Alternative Solutions: Success Tips for Online and Offline Fundraisers Education Abroad Funding: Available & Accessible NAFSA San Diego, May 2014

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1 Alternative Solutions: Success Tips for Online and Offline Fundraisers Education Abroad Funding: Available & Accessible NAFSA San Diego, May 2014 Quick Tips 1.) Make a Video: Campaigns with personal videos increase their success odds by more than two times! Video builds trust with donors and helps them feel a more meaningful connection to the campaigner. 2.) Writing Your Campaign Description: Keep it on the positive! Consider what would inspire you to give to someone else. Not necessary to explain why you need funding support or give sad stories, because it is implied by the fact that you are making the efforts to fundraise. Share how you ll make it worth their time and effort to contribute. They want to hear from someone that is motivated, hard working and determined to get abroad. Explain why you want to go on this trip and how you will grow from it. Talk about what you will be able to do with your funders support - where you will go - what you will get to experience for the first time - and how it is meaningful for you. 3.) How To: Ask for Money without Making it Awkward: If you have never fundraised before, then it may feel uncomfortable or awkward to ask your friends and family for contributions to your campaign. You are in luck though, because fundraising is very different from asking for hand-outs. Get creative and think about making up incentives or giving levels for donors For everyone that donates $10 dollars you can promise to send a post card For those who donate $25+ keep a video blog for them and send a post card If they donate $100, you can give them a video shout-out from a landmark in your destination country and share it with them via Facebook or These are just ideas, but you can make it as simple or creative as you like. Some people make T-shirts, some write and record songs for their donors, others share travel blogs. 4.) Share, Share, Share! Don t feel shy about sharing your campaign page frequently, because that is the only way people will see it. Writing personal s and including the link is one way, and this is sometimes even more effective than sharing a mass message, one million times over Facebook and Twitter, because it is more personal. The best approach is to make a combination of personal message writing and social media sharing. 5.) Reach out to Extended Networks: Be bold and brave! This campaign is a great reason to expand your current network and demonstrate your initiative, for future prospects. If you are traveling to Spain, reach out to the Spanish Club on campus or your local Spanish Culture groups; find Spanish Speakers Associations or Spanish Education Organizations using LinkedIn and other online resources. Inform them about your desire to learn the culture and language through an immersion experience and the incentives you re offering donors. You never know who will be interested in your campaign, until you ask! Page 1 of 2 Information compliments of the FundMyTravel Fundraiser's Toolkit

2 Alternative Solutions: Success Tips for Online and Offline Fundraisers Education Abroad Funding: Available & Accessible NAFSA San Diego, May 2014 Offline Fundraising Ideas For those who are exceptionally dedicated to succeeding, incorporate offline fundraising efforts and spread awareness about the campaign through in-person activities too. The best fundraisers combine on and offline efforts. This way, there is more to talk about and share through the online Updates. If you can collect funds offline as well, then by all means, GO FOR IT! Offline fundraising ideas that can help your online campaign, by interest area: Chefs and Bakers Host a bake sale and designate proceeds to fund your travel. Offer to cater a gathering or event for friends and family, tell them it s for the campaign. Have your own dinner or dessert party; screen your campaign video & request donations. Athletes and the Competitive Tell your networks about games & competitions. Ask them to donate for every win or milestone you hit and make a short shout out video, dedicating the win to them. Sign up for a marathon, Tough Mudder competition, triathlon, pie-eating contest, dance-off, anything! Keep your audience informed about the events and get donation pledges for your wins. Host your own competition and get friends to help. It could be a contest for the biggest collection of loose change donations, a bowl-a-thon or even a board game tournament. Artists and Crafters The best way to develop ideas for your fundraising incentives is to take a minute and reflect on what you are most passionate about. Find a way to incorporate your greatest interest into the campaign and it will be a win, win, WIN. This way, you continue to stay motivated on reaching your goal and sharing the campaign. If you love photography, make that a major part of your fundraising! Engage more donor interest by incorporating something you love, and then you will also enjoy putting your own time and effort into a project that is sure to inspire. Show the world you are capable of making this trip a possibility and you will end up showing yourself, that you have an impressive character to be proud of. If you like to sew, knit, crochet or bead jewelry, make gifts in return for donations. Musicians and writers can host their own concert or poetry slam for contributions. If you re good with jingles or stories, offer to write something for your contributors and make a video for them to share with their own networks to help spread the word. If you like painting, drawing, pottery or wood-working, host your own art show and sell your creations for travel campaign donations Entrepreneurs and Educators Rake leaves, shovel snow, mow lawns or tutor for tips - get old school! Get friends together to host a talent show for donations. Babysit or nanny for contributions to your travel campaign. Talk to local cultural groups and businesses that might help you sponsor an event or even your trip, in exchange for volunteering or supporting their products/services. Page 2 of 2 Information compliments of the FundMyTravel Fundraiser's Toolkit

