Here are some great tips about how to fundraise for a placement with DiA or any other charity project, written by Tom Grundy, one of DiA's past volunteers:

NEWSPAPERS

• Firstly, contact your local rag, tell them about your charity project and chances are they'll come over and take a photo. Ask them to put your phone number or a website at the bottom of the article so readers can donate.

CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP

• Put together a well presented information pack. You may wish to include an SAE (always a nice touch), a copy of your appearance in the newspaper (adds legitimacy) and a tailored, suitably worded covering letter. Enclose everything within a smartly printed envelope, make it stand out.
• Your letter could include any relevant charity numbers, all your contact details, perhaps a map (if applicable), a picture of yourself, how they can donate and what exactly the money will go on. Companies will be reluctant to sponsor you individually but they may send you a cheque for the charity you're working with.
• You should try and offer the company something in return, perhaps offer to wear their logo or include it on any materials you use.
• Search through internet sites to find the addresses of the head offices.
• Particularly if you're writing to television companies, football clubs etc… - try requesting some raffle / auction items in lieu of money. Signed footballs make a fair bit on eBay.
• Some companies won't respond, most you'll probably get rejection letters from – but some may be very generous. Try and ensure you target local companies (no matter how vague and irrelevant they may seem) OR companies relevant to your cause. Check out Scoot and Yell.com.
• Some multinationals offer their own grants annually to selected individuals – check out Shell's Personal Development Award.

CHARITY & TRUST FUND SPONSORS

• Send information packs to appropriate charities. Search the Charity Choice database online to find addresses – e.g. if you're teaching in India, you may want to search for ‘teaching', ‘education', ‘India', ‘developing country' etc…
• Go to your university welfare office, local library or careers centre and check out the charitable funds databases. They're basically directories of trusts who, if you fit their requirements, will give you a grant. Whether you get a grant or not will depend on your situation, your eligibility, the amount of competition and the type of project you're doing.
• All trusts are included in a great piece of software called ‘Funder Finder' which scours hundreds of thousands of trust funds. If you're in education and are over 16, you may wish to check out Egas Online

TRAVEL GRANTS

• Winston Churchill Travelling Fellowship - Each year we make awards to some 100 British citizens to enable them to acquire knowledge overseas. More info at: http://www.wcmt.org.uk/

INDIVIDUAL SPONSORS

• Tailor your information pack to be sent to celebrities (who may give you raffle/auction items) and millionaires. Search the Sunday newspapers for their latest rich lists – this will give you information of the nation's most affluent individuals. Use Yahoo to find the addresses on their respective company websites.
• Ask friends and family for sponsorship and perhaps approach your local shop / chippy / church etc… to put a sponsorship form or donation box on their counter. This alone could raise a few hundred!

For more information and ideas see Tom's website, click here...