Over the last two years, International Assistance Program has been working with Mission Increase to transition our organization into a more hands-on, donor-driven mission effort. We envision a donor-base who is no longer simply a group of individuals committed to supporting IAP financially, but rather individuals, families and people groups who are actually helping champion a cause or a current project of IAP and have a vested interest in the organization.

A great example of this is seen in our current grant coordinator for IAP, Tony Lund. Tony has quite a unique testimony, one that I am sure he would be willing to share with most anyone. Over the course of the last year, Tony has grown into an individual that is not only a champion for IAP, but even, in a sense, the life-blood of our organization. Tony is currently unable to support IAP financially, but having claimed the vision of IAP and its projects as his own, he is now doing all he can to advocate for us and present our financial strategies to a number of different foundations and private donors nationwide. Just this week, his efforts afforded IAP a substantial grant from a technical training foundation on the East Coast. Tony’s willingness to serve and his genuine love for the under-resourced of our world has compelled him to no longer “broker” his charity, but rather personally administer his charity to those most in need. Tony will be traveling to Ethiopia with us in November to see, first-hand, how his efforts have compounded the work already being accomplished through the Letta Micro-Finance Institute. The generosity of a foundation and the efforts of Tony have provided loanable funds for approx. 100 Ethiopian women and those funds will go a long way in combating poverty in the Gedeon region of that country. Thank you, Tony, for all you do!

More stories of individual and families partnering for changeare forthcoming, so check back soon and please let us know how IAP can assist you in sharing your time, treasure and talents with those who need it most.