Funding Your Program with Financial Aid

If you maintain your status as a student status while on your volunteer program, it is possible to fund your VIP program and related travel expenses through financial aid. Please consult your financial aid advisor to determine the policies and procedures that may apply.

Several VIP volunteers have funded their trips using grants and scholarships. Scholarships at many universities are often available for service-oriented activities. Please check with your school.

University scholarships or grants may also be available for students to volunteer abroad, especially for students gaining academic credit for their service-learning internship. We encourage you to also look into resources available through your personal memberships and affiliations, and especially through fraternal groups, colleges, and universities. Individual fundraising efforts and matching gifts programs have also been helpful ways to fund volunteering abroad as well.

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Potential Scholarships and Grants

The National Geographic Glimpse Correspondents Program - $600; U.S. residents, 18 and up The Glimpse Correspondents Program is for talented writers and photographers with a passion for storytelling and a knack for finding truly unique stories. The program is open to anyone who will be working, volunteering, or studying outside of their home country for at least 10 weeks. Link: http://glimpse.org/the-correspondents-program/

David Rockefeller International Experience Grant - All currently enrolled Harvard undergraduate students (in good standing) who have not yet received a David Rockefeller Grant, and who are returning to campus for at least one semester, are eligible. Students on a leave of absence at the time of the deadline are not eligible to apply. Link: http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~oip/rockefeller/dr_faqs.html

The Bailey Scholarship - This scholarship is intended to promote increased participation in Council’s International Study Programs by members of groups which have traditionally been under-represented in study abroad, especially ethnic minority students. 888-COUNCIL. Link: http://www.universityymca.org/bailey/

Boston University International Health Program Funding Sources - This website includes an excellent online guide to fundraising. “Creative Funding” which can be useful for all health students. Link: http://www.bumc.bu.edu/ihbusm/funding/

Institute of International Education - IIE publishes of some of the best hard-copy directories of scholarships for overseas opportunities, which include grants for all levels of students as well as for post-doctorates and professionals. IIE’s databases are available on their website if you have access to an IIE member organization’s password. If not, you can find the directory at most college libraries. Search terms “work”, “internship”, “practical”, “teach”, and “research” all yield a good number of listings. Link: http://www.iie.org/

Reference Service Press - “Financial Aid for Study and Training Abroad and Financial Aid for Research and Creative Activities Abroad” (Reference Service Press). The RSP databases are also available online to America Online subscribers (keyword RSP), or through some university libraries. Link: http://www.rspfunding.com/index.html

Rotary Clubs, Kiwanis Clubs and other Volunteer Clubs - These services clubs may offer modest funding to individuals planning to volunteer abroad, provided you offer an educational presentation to the club members upon your return. Contact your local club chapters.