Travel Scholarships & Grants

Traveling and volunteering abroad can be costly. However, there are many scholarships, grants, and financial aid opportunities available that you can apply for to help alleviate some, if not all, of the costs. Check out the opportunities listed below and click on the yellow text to be directed to the scholarship’s specific website.

General Volunteer Abroad Scholarships and Grants

IVHQ VOLUNTEER ABROAD SCHOLARSHIPS

IVHQ offers four Volunteer Abroad Scholarships every year that includes a sponsored two-week IVHQ volunteer program, a $1,000 travel voucher from STA Travel, and a World Nomads travel insurance package. These scholarships include IVHQ’s Teach and Volunteer Abroad Scholarship, Medical Volunteer Abroad Scholarship, Travel Blogger Scholarship, and Volunteer of the Year Scholarship.

To Apply: volunteerhq.org/ivhq-scholarships

TRAVEL FOR GOOD VOLUNTOURISM GRANT

Since 2007, Travelocity has offered volunteer travelers $5,000 grants through their Travel for Good program. This voluntourism grant allows travelers to serve abroad with one of Travelocity’s trusted partners—currently the American Hiking Society, Cross-Cultural Solutions, the Earthwatch Institute, and GlobeAware—for a few days to a few months. The funds cover project and transportation costs, with grants offered to four winners each year.

To Apply: travelocity.com/travelforgood

GO OVERSEAS VOLUNTEER ABROAD SCHOLARSHIP

Go Overseas offers two $500 scholarships for volunteers to travel abroad in the spring and fall each year—travelers are invited to volunteer with any organization of their choosing, or even craft a custom trip with a local NGO that inspires them. The award is (most often) distributed directly to the volunteer organization itself, which ensures that the funds are used entirely for the project. Deadlines are fall and spring each year.

To Apply: gooverseas.com/volunteer-abroad-scholarship-application

THE SAMUEL HUNTINGTON PUBLIC SERVICE AWARD

The Samuel Huntington Public Service Award provides a stipend of $15,000 for a graduating college senior to volunteer for one year, either alone or with an established organization (charitable, religious, education, governmental, or other public service), anywhere in the world. The group guarantees one award each year but often have two or three winners. Applicants must submit a proposal by mid January that encompasses any activity that furthers the public good.

To Apply: nationalgridus.com/Our-Company/Community-Presence/The-Samuel-Huntington-Public-Service-Award

SARAH’S WISH SCHOLARSHIP FUND

Sara’s Wish Foundation scholarships are awarded to young American women who exhibit qualities of leadership, service, and adventure. Formed to honor the memory of college student Sara Christie Schewe, who was killed in a bus crash in India during a semester abroad, the scholarship defrays the costs associated with traveling to all areas of the globe. Recipients perform public services, contributing to the welfare of the world. Applications are available online October 1 through March 1, and typical awards are $1,500—$2,000.

To Apply: saraswish.org/scholarships

ROTARY FOUNDATION

The Rotary Foundation offers multiple grants and fundraising support for a variety of projects, scholarships, and training for Rotarians around the world. Rotary clubs and districts offer their own scholarships as well, funded with district grants. Applicants may request assistance for any form of global study. Packaged grant scholarships also are available from Rotary and its partners for scholars in the fields of nursing and water and sanitation.

To Apply: rotary.org/en/our-programs/scholarships

RUSTIC PATHWAYS SCHOLARSHIPS

Rustic Pathways offers more than 100 scholarships for student travelers and educators each year. Their Service Scholarship is a competitive scholarship available to first-time Rustic travelers in need of financial aid to cover all or part of their program fee. If you’re traveling on a gap year, check out Rustic Pathways’ Gap Year Scholarship, which is open to students who are at least 17 years old and have either fulfilled all graduation requirements, or have graduated by the time their gap year begins. This scholarship is applicable to one semester of travel.If you’re the parent of a student traveler, and you’re a full-time employee (teacher, administrator, coach, or other staff) of an educational institution, check out Rustic Pathways’ Teacher Appreciation Program, which offers discounts of up to 30% on almost all of this organization’s student summer programs.

To Apply: https://rusticpathways.com/how-it-works/financial-aid/

SCHOLARTRIPS INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL SCHOLARSHIPS

ScholarTrips awards scholarships to put towards students’ study abroad or volunteer programs. Amounts typically range from $500-$2,000 and those 14 years old or older are eligible as long as you are currently enrolled at an accredited high school, trade school, university or college and are a U.S. resident.

