Actuality Media Fundraising Guide

Actuality Media FUNDRAISING GUIDE

Getting Started There are a variety of ways that you can raise, earn, win or find funds to help you study or volunteer abroad. Included in this handbook are many recommendations, ideas, and inspirational material to help you design a fundraising campaign that works for you. The people who achieve the most success are those who take advantage of as many possibilities as they can manage.

The more opportunities you create for others to support you and your mission of tell-

ing stories that matter, the more they will.

More than anything else, you are going to look to your network to suport you. Your network consists of your family, friends, classmates, col-

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leagues, employers, co-workers, professors, teachers, mentors, community or religious leaders, and anyone else you have connected with in the past.

They want to support you.

Give them the chance.

Opportunities like this are the reason you build a network in the first place. Maybe not everyone will be able to contribute money to your efforts, but perhaps they can donate goods or services or their time. It’s hard to pull off a pancake breakfast on your own.

Fundraising takes a lot. However, with some creativity it can be a lot of fun, and will lead to an experience well worth the effort.

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If this is the first time you have done any fundraising it can seem like a daunting task when you are starting out. The easiest way to get over that initial hump is to outline a plan. As you read through this handbook take notes about how you could implement each idea. Brainstorm at the end of each section. Write down a rough estimate of how much you think you can earn with each idea. Once you have finished reading, review your notes and immediately begin outlining your personal fundraising campaign. It is much easier to act when you have something to act on.

HOW MUCH TO RAISE?

PERSONAL CONTRIBUTION Figure out how much money you will be able to put towards your goal personally. Consider savings, money you could earn, and gifts you could receive between now and then. Once you deduct what you expect to contribute from the total cost, you have your fundraising goal.

The first step in starting a fundraising campaign is to determine what your fundraising goal is. In addition to the program fee, there are several other costs you need to take into consideration when creating a budget for studying or volunteering abroad. Airfare, passport and visa fees are a must for all programs. What do you need to set aside for meals or fun weekends outside the program? Use our simple calculation tool above to come up with a rough number.

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Your Miniguide to MicroPatronage

Gathering A Crowd For Funding These days if people have been online, they’re familiar with Kickstarter and how you can use your network to support your projects. The same principal can be used to fund your social purpose travel, and there are many sites now tailored to this effort. The website you choose will be your central hub for fundraising efforts, and will be the place to tell your story, post pictures, link to videos, state your fundraising goal and keep supporters updated with social media once the trip has begun. Most importantly, it makes it easy for people to contribute to your fundraising campaign.

Once you set up your fundraising platform and personalize it, anyone can contribute money to your campaign in the form of an individual contribution.

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GoFundMe

www.gofundme.com

• Campaigns can run indefinitely with no fundraising goal or can have a set deadline • If you set a deadline and don’t meet your fundraising goal, you don’t get any of the money • Fees: GFM takes 5% of your $ raised, and WePay gets 2.9% for processing, plus 30 cents per transaction • No setup for rewards PROS: Simple to set up, easy to use. Flexible funding. Allows for updating donors.

CONS: Risk of no funding. Fees. Impossible to setup rewards.

GoEnnounce

www.goennounce.com

• Campaigns have a 120 day maximum.

• Flexible Funding only - you keep what you raise • Fees: FMT takes 5% of your $ raised, and WePay gets 2.9% for processing, plus 30 cents per transaction • No setup for rewards PROS: Simple to set up, easy to use. Flexible funding. Allows for updating donors.

CONS: Fees. Impossible to setup rewards.

FundMyTravel www.fundmytravel.com • Campaigns do not have a limit.

• Flexible Funding only - you keep what you raise • Fees: FMT takes 3.5% of your $ raised, and WePay gets 2.9% for processing, plus 30 cents per transaction • No setup for rewards PROS: Simple to set up, easy to use. Flexible funding. Allows for updating donors.

CONS: Fees. Impossible to setup rewards. Very detail-oriented. Not just about funding.

YouCanSendMe • • • •

www.youcansend.me

Campaigns do not have a limit.

Flexible Funding only - you keep what you raise Fees: USD$10/month subscription, and PayPal processing fees No setup for rewards

PROS: Quick to set up, easy to use. Flexible funding.

CONS: Fees. Impossible to setup rewards. Not good for longterm updates.

Indigogo • • 1.

2.

www.indiegogo.com

1-60 day campaign Two funding types Fixed funding: all or nothing with fees at 4% for Indie and 3% for PayPal Flexible funding (keep anything raised). If not full funded then 9% for Indie and 3% Paypal • Must have perks/rewards for funders PROS: Funding options. Immediate payment CONS: Complicated setup. Fees.

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Key steps to raising funds for your trip Getting Started • Decide on your platform (weigh your funding optionsof “all or nothing” vs. “flexible” and decide if providing rewards is the way to go or not) • Choose fundraising goal (make sure to include the cost of fees in your goal, and the cost of rewards if you’re planning on them) • Set a deadline for your campaign (30-40 day campaigns are the most successful) • Each platform has it’s own guide for what’s worked best for their users – check it out for more tips on crowdfunding.

Ahead of Campaign Launch Create material for your main funding page: • Write up a synopsis of what you’re going to do. Explain how funds will be used. Tell people about the rewards.

Links to previous work are good – yours and previous Documentary Outreach films. Most importantly – get people to understand why it matters. Over time you can update this page with information on your subject changemaker and crew bios.

• Emphasize the personal story of it all.

Prep your new community: • Set up a new email account specific to your campaign, even if it is just a new Gmail address 1. Email your network friends, family, contacts to let them know about the upcoming campaign • Social Media – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and wherever you connect 1. Start a page/account/whatever using a consistent name/handle across all accounts 2. Don’t start that new account if you won’t be updating it. Stale accounts suck.

3. Seek out relevant filmmakers online and start liking/ following them. The same goes for university alumni, local businesses, etc. Within your local community you can post pictures of things used for fundraisers, i.e. if you throw a party and the local pizzeria donates some food, take a picture, post it and link to their FB page and social media accounts. Hashtag your university, the business, the destination, as well. Make it worthwhile for everyone.

Make a video: • Keep it short. Remember that it is a pitch. Remember that it isn’t just for friends.

• 1-3 minutes long, tops • Structure is important!

1. Dynamic opening 2. Explain why you want to go.

3. Introduce the goal of your travel 4. Describe the production plan 5. Talk about how funds will be used 6. Tell people ways they can

The more passionate you are, the more passionately people will support your campaign.

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Remember that crowdfunding sites like to feature cool campaigns on their front page.

If you come up with an awesome enough platform you may find yourself getting extra donations from strangers. help 7. Explain how this adds to your education • Keep it simple 1. Don’t stand in front of a distracting background. Don’t move the camera if it isn’t necessary.

2. Remember that humor is okay, but keep on track.

• Show elements of project 1. Find a map. Talk about Actuality Media. Have you always wanted to do something like this?

• Use good techniques 1. Record clean sound 2. Record at a proper exposure 3. Be in focus If You’re Going With Rewards Best practices for rewards: • Set 5-10 levels • Know that the most common rewards (selected by supporters) are $10 and $25 • Do include a few high price categories • Plan out the cost carefully, remembering the price of rewards including shipping. $3500 has shown to be a pretty attainable goal for students, but go for what you need.

• Include some “no-cost-toyou” perks 1. A shout out on social media

2.

3.

4.

5.

(we’re happy to do one on the Actuality Media page as well) Give thanks in the credits – it’s up to you to remember that during editing week.

A photo tour of the city you are traveling to Bringing a DSLR? How about background stills for a computer (maybe with you in them) Get someone to record a voicemail message in the local language (or something else entertaining)

We Are Go For Launch • Announce the campaign on your social media channels a few days in advance • Launch on a Friday. Statistically it is the best day for a launch (just ask NASA).

Also, set the end of the campaign for a Sunday.

• On the first day of campaign 1. Publicize the launch online 2. Get at least one donation (it is extremely important to start a campaign with a few donations. It just looks better that way. Donate with your own “other” account if your family can’t) • Try to get some of those big names you’ve followed on social media to repost your launch announcement.

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Spread the Word Write a short, direct and passionate letter to your network. Explain your cause, invite them to support you and give them a link to your website. Tell the reader what you hope to accomplish, what it means to you, and what you need from them.

Sample Fundraising Letter During the Campaign • Updates are good. Give any information you can – changemaker possibilities, destination info, crew info, etc.

Don’t overdo it though, keep your updates to 2-3 a week.

• All bets are off in the final week of the campaign – update, update, update.

Especially that last weekend before the end.

• Offline advertising for your campaign is good, too. Try printing out a few

announcements and spreading them around town, like at your favorite coffee shop.

• Remember that it is common for a campaign to slump in the middle.

paign page throughout prep and production (pictures of packing, the crew list, more changemaker info, a photo of your main character, the final film – anything that comes up after the campaign ends). If your campaign won’t After the Campaign let you update after the deadline, try • Put out several thank yous to your a free Wordpress site or something funders – direct messages, social melike that. dia posts, etc.

