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Fundraising Tips for Your Volunteer Abroad Program
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Volunteering abroad is an amazing learning experience and journey that will change your life! However, many volunteers ask us, “Why should I have to pay to volunteer?” The answer is that volunteering in a developing country is different from volunteering on a Saturday afternoon in your hometown.
Volunteers abroad need accommodations, food, emergency health and evacuation insurance in addition to in-country transportation and orientations to ensure their safety. Since volunteers live with host families, we need to provide funds to our host communities and partner organizations. All this adds up to the program fee.
However, we want to enable as many people as possible to have this wonderful experience. So we offer you some ideas about how to raise money. Please get in touch for more information!
Before you consider participating in a Volunteer Abroad Quest, you may have concerns and questions about how you are going to pay for it. The good news is, you can raise funds to pay for your Quest itself as well as for the airfare - and all donations are tax deductible! Below you will find several fundraising ideas and tips on how to raise money to fund this once in a lifetime experience. For additional money saving tips on airfare and choosing a program that is within your budget, please download our Guide to Funding Your Quest.
1. Create your own Online Fundraising Page!
An online fundraising page helps to spread the word about your Quest. This page can feature photos and information to encourage family, friends and colleagues to donate. It can also send out personalized emails to generate support. Sponsors can donate on the site and these donations go directly to your Quest (tracked and monitored by you and United Planet). It only takes a few minutes to create and is well worth the effort!
Please note that First Giving charges a fee to cover operational costs. A 7.5% fee will be charged to volunteers to offset the processing expenses.
Please click here to set up your own fundraising page.
2. Ask your supporters to donate over a mobile device.
United Planet has a shortcode dedicated to enabling volunteers to raise money over cell phones and mobile devices. We can set up a keyword just for you. You can tell supporters to text your keyword to the shortcode; and they'll donate $5 or $10 quickly and effortlessly. Contact us for full information.
3. Contact your Local Media
Let your entire community know about the life-changing adventure you are about to embark on! Contact your local weekly and daily newspapers to help spread the word about your Quest, direct people to your fundraising page, and encourage donors to contribute. In doing so, you may be given the opportunity to share your story with hundreds of readers. This can not only help to bring in financial support, but can also draw much needed public attention to the international community you will be working with during your Quest.
Contact the team for more information.
4. Create a Letter Writing Campaign
The most efficient and effective way to reach a large number of potential donors is through a letter writing campaign. You can craft a personal letter that explains why you have chosen to take part in a United Planet Quest, how much it means to you, and what it will mean to the community you will be serving. Here are a few tips to get you started!
- Make sure the letter is limited in length and explains United Planet's mission
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Describe the Quest you are about to embark on and the people you will support and work in partnership with during your experience. Educate your donors by making sure you explain why you need the funds, what the funds will be used for, and where the funds will be spent.
- Explain how this journey will positively affect your life and the community you will be working with during your Quest.
- In addition to family and friends, contact local businesses. Many of them look for tax deductions and would love to support a great cause! Note that your sponsor’s donation is tax-deductible.
- Provide stamped return envelopes with each letter. Remember: you want to make the donation process as simple and easy as possible for your sponsor.
- Follow up with thank you cards 24 hours after you receive a donation.
- Send the letter to anyone you can think of. You never know who will support you
5. Host an Event
Here are some event ideas:
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Free service in exchange for a donation: Babysit, wash cars, take care of a pet, host a bake sale or volunteer to
do yard work.
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Basketball, softball, baseball or other sports tournament: Ask your town to provide the field or gym facilities for this event. Have local businesses donate prizes for winners and invite your community to come cheer the participants on!
- Battle of the Bands. Ask local businesses to provide a venue for this. Bands and venue owners alike will enjoy the exposure and the community can enjoy a fun night.
- Dinner: Host a spaghetti dinner at a community center or school gym. Ask friends to help you prepare the dinner. Charge a fee for the dinner provided. Invite everyone you know!
6. Apply for Student Scholarships/Grants
- Make United Planet's Scholarships and Grants page your first stop for current offerings and resources on available scholarships and grants.
- Contact your school’s financial aid department. There may be funds available for you to tap into. United Planet is happy to provide you with any material or information your school requires in order to qualify for available scholorships or grants.
7. Apply for Professional Grant
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If you are a skilled professional who has been working in your field for at least 3 years, a US citizen, and have been accepted into United Planet’s Quest program, you might consider applying for a $500 - $1000 grant from Volunteers for Prosperity to offset your travel and cost of living expenses. To apply create an account and click the fundraisers tab.
Remember to stay positive. If you truly believe in something, the people that care about you will believe in it too!
All donations should be made payable to “United Planet.” Unless you have created an online fundraising page, 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 to:
United Planet
11 Arlington Street
Boston, MA 02116
Please contact us if you have any further questions regarding fundraising.
GOOD LUCK!
