Matching Scholarship Student Toolkit
Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are, who testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God. For they have gone out for the sake of the name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. Therefore, we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth.” 3 John 5-8
As a seminarian becoming equipped to proclaim the whole counsel of God for Christ and his global church, we know you are on a godly journey. We want to help your network send you on this journey in a manner worthy of God as the Apostle John says. We want to encourage you to build a support network of “fellow workers for the truth,” not just for your immediate support in seminary, but also to steward and grow beyond your graduation. Knowing you have a network committed to your success, interested in your progress, and interceding with prayer and treasure on your behalf brings great joy and comfort.
How do you raise this prayer and financial support? How do you encourage those in your circles to come alongside you, either prayerfully or financially? We desire to equip you in this process of support raising.
Our stewardship best-practices, messaging, and financial planning scenarios will get you started. We’re convinced if we help you spread this message, you will receive the support you need to be successful at Westminster – financially and spiritually.
Key Concepts:
(1) “Westminster will match every dollar you give up to maximum match per semester as communicated on my award letter.” Note – different programs have different match values.
(2) “The money you give goes to pay for my seminary training and education.”
(3) “Your gift is an investment in gospel ministry, the great commission, and my call to proclaim the whole counsel of God for Christ and his global church.”
Support Raising Avenues:
Church Engagement: Write a letter (handwritten) to your session or pastor, asking the church to give or fundraise (special offering) for the purpose of giving toward your seminary tuition (Example Script 1)
Family Engagement: Call your family members, asking for their support until graduation. (Example Script 2)
Social Network Engagement: Direct message friends and acquaintances individually, post a public social solicitation, or create a group of contacts you can limit your posts and updates to.
Crowdsource Fundraising: Set up a crowdsourcing fundraiser through GoFundMe, Indiegogo, or others. Post this fundraiser on Social Media, email campaigns, or other digital communications. Additional fees apply, so plan to raise an additional 5-7% of your tuition goal.
Video Devotional with Call to Action: Record or conduct a live short 15-minute devotional using your Westminster education and training to bless your church, friends, and family with an exposition of God’s word. End with a call to action to continue supporting you through prayer and gifts, and instructions on how to give.
What Questions to Answer in Your Message:
(1) Who are you?
(2) What are your academic / spiritual / professional goals?
(3) What have you done to achieve those goals so far (what led you to WTS)?
(4) What is your financial need?
(5) How can others support your financial need?
Takeaway Points:
1. Westminster will match every dollar you raise in support for your tuition - up to the amount of the scholarship. For example, if you have been awarded the 255 match then Westminster will match 25%, which leaves you responsible for paying only 50% of tuition. Any money you raise that goes above the match value is applied to your account.
2. Match eligible gifts need to be received by the first day of class to be applied to that semester’s tuition. Any gifts received after the first day of class will be matched in the next consecutive eligible semester, so take note of the tuition deadline each semester and ensure you raise the support in time. The matching funds will be disbursed to you at the end of the add/drop period of each semester.
3. Donations made directly to you or on your behalf for your tuition are not tax deductible.
4. The matching scholarship is for tuition only and cannot be applied toward fees.
5. Eligible supporters include churches, presbyteries, ministries, friends, family, etc. You or your spouse are not eligible supporters.
6. Please note that support given in exchange for services rendered cannot legally be matched. Any work that you complete for anyone (including your church) must either be on a volunteer basis, or in addition to your regular payroll. You are not permitted to receive payment in the form of tuition support.
7. Learn about how to document support raised in our article: “How to Document Support Raised”.
A Note on Good Fundraising Ethics:
Westminster trusts its students to maintain the utmost integrity in their ministry networking efforts. This note is written to ensure you have an accurate understanding of precisely how to act with integrity when in the position of stewarding the resources you raise because of your ministry networking efforts.
The primary rule to keep in mind is that you have a responsibility to use funds entrusted to you by a ministry partner in absolute alignment with their intent for the gift. Simply put, if a partner gives you a gift they expect to go towards your tuition, then you must apply their gift to that purpose; to do otherwise would be unethical stewardship.
If you desire more flexibility in your stewardship, be upfront with your ministry partner about other potential uses for their gift. That is, if you say their gift will be used to support your ministry through tuition payments and/or living expenses throughout your time in seminary, then you have the freedom to distribute their gift accordingly. In this scenario you should keep in mind that the spirit of a gift dedicated to “living expenses” is aimed at the costs of groceries, rent, etc., not a trip to DisneyLand. Again, Westminster is trusting its students to use discernment when applying such gifts.
Finally, if circumstances require you to allocate the funds you have raised differently than you originally anticipated, the ethical course of action is to approach your ministry partner and ask if they mind having their gift reallocated to a different purpose. If they agree, you are free to apply their gift to the newly designated purpose.