How to Fundraise for a buildOn Trek: A Step-by-Step Guide
Every buildOn Trek starts long before anyone boards a plane. It starts with fundraising. The money you raise directly funds the construction of a school in one of buildOn’s partner countries, so every dollar has a destination and a purpose. If you’re getting ready to fundraise for your Trek, here’s how to plan, ask, and follow through so you reach your goal with confidence.
What Does Your Fundraising Go Towards?
Your fundraising dollars go straight toward the school your team will help construct. The cost of building a new school ranges from $36,000 to $47,000, depending on the country (Guatemala, Malawi, Senegal, and Nepal) and the local cost of construction materials. Here’s the full breakdown by destination:
Please note that airfare costs are estimates, and may be subject to change. Once your school is fully funded, you can keep fundraising to cover your Trek Travel Fee and airfare, which lowers your own out-of-pocket cost. All donations to buildOn are tax-deductible and non-refundable.
How Much Do You Need To Raise, and by When?
Here’s the fundraising timeline for Trek:
- $10,000 is what your team needs to raise toward your school’s total cost to secure a spot on the Trek calendar.
- $750 is what you need to raise individually by October 31 to qualify for buildOn’s November match.
- School construction funds are due four months before your Trek.
- Trek Travel Fees are due three months before your Trek.
Build a monthly fundraising timeline instead of waiting until a deadline creeps up. Steady, consistent asks build momentum and keep your team on pace. (Deadlines here reflect the current Trek fundraising cycle. Confirm exact dates with your Community Engagement Manager before you publish or promote them.)
How Do You Set Up Your Fundraising Page?
A personal fundraising page is the hub for everything you do next. It’s where supporters learn about your Trek and give with a click. Set yours up through Classy, then donate to your own page first. Being your first donor shows everyone else that you’re serious, and it tends to inspire the next gift.
Who Should You Ask For Support?
More people are willing to help than you might expect. Start close and work outward:
- Family and friends
- Your parents’ coworkers and connections
- Coaches and teammates
- Classmates and teachers
- Neighbors and local businesses
- Your faith community
- Employers and colleagues
- Social media followers
What Should Your Fundraising Message Say?
A strong ask is personal, specific, and easy to act on. Whatever the format, whether it’s a handwritten letter, a text, or a video message, cover four things:
- Why this matters to you. Say why you chose to go on Trek and why this school matters.
- A real story. Describe the challenges faced by children in the country you’re traveling to and the difference this school will make.
- A clear next step. Include your fundraising link so giving takes ten seconds, not ten minutes.
- Gratitude. Thank people for their time, even if they can’t give.
Here’s a template you can adapt:
Subject: Join Me in Building a School!
Dear [Name],
I hope you’re doing well! I’m reaching out to share an exciting opportunity I’m part of with buildOn, a nonprofit that partners with communities to expand access to education. Since 1991 they have built more than 3,200 schools! My team and I are raising funds to help build a school in a rural community in [country name] where students currently have limited or no access to a safe learning environment.
Why This Matters to Me:
[Insert a short personal testimonial here—something like:]
Being part of buildOn has shown me the power of education and service. Through this program, I’ve learned that education is one of the most powerful tools for breaking the cycle of poverty. I want to be part of the solution by helping a community gain access to something every child deserves—a school. This isn’t just about fundraising; it’s about working alongside community members and learning from them as we build something meaningful together.
How You Can Help:
To make this school a reality, we need to raise [cost of school] for construction costs. My team and I are also contributing by traveling to the community and working alongside local families to break ground on their new school. Your support—whether it’s donating, sharing our mission, or simply spreading the word—means the world to us. Every contribution is tax-deductible, and every dollar brings us closer to making this project happen!
To donate or learn more, visit my fundraising page: [insert link]
Thank you so much for your time and support. I truly appreciate anything you can do to help us make this vision a reality!
Best,
[Your Name]
What Are Some Proven Fundraising Event Ideas?
Events are some of the most successful ways Trek participants have raised money in the past. You don’t need one big event. Several smaller efforts, spaced out over your timeline, often raise more than a single push. Some ideas that consistently work:
- buildOn Coffee: Sell fair-trade coffee through buildOn’s partner roaster; your team earns $10 per bag sold.
- buildOn Cookbook: Sell digital copies of Recipes From the Field, featuring dishes from buildOn’s partner countries, or host a dinner around it.
- Restaurant partnership night: Partner with a local restaurant to donate a portion of proceeds from a set night.
- Bake or pie sale: Low-cost to run, and pie sales do especially well before Thanksgiving.
- Birthday fundraiser: Ask for donations instead of gifts and set up your page as the destination.
- Garage sale: Invite neighbors and friends to donate items to increase inventory and impact.
- Seasonal flower or wreath sale: Partner with a local nursery for mums in fall or bouquets around Mother’s Day.
Want some more ideas? Check out our full fundraising guide for an extensive list of fundraisers that have worked for Trek participants in the past!
How Do You Make an Event Actually Pay Off?
A few decisions up front make the difference between an event that raises real money and one that breaks even:
- Set a budget so materials and venue costs don’t eat your profit.
- Offer more than one way to give: cash, card, Venmo, and a QR code linking straight to your fundraising page.
- Agree in advance how a team will split funds, so there’s no confusion afterward.
- Partner with a local business for a venue, sponsorship, or in-kind donation.
- Promote it on social media before, during, and after.
- After it’s over, take ten minutes with your team to note what worked and what you’d change next time.
How Do You Keep Your Donors Engaged After They Give?
Fundraising doesn’t end when someone donates. It’s the start of a relationship.
- Send a thank-you the same day a gift comes in.
- Post updates as you approach your goal, not just when you hit it.
- Share photos and stories from your Trek once you’re there, so donors see what their gift built.
- For your biggest supporters, a handwritten card or a small memento from the community goes a long way.
Donors who feel connected to what they funded are far more likely to support your next Trek, or your teammate’s.
Ready To Start Fundraising for Your Trek?
Set up your fundraising page, make yourself the first donor, and send your first message today. Every school buildOn has built started with someone deciding to ask. Reach out to your Community Engagement Manager if you want help setting your timeline or picking your first event!
Haven’t signed up for Trek yet? Now’s the time! If you’re ready to take the first step of a truly life changing journey, fill out the form on this page to start the process.