Santa Cruz Hostel

What is the core mission of your organization? The mission of the Santa Cruz Hostel Society is to help people of all ages appreciate the world through hosteling. Through the Santa Cruz Hostel, we create affordable travel opportunities while fostering cultural exchange and community connection.

How do you measure impact and success in your programs? We look at both numbers and experiences. Success includes how many travelers we host, the accessibility of our lodging, and participation in community events. Just as important are the connections formed between guests, volunteers, and neighbors.

What are your biggest fundraising or outreach challenges? One challenge is that many people don’t immediately realize the hostel is a nonprofit. Once people understand that the Santa Cruz Hostel is operated by the Santa Cruz Hostel Society and supports community programming, they’re often excited to support it.

How do you build long-term relationships with donors and supporters? We focus on community and transparency. Supporters are invited to events, potlucks, and gatherings at the hostel so they can see the impact firsthand. When people experience the community we’ve built, they tend to stay connected for the long term.

What trends are influencing the nonprofit world today? There’s a growing focus on community engagement and collaboration. Nonprofits are increasingly working together and creating spaces where people can connect, learn, and participate rather than simply observe or donate.

Can you share a story that shows your mission in action? One of my favorite moments is seeing strangers arrive from different countries and end up cooking together, sharing stories, and exploring Santa Cruz as friends. Those connections happen every week at the Santa Cruz Hostel and perfectly reflect our mission.

What keeps you motivated in this work? Seeing the connections that happen here keeps me motivated. When travelers, volunteers, and neighbors come together and realize how much they have in common, it reminds me why spaces like the Santa Cruz Hostel matter. In person connections are so important and I have seen less opportunity for that as we lean into AI and our electronics.