Every Dollar Counts
SDSU is launching Strive, an in-house crowdfunding site that will raise funds for projects from all over campus, with no minimum donation.
SAN DIEGO, Calif. (July 21, 2015) — Today San Diego State University is launching SDSU Strive, an in-house crowdfunding website where small donations will make a big impact. Strive will give students, faculty and staff an opportunity to raise necessary funds for their specific projects, programs, initiatives and passions.
Led by the Office of Alumni Engagement, SDSU Strive will provide an opportunity for the SDSU community to promote fundraising initiatives using a customized, internally-hosted crowdfunding platform, keeping more funds at SDSU than traditional crowdfunding options.
“SDSU Strive is a special opportunity for groups of alumni and community members to provide spontaneous, grass roots funding for the ambitious projects of our students, faculty and staff,” said SDSU President Elliot Hirshman. “Strive’s unique crowdfunding mechanism will unite our community in supporting and advancing innovation on our campus.”
SDSU Strive Campaigns will raise funds for initiatives all over campus. At any given time, the site will include up to nine fundraising campaigns. The initial launch includes six campaigns:
$5,000 towards the restoration of SDSU’s Rock N’ Roll Mural
$1,500 for uniforms, instruments and equipment for The Marching Aztecs
$5,000 for a group of entrepreneurs from the Zahn Innovation Center to build low-cost, human-powered teff thresher’s that will improve the economy of Ethiopia
$5,000 to support the annual Compact Scholars graduation ceremony
Making a difference
“We’ve never done anything like this before,” said Dan Majors, electronic solicitation manager for SDSU’s office of alumni engagement, whose team has been working on the Strive launch for more than a year. “It’s really exciting to give our donors an opportunity to make a difference, even if they have just a few dollars to give.”
Majors said he is expecting SDSU’s alumni community to be the driving force behind the success of SDSU Strive. “We are hoping our alumni will find projects that speak to them and inspire them to donate. Whether it’s a club or organization they used to be involved in; or a student whose story really resonates for them — there will be something to interest and inspire every one of our alumni,” he said.
Projects for SDSU Strive will be chosen by the Strive Committee which is made up of representatives from throughout the campus community. Criteria will be based on funding feasibility, marketing strategies and alignment with the university’s mission and master plan. The application can be downloaded online.
Striving for Success
Majors said the name Strive represents the aspirational nature of those working to get their projects funded as well as alumni donors who are striving to be the best Aztecs they can be by helping the university rise to even greater heights.
There is no minimum to donate to SDSU Strive. Some of the first Strive donors will qualify for promotional giveaways including KGB Sky Show tickets and SDSU merchandise. For more information and to donate, visit www.sdsu.edu/strive.
The post Every Dollar Counts appeared first on GoodCrowd.info.