Funding Nationals or National Organizations: The How

In our previous blog post, we delved into why funding national work is a powerful strategy for advancing God’s mission among the unreached. We highlighted the immense potential of this approach and why it’s worth pursuing. Now, let’s explore the practicalities of how to effectively fund this crucial work, ensuring that our resources are both impactful and sustainable.

The Realities of Funding National Work

Funding national work presents both incredible opportunities and significant challenges. In our experience, we’ve witnessed remarkable success stories that underscore the effectiveness of this strategy. For instance, we’ve supported national workers who have transformed communities and spread the gospel in regions previously untouched by Christian influence. However, these successes come with their own set of hurdles.

One of the primary challenges is navigating the restrictive environments in which many national workers operate. In some cases, governments hostile to the gospel actively work to obstruct the flow of funds from Christian organizations. When funds do make it through, national workers might face risks of exposure or even persecution. We must make it a priority not to jeopardize the work of our brothers and sisters operating in sensitive areas and place significance on providing protection for them.

Modern technology has a dual-edged impact on this issue. While global banking systems and digital platforms make it easier to transfer funds, they also increase the risk of traceability. Banks and governments often impose reporting thresholds on large transactions, which can inadvertently compromise the security of national workers.

We must view this relationship as a “partnership,” not a “parentship.”

Empowered vs. Dependent National Workers

Funding national work is effective and strategic to the extent that it is done well. Effectively funding national work hinges on fostering a model that empowers rather than creates dependency. We must view this relationship as a “partnership,” not a “parentship.” Our approach is to work alongside national workers as equals. We are colleagues in the mission rather than overseers.

Empowered National Workers:

• Ownership: They take full ownership of their mission, driven by a deep sense of responsibility and personal investment.

• Diverse Funding Sources: They leverage a variety of income streams, including self-generated resources, which enhances their financial stability and removes sole dependency on one entity.

• Multiplication: They have the capacity to multiply their efforts and impact by training and equipping others.

Dependent National Workers:

• Reliance: They rely solely on external funding, which can limit their ability to adapt and innovate. There is also an inherent risk taken when a national worker is completely reliant on funding from external sources. In the event an external funding entity is no longer able to fund (whether due to internal or external factors), it could jeopardize their ministry capacity.

• Direction: They often work only as directed by outside organizations, potentially stifling their initiative and creativity.

• Siloed: Their dependency can lead to isolation, hampering their growth and effectiveness.

Creating a partnership that empowers rather than enforces dependence is crucial for long-term success and sustainability.

Best Practices for Supporting National Workers

At TRIAD, we’ve utilized several strategies for effectively supporting national work. Each method has its own advantages and potential drawbacks, so it’s important to choose the best fit for your organization’s goals and context.

• Direct Funding: This approach involves sending financial support directly to a national partner. While this approach gives you direct control over the funds, it can be limited by logistical challenges and the risk of exposure in sensitive contexts. Creativity and discretion are key to overcoming these obstacles.

• Indirect Funding: Here, funds are sent to an intermediary organization, which then passes them on to the national partner. This method can expand your reach to areas otherwise inaccessible, though it does mean sacrificing a degree of control over the distribution.

• Monthly Financial Support: Providing consistent monthly support helps ensure reliable funding and fosters ongoing communication with the national worker. This approach also allows for more accurate budget forecasting and financial planning.

• Project-Based Support: Focusing on specific projects can be highly motivating for stakeholders and provides clear goals for fundraising and specific metrics to assess. This targeted support often garners more interest and investment from donors as well.

Managing Expectations

Setting realistic expectations is crucial when working with national partners. Missions agencies often impose strict security measures to protect workers, which means initial interactions may be limited and gradual. It’s important to understand that building a robust network of national partners takes time and patience.

At TRIAD, we practice a balanced approach to financial responsibility. Depending on the situation and program support, our aim is to facilitate the partner’s growth towards independence. This strategy not only promotes sustainability but also ensures that partners are held accountable and can thrive independently.

Furthermore, we think it is important to note that our partnership with nationals or national organizations does not just include a financial transaction. As part of our expectations for partnerships, we also want to help in caring, encouraging, and praying for our brothers and sisters as they operate as the hands and feet of Jesus. As such, we establish regular lines of secure communication (means that do not jeopardize our partners at the frontlines) that provide us the ability to understand the impact of the work and know what their prayer needs are. Our team gathers at least monthly to cover our partners in prayer. The command to “Bear one another’s burdens and thus fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2) motivates us to action. We count it a privilege to pray and care well for those we have been entrusted to champion along with members of the global Church who are also seeking to make Christ known.

Together, let’s continue to explore innovative solutions and strengthen our global partnerships for the glory of God.

Recap and Action Steps

To effectively fund national work, consider the following action steps:

1. Understand the Challenges: Be aware of the logistical and security issues involved in transferring funds and strategize accordingly.

1. Empower, Don’t Enable: Aim to create partnerships that empower national workers, fostering their independence and growth.

1. Choose the Right Funding Model: Evaluate your organization’s goals and context to determine the best funding approach—direct, indirect, monthly, or project-based.

1. Set Realistic Expectations: Recognize the time required to build trust and establish secure partnerships, and plan for a gradual engagement process.

By thoughtfully navigating these elements, we can support national workers effectively and contribute to the advancement of the gospel in even the most challenging contexts. Together, let’s continue to explore innovative solutions and strengthen our global partnerships for the glory of God.

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Co-written by Josh Duncan, Executive Director, and Eddie Lozano, Director of Mobilization and Training of TRIAD.  

TRIAD is a global missions organization committed to sharing the gospel among the hardest-to-reach places and people groups. We work to mobilize, train, and deploy the body of Christ and support indigenous-led work in hard-to-reach and gospel-hostile nations like Afghanistan, Somalia, North Korea, Iraq, and the Himalayan region in order to see Jesus glorified in every tribe, people, nation, and language.