Because Global Majority is dedicated to promoting conflict resolution among future leaders of the world, it is our aim to ensure that the costs of the upcoming training seminar do not deter any qualified students from submitting an application. Although we anticipate being able to provide some scholarship funds for applicants from the Middle East region, we encourage all potential applicants to raise money on their own.

In posting the following information and tips, we hope to provide students with some practical ideas on how to develop effective fundraising strategies.

Getting Started

• The first step in persuading potential donors to provide you with funding is getting in touch with your personal goals and motivations. Donors will always want to know why they should help you.
  • Important questions to ask yourself:
    • What do I hope to gain from this experience? What do I hope to contribute?
    • What are some of the outcomes I am shooting for? How will I be able to measure those outcomes in tangible terms?
    • In what ways do I hope to draw from this experience in the future?
• The next step is getting beyond what can prove to be a significant mental barrier: mustering the courage to actually ask people for money. The key is to promote your endeavor as a good cause - one that evokes the philanthropic tendencies of potential donors. All donors - corporations, endowments, schools, and individuals alike - will respond more favorably to proposals which explicitly outline the merits of the cause in question.

Fundraising Tips & Techniques

• Be organized!
• Identify clear goals for yourself and take calculated steps toward reaching them
• Develop a method of approaching donors that works for you and stick with it
  • Ideas:
    • For groups seeking funds, letter writing can be a very effective tool
    • For individual fundraisers, written letters can be useful but often not as effective as direct, informal appeals made by phone or in person
    • Avoid using mass emails
• When writing a letter, always personalize it; make it relevant to the person/company you are contacting
• Always be very specific in explaining how you plan to spend the funds you are seeking (program fee, airfare, special projects, etc.)
• Allow yourself ample time to complete the tasks you assign yourself
• Always remain confident; never let the possibility of a "no" deter you from trying for a "yes"
• Make contact with as many potential supporters as you can; seemingly unlikely donors will sometimes surprise you
• Always make it clear you intend to give something back.
  • You can promise to:
    • Keep your supporters informed by sending them regular updates
    • Upon your return, give a presentation, write an article, lead a discussion seminar, etc.

• Be creative! Have bake sales, organize carwashes, put together a benefit concert, sell your artwork, etc.

Possible Funding Resources

• Rotary International
• Local rotary clubs and other service organizations (Kiwanis, Lyons, etc.)
• Community Foundations: http://www.iimcr.org/index.cfm?pageID=35
• Charitable Agencies and Foundations
• Foundation Grants to Individuals: http://gtionline.fdncenter.org/ or http://www.fdncenter.org/collections
• Institute of International Education: http://www.iie.org/
• Reference Service Press: http://www.rspfunding.com/
• "How to Live Your Dream of Volunteering Overseas": Book with fundraising resources
• Your college or university--students may be eligible for designated funds for international training, travel, study abroad programs
• Student loan offices--training programs eligible for academic credit often qualify for approved student loan programs. Check with your financial aid officer
• Family and friends with an interest in international relations, conflict resolution, the Middle East, and global issues
• Professional and business clubs
• Media (newspapers, radio, TV)
• Religious Organizations
• International Organizations and Donor Agencies
• Embassies