Fundraising advice

AFS helps thousands of students raise money for their exchange program by providing strategies and examples of what works well for students. Raising money for at least part of your experience will develop invaluable skills to serve you in the future. So put your creativity and resourcefulness to work and you will find plenty of people who are willing to help you.



Five essential steps to fundraising for your AFS exchange

1. Outline the total program costs

Look at the cost of the AFS Exchange to the country of your choice plus any additional costs listed in the link below.

Know what your AFS tuition covers and where it goes.

2. Determine how much you can contribute.

Declare how much you can personally put towards the exchange fee. Do you already have some savings? Are you working a part-time job? Start a savings account if you haven't already.

3. Determine how much your family can contribute.

Talk to your parents about their willingness to support your AFS program. One student calculated how much her parents would save on groceries, energy, clothes, etc. with her studying abroad.

4. Fundraise to cover the rest.

Use our helpful fundraising resources below to raise your remaining AFS Exchange Fee after following steps 1-3. From workshops to student discussion threads, there is a wealth of information for fundraising:

5. Explore scholarships or financial assistance

AFS is committed to making our programs available to qualified students through financial aid and scholarship assistance. Find out more here.