Guidebook. Act now. Act with purpose. Act for the University of North Dakota.

Guidebook Act now. Act with purpose. Act for the University of North Dakota.

TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS... 2 INTRODUCTION... 3 PLATFORM... 3 RULES & GUIDELINES... 3 APPROVAL & APPLICATION PROCESS... 3 FEES... 3 PREPARE FOR YOUR CAMPAIGN... 4 1. SET YOUR GOAL... 4 2. TELL YOUR STORY... 4 3. MAKE YOUR PLAN... 4 4. RECRUIT PROJECT PARTNERS... 4 5. COLLABORATE WITH CAMPUS... 4 CREATE YOUR CAMPAIGN... 5 ASSIGN A PROJECT LEADER... 5 SET YOUR PROJECT LENGTH... 5 PREPARE TO RECEIVE FUNDS... 5 SPREAD THE WORD... 5 AFTER YOUR CAMPAIGN... 5 APPENDIX... 6 PRE LAUNCH... 6 ACTIVE PHASE... 7 POST CAMPAIGN... 7 ACT CROWDFUNDING APPLICATION... 8 2

INTRODUCTION Crowdfunding is an innovative approach to fundraising. Crowdfunding is designed to empower UND students, faculty and programs to raise much needed funds for projects to be successful. Crowdfunding offers donors a new avenue to directly support specific projects at UND that have special meaning to them and provides an immediate impact. Crowdfunding uses the Internet and Social Media networks to request support from alumni, family and friends, giving them an opportunity to make an impact and enhance the UND experience. PLATFORM The University of North Dakota Alumni Association & Foundation (UNDAAF) runs approved crowdfunding projects through an online platform called Act. Each project will be accessible through the act.undalumni.org landing page, and each project will receive a custom URL and page layout. RULES & GUIDELINES 1. UNDAAF accepts applications for unit, student, campus, or organizational crowdfunding initiatives. 2. For profit projects will not be considered. 3. UNDAAF reserves the right to use any image and/or video uploads for marketing purposes. 4. UNDAAF reserves the right to edit or remove content from the Act crowdfunding site. UNDAAF will support up to 24 active crowdfunding projects at one time. The projects will be divided among units and departments as follows: 1. 2 projects allotted to each campus unit, approved by the unit s Dean or Director: a. College of Arts & Sciences b. John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences c. Athletics d. College of Education & Human Development e. College of Business & Public Administration f. College of Engineering & Mines g. School of Law h. College of Nursing & Professional Disciplines i. School of Medicine & Health Sciences 2. 2 projects allotted to and approved by the Provost s office 3. 2 projects allotted to campus or campus organizations, approved by the Vice President of Student Affairs or the Provost 4. 2 projects allotted to the UNDAAF, approved by the Chief Operating Officer APPROVAL & APPLICATION PROCESS 1. Project leaders present a project plan to their Dean, Vice President, or Director for initial approval. Your Dean s, VP s, or Director s signature on the Act application is required to launch your project. 2. Project leaders read and accept the Act Guidebook. Your project leader s signature acknowledging acceptance of the policies is required on the Act application before launching your project. 3. Representatives complete the application on page 8 and email it to crowdfunding@undalumni.net or deliver it to the Gorecki Alumni Center (ATTN: Crowdfunding, 3501 University Ave., Stop 8157, Grand Forks, ND 58202). 4. UNDAAF team approves, rejects, or asks for revisions and clarification on project application. 5. Following approval, UNDAAF representative schedules kick off meeting with project leader(s). 6. Act administrative team works with project leaders to create plan and assign responsibilities to execute crowdfunding project. FEES Every gift is subject to a 5% administrative fee (UNDAAF), and a 2.75% processing fee charged by credit card vendors (American Express, MasterCard, Discover, etc.). 3

