Global Village payment and cancellation policies

Learn about the donation, cancellation and insurance policies that affect all volunteers traveling from the United States on Global Village and Habitat and Thrivent Worldwide builds. 

Your program donation

To join a Global Village build, volunteers are required to submit a program donation, which can range from US$1650 - $2500. This donation goes directly to support Habitat’s work in the country and covers the volunteer’s accommodations, meals, ground transportation, travel accident and sickness insurance, and trip cancellation insurance (for international builds only). This donation is nonrefundable and nontransferable.

Deposit and balance

To secure a spot on a Global Village or Habitat and Thrivent Worldwide build, volunteers must submit a $250 deposit to Habitat for Humanity International. This deposit will count toward the program donation. The remaining program donation balance is due no later than 45 days before departure. The deposit and balance are both nonrefundable and nontransferable.

Volunteers participating with an organizing group such as a university, church, etc., should confirm the deposit amount and payment process with your team leader. All program donations submitted by organizing groups to Habitat for Humanity International are nonrefundable and nontransferable.

Canceling a build (by you or by Habitat for Humanity)

All payments made to Global Village or Habitat and Thrivent Worldwide builds are considered donations and are nonrefundable even in the case of cancellations or postponements by the volunteer or Habitat for Humanity International. 

Volunteers traveling from the U.S.

Though donations are nonrefundable, there are ways to recover funds by making an insurance claim. For volunteers traveling on a Global Village or Habitat and Thrivent Worldwide team, if a build was canceled for a covered reason as defined by the insurance policy after a donation was paid in full, volunteers can submit a claim to receive compensation. Volunteers also have the option of claiming nonrefundable flight costs. Both flight and donation claims have a combined maximum compensation of $2,500.

Please keep in mind

• All program donations are donations to Habitat for Humanity International.
  A program donation, whether from you or your donors, is nonrefundable and nontransferable. All donations will receive a tax-deductible acknowledgement.  
• Insurance claims can only be made by the volunteer or by the team’s organization on behalf of the volunteer. 
  Insurance claims can only be made for the traveling volunteers. Insurance claims do not apply to donors that are not volunteering with Global Village. 
• For Habitat and Thrivent Worldwide U.S. domestic programs
  The program donation does not include trip cancellation insurance. We strongly urge volunteers to purchase “cancel for any reason” trip cancellation insurance to cover travel expenses in the event the volunteer has to postpone or cancel.
• Travel delays
  If a flight is canceled or delayed, Global Village staff will assist volunteers in meeting up with their team. While Habitat for Humanity is not responsible for any expenses related to travel, our travel insurance may cover some of your expenses.