How to Raise Money for a Volunteer Trip Overseas

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By TheGuest29
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Volunteering Overseas

I recently completed a volunteer trip to Africa which was as much exciting as it was fulfilling. Taking into account shots, airline tickets, housing, etc. the trip got to be very expensive. This article will hopefully give you some ideas on how to raise the funds needed to cover most of your trip.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Step 1

Getting the required shots such as malaria pills and yellow fever injections can cost upwards of 500 dollars. First check with your insurance company to see which shots/medications will be covered. The travel nurse I saw was so excited about my trip that she actually donated 100 dollars towards the cost of my bill. So let it be known the good you intend to do while overseas and you will find people are excited to help out.
Step 2

Start a letter writing campaign. This will make up the bulk of your fund raising and should yield great results. Write a letter explaining where your going and what you plan on doing once you get there. For example I traveled to Africa to volunteer with AIDS organizations. The more you let people know you are there to help and do good, the more willing they will be to support you. Send your letters to family and friends...don't be afraid to send to people you normally wouldn't consider. I had a great uncle whom I hadn't seen in 20 years send me a donation.
Step 3

Seek out community groups and local rotaries to seek help. Send them letters and ask if they'd like you to give a presentation on your trip to their club once you get back. Many business are looking for volunteer groups to donate to so don't hesitate to bug the bigger companies.
Step 4

If you are going in a group, organize some fund raising activities such as car washes. I went with a group that made t-shirts and sold them around our college campus.
Step 5

Many places or people you talk to will not be able to give you a cash donation, however they still might want to help you by offering their services to you for free. For example, a free haircut or a discount on some merchandise. Anything helps and you can put money you would have had to spend on these things toward your trip.
Step 6

If you still find yourself coming up a bit short of your goal, try finding low interest loans that will supplement your trip.

Comments

stephaniediv6 said

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on 2/10/2009 I am in the same situation as Ivoryce above....volunteering in New Orleans but don't have the money to get there...raising the money by donations and events...do i need to get a license as a non-profit? or can we just raise the money?

ivoryce said

on 11/10/2008 Do you need a charity or non-profit registration number to fundraise? I would like to raise money to volunteer as a nurse when I grad this summer in an orphanage in Guatemala. All the info I can find seems to say that in order to fundraise you need to have a license as either a charity or non-profit and if you have either, your proceeds collected need to benefit the community - which won't work for me as my cause would be international aid.