IFI + Frontier Commons
Why this document exists
IFI has served international students for 47 years, but until 2025, it operated without a documented Theory of Change, a measurable strategic plan, or a monitoring system. Under CEO Ryan Finke's leadership (appointed 2024), IFI restructured its Senior Leadership Team, hired its first professional development staff, and engaged Impact Builder coaching to build the strategic infrastructure required for the next phase of growth. This package is the result — IFI's first-ever integrated strategy document, built to be measurable, fundable, and honest about what we know and don't yet know.
Lane's Bicycle: Two Wheels, One Vehicle
must turn
Before / After: Jan 2026 vs. April 2026
| Element | Jan 2026 | April 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Theory of Change | None documented | 2 problems, tiered definitions, 8 assumptions, pipeline model |
| Strategic Plan | V/TO aspirational targets only | 5 priorities, bottoms-up math, milestones with owners and dates |
| M&E Process | Monthly Google Form, no pipeline tracking | Full metric definitions, custom app pilot spec, quality standards |
| Fund Strategy | $250K NMF, no diversification plan | $1M goal, 3 fundable packages, donor formula, development calendar |
| Brand Strategy | No pipeline narrative | Narrative, 15/30/60 sec pitches, tone guide, word guide |
| Market Strategy | 14-email Year-end campaigns | 5 channels, donor journey map, Year 1 plan |
| Outcome Definitions | "Welcomed = 1 interaction" | Tiered: Reached / Welcomed (3+) / Engaged · Entry / Committed / Multiplier |
| Evidence Base | Practitioner consensus only | 245 corpus sources, 19 academic citations, 8 assumptions tested |
| Alumni Evidence | No records accessed | 87 alumni documented, 16 nationalities, 4 case studies |
| Accountability | Not compiled | 6 certifications, 10-member board roster, 3-year financials |
Three Fundable Packages
1. Theory of Change
Theological Foundation
IFI's work is rooted in the biblical mandate of hospitality to the stranger:
"Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it." Hebrews 13:2
"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in." Matthew 25:35
"When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt." Leviticus 19:33–34
International student ministry is not a modern program innovation — it is the ancient practice of welcoming the stranger, applied to the largest voluntary migration of educated young people in human history. The 1.13 million international students in the US are, in the language of Scripture, "foreigners residing among you." IFI exists because the Church is called to welcome them — and because that welcome, done faithfully, opens doors that no visa or missionary strategy can.
Problem 1: Most International Students Never Experience Genuine Christian Friendship
Of the 1.13 million international students in the US — part of a global population of nearly 7 million mobile students worldwide (Project Atlas / UNESCO, 2025/2026) — the vast majority will complete their studies without ever being invited into an American home, sharing a meal with a Christian family, or forming a meaningful cross-cultural friendship with a believer.
- Only ~5% of international students in North America experience any form of Christian hospitality (ISMC, "Countdown to Zero")
- IFI currently reaches 3,934 students across 53 campuses in 15 states — roughly 4–5% of the ~80,000 international students at those campuses
- 67% of international students in the US come from countries on the Open Doors World Watch List for Christian persecution (Open Doors WWL 2025 × IIE enrollment data crosswalk)
- 41% come from countries where the vast majority of the population belongs to unreached people groups (Joshua Project × IIE enrollment data crosswalk)
- 52% come from just two countries: China (34%) and India (18%) — both on Open Doors persecution watch lists
The frontier missions connection
Two distinct data points:
- 67% come from persecuted nations — countries on the Open Doors World Watch List where Christians face government or societal hostility (China #16, India #10, Nigeria #7)
- 41% come from majority-unreached nations — countries where >40% of the population belongs to Least Reached people groups with <2% evangelical presence (India 95.3% LR, Bangladesh 98.2%, Japan 97.9%)
These are overlapping but different: persecution is about government hostility toward Christians; unreached is about gospel access. Many countries are both (India, Pakistan, Iran). Some are persecuted but not majority-unreached by percentage (China at 9.9% LR — though that 9.9% represents 140 million unreached people across 442 UPGs).
"My concern is not with closed doors; my concern is with the doors that are open which we do not enter." Ralph Winter
"Every year students come from around the globe to study in the US. As we develop friendships with these future leaders and executives, we have an opportunity to reach our world for Christ." Billy Graham
"Far too many international students come to the United States and return home never having been invited into an American's home. This is truly a tragic and a terrible loss for God's kingdom purposes." Rick Wood, Editor, Mission Frontiers (2016)
In 1948, an Egyptian student named Sayyid Qutb came to the US. Instead of experiencing friendship, hospitality, and the love of Christ, he experienced racial prejudice and a culturally insensitive church. He returned to Egypt radicalized and went on to develop the ideological foundation for the Muslim Brotherhood. Osama bin Laden was an avid student of Qutb's works. The stakes of ISM are not abstract — when we fail to welcome, the consequences can be generational. (Rick Wood, Mission Frontiers 2016)
Problem 2: Those Who Encounter Faith Are Rarely Equipped to Sustain It
International students who do come to faith during their studies overwhelmingly lose connection to their faith after returning home — with no structured discipleship, mentoring, or community to support them.
