Before a crowdfunding campaign begins, the Project Leader is responsible for reviewing and understanding the following UA Crowdfunding Guidelines. The University of Alabama reserves the right to revise these guidelines at any time.
Fund Setup and Approval
To ensure compliance with UA Crowdfunding guidelines, all projects must have an approved philanthropic gift fund through which donations can be accepted and distributed to the appropriate campus unit account.
Groups may use a gift fund associated with a sponsoring unit (such as a department, program, or center) with approval from the finance officer of that area. All gift funds and accounts must be approved by the finance officer, dean, director, and development office before fundraising may begin.
Use of Funds
- All funds must be used solely for the project's stated purpose.
- Individuals may not retain any portion of funds raised as profit or compensation.
- All projects must be non-profit in nature.
- Funds may not be redirected to a third party, external charity, or other nonprofit organization.
- Projects must support University of Alabama programs and initiatives.
Project Content and Approval
All content appearing on a project's crowdfunding webpage must be approved by the UA Office of Annual Giving. The Office of Annual Giving reserves the right to edit content or require content revisions at any point during the campaign.
Project Eligibility and Goals
Projects should have specific, measurable goals and focus on tangible outcomes, such as:
- Purchasing equipment
- Funding travel expenses
- Supporting student workshops or educational opportunities
Projects without a clearly defined goal are generally less successful and may not qualify for a crowdfunding campaign.
Project Team Responsibilities
Project Teams are responsible for marketing and promoting their campaign. Teams should consist of at least five members, as larger teams are generally more successful.
Project Teams are expected to:
- Promote campaigns through social media, email, phone calls, and on-campus outreach
- Create and send personal thank-you messages to donors
- Provide regular project updates for use on the crowdfunding platform
Successful projects typically have a dedicated Project Leader who serves as the primary contact and works directly with the Office of Annual Giving throughout the campaign.
Donor Outreach
UA may request a list of potential donors before approving or launching a project. This information may be used to assess project eligibility and fundraising capacity.
The University does not provide contact information for alumni, parents, friends, or students. Project Team members are responsible for sharing the campaign with their own networks. While UA may promote the crowdfunding platform broadly, Project Teams should not rely solely on institutional promotion for fundraising success.
The Faculty/Staff Advisor may request a list of donors who made a gift as long as the fill out a confidentiality agreement with the University.
Donor Incentives
Monetary premiums, perks, or incentives may not be offered in exchange for gifts.
Examples of prohibited incentives include:
- T-shirt giveaways
- Promotional merchandise
- Other donor rewards
Such incentives may affect a donor's eligibility for a tax deduction and therefore are not permitted.
Campaign Duration
Projects will be hosted on the crowdfunding platform for a predetermined period, typically one month, although exceptions may apply.
The same group may not participate in consecutive crowdfunding campaigns but may be eligible to participate in future crowdfunding opportunities.
Funding Outcomes
If a project does not reach its fundraising goal within the allotted timeframe, all funds raised will still be allocated to the project.
Funds should be used to offset project expenses or otherwise support the group or organization's stated purpose to the fullest extent possible.
Compliance and University Rights
The University of Alabama is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational institution, and all crowdfunding projects must align with the University's mission.
Projects may not violate any laws. The University reserves the right to:
- Decline any proposed project based on content or eligibility
- Discontinue an active campaign at any time if project eligibility changes
Questions
For questions regarding these guidelines, please contact the Office of Annual Giving:
Phone: 205-348-8321
Email: advancement@ua.edu
The University of Alabama FAQ
What is crowdfunding?
Crowdfunding is a means of raising money by reaching out to personal networks and inviting them to get involved with a project by making a contribution. Through crowdfunding, you can generate small contributions from a large number of people to provide funding for your project or campaign via the Internet.
How do I know if crowdfunding is a good fit for my project?
Applicants for UA Crowdfunding must have, at a minimum:
Approval from your unit director and development contact
A faculty or staff advisor if you are a student group
An established University gift fund to which gifts can be directed
A dedicated Project Leader who will spearhead project initiatives and work directly with the Office of Annual Giving throughout the entire project duration
A Project Team of at least five people that is responsible for promoting their campaigns via social media, email, phone calls and on-campus
A realistic and attainable fundraising goal (national average is $2,000-$15,000)
A solicitation list of at least 20 individuals who would be willing to support your cause
A solid stewardship plan for thanking donors and communicating with them after the close of the campaign
Passion for your project and willingness to gather other supporters
What is required to launch a campaign?
To get started you will need to submit the online application. Once your application has been reviewed, you will be contacted by the Office of Annual Giving to let you know if your project has been approved.
How do I set my campaign goal?
The Office of Annual Giving will work with you to help determine your goal and plan for success. Campaign goals will vary and correlate to the number of participating individuals in your group. Some questions to consider:
Who are your donors? Consider family, friends, mentors/advisers, professors, classmates, colleagues, co-workers and other who might be naturally drawn to your cause.
How will you promote this campaign? Will you send out emails, promote on social media, send letters, etc.
How long does a campaign last?
The average campaign lasts 30 days. However, there might be special circumstances that require shorter or longer periods of time. The entire process, however, requires about three months of commitment from start to finish.
Where will donations to the campaign go?
Donations will be deposited by The University of Alabama into a predetermined gift fund chosen by the leader or group who created the crowdfunding page.
What happens if the project is not fully funded within the campaign period?
The project will receive all funding made to the project, even if the goal is not achieved.
Who can contribute to UA crowdfunding projects?
Anyone! Contributions to projects can be made by any individual or organization inside or outside of the UA community.
How do I contribute to a crowdfunding project?
Go to crowdfunding.ua.edu and select the project of your choice.
What methods of payment are accepted?
All major credit cards are accepted (Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover).
When will my credit card be charged?
Your credit card will be charged immediately upon finalizing your gift on the website.
Does UA crowdfunding store my credit card information?
No, we will not store any payment or credit card information.
Will I receive a receipt for my contribution?
Yes, The University of Alabama will send you a gift receipt via email.
Is my gift eligible for employer/corporate matching?
Yes. However, it can take several weeks for employers’ matching funds to be received. In the event the match does not arrive before the project deadline, it will be applied to the respective organization’s account for future projects.
For other inquiries, contact the Office of Annual Giving at 205-348-7701 or advancement@ua.edu.
Thank you for your interest in UA Crowdfunding.
What methods of payment are accepted? All major credit cards are accepted (Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover).
When will my credit card be charged? Your credit card will be charged immediately upon finalizing your gift on the website.
Will I receive a receipt for my donation? Yes, The University of Alabama will send you a gift receipt via email for tax purposes. Note: The charge may appear as "UA Advance" on your statement.
Need help making a gift? Contact our staff at 205-348-5370 during normal business hours.
