Fundraising for Student Travel

As soon as the trip date is set, start fundraising. The more people who know about it, the more who will sign up, and the more who will share and make the whole thing possible. Get everyone excited!

Friends, family and community organizations. What does this audience have to donate? Money, time or resources? All are valuable! Example Resource: fundraising event space.

Important Questions to Consider:

• How much funding is needed for 10 students, 20 students or more?
• What percentage of funding needs to be met by when?
• What resources are available from family, friends and community organizations?

• Start by crafting a message that communicates why this cause is important.
• Use this message to ask for support, putting together flyers, writing emails, sharing on social media and etc.
• Announce when milestones are met, so supporters can celebrate too!

• Ask: Crowdfunding is a great way to manage the flow of funds online, setting up a fundraising campaign and tracking its progress.
• Collect: Set up an account where the donations go, such as PayPal or Venmo. Use this account for everything that’s raised, whether its goods, services, event donations or crowdfunding.
• Manage: Accounting software like QuickBooks or simple programs like Microsoft Excel are useful tools for keeping donations organized.
• Milestones: Don’t forget to share the good news when milestones are met! Not only does this make donors happy, it is another opportunity to spread the word and ask for more support.

• Thank Donors: Share milestones and cheer on supporters for making each success possible. Personalize thank yours with handwritten cards or emails. Say thank you on social media and in group emails, sharing the fundraising mission, encouraging more people to donate so the next goal can be met.
• Throw a Party for Donors: If resources allow, throwing a Thank You Party is the perfect opportunity to reach those stretch-goals, accepting last-minute donations from guests.
• Be creative and have fun!