PAWprint Crowdfunding
PAWprint campaigns help bring UNI projects to life by inviting the Panther community to give towards a shared goal. Through gifts of all sizes, these campaigns create meaningful impact for students, programs and campus initiatives.
Eligibility
The UNI Alumni Association & Foundation crowdfunding platform is only available to projects that meet our eligibility requirements. Because all gifts made through our platform are treated as charitable contributions to the University of Northern Iowa, every donation is processed through our established gift processing, receipting and account recording procedures.
To be eligible, projects must:
- Be affiliated with the University of Northern Iowa.
- Have a fundraising goal between $2,500 and $7,500.
- Have a designated PAWprint Leader who is a college/department faculty or staff member.
- Raise funds solely for the approved PAWprint project. Projects that collect funds to benefit or distribute to other nonprofit organizations are not eligible.
Crowdfunding Timeline
The Planning Stage
4-6 Weeks Prior to Launch
- The Annual Giving team:
- Schedule weekly meetings with your team
- Create a list of alumni, donors and friends who may support your project
- Collaborate on identifying challenge gifts.
- You:
- Submit clear project details, goals and timeline
- Create a dedicated team and delegate duties to each person
- Identify alumni, donors and friends already engaged in your program or work
- Collaborate on identifying challenge gifts.
The Implementation Stage
2-3 Weeks Prior to Launch
- The Annual Giving team:
- Create a custom giving page with project information and goal
- Collaborate on general marketing materials
- Draft mail pieces, emails, texts and social media posts
- Outreach strategy and communications calendar
- You:
- Collaborate on general marketing materials
- Provide a summary of the project, written testimonials, relevant photos and short videos
- Outreach strategy and communications calendar
- Collaborate on general marketing materials
The Fundraising Stage
30-45 Days of Fundraising
- The Annual Giving team:
- Send mail pieces, emails, texts and social media posts
- You:
- Promote the crowdfunding project on your department or organization's social media pages
- Share the giving link in department newsletters and meetings
- Personally encourage alumni, students, parents and colleagues to give and share
The Post-Fundraising Stage
1-2 Weeks After Fundraising
- The Annual Giving team:
- Send a thank you email to all donors with the final totals
- Share the final donor list with you
- You:
- Write and send handwritten cards to the individuals on the final donor list
- Share impact stories and/or photos in your department newsletter, in meetings or on social media pages
- Send impact stories and/or photos to the Annual Giving team for future stewardship
- Ensure all funds are spent as outlined in the project details and timeline
Tips for a Successful Project
- Be your project's biggest supporter
- Set a realistic fundraising goal
- Build a team of 5-7 individuals who are enthusiastic about your project
- Engage with your supporters before the PAWprint campaign launches
- Follow the recommended campaign timeline and task list
- Tell a story that explains the need and the impact
- Plan to share campaign updates throughout the fundraising stage
- Ask questions if you need guidance
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who can launch a project on PAWprint?
Any organization that is on the current list of registered student organizations maintained by the Northern Iowa Student Government (NISG) and the Student Involvement Center can start the process to launch a project on PAWprint.
- What kind of projects does PAWprint look for?
Inspirational projects that are goal specific have a higher success rate through crowdfunding than those that are vague or general.
- How do I start?
Click the "Submit a PAWprint campaign application" button at the top of the page, or contact annual-giving@uni.edu with any questions. Once you have submitted your application, a member of the UNI Annual Giving team will reach out to you to review your application and discuss next steps.
- What is an appropriate fundraising goal?
PAWprint staff recommends a fundraising goal between $3000 and $7500. Each project and its goals will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis by staff.
- How do organizations access their funds after the campaign?
Prior to launching the final project, organizations will set up a project account with the Foundation Financial Services office. From there the funds can be accessed by filling out Foundation Financial Services Vouchers located within the UNI Forms Repository.