With A Little Help From Our Friends

All AFS organizations work together in a relationship we call "Partnership," which is not used in the legal sense of the word but rather in the spirit of friendship and collegiality that unites AFS-affiliated organizations.

While the mission of AFS is global, its funding is primarily local. With the introduction of its Partnership structure in 1993, all AFS Partner organizations maintain their own, autonomous financial systems. Each AFS organization is individually supported through a variety of means, including participant fees. However, the socio-economic diversity that is so essential to the mission of AFS would not be possible without the generous financial support of globally concerned foundations, governments, corporations and individuals, whose contributions make it possible for AFS students to have the experience of a lifetime.

AFS's Corporate Scholarship Program continues to elicit enthusiastic international support, with more than 100 corporations sponsoring full AFS scholarships totaling over US $1.5 million for the qualified children of their employees.

Foundations also provide significant financial support to AFS. A fine example is the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, which in 1993 made three grants totaling US $420,000 to be used over three years for volunteer training and community development in Brazil, Paraguay and Venezuela.

Governments, regional authorities and municipalities also help by providing grants for special projects or scholarships for students in financial need. Others help by supplying materials, meeting space or services. Not to be overlooked are the people who selflessly donate their time and money to continue the work of AFS.