Real Development Fund

The Real Development Fund was set up with one main aim in mind - to help the most under-resourced projects we work with in Africa, Asia and Latin America. We already send a great number of volunteers to these projects, and they do a great deal of fantastic work but now, we are able to help them another way be it contributing generally or helping them to fund something more specific.

Gap Year For Grown Ups will be setting aside money, annually, that will go straight into the Fund. We would also like to encourage you, our project participants to contribute to the Real Development Fund - some of you will have first hand the great and worthwhile work that these projects do, the types of situations that they are helping to remove people from or how they are responding to a dire need for conservation to protect numerous species of wildlife and their habitats. You will also be very aware what a big difference a little of your time makes and how far just a little bit of your money can go. Any money that you are able to donate will go directly to these projects; every pound appreciated and will go towards making a real difference.

What goes where?
Every single penny we collect in the Real Development Fund bank account will be used to benefit the projects we work with. The projects themselves are able to submit an application for monetary support, or we will select projects to donate money towards a specific development, such as books for local schools, building and maintenance work, or fencing in reserves to protect wildlife. If we do not get any applications to the Development Fund we will use project visits and assessments to identify the areas that are most in need of a contribution.

How you can help…
If you would like to make a general donation in support of all the valuable works that the projects are doing, that would be great, or you can donate your money to a specific project, perhaps one you have visited or are visiting in the future.

If you are interested in doing some fundraising, we have some ideas to help you on our advice fundraising advice page

There are a number of ways for you to donate to the Real Development Fund. You can send us a cheque in the post or give us a call with your credit card details, give whatever you can.

Knowing where your money goes…
The very best way to see where your money is going is to head out to the project and seeing your donation at work! Everyone who contributes to the Fund will be sent an annual report, (it'll also go up on the website), stating the amount of money that the Fund has received and most importantly, where it has all gone.

Development Fund for Developing Countries

Give money support the Real Development Fund

Career Break Advice

Get a free brochure!

Nadine took a gap break to do something different. She joined our archaeology programme in Israel and unearthed ancient gold coins.
Read more..

Destinations