VOLUME 23 #2

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Crowdfunding success

UD publicly launches its crowdfunding site

33-foot sailboat newly purchased through crowdfunding for UD Sailing club
The student sailing club raised 122 percent of its crowdfunding goal, which sought to cover the docking fees of a newly acquired 33-foot sailboat.

OUR UD | Senior apparel design major Emma Zuckerman, AS16, calls last year’s student-run Synergy Fashion Show “our best yet.”

Held annually in late spring “when we’re all tired and drained,” the show features students of all majors, who execute every aspect of production, from fundraising and logistics, to apparel design, to marketing and promotion. Its goal—to introduce student designs to members of the fashion industry—was boosted this year by the show’s heightened visibility, guest judges (from Michael Kors, Calvin Klein Denim and other big names), greater attendance and a sleeker atmosphere.

“It felt like something out of Fashion Week,” says Zuckerman, who credits the organization’s crowdfunding effort—which raised $2,600 from 36 donors—for much of this success.

Students, parents, friends and alumni all contributed to the efforts, covering advertising, venue space, set-up costs, DJ fees and printing.

“I am sure your show will be spectacular,” wrote Susan Racobaldo, EHD80, on the group’s crowdfunding page.

Amy Winderl, AS78, added, “It was fun to read about all you are doing these days. Fantastic! I so enjoyed doing the show back in 1978.”

Most friends and alumni gave gifts of $50 and $100. The students were left speechless by a $1,000 gift from one Class of ’83 alumna. “[The show was] one of my fondest memories from UD,” wrote Abbie Small, AS83. “Enjoy!”

Students preparing for synergy fashion show
Alumni and friends used crowdfunding to support the student-run Synergy fashion show.

“Other than the financial help—which was hugely important—just knowing we had so much encouragement and moral support was incredibly motivating,” says Zuckerman. “And it has given us so much momentum going into the new year.”

Like Zuckerman and her Synergy Fashion Group colleagues, 20 other organizations sought to fund projects over the last year through UD Crowdfunding.

Since its launch in January 2015, UD Crowdfunding has raised $80,400 from 1,091 donors, with an average donation of $74. Those gifts have helped budding journalists manage growing printing costs for The Review newspaper, enabled the Rubber Chickens comedy troupe to attend Chicago’s famed Second City improv school, and covered docking fees for the student sailing club, to name just a few.

The effort, launched silently over the past year, has now gone public.

“We really didn’t know how powerful crowdfunding would be,” says Ryan Lawrence, AS09, assistant director of web fundraising. “Now that we know more, we can do more to help.”

Lawrence oversees the crowdfunding initiative, based in UD’s Office of Development and Alumni Relations, and hopes to see greater participation—from projects in need of support and those willing to support them—over the next year.

Continuing the format of the past year, five crowdfunding projects will launch at the start of each month and have average financial targets of $3,000.

The most successful projects, Lawrence adds, are the ones with realistic goals, well-articulated needs and a community of friends and supporters ready and willing to re-post, re-tweet and re-share the crowdfunding link.

“It’s really about strength in numbers,” he adds. “It’s about creating a community.”

Senior management major Tyler Frees, BE16, found that out firsthand.

As president of the University’s sailing club, he sought crowdfunding to cover docking fees for a new 33-foot sailboat that had been gifted to the students.

“We had nothing to lose,” he said, noting that $130 membership dues from roughly 60 members barely put a dent in the annual costs associated with caring for the club’s eight boats.

But the club managed to raise 122 percent of its initial goal from 27 donors.

“The money means a lot,” he says, “but the support means everything.”

For current crowdfunding projects, visit: https://udel.givecorps.com

 

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