Crowdfunding 91ÁÔÆæ

 We are excited to share that for the 2025-2026 academic year is now accepting submissions! GiveCampus, 91ÁÔÆæ’s new crowdfunding platform, amplifies peer-to-peer fundraising — with modern payment options, mobile-first pages and social sharing. 

Successful crowdfunding projects follow three phases with planned, intentional activity: Quiet, Active, and Stewardship.

Phase 1: Spark your idea and build on it in the Quiet phase

Goal: Gather your content and build your team to support your project.

Typical duration: 2–4 weeks

Phase 2: Launch your Campaign during the Active phase

Goal: Prioritize your most active and supportive donor base; maintain weekly communication and social media updates.

Typical duration: 4-8 weeks 

Phase 3: Thank, Report, Re-engage in the Stewardship phase

Goal: Convert first-time donors into long-time supporters.

Typical duration: ~ 2 weeks after the end of campaign. Repeat during the end of year with Impact report share.

How to Launch a 91ÁÔÆæ Crowdfunding Campaign

  1. Application: Submit the to the Office of Annual Giving.
  2. Onboarding (Optional): to walk through the new crowdfunding platform and learn about ways to engage with your donors.
  3. Vetting: The Annual Giving team reviews for platform fit, content capacity, timeline, and compliance.
  4.  Building & testing: Review and finalize page layout; confirm accessibility and mobile experience.
  5. Campaign is LIVE: Connect with donors; monitor progress; adjust campaign matches and challenges in real time.

Timeline guidance: Most projects require 3–4 weeks of planning and 3–4 weeks of active campaigning. Plan accordingly.

Eligibility & Expectations

  •  You should have a Tower or Associated Student account. 
  • Projects must clearly and directly benefit ONLY 91ÁÔÆæ students or community members. Funds cannot be raised to donate to external charities.
  •  Campaign leads are required to identify and engage prospective donors via email, social media, texts, and personal outreach—amplified by either recruiting or becoming , creating .
  • All funds are processed through GiveCampus, our Crowdfunding platform, to the Tower Foundation; standard university fiscal and gift acceptance policies apply.

What Successful 91ÁÔÆæ Crowdfunding Projects built on GiveCampus have in common:

  • engaged early. 
  • Pre-seeded momentum (~25% of donors identified in Quiet Phase)
  • staged for Day 1, mid-campaign, and final sprint  gave the needed boost to hit goal. 
  • Personalized stewardship (Thank yous) helped boost their donor pipeline.

Have Questions or Want to Brainstorm?

Not sure you’re ready to apply but want to explore ideas, timelines, or feasibility? to talk through strategy, scope, and next steps or email crowdfunding@sjsu.edu.