- 80% faith attrition post-return is the practitioner consensus across 12+ ISM organizations (Hong Kong Consensus / ISMC). Note: this is practitioner consensus, not a published academic study — IFI will validate through alumni tracking by FY28.
- Of IFI's 3,934 students reached, fewer than 14% (549) enter any form of spiritual community, and only 7 complete the intensive ISEED discipleship program annually
- Students who do come to faith graduate and return home with no structured support
Structural context: IFI's current staff-led model (81 staff serving ~4,000 students) cannot scale. Reaching 200K/10K by 2033 requires shifting from staff doing ministry to staff equipping volunteers and churches.
What Students Say
Real responses from IFI students and ISEED alumni (names anonymized for students from restricted-access countries).
"Before IFI, I had been in America for two years and never once been invited into an American's home." Student from East Asia
"I was a new believer who accepted the Lord as my savior for a few months. It was a very blessed year for me and it was crucial to build the foundation of my faith." X.T., ISEED alumni, East Asia
"Even today as a full-time worker living in Asia, I feel it is my responsibility to admit my country's past and ask for their forgiveness before start teaching the Word. So many doors have opened up... He is building the bridge of peace!" Y.I., ISEED alumni, 15 years in cross-cultural work
"Before I joined IFI, I was very introverted and shy. I remembered when an American lady approached me and asked me for a cup of coffee after church, I ran away immediately." Ruly, ISEED alumni, Indonesia
One Mission. Two Metrics.
"We welcome international students into genuine friendship with believers, and equip those who encounter faith to become leaders in their home countries."
"This year, we're going to welcome 1,500 international students into genuine friendship with believers — many for the first time — and equip 260 of them to return to their home countries as influential Christian leaders."
"We're building a pipeline to connect 10,000 international students with the Church every year, invite them into genuine relationships with believers, and practically disciple 1,500 of them so they return to their home countries as influential Christian leaders."
| Metric | Definition | FY25 Actual | Year 1 Target |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students Welcomed | 3+ meaningful interactions across 2+ activity types | ~1,500 est. | 1,500 |
| Empowered (Entry) | Led a group 1+ semester OR completed a program | ~200 est. | 200 |
| Empowered (Committed) | ISEED completion OR 2+ semesters discipling others | ~40 est. | 45 |
| Empowered (Multiplier) | Returnee leader, hub founder, or faith-driven venture | ~10 est. | 15 |
| Total Empowered | All tiers | ~250 | 260 |
The Pipeline: IFI + Frontier Commons
Without Frontier Commons, IFI's pipeline ends at graduation. Without IFI, Frontier Commons has no pipeline. The two are one system.
Activities (AC1–AC18)
Phase 1: Welcome
| # | Activity | Description | Freq |
|---|---|---|---|
| AC1 | Host welcome events | Cross-cultural campus/church events | Monthly |
| AC2 | Practical assistance | Airport pickups, move-in help, furniture | Seasonal |
| AC3 | Match conversation partners | 1-on-1 volunteer-student pairing | Monthly |
| AC4 | Cultivate friendships | Holiday meals, trips, homestays | Seasonal |
| AC5 | English Conversation Clubs | Weekly language practice with volunteers | Weekly |
Phase 2: Empower
| # | Activity | Description | Freq |
|---|---|---|---|
| AC6 | Train gospel volunteers | Equip for spiritual conversations | Ongoing |
| AC7 | Bible studies / small groups | Spiritual discussion in community | Weekly |
| AC8 | 1-on-1 discipleship | Intentional mentoring | Ongoing |
| AC9 | Operate ISEED | Year-long intensive discipleship | Annual |
| AC10 | Develop student leaders | Leading groups, mentoring peers | Per semester |
| AC11 | Faith-and-work connections | Connect to faith-driven employers | Per cohort |
Church & Volunteer Mobilization
| # | Activity | Description | Freq |
|---|---|---|---|
| AC12 | Recruit church volunteers | Mobilize believers for hospitality | Ongoing |
| AC13 | Build church partnerships | Formal agreements for ISM | Ongoing |
| AC14 | Deploy ISM in a Box | Standardized church onboarding kit | Per church |
Frontier Commons
| # | Activity | Description | Freq |
|---|---|---|---|
| AC15 | Connect alumni/returnees | Link graduates to home networks | Ongoing |
| AC16 | Support hub leaders | Equip Tokyo, HK leaders | Quarterly |
| AC17 | Publish FC resources | ISM primers, toolkits | Ongoing |
| AC18 | Launch paper airplanes | Innovation prototypes | Ongoing |
Outputs (OP1–OP15)
Welcome Outputs
| # | Output | FY25 | Year 1 | 3-Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OP1 | Students reached | 3,934 | 4,000 | — |
| OP2 | Students welcomed (3+) | ~1,500 | 1,500 | 10,000 |
| OP3 | Holiday meal attendees | 806 | 850 | — |
| OP4 | Conversation partners | 366 | 400 | — |
| OP5 | Airport pickups | 269 | 300 | — |
| OP6 | Volunteers engaged | 1,168 | 1,200 | 2,200 |
