Crowdfunding Toolkit

Many student crowdfunding volunteers have no prior experience with fundraising. Training materials soften the learning curve and amplify students’ effectiveness at raising money from their friends, family, and fellow students. The following information can be circulated to students to introduce them to high-impact approaches to fundraising.

Before selecting projects, it's important to understand your applicants' goals, number of participants, communication plan, and more. Use our sample template to get started.

Crowdfunding projects do not succeed randomly. Those that meet and exceed their goals feature a number of common characteristics, including a built-in affinity group, a motivated project leader, and a clear plan for achieving full funding. This project selection diagnostic will help advancement staff select projects that are poised to do well with donors.

After concluding a crowdfunding initiative, advancement staff should record fundraising results in an accessible and easy-to-read manner. Doing so will allow them to decipher lessons to apply to future crowdfunding initiatives and communicate outcomes to senior leaders.

Access samples of Terms and Conditions and Confidentiality agreements to help draft your own versions.