GYA 2025 Experiential Education Fundraiser : Featuring our first-ever Raffle & Silent Auction!

The Gap Year Association (GYA) is a community of program providers, gap year specialists, students, alumni, and advocates who believe intentional gap years foster personal, professional, and academic growth. GYA defines a gap year as “an intentional period of time devoted to personal growth and exploration through experiential learning opportunities.”

This year’s GYA 2025 Fundraiser celebrates that mission by bringing the gap year experience to life for the public, through an Experiential Education Raffle and our first-ever Silent Auction!

What’s Happening

From September 26 – October 5, 2025, GYA will host our annual fundraiser:

September 26: The campaign officially launches with raffle tickets and prizes available to the public.
October 5, 5:00 PM - 5:45 PM EST: The fundraiser concludes with GYA’s first-ever Silent Auction, hosted in collaboration with Ryan from Irish Gap Year.

Raffle & Live AuctionPrizes include:

Adventures in Portugal, Maine, Colorado, South Africa, and Ireland
Gap year–focused books and career readiness coaching
Comprehensive safety kits and certificates
Free gap year, career readiness, and college counseling sessions
And much more, generously donated by GYA members

Why It Matters

As a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, every ticket purchased and every bid placed supports scholarships, access and outreach that open doors for more students to experience the transformative power of a gap year. By purchasing a raffle ticket and participating in the GYA Live Auction you will be supporting GYA in:

Celebrating experiential education
Connecting new families with the gap year movement
Promoting programs and opportunities to wider audiences
Raising $20,000+ for scholarships, outreach, and access initiatives

GYA's 2025 Experiential Education Raffle & Silent Auction