Northwestern U Students Turn to In-House Crowdfunding Platform for Projects
Northwestern
University students are using an online
crowdfunding tool to raise money for four nonprofit initiatives.
Taking advantage of Catalyzer,
a tool powered by Scalefunder,
a fundraising platform designed principally for educational
institutions, student
groups are using video, social media and written pitches to appeal
online to
alumni and supporters of the Evanston, IL university.
After potential donors view the students' pitches via
social
media, they can go online and make their donations electronically.
"The platform connects students to alumni, parents
and friends
of the university to address important challenges through philanthropy,"
said
Northwestern University Vice President for Alumni Relations and
Development Bob
McQuinn.
University alumni relations and development staff
members
trained the students on the Catalyzer technology, but then turned the
process
over to them.
They spent about a month preparing their campaigns,
which went
live a little over a month ago and will last for another two weeks.
Each campaign offers donors and site visitors
real-time
updates on progress toward the fundraising goals, as well as updates on
the
projects themselves.
The four groups hoping to raise money are:
- NU Threads is seeking $5,000 to provide professional and formal
wear for
students who need clothing for professional events;
- Northwestern Crew is trying to raise $15,000 for the college rowing
team to
purchase two new boats;
- Waa-Mu is trying to raise $10,000 for production costs of an annual
student-written and performed musical; and
- The International Student Association is seeking $4,000 for travel
by
students who want to help rebuilding efforts after an earthquake in
Chincha,
Peru.
The rowing team's fundraising effort was furthest
along after
29 days — 56 percent toward its goal.
"Catalyzer will educate students about effective
fundraising
and help them develop a community of committed benefactors," McQuinn
said.
About the Author
Michael Hart is a Los Angeles-based freelance writer and the former executive editor of THE Journal.