To Apply: http://www.scholartrips.org/

HI USA EXPLORE THE WORLD SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

Recipients receive funds to help finance their international trip that includes an educational or service component. The amount is typically $2,000. To be eligible you must be between 18 – 30 years of age at the time of application, a US citizen or permanent resident, demonstrate financial need, and reside or attend school in one of the select metropolitan areas where HI USA has a community presence – which include NY, Texas, Louisiana, Washington DC, & more. You also must have a strong desire and motivation to experience other people and cultures through international travel and plan to take a trip to a destination outside of the 50 United States that incorporates education, volunteerism or service learning.

To Apply: www.hiusa.org/programs/travel-scholarships/explore-the-world-program

THE GVI TRUST INTERNATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

The International Scholarship Program helps young people access international education experiences with the aim of creating more aware, informed and empowered global citizens. The program identifies motivated, deserving and committed students and offers them assistance to access an international education opportunity. Scholarships are awarded to students who can demonstrate their passion and commitment to sustainable development, both in their studies and career plans. Students who are excluded from accessing international education opportunities due to financial hardships are given priority. The aim is to equip young people with field based, international education experiences. Applicants are free to choose any project, from any organization. The scholarship amount is typically up to $2,000. Students must be between 15-24 years of age and work with local partners on sustainable projects. Partners must then be able to provide certification to attest to skills gained, provide pre and post program support, and have a track record of working in global development.

To Apply: gvi.org/get-involved/become-a-scholar

CHRISTIANSON GRANT

The Christianson Grant is awarded to motivated young Americans who arrange their own meaningful service projects abroad. The amount can range from $2,500 to $10,000. In order to be eligible you must be a U.S. citizens or legal permanent resident, between the ages of 18 and 28, participating in a work, internship, or volunteer abroad program, committed to a program duration abroad of at least six months and willing to submit blog posts during your project and a written report upon completion. The deadlines are typically in mid March, July and October each year.

To Apply: interexchange.org/foundation/christianson-grant

Skills and Degree-based Volunteer Abroad Scholarships and Grants

ALL PEOPLE BE HAPPY

Volunteers who have been accepted onto a volunteer abroad program focusing on education and training, healthcare, or sustainable agriculture can apply to receive a scholarship. Amount is typically up to $2,500 and students need to be a US Citizen or Permanent Resident, at least 18 years old, and volunteer for a program for at least six weeks. The volunteer activity must be a part of a program run by an organization with 501(c)(3) status.

To Apply: allpeoplebehappy.org/what-we-do/volunteer-service-awards

BUILD ABROAD TRAVEL SCHOLARSHIP

Founded in 2010, Build Abroad has a mission of building and repairing communities worldwide through socially responsible construction volunteering, with projects focusing on homes, schools, and disaster relief. This organization offers one travel scholarship each year to a student or recent graduate in architecture, civil engineering, interior design, or a related field. This award covers a one-week stay at any of Build Abroad’s five locations in Latin America or Asia, and includes airport pickup, pre-departure support, housing, two meals per day, in-country support, an organized construction volunteering project, and access to a volunteer center with free wifi.

To Apply: https://www.buildabroad.org/travel-scholarship

ACDI/VOCA VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Agricultural Cooperative Development International and Volunteers in Overseas Cooperative Assistance (ACDI/VOCA) seeks expert volunteers to support its international development activities in business, agriculture, banking and financial services, marketing, cooperative and association development, food processing, and community development. Current or recent graduate students in the areas of business, agriculture, and international studies are eligible to participate throughout Africa, Middle East, Asia and Latin America. Assignments usually last from two to four weeks, and volunteers contribute their time and expertise while ACDI/VOCA pays for all assignment-related expenses. These include round-trip coach airfare, passport, visas, lodging, meals and incidentals, immunizations, supplemental health insurance, and even emergency medical evacuation if required.

To Apply: http://www.acdivoca.org/

OMPRAKASH AMBASSADOR TRAVEL GRANT

The Omprakash Ambassador Travel Grant pays for travel and living expenses for entrepreneurial individuals who want to volunteer abroad within its international network of grassroots health, education, and environmental partner organizations. Omprakash Ambassadors also are enrolled in Omprakash EdGE (Education through Global Engagement), the group’s online curriculum that explores ethics, economics and power dynamics that underlie cross-cultural volunteering and international aid. Travel Grant applications are open to all, regardless of age or nationality, and reviewed seasonally.

To Apply: https://www.omprakash.org/volunteer-grant