| OP7 | Church partners | 184 | 200 | 284 |
Empower Outputs
| # | Output | FY25 | Year 1 | 3-Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OP8 | Small group participants | 549 | 600 | 2,000 |
| OP9 | 1-on-1 mentoring | 242 | 260 | 500 |
| OP10 | ISEED completions | 7 | 10 | 25 |
| OP11 | Student leaders | Not tracked | 50 | 200 |
| OP12 | Empowered (all tiers) | ~250 | 260 | 1,500 |
Frontier Commons Outputs
| # | Output | FY25 | Year 1 | 10-Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OP13 | Returnee hub members | 0 | 20 (2 hubs) | 10 countries |
| OP14 | Paper airplanes shipped | 0 | 3 | 30 |
| OP15 | FC resources adopted | 0 | 5 orgs | — |
Outcomes: Tiered Definitions
"Welcomed" Tiers
| Tier | Definition | Threshold |
|---|---|---|
| Reached | 1 tracked interaction | 1 identified touchpoint |
| Welcomed | Meaningful hospitality opening door to relationship | 3+ interactions across 2+ activity types within a semester |
| Engaged | Ongoing relationship with IFI community | Active in recurring program for 8+ weeks |
"Empowered" Tiers
| Tier | Definition | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Entry | Completes program OR leadership role 1+ semester | Leads small group 1 semester; Faith & Work cohort |
| Committed | Discipling others OR ministry leadership 2+ semesters | ISEED completion; mentors 2+ semesters |
| Multiplier | Launches replicable ministry, venture, or hub | Influential leader integrating faith and vocation; leads hub |
8 Assumptions
| # | If we... | We assume... | Risk | How We Test |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AS1 | Train churches with ISM in a Box | Churches sustain ISM beyond training | 6-month retention rate | |
| AS2 | Students receive practical help | Trust opens door to deeper relationship | Reached → Welcomed rate | |
| AS3 | Students engage 3+ times | Repeated hospitality → spiritual openness | Welcomed → Engaged rate | |
| AS4 | Students enter discipleship | Structured programs produce lasting formation | Pre/post faith indicators | |
| AS5 | Students are empowered | Maintain faith after returning home | Returnee surveys at 6, 12, 24 months | |
| AS6 | Returnee hubs exist | Hubs sustain faith community | Hub participation; spiritual health | |
| AS7 | Volunteers lead activities | Quality maintained vs. staff-led | Outcome comparison at pilot sites | |
| AS8 | 60% staff focus on multiplication | Student outcomes don't decline | Outcomes at pilot locations |
Year 1 priority: AS5 (alumni survey) and AS7 (volunteer quality at 3 pilot sites).
What This Means For You
For Area Leaders
Your role is shifting from doing ministry directly to equipping volunteers and churches. In Year 1, only 3 locations test the new model. Your monthly data submission (5–10 min) is the foundation of IFI's ability to prove impact. Your feedback shapes the model — co-design through your geographic cohort.
For Church Partners
ISM in a Box gives your church everything needed to welcome international students independently. IFI trains your volunteers, provides matching, checks in at 6 months. You're a ministry partner with your own local impact.
For Volunteers
Nothing changes about building genuine friendships. What changes is IFI will track how those friendships develop (with student consent) so we can prove the model works. The 200-hour threshold research confirms: real friendship takes time, shared meals, and meaningful conversation.
2. Strategic Plan
Shift from Staff-Led to Volunteer-Led Model
60/40 → 70/30 → 80/20 over 3 years. Year 1 pilot, Year 2 scale, Year 3 push.
| Milestone | Date | Owner | Metric |
|---|---|---|---|
| Define multiplier vs. modeler roles | Q1 FY27 | Andrew | SLT approved |
| Pilot volunteer-led at 3 locations | Q2 FY27 | Andrew + ALs | 4+ volunteers, >60% volunteer-led |
| ISM in a Box kit | Q1 FY27 | Autumn | Piloted with 5 churches |
| Volunteer/church journey map | Q1 FY27 | Autumn | Documented |
| Cohort-based field structure | Q2 FY27 | Andrew | 3 cohorts meeting monthly |
| Scale to 15+ locations | FY28 | Andrew | 70/30 ratio |
| Full org transition | FY29 | Andrew | 80/20 ratio |
Build the Welcome Pipeline
Year 1 holds flat. Bottoms-up math: 53 campuses × 3.8 churches × 6.5 volunteers × 3.5 students = ~1,500.
| Lever | Current | Year 1 | Year 3 | Mechanism |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Campuses | 53 | 53 | 70 | 4–6 new/year |
| Churches/campus | 3.5 | 3.8 | 5 | ISM in a Box |
| Volunteers/church | 6.3 | 6.5 | 8 | Church recruitment |
| Students/volunteer | ~3.4 | 3.5 | 4 | Better matching |
| Welcomed (3+) | ~1,500 | 1,500 | ~11,000 |
Build the Empower Pipeline
Hardest to scale. Train volunteers to lead; mentor-the-mentor model.
| Program | Current | Year 1 | Year 3 | Strategy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small groups | 549 | 600 | 2,000 | Volunteer-led; multiply |
| Mentoring | 242 | 260 | 500 | Mentor-the-mentor |
| ISEED | 7/yr | 10 | 25 | 5 locations; OPT fix |
| Student leaders | N/A | 50 | 200 | Semester pathway |
| FC cohorts | 0 | 1 | 3/yr | Tokyo/HK hubs |
Launch Frontier Commons Returnee Phase
Pre-operational. Go/no-go: 10 members per hub in 6 months or pause.