PREPARE FOR YOUR CAMPAIGN Before you log on to the Act website, keep these five essential elements of a successful crowdfunding campaign in mind: 1. A specific goal 2. A simple, sharable story 3. A well prepared plan 4. Project partners to spread the word 5. Campus collaboration 1. SET YOUR GOAL Your goal should reflect your funding needs and the number of contacts within your networks. Be realistic and specific. (Example: We seek $1,000 for six students to attend a conference in Los Angeles.) It is recommended that you do not change your goal after your project launches. 2. TELL YOUR STORY Your story should be compelling, concise, simple, and sharable. It should clearly explain your project s goals and value. Include how your network can get involved and the difference your project will make. Provide some images in your web slideshow. Proofread your story and don t be afraid to ask someone to review your project pitch. Your story in 3 steps: 1) Introduction: Explain why you are seeking help. Why do you need funding? 2) Describe your goal: Write a short explanation of your fundraising goal. Describe any unique challenges or obstacles that have affected your group or organization. Your story should be engaging and positive. 3) Call to action: Your story should demonstrate a sense of urgency to potential donors. Include a brief breakdown of the project s budget. Be transparent with your donors and use every dollar raised to fill your project s needs. Create a video Campaigns with a pitch video raise three times more than those without. Personal videos more than double a project s chance of success. Videos should be short (less than three minutes) and should clearly express your project s goals and objectives. Every video should demonstrate a clear call to action. You can create simple videos with your smartphone. Excitement and enthusiasm are key! Find some examples on page 6. 3. MAKE YOUR PLAN In the two to three weeks before your project becomes active, build excitement through your networks and your project partners networks. What social media channels (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or LinkedIn) will you use to spread the word? What does your email schedule look like? Could you create a blog or include your project in the next college newsletter? By anticipating potential opportunities and acting in advance, the chances of expanding your project s visibility can lead to more money. 4. RECRUIT PROJECT PARTNERS Project partners increase your reach to potential donors through social media, networking, email, and more. We recommend three or more partners before starting a project. These can be family, friends, faculty, staff, student organizations, businesses, and others. 5. COLLABORATE WITH CAMPUS Campus collaboration can also increase your reach to potential donors. What organizations or departments share passion for your cause? Reach out to see if they can help promote your project. 4

CREATE YOUR CAMPAIGN ASSIGN A PROJECT LEADER The project leader is responsible for all correspondence with the UNDAAF throughout your project. Your project leader must be passionate about the project and willing to commit the time and effort needed for success. SET YOUR PROJECT LENGTH Your campaign should last 30 90 days. Most successful campaigns run 30 39 days. Studies show supporters make gifts during the weekend, so it s a good idea to end your campaign on a Sunday. The UNDAAF requires two weeks to disburse the money raised, so be sure to factor that into your plan. PREPARE TO RECEIVE FUNDS Money will be deposited into the fund listed on your application. Contact your Act representative with any questions regarding funds. See the Pre Launch section on page 6 for more information. SPREAD THE WORD EMAIL Email is a great way to create buzz and excitement. Clearly explain your project, create a sense of urgency, and include the link to your web page. Plan to send at least two messages during the first few weeks of your project. Keep your friends and family in the loop via email and ask them to share your campaign with their networks. SOCIAL MEDIA Post and share pictures to social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and/or LinkedIn), and include a link to your project. Ask your friends and family to share and forward your posts through their own networks. Use your posts to create urgency and build momentum. REACH OUT TO DONORS Personally connect with known prospective donors to ask them to commit to giving to your campaign. See the Active Phase section on page 6 7 for more information. AFTER YOUR CAMPAIGN SHOW APPRECIATION Thank everyone who contributed to your project. Reach out to all of your supporters by sending personalized emails or making thank you calls in a timely manner. REFLECT What worked well for your project? What didn t work? What could be done differently? Was it a success? What could have made it more successful? BUILD UP YOUR SUPPORT NETWORK How many new supporters did you generate during your project? How could you continue to engage them? This is a great opportunity to build up your current network. Keep them in the loop with regular updates sharing your accomplishments and successes. See the Post Campaign section on page 7 for more information. 5

