Travelers' Philanthropy Handbook - Center for Responsible Travel

Why Travelers Become Philanthropists: Donor MotivationsBy Jill Talladay, Graduate Student,Sustainable Tourism, George Washington UniversityIn order to better understand why travelers become donors, in-depth interviews were conductedwith 12 Americans and one Canadian who traveled in Latin America, Asia, and Africa with oneof four US-based tourism companies. The companies -- Country Walkers, Global Sojourns,Holbrook Travel, and Myths and Mountains – all have well developed travelers’ philanthropyprograms. They supplied a list of their donors who could be interviewed. The travelersinterviewed live in eight different states or provinces, two thirds are female and all are eitherretired or current professionals; several described themselves as lifelong donors, while otherssaid they became donors for the first time while traveling. The survey was conducted through aseries of telephone interviews in July and August 2010.The following summarizes the most pertinent responses to the survey questions.• What First Drew You to Philanthropy as a Part of Travel?Many of those interviewed said that a specific event or funding request convinced them to maketheir first financial contribution while traveling. A number said that they were originally inspired todonate by the head of the travel company. Some already knew this person through personalrelationships. Others said they were moved to contribute when they first learned about theprojects at a travel company’s fundraising eventwhere they met the head of the company.Several of those interviewed describedthemselves as experienced philanthropists whoexpanded their giving to support projects theylearned of through travel.In addition, many of those surveyed said thatthey were moved by visiting projects andwitnessing the reactions of local beneficiaries.For instance, a technology consultant describedDonations to READ Global Library, Nepal.the dedication of a library in Nepal that was builtCredit: Toni Neubauerthrough Myths and Mountains’ READ (RuralEducation and Development) Global program, “The entire village took the day off to come to theceremony.” The READ program raises funds for libraries and small community businessenterprises in Nepal, India, and Bhutan. (See Myths and Mountains and READ Global casestudy). This respondent added in gratitude and respect for the READ program, “Many residentshave photos of Toni [Neubauer, the founder and owner of Myths and Mountains] visiblydisplayed as they might have a photo of their president.” Another respondent, a 62-year-oldmale financial executive also inspired by the READ program, commented, “I only supportprojects that I know directly as I find it a lot more rewarding to spend money on things I canconnect to, see, experience, and be involved with.”193