Please enjoy our 5-minute video: 
"Making a fundraising plan"

We know our families often face the harshest of economic times and circumstances, and world travel can seem like an extravagance. 

Before writing off the idea, consider the possibility of making this trip truly meaningful. Working as a family, you can fundraise a significant amount of the travel costs. This page attempts to demonstrate some of the many ways families with significant financial challenges have sent their child out to see the world. 
Yes, it will involve hard work and desire, primarily on the part of your student traveler. Please watch the video to the left to hear how Josue Gregorio (WCO '14) was able to raise over $3000 in 5 months for his trip to Greece and Italy.

Below are examples of personal funding pages. Upon enrollment, all travelers receive their own to share via email and social media around the world.

Donation page for Sr. Rowe's son, Luke.

Personal networks

When you enroll on a tour, you automatically receive an account that features a unique "donation page." Think of it as a "Go Fund Me" that doesn't take a cut of the money. Donations go directly to your child's account. As you can see, donors can see the goal amount, and how far you child has to go.

Sharing is easy--you simply cut and paste the link, and are able to send it world-wide! (Don't worry--you child knows how!) 

Next step: Determining who is in your 
"personal and professional network.

Some parents will scroll their contact list online or their phones. Others close their eyes and picture their office or neighborhood, or who shows up at Christmas dinner.

All of the above are true! Your "network" is important to see as the people in your life, and/or the life of your child, who would support the idea of this trip. This group may surprise you--don't be too critical of yourself or how often you keep in touch. This journey is a unique opportunity, and more often than not, members of our "communities" very often step up and donate generously.

Ideas include:
  • Family members, near and far
  • Your co-workers, past and present
  • Your neighbors
  • Coaches, community leaders, and members of community circles (such as churches, cultural organizations, etc.)

Venturing out into the local community

 As Josue mentioned above in his video message, reaching out into the local community for individual donations is an effective way to take away a significant chunk of the costs of travel.

What stops most students: It involves work. It involves hearing no. It involves being promised help, then receiving nothing. 

​Students and families who are genuine in their efforts, persistent, and organized about follow-up will find that the hard work will pay off. Sr. Rowe can provide copies of a fundraising letter like the one pictured here.

Refer to the notes above to begin the brainstorm of organizations; the best place to start in the business world is the restaurants, stores, and services your family uses, and you're known by staff or ownership. Doing this increases confidence, and allows the student (or parent) to work on the "delivery" of the message and request for help.

Group fundraising

The drought has brought an end to the "weekly weekend car wash," and teachers are pushed to their limits with classroom, planning, and grading duties.

A few times a semester, as well as summer events involving faculty, we will do "restaurant nights" and other group fundraisers. These events can be fun, and build group cohesion. When it comes to "the bottom line," however, it all comes down to student and parent involvement and promotion!
Applebee's Fundraiser, 2014

Additional resources for individual
(and group) fundraising.

The following links are a hodge-podge of ideas we've found along the way. If you would like to contribute links of your own, please send them to us via the "Contact us" page!
​http://ws.educationaltravel.com/fundraising/


https://www.fundraising.com/products/scratchcards


https://www.fundraising.com/ideas/fundraising-ideas


http://proxy.espn.go.com/coaches/fundraising


http://www.pizzakit.com/


https://www.yankeecandlefundraising.com/home.htm


http://www.usastudenttravel.com/fundraising/index.html (scroll down 1/2way)