3 Scholarships & Fellowships Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Deadlines: Summer/Fall/AY March Spring Oct. Boren Scholarships & Fellowships Deadlines: Fellowship Jan.; Scholarship Feb. Bridging Scholarships (AATJ) aatj.org/studyabroad/scholarships Deadlines: Fall/AY April; Spring Oct. Confucius China Studies Program Deadline: late January DAAD Scholarships Deadlines: 1) Undergraduate Jan. 2) Study Nov. 3) RISE Jan. 4) RISE Professional Jan. Fulbright U.S. Student Program Deadlines: U.S. Citizen Perm. Legal Resident of U.S. International Scholarships & Fellowships: Eligibility Requirements Education Abroad Funding: Available & Accessible - NAFSA San Diego: May 2014 Undergrad. Study Graduate Study Financial Need Countries/Regions of Interest Study/Lang. Requirement Encourages non-traditional destinations, but open to all (no Travel Warning) Encourages critical need languages World regions critical to U.S. interests (Africa, Asia, Central & Eastern Europe, Eurasia, Latin America, & Middle East) Encourages critical need languages Japan China Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences; HSK level 3 required 1) Germany Some German may be required 2) Germany Some German may be required 3) Germany Some German may be required 4) 1) Req. for grad. senior only Must have Bachelors; Enrollment not req. Germany Some German may be required Depends on country/program Page 1 of 2 Supports STEM Supports Internship GPA Requirement Service Requirement Follow-on Service Project U.S. Government

4 Scholarships & Fellowships 1) Study/Research/English Teaching Assist./Travel Oct. 2) Fulbright-Clinton Oct. 3) Fulbright-National Geographic Digital Storytelling Oct. 4) Fulbright mtvu Feb. Fund for Education Abroad Deadline: Jan. Marshall Scholarships Deadline: Early-Oct. The Rhodes Scholarship Deadline: Early Oct. Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship Programs woodrow.org/fellowships/pickering Application deadline: Feb. Whitaker International Fellows & Scholars Program Deadlines: Spring - Mid-Oct.; Fall/AY - Mid-Mar. 2) 3) 4) U.S. Citizen Perm. Legal Resident of U.S. International Scholarships & Fellowships: Eligibility Requirements Education Abroad Funding: Available & Accessible - NAFSA San Diego: May 2014 Undergrad. Study Graduate Study Must have Bachelors; Enrollment not req. Must have Bachelors; Enrollment not req. Must have Bachelors; Enrollment not req. Financial Need Countries/Regions of Interest African Union, Bangladesh, Burma (Myanmar), Cote d Ivoire, Haiti, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Malawi, Nepal, Samoa, Timor-Leste Study/Lang. Requirement Proficiency in local working language of host country Thematic Music & Culture Supports STEM Supports Internship GPA Requirement United Kingdom 3.7 minimum Oxford, UK Public Policy, Int l Affairs, Public Admin., Business, Economics, Poli.Sci, Sociology, or Foreign Lang. 2 summers 3.2 or higher on 4.0 scale Other study abroad funding opportunities can be found at: Page 2 of 2 Service Requirement Prof. placements in foreign gov t ministry or institution in partner gov ts Support home campus or FEA in Ed. Abroad outreach U.S. Department of State Foreign Service

5 Goal-Setting for Education Abroad Funding Outreach Education Abroad Funding: Available & Accessible NAFSA San Diego, May 2014 University Example Priority Range Goal Action Steps Deadline High Short term Identify contact person(s) in 1. Review national scholarship & our destination portfolio to look 15-Jun Financial Aid Office for national for potential matches in awards and study abroad programming. scholarships such as Gilman, DAAD, Boren, etc. who can assist with 2. Select top 3 scholarships that might work for our students outreach and promotion to campus. 3. Jane Smith, Director, Fin Aid with questions 20-Jun 4. Choose one scholarship to promote as a pilot next semester 1-Jul Concerns / Obstacles Solutions / Resources Is Fin Aid office the right place? Consult with colleagues on campus, check online. Fellowship office? Not enough time to do research on Request materials from websites or attend webinar. best fit. Students don't even apply for our Add to staff meeting agenda and discuss student funding priorities. scholarship! TIPS: Consider the priority of your goals. High, medium or low? Consider the range of your goals. Short, mid or long term? Are your goals SMART? (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time-bound) > Goals should also be Assignable and Realistic

