FAQ
What is Travelers’ Philanthropy, and how does it work?
Travelers’ Philanthropy connects prospective donors with community development projects abroad, making travel a vehicle for positive change. Travelers’ Philanthropy is a program of the Center on Ecotourism and Sustainable Development (CESD), a registered U.S. 501(c)(3) non-profit. Donations to Travelers’ Philanthropy/CESD are secure, easy and tax-deductible. CESD in turn funnels donations to recipient projects in other parts of the world, funding local development initiatives, education, conservation, and community health.
Why choose Travelers’ Philanthropy?
Here at Travelers’ Philanthropy, we do the background work so that you know your donation will be handled properly and according to US and international law. No need to worry about the security of a cash donation, or the impact of a check written at the last moment of a voyage. We know you want to make a difference, so we have gathered a group of dedicated local development projects that do just that. The projects you see on our website are all backed by a local tourism operator, allowing for added transparency and organization. Most importantly, Travelers’ PhilanthropySM collects sensitive financial information through a direct link here (under "Donate") to our own, exclusive page on the secure JustGive.org website, offering you superior security and customer service.
How are companies chosen to be part of the website?
Each of the companies currently included on our website has demonstrated a commitment to benefiting local peoples and the environment. The eco-lodges in our list have received numerous awards for their efforts toward sustainability and local advancement, building schools, funding income-generation programs, and protecting natural resources for both tourists and local residents. Only those companies with a proven track record of philanthropic work and environmental stewardship have been included. We are working with our current members to define a set of criteria for the recruitment of additional companies so that we may broaden our impact while still representing top-notch community efforts all over the world.
How do I make a donation?
To donate by Credit Card: Simply visit our “Donate” tab and follow the step-by-step instructions next to the donation button.
To donate by Check: Please make your check out to The Center on Ecotourism and Sustainable Development, including the name Travelers’ Philanthropy on the memo line. Please mail your check to our Washington, D.C. office, using this address:
ATTN: Travelers’ Philanthropy
1333 H St., NW
Suite 300, East Tower
Washington, DC 20005, USA
Will I receive information to help me reflect my donation on my tax return?
Yes. When you make a donation through our website, you will automatically receive tax information via mail, along with a confirmation, a thank you note from CESD. Donations made by check will be followed with a receipt from CESD, thanking you for your donation to community development worldwide.
Can I specify how my donation should be used?
At Travelers’ Philanthropy, we want to help you make a difference where you feel it is most needed. When you make your donation, we invite you to tell us where you prefer that your donation be used. You may give the name of a specific community project when applicable, or the name of a tour operator if you wish to support a community project near them, or you may make a donation with other guidelines. However, in all cases it must be noted that IRS guidelines for charitable donations prohibit us from guaranteeing that funds will be used in accordance with a donor’s instructions. This is because all donations must pass through an internal process of review before being granted out to recipients and must be used in a manner that furthers the charitable purposes outlined in our filings with the IRS (and that are described throughout this website). Thus, although we will do everything in our power to follow the wishes of donors in all but the most unusual case, you should know that funds cannot be formally designated. In the event that you prefer that we use the funds in a way that we cannot, CESD will contact you with a suggestion for another worthy use of the funds and await your approval before accepting the donation and sending confirmation paperwork.
Can I donate to any project, or only one sponsored by the tour operator I recently traveled with?
You may make a donation to any project on our website, whether or not you have ever visited their sponsoring tour operator. Anyone can donate, at any time, to any of our listed projects.
Does Travelers’ Philanthropy/CESD take a percentage of donations?
Operating Travelers’ Philanthropy takes time and effort in order to be done right. To cover the costs of maintaining the website, consulting with legal counsel, contacting, verifying and maintaining close relationships with tour operators and community projects, and following up with donors, Travelers’ Philanthropy keeps 10% of donated funds. Funds donated through the website incur an additional 3% charge from JustGive.org, which JustGive uses to offset the credit card use fee. No additional charges apply to donations made by personal check.
If I have trouble with the donation process, whom should I ask for help?
If you are unclear on any part of the process while navigating the Travelers’ Philanthropy website, please contact CESD Coordinator, Laura Driscoll, by email at, by email at [email protected], or by phone at +1 650 723 0894. If you experience problems or have questions while navigating the JustGive donation website, please contact their help center by following the links on their website.
This page was last updated February 13, 2008