Our Crowdfunding Groups
F&Q’s Crowdfunding
What is crowdfunding?
Blue Gives Back is the Indiana State University’s crowdfunding platform for fundraising. Crowdfunding offers donors a new way to provide support to our schools, programs and specifically projects at ISU that mean something to them. Crowdfunding assists our student organizations, faculty/staff and academic departments achieve their fundraising goals through ideas such as: innovative projects, service and philanthropic trips and events, research, and other ISU specific ventures. There is an application and approval process before any project can move forward.
Who can utilize the Blue Gives Back platform?
Blue Gives Back project team must be part of Indiana State University community via a student organization, an academic department, or other official ISU entity. Blue Gives Back platform assists ISU faculty, staff, and students to raise awareness about causes and achieve their fundraising goals. Crowdfunding works best for projects and campaigns with clear and specific goals, rather than for general, unrestricted fundraising.
If my project is accepted, how do I use the Blue Gives Back platform?
We require all faculty, staff, or student organization project managers to complete an info session with the department of Annual Giving. This is to provide the greatest amount of knowledge and information to adequately prepare you for the intensity and timetable of crowdfunding.
How are projects approved after the application is submitted?
The application time frame is open for 15 days. Thereafter, applicants will be contacted within 5 business days with notice of denial or approval. If the project is accepted, further instructions will be provided by the department of Annual Giving.
What is the time commitment for crowdfunding project?
Project campaigns run for 30 days, but plan on your project requiring 10-12 weeks of focused, intense work before and after the campaign. The project lead will need to remain actively engaged. Each member of the team will need to commit 30-60 minutes per day, for the length of the active campaign.
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. This may include: writing content, creating videos, compiling email list, developing strategies, etc. Your project team will have one required training with the department of Annual Giving to help you develop and guide your project.
Campaign Launch – This phase will last 30 days and constitutes the live campaign. These weeks are crucial! During the campaign, team members are expected to send out at least 6 email ‘asks’ to their personal contact lists, make 4 or more updates to their project page, push out asks via social media, and otherwise make themselves available to answer questions and raise awareness around their project.
Post Campaign- After the project closes, team members are responsible for sending out thank you emails and cards to donors and make any final updates. It is important donors feel acknowledged and special so they will want to come back and support any future projects.
What will I need to create and manage a crowdfunding project on the Blue Gives Back website?
An effective way to engage donors to support your cause through crowdfunding is with an emotional and compelling fundraising page. As a part of your team’s strategy, create a page with pictures and videos that tell a convincing and irresistible story, as well explain how much money is needed and how the funds will be utilized.
What should the team structure of a project look like for a student organization?
You must have 1 or 2 projects leads that will manage and delegate duties to ensure a successful campaign. You will want to choose and assign team members tasks. The size of your team may vary depending on the size of your organization. It is best you have 3-5 champions that have the time to dedicate to this project. You will want to have a strong following for this project in which you are able to recruit as ambassadors to share your campaign with their networks.
What should the team structure of a project look like for a faculty/staff or department?
You must have 1 or 2 project leads that will manage and delegate duties to ensure a successful campaign. It is recommended there are 2-3 champions for this project. Often times it is a grad assistant or undergrad research intern. You will want to have a strong following for this project in which you are able to recruit as ambassadors to share your campaign with their networks.
Where can I find the application link?
https://bluegivesback.indstate.edu
What makes a project successful on the Blue Gives Back platform?
Successful projects are ones that integrate our recommendations in outreach, include a 30-day social media and marketing plan, and build a strong crowdfunding team of people to contribute to their crowdfunding efforts. Every member of the team must be 100% committed to actively engaging their social communities and network.
How will people learn about my project on Blue Gives Back?
Crowdfunding relies on personal networking. It is a peer-to-peer solicitation rather than an institutional solicitation. Use your personal, group, department or team’s email lists, Facebook pages, Twitter feeds, LinkedIn groups, etc. to promote your project. If you and your team do not have a pre-existing audience, then crowdfunding might not be the best platform to raise money for your project.
Who sets the campaign timeline and goals?
You! While projects must align to ISU’s Blue Gives Back 2022-2023 schedule, much of how the projects are constructed, are determined by the project leads. The department of Annual Giving will work with the project lead to ensure the project goals relative to the community and networking size.
What happens if the project doesn’t reach its goal?
If the project does not reach its targeted fundraising goal, the project manager is able to keep the amount raised but must use it based on the initial intent of the project. The project manager should explain to the donors how the money raised will be used if this occurs.
Who manages the crowdfunding and Give to Blue platform?
The Division of University Advancement/Foundation’s department of Annual Giving located at 30 North Fifth Street, Terre Haute, IN 47809.
Can my organization apply more than once?
Yes, however you many only apply once per crowdfunding application round and only one project per semester.
If I have questions about the application process, who should I contact?
For questions about the project you are supporting, please contact Kati Colvin, Annual Giving Director at Kati.Colvin@indstate.edu.