Know-How Exchange : Advertising/PR

Elli - Focus your message on WHY someone should give you money to travel? Wouldn't their money be better spent by giving it directly to the orphanage? How will giving you money benefit their organization? How will they know exactly what the money will go to? What long-term benefit will they get from the sponsorship (other than a thank you letter)?

If you're passionate about raising the money, sell/auction something of value. It could be your time, your amazing collection of vintage records, your designer clothing, or your ability to cater wedding parties. Show that you're willing to invest yourself more in the project than simply asking for funds.

Create a Facebook Fan page that tells of the who-what-when-where-why-how of the project. Tell your audience about your passion for wanting to take this trip and the things you will be doing in the Philippines to help others. Post pictures of the region you will visit.

Lead Page visitors a PayPal or similar page. Don't forget to update that Page daily.

Elli
Are you doing this alone or through your church or other organization? If alone, you'll have some problems...just because the economy is a little slow. Also, a church offers write-offs for donations, which is not available to you unless you've become a non-profit organization.

Michael

Sell a limited number of raffle tickets with a decent-sized prize. Key is to make the prize meaningful in value, relevant and attractive to your target and make the odds of winning relatively high.

With pricing/number of tickets, make sure you can cover your trip costs and the prize expenses, but not much more or the odds of winning get reduced.

Ensure you comply with local regulations too!

Best of luck...
-Steve

If you can get an organization involved it will be a lot easier to raise money, but also alot more fun on the trip itself. Even if you try to get a school involved and you volunteer to lead the trip.

The facebook fan or cause page is a great idea. You can invite your network to join and collect donations directly through Facebook. Then your network can invite their networks and so on. Again this is a lot easier if you have more people going with you.

Be sure to focus on why people should sponsor you. Not because you want to go, but what will it bring to the community you're going to - and even to your own community. If you focus your message on "what's in it for them" not "what's in it for me" it will be a lot easier to raise the money you need.

When I go on trips like that I get the help for those I already know as best I can. I send letters to everyone I know requesting both financial and prayer support. Tell people how much you need to raise and tell them exactly what you will be doing who you will be going with, etc... and once you get back send a thank you letter to anyone who supported you detailing exactly how the trip went. People like to know what happened with the trip they paid for. But start with your friends first!