Student Profile

Uriel Guadarrama School: University of Southern California Abroad Location: Taiwan

Uriel Guadarrama Testimonial

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Personal Fundraising for Study Abroad & Global Exchanges

Another way to help finance your study abroad experience is through personal fund raising. Not only is it a way for you to earn money, it also gets your friends and family involved in your study abroad plans. Personal fund raising can be particularly helpful in reducing the costs of other international exchange programs, such as internships and volunteering, which may have fewer scholarships and grants available.

There are many different activities that fall under the category of personal fund raising, such as:

• Candy and bake sales

• Auctions

• Car washes

• Asking people to sponsor you
  

Before you start fund raising, assess your budget and determine what your fund raising goal is.

Must Ask Questions

• What are the initial costs of this fundraiser?

• Is the product or service I’m offering in demand?

• Am I going to set prices or ask for donations?
  

Tips for personal fund raising

• The sooner you start, the more money you can potentially make.

• Look into matching gift programs.

• Ask as many people as possible to contribute – every little bit helps. If you’re holding a fundraising event, such as a bake sale, be sure to advertise it.

• Be prepared to explain why you are fundraising. Convince people that your experience abroad will be valuable. Why do you want to volunteer/intern/study abroad?

• For donations, ask different people for different amounts. People who are financially secure will be able to donate more. Also, remember that if your suggested amount is too low, people might not donate more than that because they don’t realize how much you actually need.

• Use technology to your advantage. Consider setting up a blog or website where people can donate.

• If you’ve asked someone to give but haven’t heard back, follow up.

• Be sure to say thank everyone who contributes. In addition to verbal thanks, you may want to send thank you notes to express your appreciation.

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