Fundraising Questions
What are the fees for fundraising?
Volunteer Forever only charges 5% per transaction to conduct fundraising through the site. PayPal will also charge 2.9% and $0.30 for each donation that you receive through Volunteer Forever. One unique feature about Volunteer Forever is that we enable donors to make an additional $5 contribution to help cover your transactions fees. Over 35% of donors elect this option, so there's no need to worry about fees!
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Important Donor Information: How does Volunteer Forever process donations?
Volunteer Forever uses PayPal's ultra-secure payment processing system. As a donor, your credit/debit card information is never revealed to Volunteer Forever or to the fundraising campaign you are supporting. PayPal uses the industry’s most secure data encryption technologies and physically secure servers that aren’t connected directly to the Internet. Their dedicated team of anti-fraud experts works around the clock to ensure the highest level of security. Best of all, you don't need to have a PayPal account or even sign up for one to take advantage of these security features while using Volunteer Forever.
What kind of PayPal account will I need to fundraise on Volunteer Forever?
You will need a "Verified", "Premier" PayPal account. Don’t worry, verifying and upgrading your account to Premier is easy and free! Simply log into your PayPal account at
www.paypal.com. On the "My Account" page, simply click on the links to "Upgrade" and "Get Verified" (see image below).
Why do my donors see the error: Volunteer PayPal account unconfirmed; donations cannot be made at this time?
This error occurs when the PayPal account tied to your fundraising campaign has not been activated.When you originally signed-up for PayPal, they should have sent you an e-mail to activate your account. PayPal requires that you click on the link in that email in order to receive funds. If you can find that original e-mail, then just click on the link in the email and you'll be activated.
If you can't find the email don't worry. Log in to PayPal.com and go to "My Account" > "Profile" > "Update Email". There you'll see a button that says "Confirm".
How do I know if my donation went through?
You can check the "Donations" tab of the fundraiser's profile to verify that your donation was accepted by our system.
Can I extend my fundraising campaign?
Unfortunately, PayPal's Acceptable Use Policy prevents us from being able to extend our fundraisers' campaign. However, you are allowed to run back-to-back campaigns on Volunteer Forever using the same PayPal account information. Therefore, if you need more time for your campaign, you can immediately launch a new campaign as soon as your current campaign ends.
How long does it take to receive my money?
Volunteer Forever deposits your donation into your PayPal account as soon as you get a donation!
How much am I allowed to fundraise?
Per PayPal’s Acceptable Use Policy, you are able to raise up to $20,000 per campaign and run at most 5 campaigns per year.
Are there any penalties for not meeting my fundraising goal?
Volunteer Forever does not charge any penalties if volunteers do not meet their fundraising goal. This is a major advantage over other crowdfunding sites. For example, if you raise $1,500 for a campaign that had a $2,000 goal, you will receive the amount you raised minus Volunteer Forever's and PayPal's transaction fees.
What happens if I raise more than my goal?
Your fundraising campaign will continue to run even after you reach your fundraising goal. Because we allow "overfunding", you will receive all funds raised beyond your campaign goal (less Volunteer Forever and PayPal fees). Even if you reach your goal, you should continue fundraising!
What can I collect donations for?
You may collect donations for every travel expense related to your trip abroad. These include, but are not limited to: airfare, program fees, travel goods, travel insurance, visa fees, vaccinations and donations for your overseas placements.
Do I need a PayPal account to collect donations?
Yes, all donations you receive through Volunteer Forever will be collected in your PayPal account (minus fees).
Will donors need a PayPal account to donate?
Donors can make a donation with just a credit or debit card. Donors also have the option of paying with their PayPal account.
I really enjoyed using Volunteer Forever for raising money for my trip abroad. Can I also use it to raise money for domestic fundraising efforts?
Yes, you may also use Volunteer Forever to raise money for your domestic volunteering, charity-supporting, and social good endeavors.
Who is eligible to create a fundraising account?
Fundraising accounts are for anyone who is volunteering abroad, engaging in meaningful travel, or raising funds for domestic volunteering efforts.
Is my donation tax-deductible?
Please consult a qualified tax attorney or accountant to determine if your contribution is tax-deductible. We are unable to determine whether your donation is tax-deductible. Generally, donations to individuals for personal fundraising campaigns are not tax-deductible. However, some fundraising campaigns are raising funds for qualified non-profit organizations and your donations to these campaigns may be tax-deductible; these campaigns will state in their fundraising description whether they are raising funds for a qualified 501(c)(3) (U.S.) or other qualified non-profit organization.
Blog Questions
Why is the blog integrated with fundraising?
Volunteering abroad is a memorable life experience. Blogging allows you to record your thoughts and reactions to this life-changing experience. Furthermore, your friends and family will take an active interest in your volunteer abroad trip. By blogging frequently, you are more likely to draw visitors to your integrated profile page, increasing the probability that you receive donations!
How do I blog?
After logging in, select "My Account" at the top of the page. Then select "Blog Posts" from the left-hand menu. Click on "Add a New Blog Post" and you'll be on your way to writing a post!
Volunteer Organization Questions
How much does it cost for a volunteer organization to join Volunteer Forever?
It's completely free!
How do we get our past volunteers to review our organization?
There are lots of effective ways to get your past volunteers to rate their experiences with you. You can share your organization profile page on your Facebook page and Twitter page. You can also e-mail your past volunteers asking them to write a review about your organization. Lastly, you can include a link to your Volunteer Forever organization page on your website!
How can I get my organization featured on Volunteer Forever?
It’s easy! Click “Sign Up” at the top of the page. Fill in your account information on the Sign Up page and don’t forget to select your “member type” to organization.
We'd love to feature Volunteer Forever on our blog and on our mailing list. Who can we contact for more information?
Please e-mail us at info[at]volunteerforever[dot]com. We're always excited to have Volunteer Forever featured!
Can Volunteer Forever feature an article about our volunteer organization?
Absoutely! Please e-mail us at info[at]volunteerforever[dot]com. We'd love to discuss ways to feature your organization.