Don't be shy. Originally the plan was just to approach my family to ask that they put any money that they would spend on Christmas towards CCS. When mentioning this to some friends (those that I didn't even know so well at the time) they asked that I send them the information as they would like to contribute. Sometimes donations come from the least suspected areas. A self addressed envelope makes things much easier and a little clip outlining the procedure to make sure the donations go to CCS. Follow up is key. Hand written thank you notes, websites (if you are techie) and items brought back from the country are most appreciated. Ayacucho is known for its stone carving so I brought back Christmas ornaments for everyone that gave money. It was also in keeping with the fact that my travels were over the holiday period.
Haley Felchlin, Peru - Ayacucho Volunteer
I did several things to raise money for my trip to Ghana. I sent out support letters to family and friends about what I would be doing and why I wanted to go. In the letter, I calculated the cost of each day there and asked people to sponsor one day. Some gave less, but a lot of people gave that or more. I also found a student organization on campus that was looking for a project to sponsor and had an interest in what I was doing. They donated money in exchange for my promise to give them a report when I returned and go into classrooms on campus to talk about what I learned. That group also sent out fundraising letters to business contacts that had previously shown an interest in the organization, which raised even more money.
Crystal Thiele, Ghana Intern
I threw a birthday party for myself and wrote in the E-vite that I didn't want presents, I wanted people to donate to CCS in my name instead. I included the link to my individual CCS account to make it as easy as possible for people, and I pointed out that it was tax-deductible. Anyone who donated would get invited to check out a slideshow and my home cooked Indian food when I got back (that might have been a disincentive, now that I think about it).
Debra Katz, India - New Delhi Intern
I was able to fundraise for my entire trip! I sent out a massive email campaign to all my friends and family. The emails were personalized, which initially took more time, but I think it was worth it. I asked about each person's plans for the summer and in general terms told them about my plans to volunteer in Peru. With each email, I explained in general terms about the fundraising I would have to do and I attached a PDF document with a formal letter explaining specifics about the program and specifics about what to do if they wanted to help out. The formal letter included the CCS website and a link to the fundraising page of the CCS website to make it easier for those who wanted to help. The attachment also had a form for those wanting to send payment by mail. I also printed the letters and mailed some to those not computer savvy. Initially, I got a few responses, but I think people were put off by the amount (afraid that they were expected to give hundreds of dollars). After a few weeks, I received a few hundred dollars, so I decided to send out group email updates. I would write to explain different things I had done to prepare for my trip, things I'd bought, or immunizations I endured. And in each update I would include a summary of how much I had fundraised so far with a bar graph so people would realize that any amount was appreciated and that it all added up. I would send updates every few weeks because after the first couple the money started rolling in. The updates ended up being the key to my success.
Susan Schuman, Peru - Ayacucho Volunteer
I was able to raise all the money I needed for my trip. My fundraising was done mostly via email and hand-delivered letters. I sent a mass email request to all my family, friends, and acquaintances in the form of a letter explaining about the program, and asking for support (without begging!). I put copies of the request in mailboxes at work also, and people heard me discussing the project because I was so excited about it. Another big help was that my mother and sister also work in a school system (where I also used to work, so people know me and my family), and spread the word, asking for donations. Throughout the course of my fundraising, I sent out a couple of email updates about how close I was to my goal, which also served as a reminder to people who wanted to give but hadn't yet. I did nothing through businesses, or publicity ... all my donations came from people I (or my mother/sister) know. I was so moved by people's support, generosity, and enthusiasm for the volunteer work. I did an online blog of my trip, which I set up before leaving, and gave the address to everyone who had donated (and even others who hadn't) ... this way they could read about my trip while I was there, and see where their money was going. I was pleasantly surprised at how many people logged on every day, wanting to read the latest of my adventures!
Tracy Branco, Peru - Ayacucho Volunteer
Never give up! Give yourself small targets to reach, say for example "£500 by August." Once you have managed to reach that, you will feel more confident to succeed in the final amount.
Karen Miles, Peru - Lima Volunteer
You know, it is amazing to think that I actually raised more than my program fee ... My biggest tip for anyone is not to stress about fundraising; if the first thing you try doesn't work, there are so many options.
Matthew, Russia Volunteer
