Options that work with your budget. Program fee prices vary, depending on the location you choose. Many locations are around $4,000, and as low as $2,670, making it possible to find one that works best for you. Compare programs and pricing here.
Just one fee. The program fee includes your roundtrip international flight from the US, airport pickup and drop-off, visa, housing, at-home meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner), WiFi, pre-departure and in-country training, support throughout the entire experience, as well as language and cultural experiences!
Cut your costs in half. Take advantage of the fact that ILP is a non-profit organization, which means donations are tax-deductible for your friends and family. So many volunteers pay for half (or even all!) of their program fee through creative fundraising projects.
3-4 months. A semester abroad follows a similar schedule to most universities. Take a semester off of school or volunteer during the summer.
Go again for free. Volunteer once, then go back again as a peer group leader. Depending on the location, Head Teachers get their program fee either waived or steeply discounted and also receive a spending stipend to help with in-country costs like vacations.
Let’s start with the best tip first. Many of our volunteers are in college and working part-time, so while things like our payment plan and discounts really help, we also see so many volunteers getting pretty creative with how they afford this dream experience.
Volunteers do everything from having a yard sale and getting rid of junk to hosting a High Fit or yoga class with a donation jar in lieu of an attendance fee. We had one volunteer who earned $5,000 making and selling cookie dough to family and friends during the holidays. Seriously! That was some hard work, but it meant getting to go volunteer in Africa for the summer.
We knew we had to share exactly what they’ve done to have success so that you could too. We reached out and asked a bunch of ILP volunteers what worked best for them while they were saving up for their adventure — we packed allllll of their tips, plus a bunch of our own, into a totally free downloadable guide. Just click below to grab yours.
GET HELP THROUGH TAX-DEDUCTIBLE FUNDRAISING
Get help. Neighbors, friends, businesses, family, and relatives can all donate.
Take advantage. Donations made to International Language Programs towards your program fee are tax-deductible for U.S. taxpayers.
Earn big. Those who do fundraising raise an average of $1,000+ to cover the costs of their program fee.
We’re here to help. Fundraising works! We’ve gathered all of our fundraising tips here to help get you started and see what other volunteers have done.
GO WITH OTHERS AND SAVE BIG
Get discounts for referring a friend. Tell your friends about ILP and you may both qualify for a $300 discount! Everyone counts — think friends, cousins, roommates. Check the details here or give us a call to learn more.
Split the travel costs. Even if you apply to volunteer by yourself, you’re never alone! ILP volunteers are assigned to a team of other volunteers, meaning you have built in travel buddies. Splitting costs on vacations for things like taxis, dinner, and hostels makes it more affordable for everyone.
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF DISCOUNTS
Pay in full. Receive a discount for paying your program fee upfront, even if you work over the summer to pay for a spring semester.
Pay later. We offer payment plans that are flexible and adjust to the timeline that works best for you! Can’t afford it all before the semester starts? Take advantage of third-party services like PayPal Credit and pay after you come home.
Learn about promotions. Contact the office to find out if there are any current promotions you may qualify for.
