Your Fundraising Toolkit
Let’s Start Raising Some Money!
So, you’re ready to fundraise for your GIVE trip?
Now comes the exciting part: creating a plan of action.
Fundraising doesn’t have to be stressful. We’ve provided the best fundraising ideas that have worked for hundreds of past GIVE travelers below—easy, fun, and totally doable. Just pick what works for you. Keep one ongoing fundraiser, add a few fun extras, and watch the donations roll in.
Scroll down, grab the ideas that inspire you, and let’s make your dream trip happen.
Where do I start?
Crowdfunding is one of the easiest ways to share your story and start collecting donations. It’s simple for friends and family to give donations, and it spreads the word fast when shared on social media. We highly recommend GoFundMe.
💡 Pro tip: Most fundraising sites take a small percentage, so also give people the option to send checks directly to you—this way, you keep every dollar toward your trip!
Sometimes the “old-fashioned way” works best. Writing letters/emails to family and friends can make a huge impact.
- Share your passion for volunteering and why this experience matters to you.
- Include a photo of yourself to make it personal.
- Add your online fundraising link or mailing address for checks.
Set aside one weekend, gather a list of family, friends, or even your parents’ holiday card list, and send out as many letters/emails as you can. The donation average is $50+, so this one is definitely worth your time!
This letter endorses you as an official volunteer with GIVE. That means you can use your endorsement letter to reach out to businesses, restaurants, local newspapers, or anyone who may require a more professional approach.
💡 Important note: GIVE is not a 501(c)3 nonprofit, but businesses can feel confident knowing their donations go directly to project funds (which is explained in the letter).
Before We Dive into Fundraising, Let’s Talk Savings!
10 simple ways to save – make these lifestyle changes and you can save quick!!
1. Rethink your coffee habit: That daily $6 latte adds up quickly to $150/month! Try making coffee at home (get a milk frother to keep the cafe vibes)
2. Cut out new clothing buys: Cut spending on new clothes. If you need something, try thrifting, clothing swaps, or apps like Poshmark instead. You can save money and resell the clothes you don’t wear anymore.
3. Limit eating out at restaurants: Food delivery fees are brutal. Try cooking with friends or doing potlucks; it’s cheaper and social. Give yourself a limit – only eat out once a week or month or even once a month.
4. Leave the card at home: Carrying only cash or setting spending limits in apps like Apple Pay, Venmo, or Cash App can keep nights out from wrecking your budget.
5. Always hunt for discounts: Before checking out online, look for discount codes (Honey, UNiDAYS, & GroupOn are the best)
6. Keep an eye on your subscriptions: Streaming, music, cloud storage, Prime, the list goes on. Check through your bank statement to see if you have automatic payments for subscriptions you could cancel or split with friends.
7. Apps that save for you: Apps like Acorns, Chime, or even your bank’s roundup feature automatically stash away a little every time you spend—so you’re saving without thinking about it.
8. Try “no-spend” challenges: Block out weekends (or even whole weeks) where you spend nothing beyond essentials. Fill them with free fun: hiking, movie nights, volunteering, or free campus events.
9. BYO drinks: Skip bottled water and $4 sodas—bring a reusable water bottle or make your own flavored water/iced tea. Saves money and reduces plastic.
10. Ditch the solo rides: Gas, parking, and Ubers add up. Carpool with friends, use public transit, or bike/walk when you can. Bonus: it’s more eco-friendly.
5 Fundraising Essentials
Here are 5 tips to keep in mind throughout this process…
#1 - Share your why
Be real about why you’re doing this. Talk about your passion for travel, the communities you’ll be working with, and the impact projects (like building schools, teaching English, or growing community gardens). People want to support something meaningful—and your story makes it personal.
#2 - Make it personal and fun
Skip the mass/bulk messages. A quick FaceTime, text, DM, or call goes way further than a generic post. Share your excitement, let your personality shine, and get creative with how you ask.
#3 - Tap into your network
Start with family (distant as well), friends (and their parents), coworkers, and neighbors—then ask them to spread the word. Local businesses and community groups can be great supporters, too. The bigger the circle, the bigger the results.
#4 - Don’t fear the "no"
Not everyone will donate, and that’s okay. Every “no” gets you closer to a “yes.” Stay focused on your goal and keep sharing your story with confidence.
#5 - Always say thank you
Gratitude goes a long way. Thank your donors in person, with a message, or even with a postcard/picture after your trip. People love knowing they made a difference—and they’ll be more likely to support you again.
3 Steps To Fundraising Success
Step 1: Pick Your Fundraisers
First things first, let’s make a plan! Below are a few community fundraisers that other past volunteers have used successfully in the past. You can use them as is, tailor them toward your community, or create your own. If you’re fundraising with a group of people, throw a community fundraiser, split the workload, and split the money raised! The key: diversify your efforts and keep it fun.
Step 2: Get the word out
Advertise everywhere! Post on Instagram and Facebook—more than once. Create events, send DMs, email invites, make flyers, and talk to local organizations, Greek life, or businesses. People can only donate if they know your fundraiser exists, so shout it from the rooftops (virtually or in person)!
Step 3: Rinse & Repeat
After your first fundraiser, start the next one—and then another! Our most successful travelers run several small campaigns over a few months rather than “putting all their eggs in one basket.” Break your goal into weekly or monthly actions: save a little, run a mini-fundraiser, repeat. If you feel stuck, don’t worry. Call HQ—we’ll help you make a simple strategy that works.
