10
February
2016
|
09:51 AM
America/New_York

Ohio State launches philanthropic crowdfunding platform

The Ohio State University has launched a new online crowdfunding platform for fundraising that will allow donors to give directly to projects that they find compelling.

Buckeye Funder assists Ohio State faculty, staff and students in raising awareness about causes and achieving their fundraising goals.The initiative kicked off this month with four projects that need donations to move forward.

“Buckeye Funder is a new way for the university to connect with our alumni, donors and friends,” said Michael C. Eicher, senior vice president for advancement and president of The Ohio State University Foundation. “By showcasing some innovative projects from our talented faculty and students, the Buckeye community can help them reach their goals.”

Buckeye Funder is different from traditional fundraising tools because of the nature of crowdfunding, which is a peer-to-peer solicitation with a strong online and social media component. Typically, the length of the live campaigns is 30 days with an average funding goal between $3,000 and $12,000. The fundraising website offers video, social media postings and other information about each of the projects being featured.

Developed in partnership with Scalefunder, Buckeye Funder is an initiative operated by the Ohio State University Alumni Association and Office of Annual Giving.

Megan Murphy, a digital fundraising specialist in the Office of Annual Giving, said donor recognition is a key part of Buckeye Funder. “Once a project receives a donation, that team is encouraged to thank their donors and share updates on the initiative that they have invested in.”

Buckeye Funder is open to project teams of students, staff or faculty who need fundraising support for their schools, programs or initiatives such as service trips, events, scholarships, research or other Ohio State-specific ventures. To learn more, see https://buckeyefunder.osu.edu/.

Buckeye Funder donations are processed through The Ohio State University Foundation and are tax deductible. Projects receive all of the funds they raise via the platform, whether or not the campaign achieves its stated goal.

The four projects currently featured on Buckeye Funder are: