Give Back While on Vacation

Thanks to a few companies, travelers can bring meaningful contributions to the destinations they visit on vacation and provide a positive impact on those communities. Many travel companies have sister foundations that will put your donations to good use and an increasing number are taking it a step further and committing all profits to such projects.

Wherever your destination may be, check to see if your hotel has a relationship with Pack for a Purpose. This organization works with hotels that have identified development goals in local communities and encourages guests to bring necessary supplies in their suitcases. They believe people fortunate enough to travel to other countries often wish they could make meaningful contributions to help meet the needs of the places they visit. Such contributions are one way of expressing appreciation for the experiences and hospitality they enjoyed in other lands. They supply lists for destinations on their website, which have been provided directly by the local community-based projects which receive and use the supplies. This allows travelers to make informed decisions and to bring items which meet the needs of those who will be using them.

Cambodia-focused tour operator About Asia gives 100 percent of its net proceeds to schools and education initiatives around Siem Reap. A new breed of non-profit hotels is also emerging, like Fogo Island Inn. Located off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada, it functions almost as a heritage foundation for its small island; and Nihiwatu Resort, which supports numerous projects on Sumba Island in Indonesia. Closer to home, California’s legendary Golden Door Spa has just re-launched with new rooms and a commitment to donate its profits to charities, including a children’s health center in Ethiopia.