Matching gifts, grants, and scholarships are all great ways to fundraise for your program. We hope you will take advantage of the resources we provide here, as well as in the funding your program section. And, we encourage you to look for other resources that may be available online and in your community.
University Funds/Scholarships
If you are a student, one major source of funding is your own college or university. Many school clubs are allocated a certain amount of funds through student activities, so check if your club is eligible. Many academic departments also have discretionary funds for projects and programs that may be used if your volunteer program can be integrated into an academic or service-learning course. One great resource is the International Financial Aid and College Scholarship Search.
Grants
A common way to raise money is through grant proposals. A grant is financial aid awarded to non-profit organizations and/or individuals that meet the criteria of the grant. Though a grant proposal is fairly simple to write, usually only a limited number of people are selected for each grant. Remember to keep track of grant application deadlines, as foundations often have funding cycles.
One of the most comprehensive books on foundations is the Foundation Directory, which is available at most libraries. It lists the board members of most foundations and the types of projects they fund. A great online resource, which charges a small monthly fee, is Foundation Grants to Individuals Online, provided by the Foundation Directory.
Read about other scholarships and grants specific to international volunteering.
Employer Matching Gift Program
Many companies will match their employees' contributions to a qualifying non-profit organization. Since Cross-Cultural Solutions is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, it may qualifies. Visit our matching gifts section to see if your company has a matching gift program. Each company has their own set of guidelines, so be sure to check with your personnel office. Even if your company may not have a formal matching gift program, it may be willing to match your contribution.
Once you have determined that CCS qualifies for a matching gift program with your company, you will send us a matching gift form. In response, CCS will return the form with official documentation of our non-profit status, and the matching gift will be mailed to us. With matching gifts, the amount matched from the company, and the original deposit is non-refundable. Read more about our matching gifts refund policy in section seven of our payment policy page.
For Canada and UK Volunteers:
Trust Funds and Foundations
Nearly all trusts have specific criteria which applicants need to meet in order to qualify, so make sure you carefully research the trusts that are most suitable for you.
In the UK: One of the most comprehensive books on trusts for individuals in the UK is A Guide to Grants for Individuals in Need, produced by the Directory of Social Change. This guide lists the contact details and eligibility requirements of all trusts that award grants in excess of £500 and provides a model of an effective application. A sister publication, The Educational Grants Directory, also produced by the Directory of Social Change, provides details of trusts that award grants to students for educational and personal development purposes. Both publications are available in most public libraries.
For more information, see the FunderFinder site for individuals.
Another excellent resource is a computer database called People In Need (PIN) which is produced by Fundfinder. The PIN database contains information on more than 3,000 trusts in the UK and can perform searches based on your individual profile. Public libraries and careers centres often have access to the PIN database. To do an online search, for a small fee, visit the online PIN funder finder
Useful Links for Canada Volunteers:
Yahoo Directory for Canada Foundations and Trusts
Charity Village Canada Grant-Giving Foundations
Michigan State International Grants Makers
If you need fundraising support, contact your Program Manager. You can also read our fundraising FAQs. If you are not yet an enrolled volunteer, contact us for further assistance.