Note: FC is pre-operational. Zero alumni tracked, zero hubs launched. Year 1 generates first evidence.
Andrew Feng serves as ED of FC and CPO of IFI. FC operates as a program within IFI, governed by IFI Board. No separate legal status. Advisory board (Q1 FY27) is advisory only.
| Milestone | Date | Owner | Metric |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advisory board | Q1 FY27 | Andrew | 5–7 seated |
| 2 hubs (Tokyo, HK) | Q1–Q2 FY27 | Andrew | 10+ per hub |
| 3 paper airplanes | Q2 FY27 | Andrew | 10+ users each |
| Hub playbook | Q4 FY27 | Andrew | Documented |
| 2–3 more countries | FY28 | Andrew | Retention positive |
| 10 countries | 2033 | FC Team | Active hubs |
Grow Funding to $1M Annually
$250K NMF → $430–455K Year 1 → $950K–$1M Year 3.
| Stream | Current | Year 1 | Year 3 | Strategy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Existing NMF | $250K | $300K | $400K | Better stewardship |
| Churches | ~$0 | $30K | $150K | 6 → 25 giving |
| Foundations | $0 | $0–25K | $150K | Build then submit |
| Major donors | Informal | $50K | $150K | 5 asks Year 1 |
| Events | ~$0 | $25K | $50K | 2 events/year |
| Board | $10–15K | $25K | $50K | Give/get activation |
| Total | $250K | $430–455K | $950K–$1M |
Conversion Funnel (FY25 Estimates)
Proxy ratios from aggregate data. To be validated at 3 pilot sites Fall 2026.
Timeline
| Quarter | Key Milestones |
|---|---|
| Q1 FY27 Sep–Nov 26 | ISM in a Box pilot; cohort structure; FC advisory board; multiplier roles; custom app pilot; M&E definitions |
| Q2 FY27 Dec–Feb 27 | Volunteer-led pilot (3 sites); Tokyo + HK hubs; alumni survey; Year-end campaign |
| Q3 FY27 Mar–May 27 | Paper airplanes; 15 new churches; alumni results; first pipeline data |
| Q4 FY27 Jun–Aug 27 | Impact report (tiered metrics); FC playbook; Year 1 assumption tests |
| FY28 | 15+ locations; FC 2–3 countries; foundation applications; custom app org-wide |
| FY29 | 70+ campuses; 11K+ welcomed; 1,500 empowered; 5+ FC countries; ~$1M funding |
Risks and Mitigations
| Risk | Likelihood | Impact | Mitigation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Change management during transition | Pilot at willing locations; MPD communication plan | ||
| Location alignment during transition | Operational audit Q1; 3-option gate by Q3 | ||
| Volunteer model reduces quality | Compare pilot vs. control; pause if >20% drop | ||
| Churches don't sustain engagement | 6-month check-in; liaison per cohort | ||
| Tokyo/HK hubs don't reach mass | Go/no-go at 6 months; 10 members required | ||
| Foundation relationships early | Year 1 relationships; Year 2 applications | ||
| Leadership continuity planning | Succession: Autumn → CPO; FC board → hubs; Ryan → continuity | ||
| MPD revenue decline | $4.5M on 81 staff bases. 10% loss = $450K+. Monitor quarterly; $600K reserve. | ||
| Geopolitical / immigration shift | 52% from China + India. Diversify; 20% decline contingency. | ||
| Mission drift / scope creep | Annual portfolio review. Kill at 18 months without outcomes. | ||
| Pandemic / disruption | "Digital hospitality" playbook by Q4 FY27. |
3. Monitoring & Evaluation Process
Framework
"There is a tension between data collection and targeting, which can be a cold process, and the implementation of a programme which should be altruistic and generous."
ICM Philippines, 8,000 pastors. Measurement must serve students, not process them. Students are friends, not pipeline stages.
