you. This year will be an opportunity for you to work hard, to steward diligently, and to discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness.
If you have never raised support before, check out our Support Raising Guide to help get you started.
Goal is to get as many people on this list as possible (Riley had around 45). Think through the people who have been influential in your life (close family friends, relatives, past teachers, youth group leaders, etc.)
STEP 2: Create a payment service account (Venmo, Apple Pay, Paypal, Go Fund Me, etc.)
STEP 3: Create and send a video to send to potential donors. Click here to see Riley’s video.
Key talking points for video:
What the Kanakuk Institute is
Why you’re choosing to come to KI
Where their money will go – tuition, room and board, meals, etc.
What you want them to do – how much money you need in total, how much you are asking for from them, and when you need a decision by
How they can give money (include a link to your payment service or address they can mail the checks to)
Remind donors that only general donations are considered tax deductible by the IRS. Any payment made toward a student’s tuition is not tax deductible, thus the Institute is unable to issue gift receipts or 1098T forms for tuition.
If you would like to see an example of a donor video, here the video Riley sent
The information will largely be the same only in written form this time. Send the letter to the same donors you already sent the video to and have not heard back from.
Key talking points for support letter:
What the Kanakuk Institute is
Why you’re choosing to come to KI
Where their money will go – tuition, room and board, meals, etc.
What you want them to do – how much money you need in total, how much you are asking for from them, and when you need a decision by
How they can give money (include a link to your payment service or address they can mail the checks to. The Kanakuk Institute response card is a great resource to utilize here)
Optional: include pictures of you doing ministry. If you are going into the secular workforce after KI, include a brief statement on why KI will equip you for a lifetime of ministry in the business world.
Remind donors that only general donations are considered tax deductible by the IRS. Any payment made toward a student’s tuition is not tax deductible, thus the Institute is unable to issue gift receipts or 1098T forms for tuition.
Gratitude for their donation
Where you are currently at in the fundraising process
What the Lord has been teaching you through this process
How you plan on raising the rest of your tuition
STEP 1: Look at and apply for jobs before you get to KI
You will have the opportunity to participate in a job fair the first week of class but it is always ideal to get ahead of the crowd and nail down a job.
Note: We recommend our students NOT working the first two weeks of KI in order to maximize the new community and surroundings.
STEP 2: Figure out a good school/work balance before committing to too many hours
We ask for our students not to regularly work over 20 hours/week while attending KI. This seems to be the “sweet spot” for most of our students for maximizing the Institute as well as income opportunities.
STEP 3: Communicate your work schedule with your internship director if there will ever be conflict
STEP 4: Go get ‘em!
Give a clear expectation of why you want to set up a meeting in the future. You don’t want the pastor being blindsided by your request when you meet in person.
Give a clear expectation on the amount of time you’re asking for (ex. “Can I have 30 minutes of your time?”)
Note: It is always ideal to schedule a face-to-face meeting when asking for money. If you are unable to meet in person with your pastor, consider doing a FaceTime or Zoom call. The more personal, the better.
STEP 2: The meeting
Be prepared – you need to have a clear idea of what you’re going to say before entering this meeting.
Key talking points for fundraising meeting:
What the Kanakuk Institute is
Why you’re choosing to come to KI
Where their money will go – tuition, room and board, meals, etc.
What you want them to do – how much money you need in total, how much you are asking for from them, when you need a decision by, and how they can give money (give a link to your payment service or address they can mail the checks to)
Remind pastor that only general donations are considered tax deductible by the IRS. Any payment made toward a student’s tuition is not tax deductible, thus the Institute is unable to issue gift receipts or 1098T forms for tuition.
Practice makes perfect. Consider writing out what you want to say and having some family members and/or friends giving you some feedback. Remember, you only get one shot at “the ask.”
Be punctual – show up early
Be professional – dress nicely and bring a printed summary of what the Kanakuk Institute is, why you are going, what you want them to do, and how the church can support you (include links to your payment service of choice).
Be personal – Don’t just jump straight into your pitch. Begin with life updates and personal growth you’ve undergone since you last met.
STEP 3: Meet with adult Sunday school classes (with permission from pastor)
If your church has multiple adult Sunday school classes, talk with your pastor about scheduling 5-minute presentations in as many classes as you can.
These presentations will follow a similar setup to your conversation with your pastor (personal and professional).
Have more than enough printed copies of your talk outline to pass along to those who are interested.
Stay after the class to answer questions.
STEP 4: Follow up
Offer to come back during Thanksgiving and Christmas break to present your Bible Overview project to children’s Sunday school classes (or adult classes if they would be interested)
Write thank you letters to everyone who responded
Key talking points for thank you letter:
Gratitude for their donation
Where you are currently at in the fundraising process
What the Lord has been teaching you through this process
How you plan on raising the rest of your tuition
Consider sending updates around Thanksgiving of your Institute year, a Christmas card at Christmas, as well as in the spring.
