United Planet (UP)- Volunteer Work Abroad and Cultural Learning in 50 countries

Fundraising Tips

You are about to embark on an amazing learning and volunteer journey that will change your life! Before you consider participating in a Quest experience, you might have concerns on how to create a successful fundraising campaign to support this adventure. Below you will find several fundraising ideas and past successful fundraisers.

Create Your Own Easy-to-Use ONLINE FUNDRAISING PAGE!

You can create your own page with photos and text to raise funds for your Quest or United Planet Special Project and automatically email your family, friends, colleagues - anyone you think will help support your efforts. Supporters can donate directly online. It only takes a few minutes to create.

Your fundraising page will greatly enhance your ability to raise funds for your Quest. Please note that the provider of this exceptional service does require a fee to cover operational costs. United Planet will cover a portion of these costs; however, a 5% fee will be charged to volunteers to offset the remaining processing expenses.

Please click here to set up your own fundraising page.

Send Out a Press Release:

Let your entire community know what you are up to! Contact your local newspaper and magazines. Check out the following Sample Press Release to find out how easy this is. You could even be a feature article! Not only do you get to see yourself in print you will gain the opportunity to reach hundreds of readers! This can bring in a lot of donations!

Letter Writing Campaign:

The most efficient and effective way to reach a massive amount of potential donors is a letter writing campaign. You can craft a personal letter that encompasses why you have chosen to partake in a United Planet Quest journey and how much it means to you. Here are a few tips to get you started!

Make sure the letter is limited in length to one page and describes United Planet, the
Quest journey you are about to embark on, and the people you will help during your experience. Educate your donors by making sure you explain why you need the funds, what the funds will be used for, and when the funds will be spent. Feel free to click on the following Sample Fundraising Letter to use as a basis for your letter.
Explain how this journey will positively affect your life and the people you are helping. Let your family and friends know how this will make you grow in ways unimaginable.
Contact businesses. Most of them are looking for a tax write-off and would love to support a great cause!
Note that your sponsor’s donation is tax-deductible.
Send the letter to anyone you can think of. You never know who will support you!
Provide stamped return envelopes with each letter. Remember, you want to make the donation process as easy as possible for your sponsor. All they should have to do is write the check, not provide an envelope and have to fish around for a stamp!
Follow-up with thank you cards 24 hours after you receive your donation.

Make an Email List:

Create an email distribution list and send out frequent emails about your fundraising needs, updates on dollars raised, and details of the Quest journey before and after your return.

Host an Event:

Another great fundraising idea is to hold an event. Here are some event ideas:

Perform a free service for donation: Baby-sit, take care of a pet, or volunteer to do yard work. Most likely, the person who accepted this service will inquire why you are providing this free service and then you are free to serve them your best “Quest” pitch!
Battle of the Bands: Put up flyers announcing a battle of the bands. Inquire around to local venues about providing an area for this battle. Bands and venue owners alike will enjoy the exposure and your community would love to support a good cause while enjoying a fun night.
Dinner: Host a dinner at a community center or school gym. Have the ingredients donated and charge a fee for the dinner provided. Invite everyone you know!
Basketball, softball, or baseball tournament: Ask your town to provide the field or gym facilities for a tournament. Have local businesses donate prizes for winners and invite your community to come cheer the participants on!
Bingo: Host a bingo night!
Car Wash: Ask a local gas station to host a car wash.
Games Night: Organize an evening of board games.

Scholarships/Grants:

Contact your school’s financial aid department. There might be funds available for you to tap into.

Most of all stay positive!!!! Chances are if you truly believe in something the people that you care about will believe in it too. If you start early the possibilities are endless!

Remember, you can raise funds to pay for the quest itself as well as for the airfare.

All Donations should be made payable to “United Planet”. At this time, we are only accepting check and cash donations. Please have your sponsors send their donations to your home address. Keep careful record of all your donations. After making copies of the donations for your reference please forward them all together onto:

United Planet
11 Arlington Street
Boston, MA 02116

Please use our Reply Now link if you have any further questions regarding fundraising for your quest.

GOOD LUCK !!!