Welcome Metrics (7)
| Metric | Definition | How | Freq | Who |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students Reached | 1+ tracked interaction | Name or coded ID | Monthly | ALs |
| Students Welcomed | 3+ across 2+ types | Deduplicated | Quarterly | ALs + National |
| Welcome Events | Campus/church events | Count | Monthly | ALs |
| Practical Assistance | Pickups, move-in, furniture | Student count | Monthly | ALs |
| Meals & Gatherings | Holiday meals, trips | Attendees | Monthly | ALs |
| Conversation Partners | Active pairs | Count | Monthly | ALs |
| Volunteers Active | 1+ activity in 90 days | Deduplicated | Quarterly | ALs |
Empower Metrics (9)
| Metric | Definition | How | Freq | Who |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry | Completed program OR led group 1 semester | Dedup | Quarterly | ALs+Nat |
| Committed | ISEED OR 2+ semesters mentoring | Dedup | Quarterly | National |
| Multiplier | Leads hub OR active connector | Dedup | Quarterly | FC Team |
| Small Groups | Weekly Bible study | Unique | Monthly | ALs |
| Mentoring | Intentional discipleship | Pairs | Monthly | ALs |
| ISEED | Full graduates | Cohort | Annual | National |
| Student Leaders | Leading, mentoring | Count | Semester | ALs |
| Returnee Connectors | In home country | Active | Quarterly | FC |
| Hub Members | Tokyo, HK hubs | Per hub | Quarterly | FC |
Pipeline Progression
| Metric | Definition | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Reached → Welcomed | % with 3+ interactions | AS2–AS3 |
| Welcomed → Engaged | % in recurring programs | AS3 |
| Engaged → Empowered | % meeting empowered criteria | AS4 |
| Empowered → Returnee | % in FC network | AS5 |
Data Collection
| Timeline | System | Scope |
|---|---|---|
| Apr–Aug 2026 | Google Form | 53 campuses, aggregate |
| Fall 2026 | Custom app pilot | 3 sites, individual tracking |
| FY28 | Custom app org-wide | All locations |
Build/Buy Analysis
| Option | Cost | Timeline | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Build in-house | $15–30K | 3–6 mo | Lowest cost; internal dependency |
| Contract | $50–100K | 4–8 mo | Professional; needs spec |
| Off-the-shelf | $25–50K | 2–4 mo | Fastest; less flexible |
Decision: Build. $50K cap from $700K reserves.
Quality Standards (6 rules)
| Standard | Rule |
|---|---|
| Identification | "Reached" requires name, email, or coded ID. Mass events without ID = "event attendance." |
| Coded IDs | Sensitive countries use coded IDs (e.g., "OSU-042"). Names local only. AES-256. Destroyed 5 years post-grad. |
| Informed Consent | Opt-in for app pilot. Legal review. Opt out anytime. 7-year retention; 30-day deletion. |
| Safeguarding | Background check + training before 1-on-1 contact. Annual code of conduct. Autumn maintains. |
| Deduplication | One count per metric per period. |
| Timeliness | 5 days after month end. Spot-check 15 locations/quarter. |
Reporting
| Report | Audience | Freq | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Snapshot | Area Leaders | Monthly | Auto |
| Quarterly Dashboard | SLT, Board | Quarterly | Autumn |
| Annual Impact Report | Donors, public | Annual | Atalie |
| Baseline Brief | Funders, Lane | Oct 2026 | Andrew+Autumn |
| Grant Reports | Foundations | Per terms | Chris/Barry |
| Assumption Test | SLT, Lane | Annual | Andrew+Autumn |
Learning Agenda (Year 1)
| Assumption | Data | When | Decision |
|---|---|---|---|
| AS5: Faith retention | Alumni survey (100–200, external) | Q3 FY27 | Validate 80%; FC rationale |
| AS7: Volunteer quality | 3 vol-led vs. 3 staff-led | Q4 FY27 | Continue/pause shift |
| AS1: Church sustainability | 6-month retention | Q3 FY27 | Scale or redesign |
| AS3: Repeat → openness | Welcomed → Engaged rate | Q2 FY27 | Validate threshold |
Cost-Per-Outcome
| Tier | Estimate | Calc |
|---|---|---|
| Per reached | ~$64 | $250K ÷ 3,934 |
| Per welcomed (3+) | ~$167 | $250K ÷ ~1,500 |
| Per empowered | TBD | Phase 2 allocation |
Fully loaded: ~$1,270/reached, ~$3,330/welcomed. Empowered: $500–$5,000 range — don't cite until validated.
Implementation
| Phase | When | Actions |
|---|---|---|
| 0: Define | Apr–May 26 | Finalize definitions; SLT sign-off |
| 1: Instrument | Jun–Aug 26 | Standardize Form; build app; train 3 sites |
| 2: Collect | Sep 26+ | Monthly collection; app pilot |
| 3: Analyze | Dec 26 | First dashboard; proxy ratios |
| 4: Iterate | Mar 27 | Alumni results; adjust targets |
| 5: Scale | FY28+ | App org-wide; individual tracking |
4. Fund Strategy
Year 3 Fund Formula
| Channel | Engagements | Conv | Avg Gift | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Existing donors | 2,000 | 80% | $200 | $320K |
| Upgraded ($1K+) | 200 | 10% | $800 | $80K |
| Churches | 50 | 50% | $6K | $150K |
| Major donors | 30 | 33% | $15K | $150K |
| Foundations | 20 | 30% | $35K | $150K |
| Events | 4 | — | $15K | $60K |
| Board | 10 | 100% | $5K | $50K |
| Total | $960K |
Three Packages (Detailed)
- $50K: 10+ churches with ISM in a Box ($5K each)
- $100K: 2 Welcome Pipeline Coordinators (0.5 FTE, 1 year)
- Projected: 500+ additional students welcomed by Year 2
- Sustainability: Churches absorb costs Year 2. Coordinators → MPD-funded.
- 3 new ISEED sites + 2 small group cohorts
- 15 graduates + 200 small group participants
- Cost per leader empowered: $465
- Sustainability: Sites develop local MPD + church support by Year 2.
- R&D with kill criteria. FC has zero operational history.
