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A group of young adults working in a community garden.

Pay it forward

Make a global impact with a small donation. 

A group of young adults working in a community garden.

Help fund sustainable, student-driven change

Since 2015, the Pay It Forward grant fund has supported sustainable development projects in our community engagement program locations around the world. Students can choose to donate $5 during the payment process in their student portal, and 100% of those donations go directly to our local community partner organizations.

Your contribution helps fund real projects that create lasting impact. From building community gardens to launching mobile libraries and creating sensory spaces for kids with disabilities, Pay It Forward allows students to support the communities that welcome them.

How it works

Our students help bring this initiative to life by contributing to their host communities. While abroad, students collaborate with their host organization, community leaders, and our team to submit grant proposals that address local needs. These projects are shaped by research, creativity, and compassion—and give students valuable experience in grant writing and social impact work.

Thanks to this unique model, Pay It Forward has been nominated twice for the GoAbroad Innovation in Philanthropy Award.

Projects funded by Pay It Forward

Each of these projects was imagined by students and brought to life through local collaboration:

Community Garden in Chile

Students helped transform an abandoned lot into a colorful green space using recycled materials. The garden now hosts classes, concerts, and community events.

Mobile Library in Costa Rica

Inspired by a school in Chicago, a student launched a mobile library to serve K–6 students—many of whom had no books at home.

Knitting Machines in Peru

Mundo Libre added knitting therapy and skills training to support youth recovering from addiction.

Music Program in Morocco

A community garden designed with and for individuals on the autism spectrum now provides a soothing, inclusive outdoor space.

Sensory Room in Peru

A former storage closet became a calming space for children with intellectual and physical disabilities.

Sensory Garden in Ireland

Students helped equip a local cultural center with instruments and supplies to support community music classes and performances.

Want to pay it forward?

When you pay for your program in our student portal, simply select the Pay It Forward donation option to contribute $5—or more if you choose. 

Every dollar goes directly to a student-proposed, locally driven project that matters.

Students in action

Two young adults taking a selfie in a classroom.
Colorful dinosaur playtime in a vibrant outdoor setting.
A teacher leading a class of students in a library or classroom.