2026 > A New Year Together In The Wild Frontier

A New Year Together In The Wild Frontier

The Wild Frontier Fund

Hey fam,

I pray that everyone has an amazing 2026.

There will be trials, troubles, traps, and temptations. We know that. But we hope in the Lord, and He renews our strength, and we walk with Him. And we don’t just live for Him, we live life with His Spirit, filled with Him and led by Him.

Here’s how I’m approaching my fundraising this year for the Wild Frontier Fund, and maybe this will help you as a fundraising advocate for global missionaries as well.

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Fundraising Roadmap

1. Set a Goal

2. Secure a Matching Giver

3. Finish Early

4. Don’t Fundraise Alone

5. Celebrate the Small Wins

6. Track Your Progress

7. Practice the Ask

8. Don’t Be a Hypocrite

9. No’s Aren’t Failures

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Step One: Set a Goal

The single most helpful practical tip I’ve ever found in fundraising is to set a goal.

How much do you want to raise for the Wild Frontier this year?

If we’re just doing generic, random fundraising, then there’s no finish line. There’s no mission accomplished banner at the end of the year.

Last year, my goal was $100,000. I think I raised around $20,00, but having the big, audacious goal really kept me focused throughout the year and talking to people about my vision.

What do you want to raise for missionaries in 2026?

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Step Two: Secure a Matching Giver

We live in a CHALLENGE & RALLY culture, so let’s take it for a ride.

Pray through your contacts. Who has resources? Or who do you know who knows someone with resources?

Whether you’re raising $500 or $5M for the Wild Frontier, finding a matching giver is incredibly powerful. It’s a signal that you’re serious about your fundraising —> and Americans LOVE their donations being doubled. Like… they really, really love it.

Make sure you’re clear on the plan with your matching giver:

• the total amount they’re matching

• the deadline

• and how you’ll report back with the donor list and total raised

Then they send in their pledge, missionaries are supported, and good times are had by all.

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Step Three: Finish Early

My biggest advice here is simple: don’t procrastinate.

Who cares what the trends and stats say? People are genuinely generous year-round. My advice? Set your campaign for September. Right after summer. Harvest time.

Get your Wild Frontier fundraising done before the end of the year so you’re not jamming donation asks into Thanksgiving and Christmas. Everyone does that. Be different. Finish early.

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Step Four: Don’t Fundraise Alone

Nothing in life sucks more than fundraising alone.

Gather a small team. Recruit 2–3 friends who will join you. Start a group chat for updates and prayer. Set mini-goals together.

“Hey, we’re raising $5,000 this year for global missionaries through the Wild Frontier. $2,500 is already pledged through a matching giver —-> so each one of us can raise $500.”

Share the load, Frodo. Don’t go to Mordor alone.

Birds flock together.

Introverts unite! (Separately. At home.)

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Step Five: Celebrate the Small Wins

The real win is the journey, the destination ends up being an afterthought.

It’s the journey, the experiences, the wisdom you learn along the way that really, truly matters.

The journey of a thousand miles begins with one next step. So make a list of the small wins and celebrate them with your team.

“Hey, someone agreed to meet with me next week —> pray for me!”

“Hey, we just got our first donation —> let’s praise the Lord!”

Momentum matters. Gratitude multiplies motivation.

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Step Six: Track Your Progress

One of the biggest problems in fundraising is simply not knowing how you’re doing.

Find a way to track your Wild Frontier donations so you can see progress, momentum, and fruit.

This isn’t just about numbers. You’re building a culture. You’re forming a growing circle of people who care about global missions —> kindred spirits with a shared calling.

These are not just donors. They’re potential long-term advocates for the Wild Frontier.

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Step Seven: Practice the Ask

Before you invite anyone to give, practice the ask out loud.

Not just in your head.

Not just in an email draft.

Out loud —> with a safe person who’s ready to listen.

Fundraising feels hard for most people not because they don’t believe in the mission, but because the moment of asking feels intimidating if you’ve never done it before.

So practice something simple and honest, like:

“Hey, I’m raising $10,000 this year to support global missionaries through the Wild Frontier. I give to this personally because I believe in it. Would you be open to praying about joining me?”

Practicing the ask removes fear, builds confidence, and helps you sound like yourself instead of a salesperson. When the real conversation comes, it won’t feel foreign —> it’ll feel familiar. And consider feedback from your friend: did I come across too strong? What’s one simple way to be more genuine and natural with my ask? How do I shape MY ask to match MY voice?

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Insider Tip #1: Don’t Be a Hypocrite

Don’t fundraise for what you don’t personally invest in.

Am I giving to the Wild Frontier out of leftovers? Is it last on my list? Or am I a serious investor in this mission?

People can tell. It’s in the eyes, the tone, the presence. It’s a feeling; You can’t fake it.

Don’t fundraise out of obligation, duty, expectation, or social pressure. If that’s how it feels, don’t do it. God will raise up others.

The best place to start is prayer:

“Lord, how much do You want me to invest in the Wild Frontier?”

Then the invitation becomes natural:

“Hey, I give generously to this mission I care deeply about. Would you like to join me? C’mon… the water’s great!”

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Insider Tip #2: No’s Aren’t Failures

People will tell you no.

They’ll say “not right now.”

Some people will suddenly get busy when fundraising comes up. They may even avoid you.

That’s okay. It happens all the time to every fundraiser. That’s not failure.

We don’t pressure, coerce, or manipulate. This has to be Spirit-led and from the heart —> a loving invitation, not a demand to comply.

The Wild Frontier Fund isn’t the only generosity mission in the world. God is moving everywhere. Not everyone is called to invest here —> and that’s okay.

So don’t just celebrate yeses.

Celebrate the no’s and the “not right now’s” too.

You were faithful. The results belong to God.

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If you have any questions about this roadmap for 2026 Wild Frontier fundraising, you know where to find me.

Love you.

Shalom. Maranatha.

— J, Wild Phoenix