- 2 hubs (Tokyo, HK) + alumni faith-retention survey
- 20 returnees tracked 24 months
- Go/no-go: 10 members in 6 months or pause. Midpoint review Month 12.
- Even if hubs fail: first longitudinal faith-retention data in ISM history.
Year 1 Development Calendar
| Month | Activity | Owner |
|---|---|---|
| Sep | Board retreat: give/get | Ryan |
| Oct | Baseline Impact Brief | Andrew+Autumn |
| Nov | Church outreach (15 targets) | Chris |
| Dec | Year-end (6 emails, 1 story each) | Atalie+Dev |
| Jan | Major donor cultivation (5) | Ryan+Paul |
| Feb | Foundation meetings (5) | Chris+Barry |
| Mar | Event planning | Dev |
| Apr | First grant applications | Barry |
| May | Impact report production | Atalie |
| Jun | Impact Report (tiered metrics) | Atalie |
| Jul | Donor thank-you | Dev |
| Aug | Year-end planning | Dev+Comms |
5. Brand Strategy
The only ISM org that builds the full pipeline. 67% from persecution watch list countries. Frontier missions on American campuses.
To extend life-changing hospitality and friendship to international students out of reverence for Jesus.
God's love extended globally in partnership with spiritually vibrant international students.
Making the World Feel at Home.
Brand Narrative
The Need
"1.13 million international students study in the US — part of nearly 7 million globally. Only 5% ever experience Christian hospitality. Most will graduate without a meaningful friendship with an American Christian. And of those who encounter Christ, the vast majority lose their faith within a year of returning home."
Who We Are
"IFI has been building friendships with international students for 47 years. We mobilize churches and volunteers to welcome students, walk with them through discipleship, and — through Frontier Commons — stay connected as they return home."
What We Do
"We build the bridge between a student's first airport pickup and their first returnee gathering in Tokyo. That's not a program — it's a pipeline. Welcome. Empower. Send."
The Impact
"Last year, 1,168 volunteers across 184 churches welcomed 3,934 students from 131 countries on 53 campuses. 549 entered spiritual community. 242 began discipleship. 7 completed ISEED. This year, we're building infrastructure to track what happens after graduation."
Call to Action
"You can fund the pipeline. $75 welcomes a student. $465 equips a leader. $75,000 pilots a returnee hub that proves whether this pipeline works all the way home."
We care deeply but measure rigorously.
80% attrition with caveat. Real numbers.
Airport pickups, not "transformational experiences."
Welcome → Empower → Send.
Words We Use / Don't Use
| Use | Don't Use |
|---|---|
| Welcome, empower, send | Transform, impact (verb), leverage |
| Students, volunteers, churches | Beneficiaries, stakeholders |
| Pipeline, pathway, journey | Ecosystem, holistic |
| Friendship, hospitality, belonging | Safe space, engagement |
| Measure, track, prove | "Significant" without numbers |
Elevator Pitches
15 seconds
"IFI mobilizes churches to welcome international students and walk with them from arrival to graduation to going home. We're the only ministry that builds the full pipeline."
30 seconds
"1.13 million international students come to the US every year — part of nearly 7 million worldwide. Most never experience real friendship with an American Christian, and those who find faith usually lose it when they go home. IFI mobilizes churches and volunteers to change that — from the airport pickup to the returnee gathering in Tokyo. We welcome, we empower, and we stay connected."
60 seconds
"IFI is a 47-year-old ministry that does something no one else does: we build the full pipeline from international student to global leader. Two out of three of our students come from countries on the Open Doors persecution watch list. Four in ten come from countries where the vast majority have never heard the gospel. We start with practical hospitality — airport pickups, meals, conversation partners — through 184 church partners and 1,168 volunteers across 53 campuses. Students who engage move into discipleship, Bible study, and our intensive ISEED program. Through Frontier Commons, we're piloting returnee hubs in Tokyo and Hong Kong. Last year we served 3,934 students from 131 countries. You can fund the piece that matters most — $75 per student welcomed, $465 per leader empowered, or $75,000 to pilot a returnee hub."
