Successful Campaign Elements Components of a successful campaign

Successful Campaign Elements Components of a successful campaign A dedicated team Having a group of individuals who are affiliated with and are passionate about your project is integral for a successful crowdfunding campaign. If your group isn't 100% invested in the project, they won’t be able to make others feel the same way in order to contribute to your campaign. Crowdfunding project teams are require to have a group of leadership roles (3 -5 people). The larger the campaign goal, the larger the campaign should be. Compelling storytelling To succeed in crowdfunding, your message must be well-written and clear. Remember: the best messages are ones that tell stories. Campaigns should inspire, excite, and educate potential donors. Potential donors also want to know how a given project will make a difference and why their support it important. Knowing your audience Selecting the right crowd to solicit takes some thought. People who identify most with a project are the first to give and are the most likely to spread the campaign to their networks. Look to family members, friends, professional networks, contacts, and those who may work or study in a related industry. Perhaps you can identify people who have supported similar projects and initiatives in the past. Realistic goals You are not just raising money for an organization or department, but for a very specific reason which likely has a specific goal. Think deeply about what you are trying to raise money for and how much money you need to accomplish your objective. Note: small goals tend to be received better than large goals. Timing: asking multiple times Having campaigns end after a certain amount of time is strategic. Most of our campaigns are thirty days because it is short enough to create urgency, but long enough to ensure that you have sufficient time to market. It can take up to seven asks before a donor feels the urgency to give, so don’t be afraid to ask the same person several times in a few different ways. Large network and social media reach All members of the campaign team must actively promote the campaign on social media platforms and through email. Campaigns have a much higher success rate with a large social media presence and the quantity of emails sent. Although you want people to give to your project, having people share your page is just as important.

Content for your crowdfunding webpage Checklist Your project will be posted to grow. psu. edu and it is up to your teams to provide the pieces to personalize your project. Below is a checklist of the items needed to create your projects crowdfunding page: Banner Image/Cover photo Provide a cover photo to identify your project on the main page. A horizontal (landscape) photo with resolution no less than 960(w) x 400(h) pixels. About section/Full Description Submit a project description and provide a short paragraph for each of the sections below: • The project or the challenge: Answer what is unique about it/what you are trying to accomplish • Who we are: Provide the organization or department description • The impact: How will it affect students, Penn State, community, etc. • What your gifts will do: Answer what the money will provide. • Share this message: Request to email friends, family, and colleagues, and post the link online. • Thanks for your support: A short message about the meaning of support to you. Summary A short, concise description of who you are and what you’re raising money for. Aim for 2 -3 sentences. Impact items Provide examples of impact at different monetary giving levels. (Ex. $10, $25, $100, $250, $500, $1, 000) by doing one or both of the options below: • Include what a donation at each level will contribute to and/or • Include a small way of thanking donors at each level (ex. Facebook shout-out, Twitter shout-out, email, handwritten note, photo of students, vide thank you, and postcards). Goals Set a realistic monetary or donor goal helps your campaign succeed. The average campaign can expect to raise around $5 k. Also, having campaigns end after a certain amount of time is strategic. Most of our campaigns are thirty days because it is short enough to create urgency, but long enough to ensure that you have sufficienttime to market. It can take up to seven asks before a donor feels the urgency to give, so don’t be afraid to ask the same person several times in a few different ways. Video (highly recommend) Create a video to tell the story of who you are, what you do, what you’re raising money for, and the impact it will have. • Keep it short (under 2 minutes) and keep it authentic • Use institutional identity and approved logos • Provide honest and convincing testimony about your organization, why the cause is important, and how prospective donors can help • It’s best to feature people rather than text • End the video by asking viewers to support the project by donating and sharing • Show the link to Let’s Grow State (grow. psu. edu) at the very end of your video