Fundraising, Scholarships, and Financial Aid

Did you know...

Most of our interns do receive independent study and/or internship credit for their internships.  This means that they can get financial aid for their work.

Additionally, many interns fundraise through dinner events or events at local clubs to cover their cost of living.  

Now, all donations made by family and friends to support your work are tax deductible...Contact us for more information!  

Fundraising From Family and Friends

Fundraising in your community is not as uncomfortable as you might think! Your confidence in fundraising will stem from a strong understanding of why it is OK to ask for money (no matter your age or profession!), who you can ask, what exactly you are asking money for, and when you should get started.

Although initially you may feel weary about soliciting money, you may be surprised how willing your community is to support your upcoming experience.

Remember, your donation allows Viva Nicaragua! and other organizations to promote grass root development and social justice projects.    Take a minute to reflect on the importance of what you‟re doing, and allow these considerations to bring focus to your fundraising efforts.

Additionally - your family and friends can receive a tax deduction for their donation to your project! 

Who?

Who are you connected to? Open up the old address book or think about everyone on your holiday card mailing list – friends, family, friends of family. You‟ll be surprised by how many people you know!

But where else can you fundraise? Think of all the people you encounter throughout your daily routine. You or your parents‟ employer, your place of worship, social venues, your academic department, athletic teams, your gym, charitable organizations, clubs, local banks, credit unions, restaurants, supermarkets, and other businesses are all great places to target. Or delve back into your past a bit; perhaps your interest in sustainable development came from a former professor who would be interested in supporting you and your project. Don‟t be shy to exhaust potential resources in your community, or to ask those who have supported you to get you where you are now.

What?

How much does your program cost? How much additional money do you think you‟ll need? Remember that the cost of your flight and other travel expenses, vaccinations and pre-departure medical appointments, your visa, the country‟s exit tax, and any spending money while you are away are not included in your program fees. Use this information to create your budget and a  realistic goal. Not only will this help you prepare for your time abroad, but conveying your exact goals to your sponsors will motivate them to support you, and will demonstrate the real impact of their dollars.

When? Now! The sooner you get started and the more you plan ahead, the better your chances of reaching your fundraising goal.

Fundraising Approaches

Blogs

Blogging can be an effective and efficient way to garner financial support. In addition to sharing your blog with friends and family, blogging allows you to share your journey into the field of grassroots development with the greater on-line community.

Begin by designing a Page and labeling it something creative related to your fundraising goals.

 By creating a page labeled, “Support my internship in Nicaragua!” for example, your visitors can easily find the page that describes your fundraising goals. Your “Home” page is the exception to the single-entry post, and functions as a running log of subsequent posts. You want a separate fundraising page because your Home page will list the most current posts on top, and you don‟t want your fundraising message to get buried beneath new posts. 

Some people or organizations appreciate recognition; therefore, consider including a list of contributors on this page as well.

Create subsequent, individual Posts:

In subsequent Posts, you can write about preparing for your departure, and then while in country, write about what you are experiencing in the field. To create a new post:

Drive Traffic to Your Blog!

First send a letter out to friends and family – let them know about your upcoming experience, your fundraising goals, and your new Blog. Then, post and import your blog on other sites to promote your experience and potentially garner additional financial support. The following sites provide the opportunity to connect with students and professionals already interested in the field of development.

Development-Focused Sites

1) Wiserearth – http://www.wiserearth.org/ What is it? WiserEarth serves the people who are transforming the world. It is a community-editable international directory and networking forum that maps and connects the largest movement in the world – the hundreds of thousands of organizations and concerned individuals within civil society that address social justice, poverty, and the environment. WiserEarth provides the tools and a platform for non-profit organizations, funders, social entrepreneurs, students, organizers, academics, activists, scientists, and citizens to find each other, make connections, build alliances and share resources. How do I use it? Begin by creating a profile. Select the “Add a WikiPage” in the left column. In the name section, type in the title of your blog entry. Then you may begin to write your blog in the content section. Finally, once you have saved your work, select and copy the URL from your address box in the browser and use this as a link in your User Profile. Also, make sure to join FSD‟s group, and add a link to your blog on the wiki to your country! There are dozens of additional ways to interact on WiserEarth – go to WiserEarth‟s FAQs on the left column of the site, and under the “general” section, click on “How do I use WiserEarth?” for a helpful tutorial on the many ways to take advantage of the site‟s offerings.

Professional Networking Site

4) LinkedIn - http://www.linkedin.com/ What is it? LinkedIn is an online network of more than 24 million experienced professionals from around the world, representing 150 industries. How do I use it? Create a profile that summarizes your professional accomplishments. On your profile, make sure to provide a link to your blog. Your profile helps you find and be found by former colleagues, clients, and partners. You can add more connections by inviting trusted contacts to join LinkedIn and connect to you. Your network consists of your connections, your connections‟ connections, and the people they know, linking you to thousands of qualified professionals.

