Crowdfunding by the Numbers of giving, The results bear that out as fifty-five alumni from 2000 to 2015 donated to crowdfunding – 13.5 percent of the 407 donors. Further, forty percent of the donors (162) were first-time donors. Crowdfunding appeals to younger alumni because they want to be clear on how their money will be used, Taylor said. But the key to Culver’s success was pre-funding the crowdfunding effort. Prior to the social media launch, “we were on the phone, raising money, talking it up,” Mayo said. Thirty to sixty percent of the project goal should be in hand prior to the launch, he added. Ideally, it should be a “scalable project,” meaning Development chose projects that can do a lot of good even if they fall short of the goal, Mayo said.
Turf Field Snow Removal Equipment $51,040 64 donors GOAL: Purchase snow removal equipment that will allow the Facilities Department to properly clear the field and enable its year-round use.
GPS South Africa Trip $12,540 138 donors GOAL: To subsidize the cost of the overall trip and lower individual expenses. Funding will help defray the cost of travel, hotels, and meals.
Photography Exhibition
“The disposable plastic water bottle has become an emblem of needless waste in our community. However, replacing water fountains and sink fixtures isn’t at the top of many priority lists. This is where the crowd part of crowdfunding is so valuable. We have been able to demonstrate there is a strong interest in this issue and our donors have supported their views with dollars,” Kline said.
GOAL: Gooseneck faucets to facilitate use of refillable water bottles and water stations that provide cold, filtered water.
Haberland photo.
Crowdfunding is also an excellent way to create awareness, Sustainability Director Chris Kline ’82 said. The sustainability effort benefited by having more than $10,000 raised to purchase and install four to six water stations and dozens of gooseneck faucets on campus.
It’s not that Culver couldn’t afford to fund some of these projects, Mayo said. Instead, “these projects are budget-relieving. They free up money that can be used elsewhere.” For example, without a line item in the budget, funding for the CGA Drill Team came from Dean Lynn Rasch’s discretionary fund. Now, the drill squad has money for equipment and travel expenses, which, in essence, stretches Rasch’s discretionary fund. Going forward, Taylor said Development will stagger future crowdfunding initiatives, make them more diverse, and target projects with lower financial goals. Given the initial success, the easy part will be finding interested parties to jump on the crowdfunding bandwagon.
$11,091 110 donors GOAL: To mat and frame 62 black-and-white photo images for a photo exhibition and to produce and print a gallery brochure.
Water Stations $10,701 52 donors
CGA Drill Team
$6,100
43 donors
GOAL: Fees and travel expenses for off-campus events; replace, repair, and maintain equipment; and subsidize the cost of uniforms for new members.
TOTAL
$91,472
407 donors
($224.75 average)
To see the current crowdfunding opportunities, visit impact.culver.org. CULVER ALUMNI MAGAZINE
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