Many government programs and organizations fund grants for travel. The government recognizes the need for professionals, especially those in civil service, to expand their skills so that they might benefit the community. Some offer partial travel funding and others provide full funding, including cost of travel and lodging for the duration of a recipient's stay. General eligibility requirements usually include citizenship, resident status or the status of a foreign national residing in the country for a set period as well as practicing his trade.
A National Endowment for the Humanities, or NEH, grant for teachers is one example. The NEH provides funding through its Summer Seminars and Institutes program, enabling teachers and educators in the K--12 system to conduct research over the summer. They provide grant winners between $2,100 (for two-week programs) and $4,500 (for six-week programs) to cover living, travel and research expenses.
Colleges and universities have long encouraged students to travel. Grants may fund students' travel abroad, whether for specific majors or general educational enhancement. Both colleges and private organizations fund grants for this purpose. General requirements range from good academic standing to a stellar essay detailing why the student wishes to travel.
Students can get a grant from the nonprofit organization Council on International Educational Exchange, or CIEE. Each year the CIEE provides students with grants of at least $1,000 to fund travel. Candidates must attend a CIEE-member school and typically must study in a nontraditional CIEE-approved destination. Another option for students is to check with their college or university's foreign outreach program to see what kind of grants are available.
For the charitable soul who wants to spend the summer volunteering for a cause, many nonprofits and faith-based agencies provide grants. These grants are provided to volunteers who are unable to afford travel. Whether it might be spending the summer building a school in a developing country or volunteering services like medical skills, organizations may fund grants to applicants trying to make the world a better place. Requirements tend to be specific; applicants are often students, doctors or religious individuals who practice a particular faith.
The National Service-Learning Partnership provides grants each year to students and volunteers striving to improve the world. Members are eligible for a number of program-specific grants, from economic awareness to environmental responsibility. These grants enable recipients to cover some of the expenses for projects that require travel.
Other sources of grants can be found through databases and local communities. The U.S Department of Health and Human Services provides an extensive list of service-oriented federal grants for those seeking to make a difference.