3 Types of Supporters

By God’s grace I have been leading a non-profit organization for over seven years. For the last few years people have asked me questions about the in’s and out’s of leading a non-profit organization. From questions like, “How do I file paperwork with the government?” to “What should I do first?” I have grown to enjoy helping people see God’s calling on their lives come to fruition.

One favorite question often asked has to do with gathering ‘supporters’ for the organization. I, along with most whom I talk with typically begin by equaling support with dollar amounts. However, looking solely for people to give money to your cause is extremely short-sighted. While I do not know of one leader of an organization who would turn away funds, I would say that an organization whose primary goal is to get money from individuals or organizations are missing out on the fullness of support that one needs in order to grow a healthy, thriving non-profit entity.

Over the years I have come to realize that there are several key support roles needed to effectively fulfill the mission of your organization.

The three primary types of supporters are Contributors, Connectors, and Expanders.

A Contributor is anyone who invests in the ministry either with their resources, their time, or their expertise. Without contributors the organization could not function or flourish. These contributors are invested in the vision and this is observed by their contributions to the mission. This is an obvious type of supporter, but not always easy to find at the onset of the ministry.

The Connector is an individual who believes in the vision of the ministry and is intentional about letting others know about it. They are driven to connect the leadership with those who would interested in becoming a supporter of the ministry. Without people who are willing to connect your vision with others who would A) be interested in participating or B) willing to support, then the effectiveness of the ministry will be greatly hampered.

Lastly, the Expander is similar to the connector, but this type of supporter is intentional about finding other like-minded individuals and ministries for yours to partner with. These people are gifted visionaries who are able to grab hold of the vision of your organization, accurately convey it to others, and effectively pursue new opportunities for the ministry. These individuals are unique in that they have a larger Kingdom perspective and are strategic in how they forge relationships.

With this brief overview, one can quickly understand that limiting ‘support’ to a financial contribution is short-sighted at best, but ultimately damaging to the organization in the long run. In order to effectively lead a ministry organization that flourishes the leader must understand the importance of enlisting each type of supporter. There may be some supporters who possess all of these qualities, which would be ideal. However, to dismiss someone because of their inability to ‘contribute’ financially is faulty as that individual may be a key connector or expander. To have a solid support base each of these support types should be pursued and nurtured.