GEEO works to make our travel programs as affordable as possible for educators, but we understand that not every teacher is able to afford to travel. There are several grants, programs, and fundraising platforms available for teachers who want to travel and need financial assistance. Read on for ideas and resources so that you can fund your teacher travel program with GEEO.
The first thing we recommend you do is speak to your school’s principal and/or professional development coordinator. They may know of grants that your school district or state offers. Your school may reimburse your travel expenses as a professional development experience. You can also try contacting your school’s PTA or professional organizations with which you have membership.
Read this blog post written by GEEO alumni detailing how they used the crowdfunding platform DonorsChoose to fund their entire travel program with GEEO. By articulating how your travel program will benefit your classroom and community, you can leverage your friends, family, and local and online networks to help fund your travels.
Fund for Teachers (FFT) grants can be used to participate in GEEO programs. Previously, only teachers from certain school districts were eligible for FFT grants, but the grants are now open to any teacher in the United States!
The Institute of International Education (IIE) manages dozens of scholarship programs for travel to places throughout the world. Take a look and see if there are any scholarships to help working professionals or teachers travel abroad.
• Begin early. Most teachers make the mistake of waiting until a few months before their trip to begin fundraising, when the best time to begin collecting donations is really before the trip is even fully planned. The sooner fundraising begins, the sooner teachers will meet their goals. They are also less likely to fail due to a lack of time and preparation.
• Think of unique opportunities. Every teacher has a “niche” that he or she fills in the educational community. Try to be creative and think of ways you can take advantage of unique opportunities you know about based on your experiences and familiarity with your community. Everyone has a unique set of experiences and connections, so tap into those resources when trying to find a source of funding.
• Share your experience. Most civic groups are happy to welcome guest speakers, and this can be a great opportunity to network and share needs. Do not be afraid to hand out letters or try to make connections when visiting a civic group. For example, one of our participants was able to obtain funding for his GEEO program in Tunisia by offering to give a presentation about the experience when he returned. The local mosque was excited to help a teacher from their community bring knowledge about a predominantly Muslim country back into their classroom.
Let GEEO know if you have applied for a grant that you plan on using on one of our trips! Or, if you know of another grant for teacher travel that we should share with our educator friends, please tell us.
GEEO does not currently provide any grants for its programs and is in no way affiliated with the organizations and grantors listed above. The grant and funding descriptions provided on this webpage are for informational purposes only and shall in no way be deemed an offer, representation or warranty of GEEO.