6. Market Strategy
Donor Journey
| Stage | Touchpoint | Freq | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aware | Social, church presentations, word of mouth | Ongoing | Atalie |
| Interested | Email list; website | — | Atalie |
| Connected | Monthly email + Ryan note | 12x/yr | Atalie+Ryan |
| Engaged | Event attendance | 2–3x/yr | Dev |
| Invested | First gift | 2–3 asks/yr | Dev |
| Committed | Recurring; meets students | Ongoing | Paul+Ryan |
| Champion | Major gift; intro network | Cultivated | Ryan |
Appendices
A. Institutional Accountability & Governance
ECFA, GuideStar Platinum 2025, 10-member board, 3-year financials
| Certification | Status |
|---|---|
| ECFA | Member |
| GuideStar | Platinum (2025) |
| Charity Navigator | Rated |
| BBB | Rated (Columbus) |
| Ministry Watch | Monitored |
| Great Nonprofits | Top-Rated (2024) |
Board (10 + CEO non-voting)
| Name | Role | Affiliation |
|---|---|---|
| Michael Bouchard | Chair | U of Dayton Research (ret.) |
| Michael Sanders, CPA | Treasurer | Prysmian Group |
| Alan C. deVries | Secretary | deVries Immigration Law |
| CJ Deas | Member | Covenant Baptist Church |
| Mai Duff | Member | Homemaker |
| Karl Fox | Member | Lithik Systems |
| Rick Negley | Member | Berlin Church |
| Ed Rule | Member | Rule Insights |
| Hong Frances Teng | Member | JPMorgan Chase |
| Laura Wynia | Member | Wynia Piano Studio |
| Ryan Finke | CEO (non-voting) | IFI |
Financial Health
| Metric | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| FY25 contributions | $4,975,152 | Audited |
| FY24 | $4,651,364 | Audited |
| FY23 | $4,084,450 | Audited |
| 3-year growth | +22% | Calc |
| Reserves | ~$1.3M | Dev Audit |
A.2 ISEED Alumni (1996–2025)
87 alumni, 16 nationalities, 4 case studies
| Alumni | Country | Role | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Y.I. | East Asia | Cross-cultural worker, 15+ yrs | "He is building the bridge of peace!" |
| T.H. | East Asia | Senior govt education official | Runs Alpha courses. Active in church. |
| Smita Noronha | India | Trains Christian entrepreneurs | "My passion to reach the lost has continued to increase." |
| Ruly S. | Indonesia | CEO, Asia Leadership Dev Network | Faith-driven ecosystem. 3 CEF whitepapers. |
| Year | Interns | Locations |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 6 | Columbus |
| 2019 | 6 | Columbus + Cleveland |
| 2020 | 6 | Columbus + Dallas |
| 2021 | 4 | Columbus + Peoria |
| 2022 | 7 | Columbus + Cincinnati |
| 2023 | 5 | Columbus + Peoria |
| 2024 | 5 | Columbus + Chicago + Dayton |
| 2025 | 6 | Columbus + DC + Oklahoma |
B. Competitive Landscape
5-org comparison; IFI = only full-pipeline ISM org
| Org | Scale | Model | IFI Distinction |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISI | 80+ | Staff-led | Church mobilization more scalable |
| Bridges (Cru) | ~100 | Staff + vol | Broader hospitality, not just evangelism |
| InterVarsity ISM | Embedded | Student-led | Only dedicated ISM with returnee pipeline |
| Chi Alpha | Campus | Church-affiliated | Interdenominational + church-mobilizing |
| Every Intl | Training | Equips churches | Direct ministry AND equipping |
C. Metric-to-ToC Mapping
How each metric connects to ToC
| ToC Element | Metrics |
|---|---|
| Volunteer mobilization | Volunteers, churches active |
| Welcome programs | Events, assistance, meals, partners |
| Discipleship | Small groups, mentoring, ISEED |
| Welcomed outcome | 3+ interaction threshold |
| Empowered outcome | Entry/Committed/Multiplier |
| AS2/AS3/AS5/AS7 | Conversion rates; alumni survey; pilot comparison |
D. Effective → Attractive
How ToC drives Fund, Brand, Market
| ToC | Fund | Brand | Market |
|---|---|---|---|
| Isolation + attrition | Pkg 1 ($150K) | "Only 5% experience hospitality" | Email, website hero |
| 80% lose faith | Pkg 3 ($75K) | "Stay connected after graduation" | Major donor, foundation |
| Churches unequipped | Pkg 1 ($150K) | "ISM in a Box" | Church presentations |
| Empowered | Pkg 2 ($100K) | "$465 equips a leader" | Give page, donor deck |
| Cost-per-outcome | All 3 | Dollar amounts | Every touchpoint |
E. 20 Decisions Summary
D1–D20 with answers
| # | Decision | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| D1 | How many problems? | 2 + 1 structural barrier |
| D2 | Proof numbers? | 5% hospitality, 4–5% penetration, 14% conversion |
| D3 | Validate 80%? | Alumni survey Q3 FY27 |
| D4 | Welcomed tiers? | Reached / Welcomed (3+) / Engaged |
| D5 | Empowered tiers? | Entry / Committed / Multiplier |
| D6 | FC positioning? | Mechanism, not problem |
| D7 | Which assumptions? | AS5 + AS7 |
| D8 | Sequence? | Pilot → scale → push |
| D9 | Start ratio? | 60/40 → 70/30 → 80/20 |
| D10 | 30K math? | ~11K by Year 3. 200K requires innovation. |
| D11 | FC scope? | Tokyo + HK Year 1. 10 countries by 2033. |
| D12 | FC ownership? | Andrew (ED+CPO) |
| D13 | Location alignment? | Resolution path with dates. Pilot willing first. |
| D14 | Cost-per-outcome? | $64/reached, $167/welcomed. Fully loaded footnote. |
| D15 | Student DB? | Custom app Fall 2026. Forms as bridge. |
| D16 | Tracking? | Aggregate + individual at 3 pilots. |
| D17 | Restricted IDs? | Coded. Names never in national system. |
| D18 | Program tracking? | Custom app pilot → org-wide FY28. |
| D19 | Compliance? | 50/70/85%. Own metric. |
| D20 | Learning agenda? | 4 assumptions with sources, dates, decisions. |
F. Assumption Evidence Report
8 assumptions vs. 245 sources
| # | Assumption | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| AS1 | Church → sustained ISM | Insufficient |
| AS2 | Help → relationship | Partially Supported |
| AS3 | 3+ → openness | Partially Supported |
| AS4 | Discipleship → formation | Partially Supported |
| AS5 | Faith post-return | Insufficient — CRITICAL |
| AS6 | Hubs sustain faith | Insufficient |
| AS7 | Vol quality = staff | Insufficient — CRITICAL |
| AS8 | Multiplication works | Insufficient |
None empirically validated — a gap in the entire ISM field. IFI's Year 1 produces the first real evidence.
