Step One : Create a Budget. This is the time for precision and meticulous organization. Budget for the ACTUAL costs of your travel, materials, and program fee. It's best to choose a program you feel reasonably sure you can raise money for. If you haven't already made flight arrangements, now's the time to check into the costs of air travel to your destination (if required). Some people "work backwards" from their proposed departure date to determine the timeline they require for a realistic fundraising timeline, then add half-again the total time to account for unexpected interruptions in the plan. Prepare a professional-looking budget document. You may want to share your printed budget with your potential sponsors, as it could inspire larger contributions. Several spreadsheet computer programs, such as Excel, work well for this purpose. And, it's important for you to explain what portion of the costs you will be contributing. Some sponsors may be willing to "match" your contribution.

Step Two: Identify Potential Funders Make a list of at least 100 people you know. Your appeal to them will be personal and informative. Include everyone you can think of: aunts, uncles, grand parents, neighbors, high school sweethearts, former teachers, or coaches, former employers, co-workers, family attorneys, high school and college alumni, boards or organizations to which you, a friend or family member may belong, and vendors, restauranteurs or other professionals you have patronized on a regular basis. List your parent's friends, people who are on their holiday card list, members of civic clubs, and members of their church, synagogue, or mosque.

Check with your high school administration or college service-learning office. Scholarships sometimes are available for service-oriented activities. Particularly if you attend a private school, there may be clubs which are allocated a certain amount of funds through student activities. See if your club is eligible. Many departments also have discretionary funds for projects and programs. If your service program can be integrated into an academic or service-learning course, there may also be some funds that could be used for your program. Check your alumni association as well, because more and more programs will help sponsor a student's service-learning travel.

Don't overlook your employer or the companies your spouse or parents work for. Check to see if your company has a matching grants program. You may be eligible for a matching grant through your current or former employer, or the company your parents or another relative works for. If a donation is made in your name to your fundraising page, the employer may match it up to three times the original donation - reducing your out-of- pocket cost by as much as 75 percent!

Research corporate funding. Local businesses are far more likely to support you than are large corporations (unless you or a family member works for one). The key is to create a connection between the business owner you or someone close to you. Asking for a contribution of $100 or more is not unusual.

Approach a local place of worship. Your church, synagogue, or mosque may respond to a request for a specific amount ($150 - 300) if you offer an informative presentation about your experience when you return. (Tip: Unitarian Churches often are interested in this type of personal initiative.)

Service clubs and civic groups such as Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions, and Optimists, and fraternal organizations such as Elk and Moose clubs are well-known funding sources. Ask friends or family members if they, or someone they know, are members. They may very likely be interested in sponsoring you, especially if you can give them a group presentation when you return home. Also, ask if the group has a newsletter in which you can place a small article about your upcoming service program, and your need for help.

Step Three: Draft a one-page, concise letter summarizing your opportunity to make a genuine difference in the host country you will serve. If you've volunteered in this way before, be sure to describe how you were able to contribute previously, and what you've learned about international service. Describe Global Volunteers, your service program, why the work is important, and what you hope to accomplish by serving. Explain how much money you have already spent toward this endeavor, or what you intend to contribute from your own resources, and state your fundraising goal. Ask each prospective donor for a specific amount of money. (As a guide, almost everyone can give you $25. Many can easily afford $50. For close relatives and good friends, $100 is not too much to ask. Employers, places of worship, service clubs, and local businesses will often contribute $100 to $300.)

Many of your donors may not know much about community development, but will be interested in contributing to a good cause: building a school, providing village health care, protecting the environment, caring for vulnerable children, etc. Be sure you are clear about the value of your effort, and use descriptive, compelling language that will enable your prospect to see, hear and feel the need. (We can provide sample letters if you request them.)

A Word about Tax-deductibility: U.S. federal and state laws on charitable donations by individuals and corporations change frequently. Contributions made directly to you are not tax-deductible to the funder. However, contributions made on your behalf to the volunteer organization with which you will be serving may be tax-deductible in the U.S. and Canada. Check this with the organization at the outset of your fundraising efforts. This detail can make a big difference in your fundraising success!

Step Four: Follow Up and Say "Thanks!" Let every person and organization to whom you send a letter know you appreciate their consideration. Get on the phone to let your prospective donors know that you really need their help and support. One follow-up call can make the difference between a check and the back burner. Request an opportunity to meet with the person(s) who makes the financial decisions at your work place, service club, or local business to personally explain your goal. Send a personal thank you letter to every donor. Offer to speak to groups or show slides when you return. Tangible evidence of your service helps people "see" where their dollars have gone. Other visuals, such as pictures of you on your service program can be good reminders of how they have helped.