Hi Ashley,

Kudos to you for getting involved in a volunteer program in Costa Rica, and for making the attempt to fundraise.  I love travel (as you might tell from my wish list) and never let a lack of money stop me. 

I know how stressful and frustrating fundraising can be, because I did it last year.  I took part in a rally from England to Mongolia, and in addition to raising money for the cost of the trip, I had to raise $2,000 for two Mongolian charities.

I found that it helped to include a lot of information about myself and the trip, that way people have a good idea of where their money is going.  When I posted in online forums and made up a promotional pamphlet, I included three detailed paragraphs.  The first one was about me, the second about the rally, and the third about the two charities.

Hope this helps, and good luck on your trip.

Scott