Fundraising Tip: Potential Funders

1. Make a list of at least 100 people you know. Your appeal to them will be personal and informative. Include everyone you can think of: aunts, uncles, grand parents, neighbors, high school sweethearts, former teachers, or coaches, former employers, co-workers, family attorneys, high school and college alumni, boards or organizations to which you, a friend or family member may belong, and vendors, restauranteurs or other professionals you have patronized on a regular basis. List your parent's friends, people who are on their holiday card list, members of civic clubs, and members of their church, synagogue, or mosque.
   
   
2. Check with your high school administration or college service-learning office. Scholarships sometimes are available for service-oriented activities. Particularly if you attend a private school, there may be clubs which are allocated a certain amount of funds through student activities. See if your club is eligible. Many departments also have discretionary funds for projects and programs. If your service program can be integrated into an academic or service-learning course, there may also be some funds that could be used for your program. Check your alumni association as well, because more and more programs will help sponsor a student's service-learning travel.
   
   
3. Local businesses are far more likely to support you than are large corporations (unless you or a family member works for one). The key is to create a connection between the business owner you or someone close to you. Asking for a contribution of $100 or more is not unusual.
   
   
4. Approach your local place of worship. Your church, synagogue, or mosque may respond to a request for a specific amount ($150 - 300) if you offer an informative presentation about your experience when you return. (Tip: Unitarian Churches often are interested in this type of personal initiative.)
   
   
5. Service clubs and civic groups such as Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions, and Optimists, and fraternal organizations such as Elk and Moose clubs are well-known funding sources. Ask friends or family members if they, or someone they know, are members. They may very likely be interested in sponsoring you, especially if you can give them a group presentation when you return home. Also, ask if the group has a newsletter in which you can place a small article about your upcoming service program, and your need for help.
   
   
6. Don't overlook asking your employer; it can be a great source of support. Fewer companies today have matching grant programs than a decade ago, but the Human Resources or Training Department might have a program designed specifically for supporting employee volunteer efforts. If your employer doesn't offer that benefit, check your spouse's or parents' employer(s). (Contact us for information about companies that have matched employee contributions to Global Volunteers in the past.)
   
   

Continue to Step Three: Following Up with Prospects