Volunteering agency vs booking direct: which should you choose?

In short: booking directly with a field project is usually cheaper and gives you first-hand information, but it takes more independence and patience. Going through an agency costs more, but you get guidance and a more reassuring, organised trip. The right choice depends on your budget, your travel experience and how much support you want.

On Eco-volontaire, you’ll find both: field projects and agencies. Either way, we take no commission: the price shown is the organisation’s own price, with nothing added.On Eco-volontaire, you’ll find both: projects in the field and agencies. In all cases, we do not charge any commission: the price shown is the organisation’s price, with no extra charges.

Two ways to volunteer

Eco-volontaire selects two types of organisations, all committed to biodiversity.

• Field projects: NGOs, reserves, wildlife rescue centres or research stations that host volunteers themselves. You deal directly with the people who run the project.
• Agencies: organisations that offer several projects, sometimes in several countries. They advise you, organise your stay and act as the link with the project on the ground.

Both options are legitimate. They simply meet different needs.

Booking directly with a field project: the pros

• A more affordable trip. No middlemen take a cut. You pay the actual cost of your stay: accommodation, meals, supervision and a contribution to the project.
• More of your money goes towards the project. Every euro you donate goes more directly towards conservation, rather than towards an intermediary’s administrative costs.
• Information straight from the source. You’re speaking to the people who are involved in the project on a day-to-day basis. They know exactly what you’ll be doing, under what conditions and with whom.
• Information that is often more reliable. The fewer the intermediaries, the less the message is distorted or embellished by marketing.
• Greater flexibility. Dates, duration, tasks: it’s often easier to tailor the assignment to your profile when you discuss it with the manager.
• A genuine human connection. The bond is formed even before you arrive, and you often stay in touch afterwards.

Booking directly with a field project: the cons

• Responses may sometimes be slow. The people you are dealing with are conservation professionals, not salespeople. They spend their days out in the field, often far from an internet connection. It is not at all unusual to have to wait a few days, or even a week or two.
• The language barrier. Communication often takes place in English or Spanish, and less frequently in French.
• Less of a safety net. In the event of unforeseen circumstances (cancellation, problems on site), there is no third party to assist you or mediate.
• Payment can sometimes be less convenient. International bank transfers, cash payments on site, bank charges: the arrangements vary from project to project.

Going through an agency: the pros

• Guidance to help you choose. The agency helps you find the assignment that best suits your preferences, budget and skills from a range of projects.
• There’s something reassuring about it. You have a specific point of contact – sometimes speaking your own language – who responds quickly: that’s their job.
• Support in the event of a problem. If the assignment does not go as planned, the agency can step in to mediate.
• A structured payment process. Online payment, invoices, written cancellation terms: the procedures are often simpler.

Going through an agency: the cons

• A higher price. On top of the cost of the assignment comes the agency’s fee: salaries, office costs, marketing, insurance and profit margin. This is to be expected, as the agency is providing a service, but you are the one paying for it.
• Second-hand information. The person you’re speaking to isn’t based at the project site. What they’re telling you comes from the ground, but has been filtered.
• A smaller share goes towards conservation. Of the total price, the amount that actually goes to the project is smaller.
• A more standardised offering. Fixed dates, minimum duration, standard programmes: there is sometimes less flexibility.

Watch out for chains of intermediaries

An agency doesn’t always work directly with the project. It may go through a local agency, which in turn goes through a coordinator, before reaching the project. Each link adds its own fees. The result: for the same placement, on the same site, two volunteers can pay very different prices depending on how they booked.

Don’t hesitate to ask an agency whether it works directly with the project or through a local partner.

Comparison at a glance

Criterion	Live site project	Agency
Price	Cheaper	More expensive (agency fees, or even fees charged by several intermediaries)
Proportion allocated to the project	Most important	Less important
Information	First-hand	Second-hand
Response time	Sometimes long	Usually quick
Language of communication	Often English or Spanish	Often your language
Choice of mission	You compare them yourself	Advice on a number of projects
Logistics	It’s more your responsibility	Ease
Help if you have a problem	To be arranged with the childcare provider	Dedicated contact person
Flexibility (dates, duration)	Often larger	Often more closely supervised

Which option is right for you?

Direct contact is ideal for you if you’re on a tight budget, already travel independently, speak English or Spanish, and can plan your departure several weeks in advance.

The agency is ideal for you if you don’t have much time to organise your trip or if you want someone to turn to in the event of any problems.

Eco-volunteering does not increase the cost of placements

Since 2009, Eco-volontaire has been connecting volunteers with organisations committed to biodiversity, free of charge. We do not charge any commission, either to the volunteer or to the project. The price shown on each mission description is that set by the project on the ground or the agency.

Going through Eco-volontaire does not, therefore, add another link to the chain. You are free to choose: either contact a project on the ground directly, or go through an agency if you’d prefer some support.

Our volunteers programs

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a field placement less serious than a placement through an agency? No. How serious it is depends on the project, not the channel through which it’s organised. The field projects listed on Eco-volontaire are selected for their genuine commitment to biodiversity.

Why can the same project have different prices? Because each intermediary adds their own fees. When you book directly, you pay the price of the project. When you book through an agency, or a network of agencies, the price also includes their services.

The project hasn’t got back to me – what should I do? Please wait a few days: the team is probably out in the field. Follow up politely after a week, or contact another project in the meantime.