Typically, faith-based organizations that choose to engage in mission trips abroad do so by soliciting donations from church members, acquiring sponsorship, or organizing a fundraising event. However, because of the ubiquity of the Internet, today’s faith-based organizations coordinating financing for a trip can find resources through the online community.
Social media is one way to generate funding for travel. Because a huge part of social media is developing relationships in an online platform, raising money can be a long-term public relations effort that allows for connecting with donors.
The online platform allows organizations to tap into an established audience. Social media allows donors to contribute easily, with only a few mouse clicks, and to share particularly engaging appeals with their own networks. It allows for organizations to provide their contacts updated information easily. Finally, using the social media platform facilitates establishing a peer-to-peer network through supporters, donors, board members, and volunteers.