STEP 1: Create a Adopt-a-Box poster
Use the internet to find some good inspiration.
Be professional and fun. No one gives to sloppy or inpersonal work.
STEP 2: Create a payment service account (Venmo, Apple Pay, Paypal, Go Fund Me, etc.)
STEP 3: Post your Adopt-a-Box poster on social media. Click here for an example.
Briefly include how this fundraiser works, what you are raising money for, a brief summary of KI, as well as a link to your payment service.
STEP 4: Post updates on your fundraiser on a set schedule. Click here for an example.
Include a picture of your Adopt-a-Box (with the boxes people have selected marked off), a reminder of what you are raising money for, and a link to your payment service.
It is also important for you to give a personal update. How have you grown throughout this fundraising process/time at KI? What is the Lord teaching you?
Three weeks seems to be the best cycle to make these posts.
STEP 5: Directly reach out to donors who aren’t on social media
Look at your donor database and call any of them you know are not on social media.
Send them a picture via text, email, or letter of your Adopt-a-Box so they can visualize what you are doing.
Remind donors that only general donations are considered tax deductible by the IRS. Any payment made toward a student’s tuition is not tax deductible, thus the Institute is unable to issue gift receipts or 1098T forms for tuition.
STEP 6: Send thank you letters to everyone who donated to your cause
Key talking points for thank you letter:
Gratitude for their donation
Where you are currently at in the fundraising process
What the Lord has been teaching you through this process
How you plan on raising the rest of your tuition
Consider sending all donors a recorded video of you doing your Bible Overview around Thanksgiving of your Institute year, a Christmas card at Christmas, as well as a spring update.
STEP 1: Create a donor list
Goal is to get as many people on this list as possible (Tanner had around 60). Think through the people who have been influential in your life (close family friends, relatives, past teachers, youth group leaders, etc.)
STEP 2: Create a payment service account (Venmo, Apple Pay, Paypal, Go Fund Me, etc.)
STEP 3: Type a generic letter to send to all donors. Click here for an example.
Key talking points for support letter:
What the Kanakuk Institute is
Why you’re choosing to come to KI
Where their money will go – tuition, room and board, meals, etc.
What you want them to do – how much money you need in total, how much you are asking for from them, and when you need a decision by
How they can give money (include a link to your payment service or an address they can mail the checks to. The Kanakuk Institute response card is a great resource to utilize here)
Optional: include pictures of you doing ministry. If you are going into the secular workforce after KI, include a brief statement on why KI will equip you for a lifetime of ministry in the business world.
Remind donors that only general donations are considered tax deductible by the IRS. Any payment made toward a student’s tuition is not tax deductible, thus the Institute is unable to issue gift receipts or 1098T forms for tuition.
If you would like to see an example of a donor letter, here the letter Tanner sent
STEP 4: Make these generic letters individualized to each donor
Hand write 3-4 sentences to that specific donor including a memory you have with them or why they have been influential to you in your life. The more personal, the better.
STEP 5: Mail the letter
STEP 6: Write thank you letters to everyone who responded
Key talking points for thank you letter:
Gratitude for their donation
Where you are currently at in the fundraising process
What the Lord has been teaching you through this process
How you plan on raising the rest of your tuition
Consider sending all donors a recorded video of you doing your Bible Overview around Thanksgiving of your Institute year, a Christmas card at Christmas, as well as a spring update.
The approximate cost per student attending the Kanakuk Institute is around $20,750. However, through the generosity of our donors, each student will receive a $7,500 scholarship to attend. The remaining cost is $13,000.
For more information on tuition, click here.
Upon signing your Commitment of Excellence contract, each student will send in a $250 deposit (this is included in your overall tuition amount). After your deposit is received, the timeline for making tuition payments are as follows:
It is expected that your full tuition is paid by Graduation in April (unless other arrangements have been agreed upon).
Note: A 5% annualized interest will be applied to any tuition that has not been paid for upon graduation.
It depends. Most of the time, a 529 plan requires the institution they make payments toward to be an accredited institution with a Federal ID #. The Kanakuk Institute is not accredited, but we would encourage you to call the company that holds your 529 plan and ask them if they allow payments to be made to a post-graduate program that is not accredited.
Yes, this is a common way students are able to financially attend the Kanakuk Institute. However, it is important to be clear with donors that gifts given to the Institute on behalf of a specific student’s tuition are not tax-deductible. Our recommendation to students raising support is to have donors give gifts directly to you as an individual, then you collect all of the gifts together and make the payment out of your account.
Yes, most students who attend KI also work a part-time job. We encourage our students to work no more than 20 hours/week.
Any payment made toward a specific student’s tuition is not tax deductible, thus the Institute is unable to issue gift receipts or 1098T forms for tuition.
Do you have questions or need more information about the Institute? We are happy to give you a call to provide more details and come alongside you as you decide what is next.