Civic Concepts International

We offer a limited number of scholarships in two different categories in a form of conference fee reduction. For eligibility criteria and application procedure, please visit www.czechleadership.com/scholarship.php.

Unfortunately, as a young organization, we do not have the available funding to provide students with full scholarships. Our awards act as a starting point in reducing your conference related expenses. Therefore, we strongly encourage you to seek funding from outside sources both in your local and international communities.

In addition, this will be excellent learning experience on its own. During your fundraising efforts you will need to contact the key management staff of various business entities and governmental agencies. Leaders must rely on their skills and work hard to achieve what they desire, and the relationships you build now can grow into an invaluable network for your future efforts.

Getting Started

• Remainder of the conference fee
• Travel costs
• Miscellaneous expenses you might need for personal use
  (we outline the costs included in your fee here)

• The company's logo will appear on 5000 conference posters, regularly sent to selected international universities, partners and businesses and individual students
• The company's logo will appear on 200+ conference guidebooks to be seen by all conference participants, some professors, and our partners worldwide
• A public recognition of the sponsorship during the reception with almost 100 high-ranking officials, diplomats, businessmen
• The company's logo will be placed on the conference web-pages, viewed by over 200 unique visitors daily, which makes approximately 36 000 people in 6 months
• Presence on the web-site of the International Youth Leadership Network, which unites 1700 program alumni from 114 countries, 50 best universities from 20 different countries

This is a regular sponsorship package offered to individual student sponsors. Sponsors who offer support at a higher level will receive more vigourous benefits.

Directories

Online Searching for Funding

You may also use the vast resources of the internet to search for funding. There are numerous online resources dedicated to financial aid and grant opportunities. A search for “youth education grants” or “travel grants” is something to try.

Students from CIS countries should go directly to EducaCentre's web site for International Fellowships and Grants in Russian: This is a project by the EducaCentre company in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Russian & English language, Education Abroad, Travel Services: http://www.educacentre.net.

An excellent American resource is: http://fdncenter.org. This web site has links to almost every Private Foundation, Corporate Grantmaker, and Grantmaking Public Charity in the United States. If you do a search for "student" or "academic", you may be able to narrow down the possibilities.

The Soros Foundation promotes open societies and provides a number of grants. This is an excellent tip to try: www.soros.org. Go through their web page thoroughly and you can even locate your specific country for detailed info on programs.

Approaching Potential Sponsors

(This is a general outline that can apply to a variety of organizations. More specific ideas and suggestions are provided next to the organization category)

The people you will be dealing with are extremely busy, yet you want to get as high up in the organizations as possible, most preferrably with the top decision maker. The best solution here is a systematic approach – introductory phone call, sending a package, follow up.

- Phone call:

A good cover letter is one of the most valuable ways to communicate your need. It should clearly outline everything that has been presented in the introductory phone call. It as well gives you a chance to show something a little more personal, like: why is it so important for you to participate in the conference, what do you hope to achieve or how will you use what you have learned to improve your community. However, it must remain professional. Keep it simple and concise.

Feel free to use the following documents along with your package. You can also incorporate parts of these documents into your sponsorship application or cover letter:

• Sample Cover Letter
• Strengthes and Effects of the IYLC
• Invitation to become a student sponsor

If you need a letter addressed to a potential sponsor on your behalf signed by Civic Concepts International, please email us at scholarships@czechleadership.com.

- Follow up:

Never let too much time lapse between the receipt of your package - whether by post or fax - and your follow up phone call. If they do not hear from you in a reasonable amount of time they will simply remove your information from their desks.

Again here is another chance to make a personal contact. This is where you want to begin the push for a meeting, if not with the original contact (“he’s too busy”) that with whoever you think is the best choice instead? Would the original contact be willing to speak over the phone if he/she can’t set up a full meeting?

- The Meeting:

You must always be prepared when you walk into that meeting – this is your chance. Have all the materials you need or that they have requested, dress professionally, be on time, but most importantly it is your presentation that will sell the sponsorship. Have a clear plan of presenting your case to the decision maker:

Introduce yourself again – briefly, if they are already familiar with your case
Description of the conference
What you see as the benefit of attending for yourself
What you propose to give them back in return for sponsorship
What are their benefits from sponsoring you
Facts and figures on costs
Have deadlines handy

Here are some categories of potential sponsors you can approach:

Universities

This is the best place to start. Corporations are going to be more concerned with the bottom line and how their sponsorship will provide an added benefit for them, while it is a university's job to ensure the success of their students.

Every university in every country is different, and as a first step you should approach your financial aid office for the best advice. Most schools have funds set aside for academic endeavors such as the IYLC and your FA office can direct you to the departments that receive such funds and who is responsible for allocating them.

Once you know who to talk to, simply explain the nature of the International Youth Leadership Conference and the type of funding that you seek, and they will hopefully be able to construct for you the best plan of action. Different university departments may have bursaries, scholarships or special grants that you may qualify for by attending the IYLC as a representative of your university.

As an added incentive to the University to support your trip, tell them you will bring promotional posters with their logo and display them at the conference in exchange for their financial support. Also tell them that we will place their logo on all conference materials, including our textbook, itinerary, website and program information. This will be seen by hundreds of international students, therefore it is great exposure. Offer to act as an “ambassador” for the school, and by simply talking to other students can promote the university.

The best thing you can do is be honest - that you really want to participate in this educational experience, and you would like their assistance. You could offer to give a speech upon your return about what you experienced and what the conference was like. This international forum is extremely unique and you will have much to say, considering you will be surrounded by other students from around the world.

In addition, if your university themselves cannot fund your trip, at least partially, they will have a network of contacts who might. Ask them for all advice they can give you regarding outside sources for funding.

Private Businesses

Several of our past participants have received funding from private businesses (corporations as well as small businesses in their country or local community). The student has many things to offer the business in return for their financial contribution. At the IYLC conference, each business gets their name and/or company logo on the official conference textbook and official conference itinerary, as well as on the web site.

To show you are proactive, offer to write a press release or an article and host a press conference for the local media that will announce the company's community service and dedication to the future of young leaders. If agreed upon your sponsors will want you to work closely with their Public Relations or Marketing departments to approve the message being sent, but they also are invaluable in giving you advice on the process and contacts in the field. Some of the key media outlets you should involve: