Finances
ABOUT VOLUNTEERING
Finances for Volunteers
Volunteers with Mercy Ships are responsible for paying all costs associated with their service, including Crew Fees, travel expenses, passports, immunisations, insurance and personal expenses. Because of this commitment, Mercy Ships is able to use direct contributions from its supporters to bring hope and healing to those who need it most.
The two largest expenses you can expect to incur while serving with Mercy Ships are your travel to and from the ship and your Crew Fee (room and board). Crew Fees are paid monthly by every adult crew member. The current Crew Fee chart is listed below.
Sample Budget
All applicants are required to provide or raise their own funds to cover crew fees, insurance, transportation to and from the ship, and personal expenses. Below is a sample budget that should help you forecast your finances during your time onboard.
| MONTHLY BUDGET CALCULATOR | ||
| CREW FEES | YOUR CREW FEES | |
| 12+ months | $200 USD per adult | |
| 2 weeks to 12 months | $400 USD per adult | |
| TRAVEL | YOUR TRAVEL COSTS | |
| Calcualate the cost of travel to/from the ship’s location and divide it by the number of months you will be serving: Example: $1500 ÷ 12 months = $125 per month. | $ | |
| INSURANCE | YOUR INSURANCE | |
| Estimate depending on travel insurance provider and coverage selection. | $ | |
| PERSONAL EXPENSES | YOUR EXPENSES | |
| Personal expenses might include toiletries, clothes, entertainment, outings, prescriptions, meals, snacks and souvenirs. Remember to budget for tithes/offerings, Christmas and birthdays. We recommend budgeting around $250 USD per month per person, but this is dependent on your needs and spending habits. | ||
| ESTIMATED MONTHLY BUDGET TOTAL | $ | |