How to Make a Website to Raise Money for a Volunteer Abroad Trip

Try to make your visitors to your website feel like they are a part of the experience.

For those interested in giving back to the world, many organizations offer volunteer programs in countries throughout the globe. However, having good intentions doesn't mean your trip will be free -- such an endeavor has its costs. In most cases, you will be responsible for transportation costs and in some instances lodging and food.

If you would like to raise money for your trip, the Internet is a perfect place to advertise your cause and collect donations. You will need to convince the anonymous Internet user that your trip is a worthy cause, so be creative when designing your website.

Instructions

Creating Your Website

1. Determine what type of website you want to create. There are a number of ways to showcase your cause online and raise money for a volunteer abroad trip.

   If you have knowledge of HTML or other coding languages, you can create a website from scratch. Search for free website servers, such as Google Sites or Yola, and sign up for an account. Although a dot-com website might sound more appealing and easy to remember for the public, consider this option carefully. In order to maintain a .com website, you will need to pay monthly fees. Depending on your cause and the details of the trip, it may not be worth it to pay for the accessible URL.

   You can also create a Facebook page dedicated to your trip. It's free, and thousands of people can view your page, read status updates of the project and view pictures of the volunteer trip.

   Sites like Create a Fund specialize in fundraising websites. These sites are easier to create and maintain because they have built-in payment collection mechanisms. However, some fundraising websites may take a percentage of your donations, so read the agreement and terms carefully.

2. Sell your mission to the public. With the vast number of websites accessible through the Internet, you need to make your website unique and attractive to viewers.

   Create a page explicitly discussing the details and rationale behind your mission. If you will be traveling with a group representing a specific organization or institution such as a non-profit, university or church, you can tailor this description to appeal to a certain demographic.

   Consider setting up a blog so that the volunteers can write about the experience during the trip. If visitors can post comments on the blog, it creates an interactive environment and may inspire your website viewers to donate money.

   Post pictures of the group members or past volunteer experiences. If your group intends to have an annual volunteer trip, post pictures from each trip. Prove to your website visitors that the volunteer trip is actually helping people or the environment.

   Create a new e-mail address for this specific website so that visitors can contact your group and ask questions.

3. Collect money through your website. If you want to collect checks, post an address where visitors can send their donations. A P.O. Box or an office address is preferable. If possible, avoid posting your home address.

   You can also create a "Donate" option on your website. PayPal provides a service that allows users to accept credit card payments on their personal websites. You can also search for other online donor relationship management services and use them to manage your donations.

4. Advertise your cause. If you create a regular website, consider creating a Facebook page for your trip. Create a Twitter account and keep your audience updated on the daily events throughout your trip. Creating an account at social networking websites exposes your cause to an established network.

References

• TechSoup: A Primer on Online Fundraising for Nonprofit Organizations

Resources

• Facebook
• Twitter
• PayPal
• Entango
• Charity Advantage