There are many cruise lines that are set up to help raise money for non- profit organizations and will even provide a donation using a cruise as a fundraiser. Here are some of the benefits…

• The organization raises needed funds with a unique and exciting event.
• Participants enjoy a vacation and feel great about supporting a worthwhile cause.
• Press releases & advertising of the fund raising cruise can bring more community recognition to the organization.
• Friends & family tend to vacation together so the organizer gains access to potential new contributors who have a disposable income and can assist with future events.
For example, Carnival Cruise Lines will donate funds to the non-profit organization up to $10 per day per stateroom. The contribution check, based on the actual number of staterooms that sail, will be made payable to the non-profit organization and will be mailed to the travel agency handling the cruise after the sailing. Substantiation of the fundraising group must be submitted at the time of final payment.

The cruise line can also make a donation of space to any activities the organization may require if the travel agency that is handling the sailing knows to require the space in advance. This arrangement becomes very much like a group and event sailing all in one. People who are going on the cruise enjoy the excitement of the upcoming event and tell others, the non- profit contacts their contributors and the travel agency can contact their repeat customers which has a domino effect upon the number going on the selected cruise.

The group leader would be in charge of getting basic information to the travel agency. The role of the travel agency would be to make the travel arrangements with each individual participating, working with the cruise line to find space and ordering refreshments for group meetings as well as arranging for any audio-visual aids needed for functions.

The organization can choose to raise funds by solely the cruise line donation, marking up the group rate and/or by taking the value of the free berths earned as their contribution. Most cruise lines do have a free berth to give away when any group hits 15>1 ratio on the sailing. Our travel agency always gives a gift to the non- profit organization when we are making the travel arrangements. This is truly a win/win for all concerned. The participants enjoy a wonderful vacation knowing that a contribution is going to a good cause, the non-profit organization receives funds, the cruise line makes a profit and the travel agency earns the trust of new customers.

Here is just one example of a way the non- profit organization can earn money for their cause:
1. Group does not mark up price on a 7 day cruise: Group sells 100 cabins
Carnival will donate $70 per cabin for charity
100 cabins x $70 = $7,000
Group auctions an earned free cabin at fundraising event & it sells for $2,000
TOTAL FUNDS RAISED = $9,000

This article was written by Harriet Elder of Latitudes Cruise and Travel.
Information provided was taken from Carnival Cruise Lines.