Crowdfunding is raising money from many individual donors through small contributions in exchange for rewards. There are different types including project-based, sponsor-led, and equity crowdfunding. The University of Southampton started crowdfunding to engage students in fundraising and give them experience with impactful projects, and to engage younger alumni in alternative giving. A successful crowdfunding project requires an engaged audience, a great idea with a deadline, passionate supporters, engaging updates, and frequent requests for donations with thanks. The case study of Southampton2Mongolia raised £7,000 in 90 days through these tactics to fund an ambulance trip. Crowdfunding takes resources but is rewarding for student engagement and opening new

1. Crowdfunding 101
Katherine Carter
University of Southampton

2. Overview
• What is crowdfunding?
• Are there different kinds of crowdfunding?
• Why did we decide to give it ago
• What makes crowdfunding successful?
• Case Study – Southampton2Mongolia

3. Crowdfunding
Crowdfunding is sponsorship by a crowd of
many donors, each making an individual and
relatively small donation in return for a small
reward.
What can you fundraise for?
ANYTHING!*

4. Types of crowdfunding
Project based crowdfunding
Sponsor led crowdfunding
Equity crowdfunding

5. Why did we do it?
• Hubbub came to us with a great product
• Our students wanted to fundraise for their
own projects
• We wanted to engage with our students about
the impact of giving to the University
• We wanted to engage our younger alumni
with an alternative way of giving
• We had the resource to implement and run
the platform

6. University of Southampton Projects

7. What makes a project successful?
• Engaged audience
• Great idea or need (that has a deadline)
• Passionate team and supporters
• Engaging content (videos)
• Unique rewards
• Social Media and the Press
• Update, Update, Update
• Ask, Ask and Ask Again
• Say thank you a lot and report back to your donors

8. Case Study: Southampton2Mongolia
Funding need:
£7,000 in 90 days

10. How they reach their target
• Engaged audience
• Great idea or need (that has a deadline)
• Passionate team and supporters
• Engaging content (videos)
• Unique rewards
• Social Media and the Press
• Update, Update, Update
• Ask, Ask and Ask Again
• Say thank you a lot and report back to your donors

11. Andy the ambulance makes his debut

12. Is crowdfunding right for you?
• Is crowdfunding right for your organisation?
• If so – which option do you choose?
• Is it the right time to implement it into your
organisation?
• Do you have the resource and enthusiasm?

13. What we learned
• Crowdfunding is great for student
engagement
• It’s opened up our donor pool. And not just to
our younger alumni
• It takes a lot of time
• BUT it’s very rewarding (for us and our
students)

14. So… what’s next?