6 Goal-Setting for Education Abroad Funding Outreach Education Abroad Funding: Available & Accessible NAFSA San Diego, May 2014 Priority Range Goal Action Steps Deadline Concerns / Obstacles Solutions / Resources Priority Range Goal Action Steps Deadline Concerns / Obstacles Solutions / Resources TIPS: Consider the priority of your goals. High, medium or low? Consider the range of your goals. Short, mid or long term? Are your goals SMART? (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time-bound) Goals should also be Assignable and Realistic

7 Goal-Setting for Education Abroad Funding Outreach Education Abroad Funding: Available & Accessible NAFSA San Diego, May 2014 Challenges from the University Advisor's Perspective Issue Idea Student support It's hard enough to support your student as they complete applications, finalize courses, pay their bills (or not) and all before they get on the plane. How do you balance your time as an advisor when it comes to scholarships? * Create a scholarship / funding cheat sheet for your students to handout in advising. * Create informative blog posts, blasts, announcements or social media updates to communicate deadlines to your students. * Keep the staff informed, so the message is consistent and effective. Limited staffing Everyone has a wide variety of responsibilities in the office, and we all need at least two more employees for our sanity. Who is responsible for advertising scholarships and where does the follow-up work fall? * Discuss & prioritize with office staff. * Need research to back it up? Poll students to see how many reference money as an obstacle to study abroad. * Consult Fin Aid and Fellowship offices for help and resources. * Brainstorm with student staff about ways to get the word out about scholarship availability. In-house versus national scholarships Your university has its own line of scholarships that need to be promoted, administered and awarded each year. How do you divide your time between promoting university resources and national scholarships? * Determine the differences between funding offered by your university and what is offered elsewhere (GPA, location, etc.). * Discuss merit-based vs financial-need based. * Identify national or affiliate scholarships that can address the student population in both categories. Effective Marketing Depending on your office style, you may advertise on the web, through social media or rely on hard copy to do the talking. Where do national scholarships fit into your marketing plan and why should they get access to such limited real estate? * Request any and all scholarship materials available to you from national organizations. * Identify groups on campus that can help you get the word out: Financial Aid, Fellowship Office, specific major or minor groups (ie: Asia Studies minor program for Boren scholarship). * Decide where funding opportunities lie in your office marketing strategy * Choose one program to advertise heavily and commit to it! Try one on for size rather than advertising all the scholarships at once.

8 Goal-Setting for Education Abroad Funding Outreach Education Abroad Funding: Available & Accessible NAFSA San Diego, May 2014 Got questions? Contact us! Annie Bierbower Content Manager GoAbroad Lindsay G. Calvert Director, Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program Institute of International Education (IIE) Kelly M. Holland Associate Director, Study Abroad Towson University Peter Kerrigan Deputy Director, DAAD NY Director, Marketing and Development German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) Victoria Mita Director, Fund My Travel GoAbroad * Please Victoria if you would like to receive a PDF of the Fund My Travel campaign kit

9 Education Abroad Funding: Available & Accessible

10 Introductions Annie Bierbower, Content Manager, GoAbroad Lindsay Calvert, Director, Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program, Institute of International Education (IIE) Kelly M. Holland, Associate Director, Study Abroad Towson University Peter Kerrigan, Deputy Director, DAAD NY, Director, Marketing and Development, German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) Victoria Mita, Director, Fund My Travel

11 Purpose of the session Funds are available How can advisors assist their students? How can students access the funds? Breaking barrier to funding for education abroad Who is in the audience?

12 Advisor s Perspective What challenges do you face as an advisor? Effective marketing Student support Limited staff resources In-house vs. national scholarship priorities

13 By the end of this session: Handouts Goal- setting worksheet Advising challenges & suggestions Scholarship information matrix Tips on a successful fundraising campaign

14 Scholarships to Study and Intern Abroad

15 Diversifying Students Ethnicity First-generation Disabilities Community colleges, HBCUs, HSIs & minority-serving institutions Underrepresented fields of study - STEM

16 Diversifying Study Abroad Countries & Regions

17 Gilman Program s Impact 63% would not have been able to study abroad without the Gilman Scholarship 35% were first-generation college students 83% were the first in their family to study abroad 16,000+ U.S. undergraduates of high financial need 1,100+ U.S. institutions represented 130+ countries

18 Over 2,700 Scholarships Available Up to $5,000 Study Abroad Awards Career-Oriented Internship Awards Up to $8,000 Critical Need Language Awards Arabic Chinese Bahasa Indonesia Japanese Korean Russian Swahili Persian Turkic Indic

