Fees and Scholarships

Program Cost

The AMIGOS program costs $6,000. To help families cover these costs, Volunteers are expected to fundraise $2,500 of those costs. The balance ($3,500) constitutes the Family Fee, which may be paid in full or in monthly installments. All applications must be accompanied by a non-refundable $25 application fee.

Program costs include: training in the U.S., domestic and international travel, as well as in-country training and room and board, transportation, supplemental medical insurance while in the field, project supplies, and administrative costs.

The program costs do not include: a physical exam by the Volunteer's doctor; any required immunizations; passport fee; visa fee if required; mosquito net; 200 postage stamps for letter writing fundraising; or any incidentals the volunteer chooses to purchase.

The Chapter Board is committed to keeping program costs as low as possible. Ultimately, the entire program costs are the responsibility of the Volunteer and his or her family.

Family Payment Obligation

The total Family Payment Obligation is comprised of the Application Fee of $25.00 and the Family Fee of $3,500. The application fee is due at the time of the interview. Families may pay the entire family fee in one payment if they choose; families may not pay the entire program cost rather than participate in chapter fundraising.

The family payment is not tax deductible.

Families may add money to their monthly family fee which will be deposited in the Washington DC Chapter Scholarship fund. This will allow us to send more volunteers to Latin America. Any monies given above the family fee are tax deductible.

Payment Schedule: The Washington DC Chapter is billed monthly by the AMIGOS International Office. The Chapter collects application fees and family fees in the amounts at the times specified:

• Application fee with application, by time of interview
• First Family Payment of $500 on December 1st and
• Five (5) monthly payments of $600 thereafter, also payable on the 1st of each month.

The International Office will not issue air tickets unless family fee payments are current.

Financial Aid: Both the International Office and the Chapter offer limited financial aid to Volunteers. Aid is available only to help defray the family fee; participation in all fundraising activities is required of all participants. We do not want to exclude anyone from participation for financial reasons, but we operate with limited resources and may not be able to meet all needs.

Families receiving financial aid are asked to pay at least $600 of the family fee, but if this presents a hardship, let us know.

Financial aid forms and instructions are available at the interview sessions. The Chapter president must receive the financial aid form and supporting documents by November 15, 2011. The Chapter president screens all applications for aid, and the information submitted in support of requests circulates only on a "need-to-know" basis. Financial aid decisions will be made by November 30, 2011.

Payment plans for families receiving scholarships are worked out with the treasurer.