Why Pay to Volunteer Abroad? | A Broader View

It is one of the first questions people ask: if I am giving my time for free, why do I have to pay? It is a fair question. The short answer is that your fee covers the real costs of hosting you safely, so the communities you help never have to.

Volunteering is not free to organize

Hosting a volunteer for a few weeks takes a lot of work behind the scenes. Before you arrive, someone has to find and vet the project, a safe place to live and a family willing to host you. While you are there, someone has to feed you, pick you up at the airport at midnight, answer the phone when something goes wrong and make sure the project is actually ready for your help.

Most of the schools, clinics and orphanages we work with have no budget for any of this. If volunteers did not cover their own costs, the money would have to come from the very communities that need it most.

What your program fee pays for

• Accommodation and meals with a carefully selected host family or in a volunteer house.
• Airport pick-up and drop-off, at any time of day.
• Orientation on arrival: your coordinator shows you around, takes you to your project on day one and helps with practical things like money and phones.
• A local coordinator on call 24/7 for the whole stay, plus support from our US office.
• Pre-departure preparation: your online account, orientation guides, packing lists, visa and vaccination information.
• Support for the projects that host volunteers all year round.

See the full list in what's included, and what is not included (flights, insurance, visas and personal spending).

Why a non-profit makes a difference

A Broader View Volunteers is a US registered non-profit, not a travel company. That means:

• Fees are set to cover costs, not to pay shareholders.
• Your program fee is tax deductible if you are a US taxpayer.
• Donations to your trip are tax deductible too, and every donor receives a receipt.
• Our finances are public. You can read our financial reports at any time.

How to make it affordable

• Fundraise online. Every volunteer can open a campaign from their ABV account. Read our fundraising guide for tips that work.
• Look for grants and scholarships. See funding options.
• Travel as a group. Groups of five or more can ask about group discounts.
• Compare destinations. Costs vary by country and length of stay. Use the price calculator to see the exact fee for your dates.

Questions to ask any organization

Before you pay any volunteer organization, ask what the fee includes, who supports you on the ground, whether they are a registered non-profit and whether they publish their finances. We are happy to answer all of these. Talk to our team.