Crowdfunding is an excellent tool to help you raise money for your academic department, on-campus club, or team. Not only does utilizing the Western Foundation’s Crowdfunding platform help you raise money for a specific effort, it also brings social awareness around your organization.
It’s Easy.
Once your content has been approved it will be posted on a master Crowdfunding page for Western (https://westernup.org/GoFundWestern).
It’s Free
This Crowdfunding page is a free service provided by the Western Foundation. We saw a need with other online fundraising platforms charging upwards of 7% in addition to credit card fees. There is no fee for the actual site, however, there is a 3% credit card transaction fee (which is less than many other online credit card fees).
The Basics
Step 1: Select your initiative
The only requirement is that your GoFundWestern page supports a Western related club, organization, or academic department.
Step 2: Determine Campaign Goal and Duration
For most campaigns, we recommend 30-60 days. Just enough time to get the word our while sustaining a sense of urgency.
Step 3: Build your Campaign
Your main components will be the title, summary, building your story, and a compelling image or video.
Step 4: Start with Success
Successful crowdfunding campaigns start before they launch. Get the word out and pre-sell! You’ll want to recruit as many supporters as possible in advance – people who will donate, share, and advocate for your campaign. You will be provided a direct link that can be shared on all social media outlets (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Tumblr, Pinterest), and even via email.
Step 5: Launch and Share
Talk to people about your initiative, send emails, post on social media and encourage others to share your post! It will be your organization’s responsibility to share the content with your stakeholders and encourage them to share it with their contacts. The success of your Crowdfunding page and fundraising is dependent upon your organization’s social media presence and the members of your organization sharing the content on their own pages.
Step 6: Have Fun
Leverage the positive energy to create campaign momentum. Once donations have been received and processed, as with any other Fund set up with the Western Foundation, you are able to request a check for the funds on the 1st and 15th of each month.
Questions: Contact Mackenzie Bode, Annual Giving & Scholarship Officer, mbode@western.edu, 970.943.2226.
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