Your Guide to Planning a Successful Mission Trip [Checklist]

Mission trips are important fixtures of church life—they offer members fulfilling learning experiences and provide necessary support to communities in need. They’re also incredibly popular. In fact, up to two million Americans go on mission trips every year, both domestically and abroad.

To make these trips happen, though, churches need to plan ahead and fundraise. In this guide, we’ll explore important considerations and steps to take when mission trip planning and fundraising so that you can ensure a successful experience.

Anticipating mission trip expenses

Mission trips require much planning—and a lot of funds. Here are just some of the expenses you’ll encounter on a mission trip:

• Travel, whether it’s gas money or airfare
• Meals
• Lodging
• Mission supplies

While some expenses can be covered by individual participants, collectively raising funds can help offset costs and simultaneously serve as a great community-building experience. Many churches find success with fundraising, and you can, too. 

Your mission trip checklist

Get a jump start on everything from fundraising to packing with this essential mission trip planning checklist. 

Research

Every great trip begins with research. 

Research not only gives you a better idea of what the trip will look like, but it also helps you determine how much money you’ll need to raise. Make sure to look into:

• Destinations – Many places need your help, both in the U.S. and around the world. Look at other churches’ mission trips for suggestions on where to go, and don’t discount mission trips that are close to home. 
  
  
• Modes of travel – When figuring out how to get to your destination, you’ll want to do some price comparisons between travel companies to ensure the best deal.
  
  
• Travel companions – It’s helpful to do research within the church community to find out who’s interested in joining the trip. To that end, consider sending out a survey to get a solid head count. You can also make a poll to see where people would be most excited to travel. 

Research is often the most lengthy part of the mission trip planning process, but your thoroughness will pay off in the end when your participants return satisfied and fulfilled by their experience.

Fundraising

Fundraising is one of the most important parts of mission trip planning. Without funds, you and your fellow travelers won’t get very far. But what’s the best way to fundraise for a mission trip? 

One tried-and-true strategy: fundraising RaiseRight. With this method, you don’t have to plan any elaborate events that require extra spending, so you can focus your time and energy on planning your mission trip. 

RaiseRight is free to join, and you can start earning within just a few days. Here’s how it works:

1. Enroll online at no charge
2. Invite participants to your fundraiser program
3. Encourage participants to shop online or buy gift cards from brands they love. Each purchase kicks back a percentage to your church’s mission trip fund for easy earnings. 

That’s it!

With RaiseRight fundraising, program participants don’t have to spend any extra money, sell goods, or plan events. Just shop online as you normally would, or use gift cards for everyday purchases instead of a credit card, debit card, or cash.

Pro-tip: You can earn even more for your mission trip by shopping online through RaiseRight and using a RaiseRight gift card to pay.

Travel and safety

Before you even arrive at your mission destination, it’s important to make sure all your travel plans are in order, from plane tickets to rental cars and road snacks. 

It’s also smart to learn as much as you can about the area where you’ll be staying. Many travel websites can give you information about a country’s safety levels and suggest certain precautions to take while abroad. 

Some tips to keep in mind no matter where you’re traveling are:

• Keep photo identification on you at all times
• Remember to bring cash in your destination country’s currency
• Be up-to-date on your vaccines and immunizations 

Mission trips are meant to be enjoyable and spiritually fulfilling. By being thoroughly prepared, you won’t have to worry about travel and safety.

Packing

There are a few factors to consider while packing for your trip:

• Climate
• Trip duration
• Suitcase weight/size

If you’re going someplace hot and dry, odds are you won’t need that thick wool sweater “just in case.” If your mission involves physical labor, like building or yard work, you’ll want to pack clothes you can sweat in and get dirty. 

Also, remember that you’ll have to bring your suitcase with you wherever you go, so packing light will save you some stress.

Cultural and spiritual preparation

It’s important to reflect on your mission goals before beginning your journey. Ask yourself what you want to get from this experience, and how you want to make a difference in the community you’re visiting. 

If you’re going to a country where you don’t speak the language, consider taking some lessons or installing translation tech on your phone. You can also make a list of common questions and phrases you’ll need to use so that you’re not caught off guard once you arrive.

Moreover, it's important to show respect for the customs of other countries. Take the time to learn and understand any local traditions or cultural norms that you should follow as a visitor.

Throughout this process, be sure to interact with your mission trip members to make sure you’re all on the same page. After all, missions are about building community, both in the places you’re helping and within your mission group.