APPENDIX This is your guide to running a successful campaign. PRE LAUNCH A crowdfunding project is a big commitment. Make sure you are well prepared, have an enthusiastic team, and plan thoroughly before undertaking a crowdfunding project. 1. Assemble your team Do you have a team in place to plan, create, and promote your project? Do you have a project leader in place to work alongside the UNDAAF in setting up your project? 2. Determine your social media reach How many followers do your social media accounts have? How many followers do team members have? 3. Recruit project partners Project partners increase your reach to potential donors through social media, networking, email, etc. Do you have partnerships in place to help spread the reach of your project? We recommend three or more partners before starting a project. These can be family, friends, faculty, staff, student organizations, businesses, etc. 4. Identify your network Is your network big enough to financially support your project? How many people can you reach through your team s network? 5. Plan your videos YouTube videos can be linked to the main page and the team pages of the website. Each team page may have its own video. Make sure these videos are created before the start of the project. Prepare to create update videos during the campaign. Find an example of crowdfunding videos here and here. 6. Plan your social media messaging When will you post messages on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn? Will you post on Instagram, Snapchat, or YouTube as well? Consider using Hootsuite or Tweetdeck to assist in scheduling your posts. 7. Choose images Act runs a photo slideshow on the main project page. We recommend using three to four photos; any more than that will slow down loading time, especially on mobile devices. 8. Create biographies of team members Connect with donors on your team pages by telling them who you are. Tell a concise and compelling story. Biographies help your web pages look complete. 9. Create a content calendar A content sharing calendar is a great way to set up your project to stay on track, strategically contact donors, and keep organized. Plan out which days and who will be emailing, tweeting, posing on Facebook, Instagramming, or sharing social media posts over the duration of the campaign. 6

ACTIVE PHASE 1. Generate buzz Email donors pre campaign. Send press releases. Post on social media. 2. Interact with donors Be open to feedback. Respond to emails and questions in a timely manner. 3. Send campaign updates (at least weekly) Celebrate successes and milestones through social media and email (Examples: when you ve raised half your goal or when you receive your 100 th gift). Keep your network involved and your excitement high. Use your team, such as project partners, campus collaborators, or students who will benefit. Use images. (Example: Post pictures of the items you have purchased for your project to show donors the direct impact they have had on your team.) Be sure to thank donors for their time and support! Project timeline: 1) 24 hours before launch o Hold a pre launch meeting with your team. o Reach out to donors who have made pre campaign commitments. o Reach out to project partners and campus collaborators. 2) Day 1 o Send email blast announcing the project launch. o Encourage project partners and campus collaborators to push the announcement. 3) After 72 hours o Check your goal, but try not to check it constantly. Have your pre commitments followed through? o Send your first update to donors. Keep them engaged in the first 3 days. 4) After 1 week o Send an email update to those who have not donated. 5) Week 3 and on o Continue to create urgency and push toward your final goal. 6) Throughout the campaign o Meet with your team regularly; listen for feedback and ideas. o Post updates to social media and send emails. o Thank donors and ask them to share your campaign to their networks. POST CAMPAIGN 1. Thank your donors! Send personal or handwritten thank you notes or make thank you phone calls within 48 hours of your campaign wrap. Update your project or campaign page to reflect a FUNDED/COMPLETED status. Post your gratitude via social media and through email. 2. Provide 3 month post campaign update Inform donors about how the money has impacted your cause. Share photos or video of funded events or activities. Connect donors to the people who benefited. 3. Provide 6 month to 1 year post campaign update Show your donors the long term impact of their gifts. 7

ACT CROWDFUNDING APPLICATION Thank you for your interest in Act, the University of North Dakota Alumni Association & Foundation s crowdfunding platform. This application will evaluate your project s suitability for Act and a 30 90 day fundraising campaign. Applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis by the Act administrative team. Complete this application and email it to crowdfunding@undalumni.net or deliver it to the Gorecki Alumni Center (3501 University Ave., Stop 8157, Grand Forks, ND 58202, ATTN: Crowdfunding). Full name Email Phone number Campus department/organization Group name Are you the project leader/organizer? YES NO* *If no, list the project leader s name, email, and phone number Proposed project title How many members does your crowdfunding team have? How much money do you seek to raise? ($2,500 $10,000 recommended) When do you plan to launch your project? Does your group have a UND Alumni Association & Foundation fund that can be deposited into? YES* NO** *If yes, what is the name of the fund and/or the fund ID number? **If you don t know your fund number, that s fine. We ll assign one to you. 8

This project has been approved by the Dean, Vice President, or Director of my organization.* Their signature is below. *Projects that do not have approval with signature will not be considered. Signature of approval (print name) Title Signature of approval Date I understand and agree to all terms and conditions presented in this guidebook. Project leader s signature (please print) Title Project leader s signature Date 9