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Scholarships, Grants, & Funding Resources
We believe international service-learning should be accessible to everyone. Whether you’re a university student, a recent graduate, or a community participant, there are multiple ways to make your program more affordable. Below you’ll find all the opportunities available to help fund your journey—because cost should never be a barrier to becoming a lifetime humanitarian.
Youthlinc Scholarships
Community-Engaged Scholarships
Youthlinc offers community-engaged scholarships ranging from $500–$900 to participants who complete 25 hours of approved local service before their program.
Local service is human-to-human, meaning you’ll engage directly with people in your community—building relationships, offering support, and making a tangible impact.
All service must be approved in advance by our team, and hours are tracked in your participant dashboard. Completed hours are due by May 1st.
These scholarships are made possible through personal donors who believe in Youthlinc’s mission of creating lifetime humanitarians. Their generosity helps ensure that committed participants can continue serving—both at home and abroad.
Alumni Fellowships
Leadership-Based Scholarships for RootEd Global & Youthlinc Alumni
Fellowships invite alumni students who have traveled with Youthlinc and/or RootEd Global programs to continue building their leadership and research skills.
Fellowships range between $500 - $900 scholarships towards your RootEd Global program.
Through a RootEd Global Fellowship, students complete a small project tied to their international team—either research-focused (Impact Fellowship) or media-focused (Storytelling Fellowship). If you are interested in an alumni fellowship, please contact Jessica at jessica@youthlinc.org
RootEd Global Ambassador
Share the Mission of Youthlinc & RootEd Global
How It Works
Earn rewards for being a RootEd Global Ambassador! When you refer a new participant to RootEd Global (Youthlinc-powered study abroad trips with USU) who pays their $500 deposit and you submit the referral information, you’ll receive $100 off your 2025–2026 RootEd Global trip fee or a $50 check. The more people you refer, the more you save.
You can refer as often as you like! Deadline for referrals are March 1, 2026
Eligibility
To qualify for the referral reward, the person you refer must be a new first-year participant engaging with RootEd Global.
They must list you as their referrer on their registration form and pay their $500 deposit. Team Leaders, Co-Team Leaders, Professors, and their immediate family members are not eligible for referral rewards.
Corporate Match Program
Many companies offer matching gift programs that can double the impact of your fundraising. Here’s how it works: you connect with an employee at a corporation that offers matching gifts and arrange to contribute your fundraising amount directly to them. The employee donates that amount to their company’s matching gift program, and the corporation sends Youthlinc a check for twice the amount—with both the employee’s donation and the corporate match going toward your trip cost.
For example: if you provide $1,000 to a participating employee, their company may match it, sending Youthlinc $2,000 to apply to your program. This is a powerful way to reach your fundraising goal faster while partnering with businesses that believe in service.
University Financial Aid Options
Study Abroad Scholarships
Scholarships are available through Utah State University and external organizations to help offset the cost of your international experience. Awards may be based on merit, financial need, or the focus of your program. Applying to multiple scholarships can significantly reduce your overall program cost.
Research Project Grants
If your study abroad includes an academic or service-learning project, you may qualify for research grants to fund materials, travel, or data collection. These grants support meaningful work that contributes to your field of study and makes an impact in the host community.
Fundraising Support
Raising funds for your Youthlinc or RootEd Global program is an opportunity to share your story, inspire others, and build community support for your journey.
Here are practical tools, creative ideas, and ready-to-use templates to help you plan, organize, and execute successful fundraisers. Whether you’re reaching out to donors, hosting events, or exploring unique partnerships, these resources are designed to make your fundraising experience impactful, achievable, and even fun.
Fundraising Account
Customize your Youthlinc fundraising account to share your why. Tell friends, family, and supporters why you’re studying abroad, what you hope to accomplish, and how their support makes a difference. Share your page widely to make giving simple and impactful.
Monthly Goals
Break your program cost into monthly payment goals so fundraising feels manageable. Planning ahead helps you stay on track, reduce stress, and celebrate small wins along the way.
Crowd Sourcing
Reach out to your network through letters, social media posts, and personal asks. Divide your goal into smaller amounts and invite many people to give a little—it adds up faster than you think.
Fundraise Together
Team up with fellow students in your program to multiply your efforts. Start a campus club, host a bake sale, run a yard sale, or organize a sports tournament—shared energy and creativity can boost results and make fundraising fun.