For generations, the Walla Walla University community and many others have supported student missionaries through prayer, encouragement, and generous financial gifts. Our strong donor base allows us to offer generous scholarships to students as they fundraise and additional scholarships when they return from service. As you prepare for your SM experience, we encourage you to invite others into this journey with you. The best way to cover your costs is through fundraising, and the most effective method is writing personal letters—not only because the financial support is a blessing, but because it connects you with people who can encourage you and pray for you.

Getting Started with Fundraising

• Get the template: Email sm.finance@wallawalla.edu to request the WWU fundraising letter template.
• Personalize your letters: The template is meant to be personalized, but not completely rewritten, as some technical language is important for legal purposes.
• Use prepaid envelopes: WWU provides prepaid return envelopes to include with your mailing.
• Invite your church community: Churches and their members often love supporting missions, especially when they personally know the student who is serving.
• Apply Early to Take advantage of scholarships: WWU offers several scholarships as an incentive for students who participate in fundraising.

Scholarships

The Student Missions program has both travel scholarships and tuition scholarships. Our travel scholarship helps with fundraising. Tuition scholarships apply after a student has returned. Talk to someone in the Student Missions office for more details about scholarships and their requirements.

Travel 

Because of generous donors, we are able to offer the following generous scholarships related to the Application process. If your WWU SM application is complete and ready for Screening Committee by the following deadlines, you will be eligible for a reduced fundraising goal as listed below. (Note: you do not need to know your location to finish the SM application).

Tuition

Every student missionary returning to Walla Walla University, including transfer students, are eligible for a tuition scholarship. 

• Scholarship range: Amounts vary usually between $3,000 and $7,000 depending factors below and financial need.
• Maximum Scholarship: Students may qualify for the maximum scholarship amount if they:
  • Serve for at least seven months
  • Reach their fundraising goal
  • Complete other scholarship requirements: Orientation Retreat, Dedication Vespers, Reentry Retreat, and Reentry Interview.
  • Demonstrate financial need according to financial aid scores.
• FAFSA: We strongly recommend completing the FAFSA to give accurate financial aid scores.

Fundraising goals and student missions fee

Included in the fundraising goal of each call is a $500 application fee. This fee covers expenses such as registration for experiential credit, care packages, a prayer journal, retreats, and SM processing expenses. Essentially, it covers the costs of the best care our office can provide in preparation, service, and return.

The Student Missions office sets fundraising goals for SMs to cover the average expenses of airfare, living allowance, and other expenses based on on location, length of service, date of application, and other associated costs. The typical fundraising goals are:

Expenses covered by fundraising may include airfare, one flight change fee, limited visa expenses, insurance, and living allowance, if applicable.

Student Financial Services

We recommend that each student meet with a Student Financial Services officer to walk through the financial aspects of their year of service. Every student missionary must pay their school bill before departure.

Personal travel

Many Student Missionaries choose to include personal travel as part of their return trip. Please keep the following guidelines in mind:

• Personal travel is not covered by Student Missions funds.
• If you choose to add personal travel to your return itinerary:
  • You must use the approved Student Missions Travel Agent to arrange the additional travel.
  • You will be responsible for paying the Travel Agent directly for any costs above the price of a direct return flight.
• Travel arranged independently will not be reimbursed.
  • If you choose to make your own travel arrangements for your return trip, you will be responsible for the full cost.

Personal expenses

Because mission funds come from tax-deductible donations, they may only be used for approved mission-related expenses.

Mission funds generally cannot be used for:

• Personal travel
• Clothing and other personal items
• Vaccinations
• Medications or other personal medical expenses

Emergency Expenses:

• Additional expenses related to an emergency may be considered on a case-by-case basis.
• Requests must be submitted to the Chaplain’s Office Executive Committee for approval.

Fundraising ideas
Tip: People often give more when they know the cause is service-oriented.