Study Abroad Fundraisers

Kits Saving the Rainforest has Monkey Kits that are sold to help support their conservation projects. With the kits you receive a KSTR collectors card, certificate of adoption, fact sheet, and plush. From the funds raised, 50% of the profit will go towards the students’ tuition fees, and 50% goes to Kids Saving the Rainforest. The kits are sold for $32 per kit, so 250 kits sold cover $4000 in fees for the student’s tuition.

On our Support A Student fundraising page, you can have family and friends donate directly toward your tuition. 100% of their donation will go toward your tuition. This way you can avoid using platforms online that take a percentage fee of all donations to keep their site running.

You can share the below link to our page to friends and family, so they can donate directly toward your tuition:

Support A Student

You can always choose to go the classic way and use crowdfunding sites to raise money for your travels online. You can set up an account, build your profile, launch your campaign and share your fundraising page to your network of family and friends to help spread the word and encourage more people to donate online.

Examples of crowdsourcing sites: GoFundMe or FundMyTravelIndiegogo, Kickstarter, Plumfund and GoEnnounce.

A study abroad grant or scholarship is a monetary award for students to use toward the expenses of their program such as travel, course, credits, books and lodging. Studying overseas can be expensive, here are some scholarships/grants specifically for studying in Costa Rica: 

Fund For Education Abroad 

The mission of the Fund for Education Abroad (FEA) is to provide scholarships and ongoing support to students who are underrepresented among the U.S. study abroad population. FEA makes life-changing, international experiences accessible to all by supporting students of color, community college, and first-generation college students before, during, and after they participate in education abroad programs.

Requirements:

• U.S. citizen or permanent resident
• Currently enrolled as an undergraduate at a college or university in the U.S.
• Study abroad program must be eligible for credit at the student’s home institution
• Study abroad program must be at least 4 weeks (28 days) in country/countries

Award:$1,000 – $5,000

Application: https://fundforeducationabroad.org/scholarships/

The U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program

The U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship is a grant program that enables students of limited financial means to study or intern abroad, thereby gaining skills critical to our national security and economic competitiveness. The Gilman Scholarship Program is open to U.S. citizen undergraduate students who are receiving Federal Pell Grant funding at a two-year or four-year college or university to participate in study and intern abroad programs worldwide.

Requirements:

• A citizen of the United States;
• An undergraduate student in good standing at an accredited institution of higher education in the United States (including both two-year and four-year institutions);
• Receiving a Federal Pell Grant during the time of application
• In the process of applying to, or accepted to, a credit-bearing study abroad or internship program, or a virtual international program.

Award:$100 – $5,000

Application: https://www.gilmanscholarship.org/

CIEE Global Access Initiative (GAIN) Grant Travel Grant

The Global Access Initiative (GAIN) Travel Grant helps cover outbound and return airfare to all CIEE program locations for students who demonstrate financial need. All students who receive Federal Pell Grants are guaranteed a GAIN Travel Grant. CIEE GAIN Travel Grants are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Award: $500 – $1,000

Application: https://www.ciee.org/go-abroad/college-study-abroad/scholarships-grants

ISA Diversity Scholarship for American Students

ISA (International Studies Abroad) offers the ISA Diversity Scholarship with the goal of bringing the benefits of a global education to historically underserved student populations. This includes, but is not limited to, students identifying as underrepresented races, ethnic origins, sexual orientations, gender identities, as well as first generation college students and those with accessibility needs.

Award: $1,000 – $2,000 Application: https://www.studiesabroad.com/admissions/funding-your-program/scholarships-and-grants

Diversity Abroad Overseas Ambassador Program

Stipends of $500 are available for those who successfully apply to become a Diversity Abroad Overseas Ambassador. The money is put towards a Spring or Fall semester volunteering or studying abroad program. Ambassadors are expected to blog about their experiences for the Diversity Abroad community with the aim of inspiring other members to travel.

Requirements:

• Must be enrolled full-time in, or recently graduated from, a U.S. university or college
• Have a minimum cumulative 2.75 GPA at an accredited U.S. university or college
• You are energetic, creative and have a passion for international engagement

Award: $500

Application: https://www.diversityabroad.com/overseas-ambassador

If you are a college or university student you should talk to your financial aid office or study abroad office about possible sources of funding that are available, including grants and scholarships.

a. ABC Fundraising: https://www.abcfundraising.com/

b. Krispy Kreme Fundraising: https://www.krispykreme.com/fundraising/home

a. Instead of receiving gifts, ask for funding toward your trip.

b. Sales: Yard Sale, Bake Sales, T-Shirt Sales

c. Raffles

d. Search online for possible travel grants