TEENS: Ideas to Fund the Trip
We know the costs for these retreats aren’t ‘spare change’ and are aware that you will likely need to raise some money to attend, especially for the teen participants. So we’ve come up with some suggestions for you to consider:
1. Crowd Funding
Utilize one of the crowd funding platforms and create your own personal campaign. This can be a creative and passionate way to solicit support from our global community. Check out kickstarter.com or indiegogo.com to start off with.
After you create your campaign, utilize all the social media tools available to you such as Facebook and Twitter. If you take this avenue and create an online presence, we ask that you send us a description and links of your fundraising efforts and we’ll post the links on our blog section of the Project World School web site to help you get the word out. Once you’ve set up your campaign, send us your information here.
Check out this great article by Blake Boles to further help you explore this option here.
2. Host a Community Yard Sale
They say that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. You can put this saying to the test and host a yard or garage sale to help pay for your medical expenses or your loved one’s health costs. You don’t just have to sell your stuff, though! Make it a community event and invite your friends and family to join. Don’t forget to promote the event on social media, via email, text and flyers. The more people know about your event, the more likely they’ll be to show up and support you!
3. Part-time Work
We’re certain there is much satisfaction to be gained from finding a ‘formal’ part time job, working for a few months to save money. Taking the “traditional” approach has some benefits, it’s about experiencing the relationship to having a goal, then reaching it. “OK,” you are thinking, “maybe this is for me.” What are the ways to find traditional work? Check your local stores, restaurants, etc. Look in your own neighborhood, and talk to everyone you have a relationship with: the cashier at your local market, your local cleaners, your neighborhood restaurant that has the best bowl of chili. Find out if any of your friend’s parents own their own businesses. Ask EVERYONE you know whether or not they need a helping hand.
4. Family Sponsorships
Define a clear and passionate description about your desire to attend the Project World School retreat, then present this as a proposal to your family and community, asking for sponsorships. Be sure to define clearly why you are interested in going and the value you will receive as a result of attending. Sometimes, we have a hard time simply asking and this may be an exercise in just that. Asking for financial support is a lesson you may come across in life or on other occasions and getting past the fear of asking is a huge hurdle for many. If you don’t ask, you will never receive. And if your family is not in the position to offer a sponsorship, you can explore the idea of an interest-free loan that you could make payment arrangements towards.
5. Get Creative with Creative Products & Services
Become an entrepreneur! Get creative about your skills and talents and offer them in exchange for money. Think about starting a cause. Think about selling your art or crafts on Etsy.com. Think about tutoring local kids. Think about selling your old clothes or knick-knacks on ebay. Think about offering house cleaning or organizing services to your family, neighbors and friends. Think about all that you have to offer, and the exchange of energy and creativity for the thing that we call money!
6. Use Outsourcing Web Sites to Find Work
There are tons of websites working as platforms to connect freelancers and employers. Basically there are databases of freelance jobs in every kind field, from writing, to programming, to voice over work to photography. There are calls for online personal assistant and even translators (know a second language). Create an account at any of the sites below, create a profile of some sort, answer job requests and start working! You can even create your own services offered at sites like fiverr, where you describe your services and wait for clients to come to you. Get creative. You’ve got skills.
7. Sell Custom T-Shirts and Other Apparel
Custom T-shirts are the perfect product to pair with your crowdfunding campaign. Everyone can wear them, and if you can customize and design the shirt to highlight your upcoming adventure. You can have them printed or design them yourself. Your supporters will always remember how they supported you and often times, people feel comfortable contributing to a campaign if they know they are getting something back. When you set up your crowdfunding campaign, you can set up giving levels. Each level can correspond to a different combination of items. For instance, a $25 donation might get a donor a t-shirt, but a $50 donation might result in a t-shirt plus something else, maybe a bracelet, you purchase on your Project World School retreat!
8. Do a Penny Drive
A penny drive is a low-cost and easy way to raise money without having to do a lot of work. All you have to do is set up custom containers with info about your trip, info about you and a link to your main fundraising site. Set this up in a well-trafficked area and get creative! You may not raise a ton of money with a penny drive, but it’s a great way to educate people about the worldschooling adventure you are fundraising for. Besides, people don’t just have to give pennies. They can give dimes, quarters, and even dollar bills during a penny drive. So ask your parent’s if you can put a custom made box at their work, ask your favorite private owned cafe, ask your homeschooling co-op if they can host your penny drive. Get creative, but get proactive and ask!
9. Organize a Trivia Night
You can organize a trivia night by pairing up with a local cafe or restaurant. Advertise well in advance and charge an admission fee for trivia teams who want to put their knowledge to the test. You can also ask the restaurant or cafe manager if they would be willing to give you a portion of the sales from the trivia night to bring in even more money for your cause. Make sure that you have a good system for asking questions and getting teams’ answers. You don’t want to have a disorganized trivia fundraiser!
10. Host a Scavenger Hunt
A scavenger hunt is a fun way for kids and adults of all ages to discover your local area and work together toward a common goal. Plus, you can raise money! Have teams of kids or adults sign up and pay a registration fee. You can set up an online registration form or place one in a centrally located spot in your community. Then, create a course and hide items around your community. The winners can even receive a small prize.
11. Compile and Sell Recipe Books
If you are part of a family that loves cooking, compile and sell a family cookbook. Ask your grandmother, your aunts, cousins, anyone you can think of to contribute their favorite recipes. Even try and test out some recipes of the country you are planning on visiting. You can sell the recipe books at another fundraising event or you can list them on your online fundraising as a perk. Get creative!
Got other ideas? Send them to us here.
So, how much will I need?
The cost of each retreat is different. You will also need to factor in the cost of international flights from your home country to the retreat location. Then you will want to budget a minimum of $100 a week in spending money to cover laundry, snacks, souvenirs, and meals on travel days. Determine your own budget, raise the money, and stick to it! If you have any questions or need further assistance, please do send us a note here. We are glad to help however we can!