What are the steps to getting a passport?

Hmm, interesting. I've had the problem that a few volunteer abroad opportunities I've looked into seem sort of scammy, requiring you to raise a certain amount of money to join the program, and then not even helping to pay travel or housing for you. Some of them even say on their recruiting materials that if you can't raise the minimum amount of money required to go on the trip, you ought to dip into your personal funds. It's not a voluntary donation if you're forcing people to give their own money just to work for the program! I guess maybe they've had problems with people not taking it seriously enough if it doesn't cost anything? Anyhoo, programs that aren't free just make me squirm. Legit opportunities to do things like this are fantastic, though, and it's better yet if the organization will help you out with travel/lodging expenses. I too would love to do something like that someday!