IFI + Frontier Commons
10,000 empowered
by 2033
Why
47 years of faithful ministry. Zero documented proof it works. Funders are asking: How do you know? What happens after graduation? Can it scale?
This package is the answer. IFI's first integrated strategy — measurable, fundable, honest about what we know and what we still need to prove.
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
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 opens doors no visa or missionary strategy can.
Problem 1: Most International Students Never Experience Genuine Christian Friendship
1.13 million international students study in the US (6.9 million globally). Most will graduate without being invited into an American home or forming a friendship with a believer.
- Up to 75% are never invited into an American home (ISI, 2021)
- 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
Where International Students Come From
67% come from persecuted nations (Open Doors). 41% from majority-unreached nations (Joshua Project). These overlap but differ: persecution = government hostility; unreached = gospel access. Many are both.
"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; cf. Lawrence Wright, The Looming Tower, Knopf 2006; John Calvert, Sayyid Qutb and the Origins of Radical Islamism, Oxford UP 2010)
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.
- 75–85% faith attrition after returning home. Three independent practitioner sources converge on this range (RTCP/ChinaSource 2018, OMF 2015, Bullington/OMF 2017). No peer-reviewed study exists — IFI's alumni survey will be the first.
- Of IFI's 3,934 students reached, fewer than 14% (549) enter any form of spiritual community, and only 7 complete an intensive discipleship program annually
- Students who do come to faith graduate and return home with no structured support
81 staff serve ~4,000 students. Scaling to 200K requires shifting from staff doing ministry to staff equipping volunteers.
What Students Say
Real responses from IFI students and 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., 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., 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, 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."
1,500 students welcomed. 260 empowered. Prove the model works.
11,000 welcomed. 1,500 empowered. Faith & work hubs in 5+ countries.
| 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) | Discipleship program 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.
Key evidence: Students in Chinese churches have lower dropout rates post-return (RTCP/ChinaSource, 2018). "Their only chance of surviving as practicing Christians is to join a close-knit faith community" (Bullington/OMF, 2017). Church integration before departure predicts faith survival after return.
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 | Empower program | Intensive discipleship + faith & work | 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 | Empower 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 | Empower program 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 |
| Empower program | 7/yr | 10 | 25 | 5 locations; faith & work hubs |
| 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 | Empower program 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 |
| Empower Program | 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.
- Campus-to-career bridge: discipleship + vocational mentoring + faith & work cohorts
- 15 leaders empowered + 200 small group participants
- Cost per leader empowered: $465
- Sustainability: Sites develop local church partnerships + employer networks by Year 2.
- Launch and sustain faith & work hubs in home countries (Tokyo, HK, and 3+ new cities)
- Alumni faith-retention survey + 20 returnees tracked 24 months
- Go/no-go: 10 members per hub in 6 months or pause. Midpoint review Month 12.
- 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. Up to 75% are never even invited into an American home. 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 our intensive empower program. 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. $100,000 launches a faith & work hub in a home country."
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. Up to 75% are never invited into an American home. Those who find faith usually lose it when they go home — 80% never connect with a church again. 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, faith & work integration, and vocational mentoring. Through Frontier Commons, we're launching faith & work hubs in Tokyo, Hong Kong, and beyond. 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 $100,000 to launch a faith & work hub in a home country."
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 Empower Alumni (ISEED, 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 ($100K) | "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
| 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 Empower program. |
| Multiplier | Influential leader; leads hub or venture. |
| Empower Program | Intensive discipleship + leadership + faith & work integration. Formerly ISEED. |
| 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
13 structured review phases. 245 corpus sources. 8 assumptions tested. 22 academic citations. 87 alumni documented.