Social Networks with a younger audience (i.e. university students, recent grads, and young professionals)

FACEBOOK - http://www.facebook.com/

a. Create a profile and tell people about what you are doing! 

b. Professionalize and validate your fundraising by connecting your profile to Viva Nicaragua:

o Become a friend of Carrie McCracken, Viva Nicaragua! and Marion Pope to connect with like-minded students and young professionals interested in development.

 c. Write on your friends’ Walls: To begin with, write “Hey, I got accepted to Viva Nicaragua (www.nicaraguainternships.org and am going to be working with children in Nicaragua

Letter Writing

One of the most effective fundraising techniques is to simply ask people who you know for support. It may seem awkward to ask your Great Aunt for $50 when you haven‟t talked to her in years, but if nothing else, she‟ll probably appreciate the update about what you‟re doing.  

Writing a persuasive letter

Keep It Short and Simple (K.I.S.S.)

Give some background on Nicaragua, Viva Nicaragua!, and the work you will be doing.    Your goal is to convey that you are going to work for a good cause (human rights, health care, environment, children, etc), and make sure that the sustainable impact of your time and your donors‟ money shines through your requests.. Restrict your letters to one page, and invite those who want to learn more to visit your blog or contact you directly.

Consider your audience

If you plan on asking many people, not everyone is likely or able to contribute the same amount. It isn‟t out of line to ask an older, more financially established relative for $100, while it‟s more appropriate to ask your friends from college $10-35.

Contextualize giving amounts

First, remind donors that their contribution gives direct support to your host organization by providing the organization with a volunteer and material/monetary donations. By suggesting a variety of donation amounts and giving meaningful context to those amounts, your donors have the opportunity to give an amount they feel comfortable with, and everyone feels that their donations have a significant, positive impact. For example, you can ask donors to contribute: One dollar per day you‟ll be working in your community The cost of health insurance The cost of living with a host family The cost of your transportation in-country The cost of a percentage of your plane ticket! Consider breaking down cost per mile and asking donors to contribute the cost of flying 100 miles.

SELL SOMETHING

We are working to support a women’s sewing cooperative that makes handbags.  We are going to put together a calendar.  Offer to bring a bag, calendar, or other item home to donors that give over $100.  

Religious Centers/Service Clubs

Churches, temples, synagogues and other religious centers create a great community that is more often than not interested in supporting the community members in whatever way possible. Having your cause mentioned during a service will not only keep your community in the “loop,” but might also inspire some of the members to donate for your cause.

Clubs such as the Kiwanis, Rotary, Optimists, or other fraternal organizations are also great sources for funding. The Rotary Club works a lot in Nicaragua.  These groups are meant to help out members of the community in their service efforts, so do not be shy in approaching these groups.

Whenever soliciting contributions from established groups, remember to adapt your donation letter to your audience and bring plenty of print-outs of the donation letter to distribute!

Creative Events

If directly asking for money isn‟t your style, you can host a fundraising event. To make the event worth your time and effort, make sure the money flowing in will outweigh the costs.

Think about who and what your resources are. Perhaps you know, or are, a musician, poet, photographer, DJ, or artist who would like to present at your fundraising event. It never hurts to go into your community to ask for help. For example, your on-campus bar or restaurant may be willing to host a fundraising night, and give you a percentage of every pint sold. Or perhaps your favorite coffee house or restaurant will allow you to hold a fundraising event for free. You‟ll both benefit: you have a great venue, and the business will make money from the additional patrons your event draws in. Don‟t be shy, because you‟ll never know who is willing to help if you don‟t ask.

Be creative when dreaming up your main fundraising event. You could “sell” services by holding a date auction or a auctioning off a “slave-for-a-day”. Raffle off gift certificates or other donations collected from local businesses. You could also hold a 50/50 raffle, where half of ticket sales go directly to you, and the other half goes to the winner of the draw.

Other options include auctions, arts and crafts fair, a book luncheon/sale, selling tickets for a dance/ dinner/theatre/concert/film presentation and are creative possibilities as well.

Once you‟ve pinned down your great venue and thought about how you want to fundraise, you‟ll need to advertise your event. In addition to asking all your friends, family, co-workers, and their friends, there are a few other ways to get attention and attendees. Ask your college or local newspaper if they would be willing to write up a story about the work you are planning on doing, and include information about your fundraising. If you‟ve found businesses who will contribute to your raffle, ask them if you can put up a flier in their store. Remember that the more people who come will bring more money for your project.

University and National Scholarships and Fellowships

University Scholarships/Fellowships

Most Viva Nicaragua! student participants receive at least a portion of their funds through their University.  Your school may end up being your best resource and well worth your time. A good place to begin your search is through your university‟s scholarship or financial aid office. Next, try your career services or study abroad offices. It is also worthwhile to look into centers that are related to your program, such as the Center for Latin American Studies, International Center, or other related study areas. Frequently, professors or departments have funds, and so consider talking to faculty and staff at the Anthropology, Sociology, Development Studies, Geography, International Relations, Political Science, Foreign Language, History, Biology, Ecology, Nutrition, Law, Business, Education or other departments that seem similar to your development focus. Some schools and departments have specific scholarships/ fellowships for students interested in human rights or economic sustainability.