Community Fundraiser Ideas
Bake sales: Classic and simple. Sell homemade goodies at school, work, or local events.
Sell homemade goods: Homemade bracelets, earrings, soaps, and candles can go a long way (especially during the holidays)!
Birthday & holiday donations: Ask friends and family to donate to your trip instead of gifts.
Custom art sale: Have any special creative talents? Sell your artwork to help raise easy funds.
TikTok/Instagram challenge: Create a fun, silly challenge online where friends donate to watch or participate (ex: pie to the face)
Drive for donations: Think of it as a personal Uber ride. Drive your friends around campus or out on the weekends for a minimum of $5/ride.
Throw a watch party: Whether it’s for your home sports team, a new TV show, or a movie, charge a small fee to be involved.
Throw a themed party: Throw a small, fun party with an entry fee or suggested donation. Make it photo-worthy and fun.
Fitness fundraiser (yoga, workout, or run): Host a class, virtual challenge, or 5k walk/run—participants donate to join.
Raffle or silent auction: Ask local businesses to donate items or services and auction them off for your fundraiser.
Poetry or open mic night: Showcase local talent; charge a small entry fee or suggest a donation.
Game/trivia night: Organize a game night or trivia game in-person (or online) where participants pay a small entry fee.
DIY coffee fundraiser: Host a coffee pop-up or sell specialty drinks with profits going to your trip.
Trading Goods & Services For Donations!
With this route, the options are endless!
Whether you’re crafty, social, or short on time, there’s a way to fundraise that fits your lifestyle. The key?
Make it personal and share your story. When people see your passion, they’ll want to support your cause.
Get crafty
Make art, jewelry, stickers, or offer photoshoots. Use low-cost or donated materials (ask local businesses!) and sell through Instagram, Etsy, or community/campus pop-ups.
Food fundraisers
Everyone loves food. Try grilled cheese nights, pancake breakfasts, or baked goods tables at campus hot spots. Cheap ingredients = big returns.
Help a neighbor
Offer yard work, babysitting, dog walking, or house cleaning for donations. Busy families are often happy to pay for a helping hand.
Clothing swap
Organize a swap party with friends—everyone donates a small fee to join, and everyone leaves with “new” clothes. Sustainable and social.
Garage sale (or online sale)
Declutter your space and sell items through Facebook Marketplace, Poshmark, or Depop. Ask friends/family to donate their items, too.
Teach a skill
Offer tutoring, music lessons, workout classes, or even resume help. Charge what you can, or run by donation.
Partner with a local business
Set up outside a coffee shop, grocery store, or farmer’s market. Many businesses will donate space or materials if you ask with your endorsement letter.
“I got together with other GIVErs at my school to sell grilled cheese! At OU we have meal plans and used that to buy bread, cheese, butter, and foil. We used a propane grill so that we don’t have to rely on a plug, and set up on Court Street which is the busiest place because of the bars! We did it almost every weekend and got a ton of support!”
Local Donors, Grants & Scholarships
Use your endorsement letter for the best results!
Partner with local businesses
Walk into coffee shops, gyms, salons, or boutiques and share your story. Bring your GIVE endorsement letter, explain your trip, and ask if they’d be open to donating, sponsoring, or letting you leave flyers. Always follow up with a thank you!
Restaurant nights & local partnerships
Ask local restaurants, food trucks, or bars if they’ll host a “fundraiser night” where a % of sales goes to your trip. You bring in friends, they get customers, you raise funds—it’s a win-win.
Donation jars (with a twist)
Create eye-catching jars with your photo, story, and a catchy phrase (like “Small change = big change”). Place them in high-traffic spots like cafés, gyms, or campus hangouts. QR codes to your online fundraiser make it even easier.
Donation matching
Ask family, friends, or local businesses if they’ll match donations for a limited time (ex: “Every $1 donated this week = $2 for GIVE”). Matching drives urgency and excitement.
Grants & Scholarships
First, we recommend connecting with your academic advisor on campus to help you find grant and scholarship opportunities that you can use towards your trip. You’d be surprised what money is just lying around for you on campus. Some may require you to take course credit, which can be done with our academic course!
You can also search online for volunteer abroad grants and scholarships. Apply to as many as you can find! We recommend checking Hi USA & World Nomads
Fundraising For Your Deposit
Don’t let the deposit hold you back—start fundraising right away!
Now that you have put down a minimum of $95, you can begin making small payments toward your full deposit and officially save your spot.
How it works:
- Use your GIVE Profile like a travel savings account—apply donations and payments directly to your deposit.
- Keep fundraising and paying your balance little by little.
- Every dollar counts—if you’re tight on cash, send checks or utilize our FlexPay option to avoid the online processing fees.
Why start now:
- We’ll let you know if your trip is filling up, so you don’t miss out.
- Early access to fundraising materials, endorsement letters, and templates.
- Personalized coaching/support from the GIVE team to help you hit your goal.
You want to have an amazing, life changing experience and people want to support you to make that a reality! Fundraising WORKS and is the gate key to getting you abroad without breaking the bank!
Good luck & we’ll see you overseas!
And don’t forget – if you get discouraged or hit a roadblock, call us in the office for advice! We’ve all personally fundraised for our own trips and we’re here to help.