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Your how-to guide for online fundraising

Here are step-by-step instructions for requesting and launching a successful campaign.

  1. Complete the form titled “Linfield University Crowdfunding” located at on the Linfield University campaign creation page. The form must be signed by a department head, the athletic director or a vice president before the project can go live. Contact Lisa Goodwin if you need help with the form.
  2. Submit the form and Lisa will set up administrator accounts on GiveCampus for the two student leads on the campaign using their Linfield email address.
  3. Name your campaign something brief but informative. Share that name with Lisa and she will set up a draft of your campaign.
  4. Write 150-500 words describing who your group is and what you are fundraising for, how the donations will be used, why this is needed and why it is urgent. Explain what will happen if the goal is not reached (what will the money be used for?). Place it in your campaign's “About” page. Ask Lisa to review it.
  5. Create a 60-90 second video for your project. Get creative, make it exciting and interesting, and cover the questions asked above. Include a “call to action” where you ask viewers to give today, give generously and share the project using the “share” links in all their social media accounts as well as emailing it to others who they believe should make a gift. Upload your video to the campaign and let Lisa know so she can review and approve it.
    • Consider making some “update” videos. These are additional short (30 sec) reminder videos to send out during the campaign reminding prospects of the need to fund and share the project.
  6. Create a promotion strategy for your group.
    • Assign someone to check the project daily to see if there are new gifts
    • Encourage them to thank supporters if they are connected in email or social media
    • Share the project so there is new activity every (or almost every) day.
    • During the last 3-6 days of the project, have group members share even more and express the urgency of the upcoming deadline. Have all promoters create a login profile on GiveCampus. This will allow them to track their advocacy results (# of shares, $ raised).
    • Come up with more creative ways to promote the project.
  7. Identify anyone that could make a “major” gift to the project, perhaps 5-15% of the goal. Ask this person ahead of time and see if they will start off your campaign with their gift to motivate others.
  8. Once the campaign goes live, execute a pre-planned promotion strategy. Reach out personally to prospects and ask them to support the project.
  9. Thank your donors, either publicly or privately.
  10. Use the campaign progress as a point of promotion. For example, when you reach 50%, post an update (on the campaign landing page) and do another round of shares. This could be a good place to post a short video that you have pre-filmed.
  11. Increase promotion in the last days or hours of the project. Encourage additional gifts of donors by using the "Update" functionality which automatically emails project donors the update. Committed donors will often give a second gift, usually of a smaller amount, but a gift no less.
  12. Celebrate! Share your excitement when the campaign ends, even if you haven’t reached the goal. Send an email "Update" to donors letting them know how much was raised, confirm what it will be used for and thank them again.
  13. Show the impact: This is the most often forgotten part of the project but it makes the greatest impact on donors. It will strengthen the chance of future support! When fulfilling the project, take pictures or video which shows the outcome and the impact it has had on students. You can use the project’s "Update" functionality; just ask Lisa to make the campaign active to do so.