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Crowdfunding offers our donors a new avenue to provide support directly to programs and specific projects at the university that are most meaningful to them. Crowdfunding also assists our faculty and students achieve their philanthropic goals. Crowdfunding ideas: innovative projects, service trips, events, research, and other Bradley specific ventures.

All projects must obtain approval prior to submitting an application and are subject to the Bradley University Crowdfunding Policy.

Project Requests from Academic Affairs requires the approval of the Chair, Dean, Provost, and Vice President for Advancement.

Requests from Student Affairs, Enrollment Management, and Business Affairs requires the approval of the respective Vice President and Vice President for Advancement.

Requests from Athletics requires approval of the Athletic Director and Vice President for Advancement.

3 Phases of a Project

1

QUIET PHASE (campaign pre-launch)

  • This phase should begin approximately 4-6 weeks before the project’s launch date.
  • This time will be spent getting your campaign ready (writing content, creating videos, compiling your email list, developing strategies, etc.).
  • Your group will have several meetings with our Crowdfunding team to help you develop and plan your project.
2

ACTIVE PHASE (campaign launch)

  • This phase will last 30-45 days and constitutes the live campaign.
  • These weeks are crucial! During the campaign, team members are expected to send out at least six (6) email “asks” to their personal contact lists, make four (4) or more updates to their project page, push out asks via social media, and otherwise make themselves available to answer questions about and raise awareness around their project.
3

FULFILLMENT PHASE (post-campaign)

  • Groups are responsible for sending out project updates, thank-you emails, and final updates.
  • Remember—making your donors feel special now means that they will want to come back and support your next project.
PROJECT CATEGORY  

PROJECT INFORMATION | GENERAL

Crowdfunding projects must support Bradley’s overall mission by improving our campus community.

*Must be an existing Bradley Operating or Gift Account.




PROJECT INFORMATION | FINANCIAL

Typical crowdfunding projects raise between $2,000 - $10,000. Of course this number will depend entirely on the size of your potential donor pool, your personal contacts, and the amount of personal effort devoted to the project. It is best to set modest, attainable, and realistic goals—and transcend them. Your donors will be inspired to support a project if it reflects success and momentum.





PROJECT INFORMATION | SOCIAL MEDIA

Crowdfunding relies on personal networking—your best supporters love Bradley but they REALLY love you and your project. Crowdfunding is a peer-to-peer solicitation on behalf of Bradley.

*If you do not have any of these established, we can assist you with the creation of these social media platforms.

PROJECT INFORMATION | TEAM PARTICIPATION

Project campaigns run for 30-45 days but projects require a full several weeks of focused, intense work before and after the campaign. The project creator will need to provide updates and remain actively engaged (new videos, social media postings such as Twitter and Facebook, campus events, and email). It is recommended that the project team commit 5 hours per week.



PROJECT MATERIALS

The best way to get donors to support your cause through crowdfunding is to create an emotional and compelling fundraising page. When possible, it is best to use pictures and videos to tell a convincing and irresistible story, as well as to explain to people exactly how much money you need and how the money will be used. NOTE: *The video does not need to be produced in high-quality; “grass roots” videos work well for crowdfunding because they are authentic and compelling. Colleges/Departments can shoot their own video using an iPad or camera.