G. Friendship Science
200-hour threshold, Dunbar layers, loneliness, 19 citations
| Hours | Stage | IFI Tier |
|---|---|---|
| ~50 | Casual friend | Reached |
| ~90 | Friend | Welcomed |
| ~200+ | Close friend | Engaged |
| Layer | Size | IFI Implication |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Intimate | ~5 students max per volunteer |
| 15 | Sympathy | Small group leader capacity |
| 50 | Close social | Campus team reach |
| 150 | Dunbar's number | Location community |
- Relationships drop 2 layers in 6 months without contact (Dunbar 2015)
- Isolation → 1.32x mortality (Wang 2023)
- Loneliness ≈ 15 cigarettes/day (Holt-Lunstad 2015)
- Serving food TO students ≠ friendship. Sharing meals = friendship (Hall & Davis 2017)
- First semester is everything — 4 months to form friendships (Hall 2019)
19 citations: Hall 2019, Hall & Davis 2017, Dunbar 1996/2021, Dunbar 2015, Burt 2000, Roberts & Dunbar 2011, Bhattacharya 2017, Mac Carron 2016, Wang 2023, Holt-Lunstad 2015, Sawir 2008, WHO 2025, Lancet 2025, CCMH/Penn State 2023, PNAS 2026, Dragioti 2025, Malani 2024, Mayer & Roche 2021, Roche & Jakub 2017.
H. Document Inventory
8 local files, 12 Drive docs, 47 NotebookLM sources, 245 corpus sources
Working documents (8 local), Google Drive (12), NotebookLM (47 sources: financial, governance, strategy, brand, program, external), Missions Library corpus (245 sources, 241K items, 238M words). Full inventory in master document.
I. Glossary
30+ terms: Welcomed, Empowered, ISEED, ISM, NMF, MPD, V/TO, EOS
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Reached | 1 tracked interaction. Requires identification. |
| Welcomed | 3+ interactions, 2+ types, 1 semester. Headline metric. |
| Engaged | Recurring program 8+ weeks. Bridge to Empower. |
| Entry | Completes program OR leads 1 semester. |
| Committed | Discipling others OR 2+ semesters. Includes ISEED. |
| Multiplier | Influential leader; leads hub or venture. |
| ISEED | Year-long intensive discipleship + leadership. |
| FC | Frontier Commons. Innovation + collaboration arm. |
| ISM | International Student Ministry. |
| ISM in a Box | Standardized church onboarding kit. |
| Paper Airplane | Innovation prototype shipped to 10+ users. |
| NMF | National Ministry Fund. $250K org fundraising. |
| MPD | Ministry Partner Development. 90% of revenue. |
| V/TO | Vision/Traction Organizer (EOS). |
| SLT | Ryan (CEO), Andrew (CPO), Autumn (CoS). |
| 80% Attrition | Practitioner consensus. Not peer-reviewed. Validating FY28. |
| 5% Hospitality | ISMC estimate for North America. |
| Coded ID | e.g. "OSU-042". Names never in national system. |
| Cost-per-Outcome | $64/reached, $167/welcomed (NMF). $1,270/$3,330 fully loaded. |
| Conversion Funnel | 38% → 37% → 45%. Overall 6.4%. |
J. Key Data Points (Citation-Ready)
Grant applications, board presentations, donor materials
The Need
| Stat | Number | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Intl students in US | 1,126,690 | Project Atlas/UNESCO |
| Globally | ~6,900,000 | Migration Data Portal |
| From persecution countries | 67% | Open Doors WWL × IIE |
| From unreached countries | 41% | Joshua Project × IIE |
| China + India | 52% | Open Doors |
| Christian hospitality | ~5% | ISMC |
| Faith attrition | ~80% | Hong Kong Consensus |
IFI (FY25)
| Stat | Number | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Students reached | 3,934 | Impact Report |
| Countries | 131 | Impact Report |
| Campuses | 53 in 15 states | Impact Report |
| Volunteers | 1,168 | Impact Report |
| Churches | 184 | Impact Report |
| Total contributions | $4,975,152 | Audited |
| NMF | ~$250,000 | Onboarding |
| Staff | 81 (8 nat, 73 local) | Onboarding |
| Board | 10 + CEO non-voting | Dev Audit |
| ISEED alumni | 87, 16 nationalities | Roster |
Decision Trail
How we got from blank page to 1,404-line strategy package. Every decision, assumption test, and expert review traced.
13 Phases
5 + 3 + 10 + 1 = 19 reviewers. 75 + 30 + 7 + 30 + 29 + 10 = . 8 assumptions tested. 19 academic citations. 87 alumni documented.