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	Fundraising Tips You are about to embark on an amazing learning and volunteer journey that will change your life! Before you consider participating in a Quest experience, you might have concerns on how to create a successful fundraising campaign to support this adventure. Below you will find several fundraising ideas and past successful fundraisers. Create Your Own Easy-to-Use ONLINE FUNDRAISING PAGE! You can create your own page with photos and text to raise funds for your Quest or United Planet Special Project and automatically email your family, friends, colleagues - anyone you think will help support your efforts. Supporters can donate directly online. It only takes a few minutes to create. Your fundraising page will greatly enhance your ability to raise funds for your Quest. Please note that the provider of this exceptional service does require a fee to cover operational costs. United Planet will cover a portion of these costs; however, a 5% fee will be charged to volunteers to offset the remaining processing expenses. Please click here to set up your own fundraising page. Send Out a Press Release: Let your entire community know what you are up to! Contact your local newspaper and magazines. Check out the following Sample Press Release to find out how easy this is. You could even be a feature article! Not only do you get to see yourself in print you will gain the opportunity to reach hundreds of readers! This can bring in a lot of donations! Letter Writing Campaign: The most efficient and effective way to reach a massive amount of potential donors is a letter writing campaign. You can craft a personal letter that encompasses why you have chosen to partake in a United Planet Quest journey and how much it means to you. Here are a few tips to get you started! Make sure the letter is limited in length to one page and describes United Planet, the Quest journey you are about to embark on, and the people you will help during your experience. Educate your donors by making sure you explain why you need the funds, what the funds will be used for, and when the funds will be spent. Feel free to click on the following Sample Fundraising Letter to use as a basis for your letter. Explain how this journey will positively affect your life and the people you are helping. Let your family and friends know how this will make you grow in ways unimaginable. Contact businesses. Most of them are looking for a tax write-off and would love to support a great cause! Note that your sponsor’s donation is tax-deductible. Send the letter to anyone you can think of. You never know who will support you! Provide stamped return envelopes with each letter. Remember, you want to make the donation process as easy as possible for your sponsor. All they should have to do is write the check, not provide an envelope and have to fish around for a stamp! Follow-up with thank you cards 24 hours after you receive your donation. Make an Email List: Create an email distribution list and send out frequent emails about your fundraising needs, updates on dollars raised, and details of the Quest journey before and after your return. Host an Event: Another great fundraising idea is to hold an event. Here are some event ideas: Perform a free service for donation: Baby-sit, take care of a pet, or volunteer to do yard work. Most likely, the person who accepted this service will inquire why you are providing this free service and then you are free to serve them your best “Quest” pitch! Battle of the Bands: Put up flyers announcing a battle of the bands. Inquire around to local venues about providing an area for this battle. Bands and venue owners alike will enjoy the exposure and your community would love to support a good cause while enjoying a fun night. Dinner: Host a dinner at a community center or school gym. Have the ingredients donated and charge a fee for the dinner provided. Invite everyone you know! Basketball, softball, or baseball tournament: Ask your town to provide the field or gym facilities for a tournament. Have local businesses donate prizes for winners and invite your community to come cheer the participants on! Bingo: Host a bingo night! Car Wash: Ask a local gas station to host a car wash. Games Night: Organize an evening of board games. Scholarships/Grants: Contact your school’s financial aid department. There might be funds available for you to tap into. Most of all stay positive!!!! Chances are if you truly believe in something the people that you care about will believe in it too. If you start early the possibilities are endless! Remember, you can raise funds to pay for the quest itself as well as for the airfare. All Donations should be made payable to “United Planet”. At this time, we are only accepting check and cash donations. Please have your sponsors send their donations to your home address. Keep careful record of all your donations. After making copies of the donations for your reference please forward them all together onto: United Planet 11 Arlington Street Boston, MA 02116 Please use our Reply Now link if you have any further questions regarding fundraising for your quest. GOOD LUCK !!!	Applying to a UP Quest is simple! Apply in 3 easy steps: Choose your Quest (short-term or long-term), select your dates, and fill in the online application. Click here to: APPLY for a Short-term Quest (1-12 weeks) APPLY for Long-term Quest (6 or 12 months) Submit your deposit at the time of application ($250 for all short-term Quests and $350 for all long-term Quests). You may pay the deposit on-line with a credit card as part of your application process, call our office at 1-800-292-2316 to provide your credit card information or send a check to our Boston office. A Coordinator from the United Planet Team will confirm your application and deposit and arrange a phone interview with you to discuss your quest of interest and motivations. Click here to find out answers to many frequently asked questions about United Planet Quests.