ABOUT

BU Crowdfunding is the official Boston University crowdfunding platform. It empowers the BU community to raise money for innovative projects, service trips, events, and other BU-specific ventures. One important perk: projects on the BU Crowdfunding site can receive donations without having to pay fees. Crowdfunding projects last for either 14 or 30 days during one of the two crowdfunding quarters each year, or for one of the eight-day periods that conclude with #GivingTuesday and BU Giving Day each year. They can take place only during these times.

Eligible groups

BU Crowdfunding users have to be part of the BU community via an academic department, student group, or other official entity. BU Crowdfunding projects have to support BU’s overall mission by improving our community—on campus and beyond

Successful project outline

At the most basic level, projects have to be:

Specific—be clear about what you’re trying to fund
Meaningful to the BU community—support the greater good
Attainable—make sure you can complete your project once you reach your goal
Realistic—your goal should be in-line with the size of your donor base
Time-bound—why is it important to make a donation today?

BU Crowdfunding projects need to be supported by an active, engaged project team. That team will be supplied with a marketing tool kit by their BU Crowdfunding mentor to create content (project descriptions, videos, emails, posts, pics, etc.) for their group’s project.

Time Commitment

BU Crowdfunding projects take 10—12 weeks of focused, intense work.

Content creation phase (4 weeks)

  • The crowdfunding coordinator will arrange an introductory meeting with project leaders to review content creation documents and the project page, and to set the timeline.
  • Project leaders are tasked with creating marketing content for the project live phase.

    • Project Live Phase (2–4 Weeks)

  • Project leaders are responsible for promoting their project and sharing project updates with their audience.
  • The Annual Giving team will promote the crowdfunding site on the first day of the crowdfunding cycle. The content will feature all campaigns available on the crowdfunding site.

    • Thank-You phase (Post campaign for 1 Year)

  • Teams are required to thank their donors. Thanking your donor is an important part of the process because it helps acknowledge their support and inform the donor about what they’ve helped accomplish.

    • Transfer of funds

  • The distribution of funds will take between two weeks to one month after the end of the campaign. The BU Crowdfunding mentor assigned to the project can will help with this process.

    • Crowdfunding Cycle Calendar

    Projects submitted after the deadline for each cycle will be consider for offcycle projects program or the following crowdfunding cycle.

    Fall '24
    Application deadline: Sept. 20
    Crowdfunding timeline: Oct. 29 – Nov. 27
    Distribution of funds timeline: Proximitly one to two months after the end of the campaign.

    Giving Tuesday '24 (One day fundraiser)
    Application deadline: Oct. 21
    Crowdfunding timeline: Dec. 3
    Distribution of funds timeline: Proximitly one to two months after the end of the campaign.

    Winter '25
    Application deadline: Nov.15
    Crowdfunding timeline: Feb. 5 - Mar. 5
    Distribution of funds timeline: Proximitly one to two months after the end of the campaign.

    Offcycle Projects
    Application approval : One week–two weeks
    Crowdfunding timeline: Two weeks or One month
    Distribution of funds timeline: oProximitly one to two months after the end of the campaign.