• Maintain these relationships for the • Follow through on the rewards future. You’re going to want to do it • If you can, keep updating the camagain.

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OFFLINE ACTIVITIES

Throw a Party!

A fundraising party provides an activity or entertainment in exchange for a contribution to your fundraising campaign. Basically, you organize a fun gathering that you think will gather a good crowd, then collect a cover charge from everyone who attends. Since it is for a good cause, your friends (and hopefully their friends too) will cheerfully contribute $10, $20 or more. If you have ever thrown a party or organized an event, then you can do so again in the name of fundraising. If you haven’t, some of your friends surely have, and chances are they would love to help you out.

For any supplies needed for your event, try to get them donated. That way all the money you earn from your event can go straight towards your fundraising total. If you can work it in, restaurants or bars will often donate a percentage of the profits to you if you organize an event at their establishment.

Sell Your Services!

Start a miniature business that offers services that you (and maybe your friends) can provide, or create things you can offer for sale. It can be a very casual, advertised through word of mouth or by flyers around campus, or you can take advantage of social media in your community to increase awareness. Consider goods and services that people already pay for that you can offer at a slightly cheaper price, or at least in the name of a good cause. Even if there is competition for what you can offer, because you are doing/making/selling it for a cause, it will drive more customers your way. Who knows, maybe your business will be so successful you can continue it as a part time job even after your fundraising efforts have been completed.

You can collect cash for an event or you can utilize your fundraising website to process credit/debit cards. As long as you have a laptop and an internet connection you can access your website, and so can your supporters – or you can set up a ticket or pre- pay system ahead of time.

Just like with fundraising events, try to get all the needed supplies donated for whatever you do/make/sell. For instance, there is no end to the kinds of rummage sales you can have using items donated by your network. Who doesn’t have a closet half full of clothes they don’t wear?

With a little coaxing, you can sell other people’s items and put all the money towards your fundraising campaign.

A fundraising party is great for the part of your network that may not think they can afford to provide a donation on your website, but do have money budgeted for activities or events. Any activity that your friends would consider doing on the weekend, or that would normally attract a crowd if advertised, can be turned into a fundraiser.

Photos and Stories Believe it or not, there are still media sources that will pay you for your travel photography or written articles. The competition is stiff, but it is worth a shot. The Matador Network has compiled a list of outlets who are accepting submissions - you can find the list at http://matadornetwork.com/bnt/50-travel-magazines-that-want-to-publishyour-writing/ Organizations like http://www.photophilanthropy.org reward photographers who shoot profiles on changemakers just like the ones we work with on Actuality Media programs. You should also check within your university or local newspaper for photo or essay competitions they offer.

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SEEK OUT SOURCES OF NEW INCOME Use Your University The first step you should take in fundraising is to speak to your academic advisor and a study abroad advisor to ask what financial aid is available. Frequently scholarship opportunities are specifically offered to students interested in participating in study abroad or other international programs. Even if your university doesn’t offer study abroad scholarships, your Study Abroad and Financial Aid Offices will both have plenty of resources

and potential scholarships to share with you to get you started. If you belong to a Fraternity, Sorority or an Honors organization at your school, find out if they will support your upcoming program by giving you a grant or offering to help with a fundraising event.

It’s also worth checking with the various departments at your school to see if they have any paid videography work to hire for.

Community Services Seek out opportunities in your local community. Ask any religious organizations, chambers of commerce, libraries, civic organizations, or country clubs that you are connected with what kind of travel grants or educational support programs they have. Have your parents ask their employer if travel grants or scholarships are offered to employee’s children. Often large corporations will allocate funds in the name of community support.

THE SOONER YOU START, THE MORE SUCCESSFUL YOU WILL BE Community Services - cont’d Sometimes local television or radio stations offer travel related scholarships or grants. Contact their community affairs liaison to get more information.

An Internet Search Check out the International Education Financial Aid website at www. iefa.org. Here you will find the most comprehensive college scholarship and grant listings plus international student loan programs and other information to promote

study abroad. Spend some time Now Is The Time on the internet searching for “travel scholarships” or “travel grants.” Rview your notes and narrow down There are usually several current the choices for your personal fundraising campaign. Take advantage of as many of the ideas outlined above as possible.

If you have any questions at all, feel free to contact our staff at info@actualitymedia.org. They will be happy to discuss your campaign with you individually. Once you have contests that reward travel writing, successfully launched your fundphotography or video with a grant raising campaign, let us know. We want to help promote you, too. or scholarship.

Check our website for tips on cheap airfare, too.

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