Fundraising Tips for Your Trip
If you’ve chosen to volunteer with us then we believe that you have done so because you understand our love for helping others. And we have many tips on this page that can help you! There are many ways to offset the cost of your International volunteer trips. In Fact many of our volunteers and groups have been successful in fundraising a portion and sometimes all of their cost. You are doing a noble thing and you will be surprised how your community family and friends will come together. With a little time and energy you can share your story with others who might be willing to chip in!
Here is our most important- YOU HAVE TO GET THE WORD OUT! And perhaps one of the most important things you can do while getting the word out is to let people know HOW TO DONATE. Here are the 3 keys to remember:
3 Keys – Keep These in Mind While Fundraising.
1 – Social media email and blogging are all good tools for getting the word out. Tell people that you’re volunteering, why you’re volunteering and that you need to raise money to help pay for the trip. Focus on your reasons for volunteering, the more people you reach the more your passion will shine through. Ask friends to share it with their contacts. Create a Face book page just about your trip ask us for help and we will be happy to share pictures and information about your project. If you’re a blogger start now and donors can follow you during your trip. A blog or Facebook page is a great way to share project information beforehand and post pictures and updates during your experience, too!
2 – People must know how to donate to you. Are you accepting cash and check donations? What about items for a garage sale, or baked goods for your bake sale? Always let them know how to safely and securely donate (i.e. make a payment in your honor) When promoting your fundraising efforts make sure and give details on how donors can give you money for your trip. Are you accepting cash and checks? Have you set up an online donation link?
3- And always let your sponsors how to contact us if they have any questions. Many organizations like to call their prospect’s Volunteer Organizations to verify that they are donating to a legitimate cause.
Use your Facebook, twitter, Google account, InstaGram -whatever you have-to get the word out that you’re looking for support!
Email- If you can’t get around town or send letters out, then DO send out emails! Try sending them to people and businesses you know personally and put something personal in the subject line to make sure they recognize you and open it!
Internet – You can use the internet for great things. Popular ideas
You can find new businesses to contact and get support from! Research, Research, Research! There are many companies that offer fundraising programs to help support your trip expenses. Research companies that offer pre-made fundraising options such as Yankee Candle, Little Caesars, and Krispy Kreme..
Facebook – If you have a Facebook you know you can make separate group pages that you administer for virtually (literally!) anything. You can make a page for your charitable cause and update your efforts, add pictures of where you’re going-and even add pictures there or when you get home to show everyone who donated to your cause! Your page can be used as an advertisement and a charitable donations page. For a small fee you can even place an ad of Facebook.
Blog– A blog is a good way to not only get your cause out there, but get others discussing it too. Why not set up a site that you can get positive feedback about your humanitarian efforts which could potentially encourage donors?!
Offline – Local Ideas
Contact your Local Chamber: You may be surprised to find that your local chamber will help your fundraising efforts by offering to pay for advertising costs for your fundraising campaign, radio time, or even making a donation to your trip.
Newsletters: Do you know someone who writes newsletters? The school paper, neighborhood and apartment newsletters, even your local chamber has them. If you know someone (or you can write them), ask them to help you get the word out.
Recycling: Most people don’t think of recycling when trying to raise their funds for a trip. But it’s not just cans that you can recycle anymore! You can recycle cans/bottles, many kinds of metal, phones, printer cartridges, and other materials. Look at your local EPA List for details. There are many companies online offering this service — check out Think Recycle as an option.
Crafts for Sale-Awareness-Can: You make pins, shirts, buttons, pictures, etc.?- Schools, Colleges, and Offices love to get in on support and awareness. You can make pins, buttons, special ribbons (be sure not to use copy righted colors or marks).
Host a themed meal: Consider hosting a meal with a per plate cost as a donation to raise funds for your trip. Plan the menu around your volunteer destination. During the dinner share details of your upcoming project including pictures, stories, and information about what you will be doing. Promoting your trip might just entice them to give you extra donations.
Yard Sale/Garage Sale: (Get rid of your old knick knacks. ALSO: some people won’t be able to donate to you monetarily but many may be able to donate items for you to sell).