Crowdfunding at USC

Crowdfunding is using an online fundraising platform to ask your network to support your cause that is tied to a goal and timeline. If you have a cause that supports the University of South Carolina community, you could use the university’s fundraising platform with guidance from the Office of Annual Giving.

How does Crowdfunding at USC work?

Crowdfunding is a great way to gain support for a cause you believe in! Just apply to start a crowdfunding project, and a committee will review and provide advice on how to create the most successful effort possible. If your project is approved, you will be given access to the crowdfunding platform and trained on how to set up the page. You can then start raising funds from your own network of friends, community and supporters.

What types of projects can use Crowdfunding at USC?

Members of the Carolina community create projects to raise money for innovative initiatives, service trips, events and other university-specific ventures. Crowdfunding projects must support South Carolina’s overall mission: the education of the state’s citizens through teaching, research, creative activity and community engagement.

What's required for a crowdfunding project?  

A crowdfunding project should have:

➔ A story with a compelling need that explains the purpose behind the project.
➔ A team including a project leader and project champions, that helps set up, collect materials, and promote the project.
➔ A crowd of constituents you believe will help fund the project. (Who will you email? How many followers/friends do your social media accounts have?)

The following materials and information must be created and collected by the crowdfunding project team prior to the launch of the project:

• Set a goal (dollars raised or donors participating) and a timeline for how long the project should last.
• Develop an outreach and communications plan to reach potential donors.
• Develop a gift stewardship plan to thank your donors and keep them updated.
• Create content such as images, a project description, a video, etc.

What is the timeline once a project is approved?

There are three phases to a crowdfunding campaign. The team must commit to working on a project for a period of about 10-12 weeks, depending on the length of the team’s campaign.

1. Quiet Phase — 4-6 weeks of creating content and a marketing schedule and time for review by the Office of Annual Giving. 
2. Active Phase — 30-45 days of active solicitation via email, text and social media.
3. Post-Project Phase — Anywhere from three to nine months of thank yous and updates

What central support is provided?

During the process of crowdfunding, the Office of Annual Giving will help teams in the following ways:

• Train the team to use the university’s crowdfunding platform.
• Teach basic development skills and knowledge.
• Refine the communications plan to potential and current donors.
• Provide dimensions and materials needed to create the crowdfunding project.
• Answer questions related to the crowdfunding project during the three phases of a crowdfunding campaign.

I'm ready, now what?

Apply here! If you have any questions, please contact the Office of Annual Giving at scgiving@mailbox.sc.edu.