Paying for your trip: how to raise money to volunteer

Amigos de las Americas
What are you doing this summertime? AMIGOS offering 5-8 week programme in whichstudents immerse themselves in a Latin American community. Participants willstrengthen their Spanish skills and collaborate on sustainable developmentprojects. To learn more, call 1-800-231-7796, email info@amigoslink.org orvisit Amigos de las Americas

Lend a Hand in a Foreign Land

Paying for Your Trip: How to Raise Money to

This summertime, I witnessed unspeakable poorness, extraordinary acts of generousness, and a foreign culture became treasured and loved. Pernambuco, Brazil, where I taught English for three weeks as a military volunteer with i-to-i (), was the site of many life-changing moments.

This was not a holiday, and it was not a cheap trip taken on a whim. Like most travelers, I was decidedly on a - a college student's budget - and I never truly thought going abroad was possible. Until I learned about fundraising. It wasn't easy, but I raised a little over $1,000 for my trip. Here's how I did it:

ONE: Go local. One of my biggest donors was a concern that had donated to my high school while I was a pupil body military officer. They remembered me, and even did the dirty work of career their corporate offices to get a contribution. Staying local also helps because smaller, buck private businesses don't normally have to cut through so much bureaucratic red tape.

TWO: Be creative. I prepared a booklet of info about Federative Republic of Brazil, the community center, i-to-i, and myself. Anyone reading the package would get to know me personally and feel connected (through strategically written cover missive) to the undertaking.

THREE: Get organized. I kept a spreadsheet of contact information and interactions with the businesses I approached. When things seemed like a mess (and they will when you get a lot of requests out!), I could open the spreadsheet and know at a glance what was going on.

FOUR: Know the program. I called i-to-i frequently, asking for information and pictures that would help me become an expert in all aspects of the project. I researched Brazil and Recife individually - the culture, customs, and industries - so I knew exactly how my work there would benefit the community.

FIVE: Don't give up. Odds are, you'll face more rejection than success. Only twice did checks arrive in the mail without a second phone call. The rest came after careful reminding and persistence - one of the managers had me call him ten minutes before his corporate meeting so he wouldn't forget to ask on my behalf.

SIX: Talk to everyone. I asked my orthodontist and the place where I got my oil changed. Make a list of potential donors - and then double it. If you ask enough people, you can afford a lot of rejection and still meet your goal. One of my biggest donors - and my biggest surprise - was the dealership where I'd bought my car. It's encouraging and surprising how many people want to help you help someone else.

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Photo by i-to-i