19 Eligibility U.S. citizen Undergraduate student Federal Pell Grant Academic Credit No Travel Warning or Cuba Minimum four weeks (28 days)

20 Application Process Online Application {program + essays + transcript(s) + advisors} Advisor Certifications {Study Abroad & Financial Aid} Apply at

21 Essay #1 Statement of Purpose Personal Interview You + Program + Goals {academic, professional, personal} Challenges

22 Essay #2 Follow-on Service Project How will you give back by inspiring others to study abroad? On campus or in community? Design Plan of Action: {audience, tools, timeline}

23 What makes a strong application? Selecting program that meets Gilman eligibility criteria Addressing essay prompts country and program rationale Creating a unique & feasible Follow-on Service Project Proof-reading essays Checking application for accuracy

24 What is DAAD? German national agency for international academic cooperation and exchange Independent association of universities DAAD provides: Scholarships and grants Information and counseling about studying & research in Germany Facts & Figures: 70 Regional Offices and Information Centers worldwide Regional Office for the US and Canada : New York City Annual budget : ~ m / US $ m in 2012 Over 75,000 people supported annually 2,034 from North America / 5, 507 to North America in 2012 All academic levels, all fields, varied lengths of stay Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst DAAD German Academic Exchange Service : : North America : :

25 The DAAD worldwide Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst DAAD German Academic Exchange Service : : North America : :

26 DAAD Scholarships Funding for study abroad, internships or senior thesis research Open to students in all fields Previous knowledge of German not required, but advantageous Monthly stipend or lump sum Health Insurance Some travel reimbursement All-Grantees meeting in Bonn Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst DAAD German Academic Exchange Service : : North America : :

27 Undergraduate Scholarship Funding study, thesis research and/or internships Independently designed or organized programs For sophomores and juniors (second- and third-year students in Canada) All academic fields 4 to 10 months during the German academic year 650/monthly, insurance, travel stipend Deadline: January 31, 2014 Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst DAAD German Academic Exchange Service : : North America : :

28 Application Process Funding for study abroad, internships or senior thesis research Open to students in all fields Previous knowledge of German not required, but advantageous Monthly stipend or lump sum Health Insurance Some travel reimbursement All-Grantees meeting in Bonn Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst DAAD German Academic Exchange Service : : North America : :

29 Tips for success Express why a stay in Germany is critical for your academic or professional goals Obtain a letter of invitation from a German professor or institution Explain clearly why you chose the location or program you did Submit quality letters of recommendation Make sure your application is on time and complete Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst DAAD German Academic Exchange Service : : North America : :

30 What is the message? Quality of Education Cost Career & Opportunities Language & Culture Social Life Safety Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst DAAD German Academic Exchange Service : : North America : :

31 Marketing Strategies Campus promotion / press releases Student workshops / info sessions Peer to peer outreach / alumni ambassadors Social media

32 Marketing Strategies Gilman case study #1 UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN Student workshops Staff & faculty workshops Matching / supplemental scholarships

33 Marketing Strategies Gilman case study #2 JOHNSON COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE s to Pell Grant students Stand-up student outside of office Table tents in cafeteria Study abroad flyer in admissions packet / tour

34 Peer Mentors & Ambassadors DAAD

35 Social Media

36 An Alternative Funding Option Best Practices & Long Term Benefits of Crowdfunding for Meaningful Travel

37 Survey says?

38 How Can We Help Students Gain When launching a crowdfunding campaign? Provide them with a basic knowledge base for fundraising and strategies they can use to succeed * Understand the long-term benefits of a successful crowdfunding experience. Develop your understanding, first hand let s go! * resources will be available following the presentation

39 Pick a Campaign, Any Campaign! Choose wisely. 1. On your tables, there are three fundraising campaigns. 2. As a table, you will collectively decide to which campaign you would like to donate. 3. Add your funds to the envelope that corresponds with the campaign your choice. 4. We will collect the funds, identify the winning campaign and share some responses. 5. Surprise

40 Campaign A

41 Campaign B

42 Campaign C

43 Time to Tally the Results Let s Discuss: Why did you choose the campaign you did? What did Campaigner do right? How could Campaigner improve? What were the key deciding factors in your final donation selection?

44 How Can Students Gain from the Experience in the Long Term A successful campaign can become a portfolio piece for future employers, demonstrating: Communication and Social Media skillsets Understanding of Multimedia and Technology Initiative and Creative Problem Solving The Ability to Fundraise and Motivate Others Responsibility and knowledge of crowdfunding *They are more invested in the international experience as well, financially and emotionally.

45 Questions? Thanks for joining us today!