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Students

Fundraising guide for student organizations

Does your student-led club need funding for a program or event? How about resources to send representatives to competitions?

Student clubs and organizations are responsible for fundraising and developing partnerships with companies and foundations; the College is dedicated to supporting you by providing fundraising resources.

Note

If your student club raises money with a bank account not connected to the UW, you cannot use the UW’s non-profit exemption status.

New donation requests: Crowdfunding for your student group

Use Together UW to raise money for your project, team trip or competition.

  1. Click “Start a Crowdfunding Project”
  2. Click “Get Started”
  3. Then, setup your campaign

Additional corporate donation requests: Identify sources and start the conversation

If you are interested in reaching out to additional companies/foundations that are not already donating to your student organization, start here and continue with the next section:

  1. Create a list of companies and foundations that you think would be interested in your program.
  2. Review each company/foundation online; search for description of values, types of employees they hire, and the communities they support. Note if they have a community giving or sponsorship program and contact information.
  3. Call (on the phone) the representative you found in the contact information.
    • Tell them why you are calling and why you feel their company would be interested in supporting your group.
    • Ask if you can send them a proposal, or ask if there is someone else at the company you can call.

Note

Promoting or endorsing a company or its products or services is not allowed in exchange for a gift. Don’t include social media posts as a sponsorship benefit!

Offering to put company logos on RSO projects (e.g. rockets, canoes, cars, etc.) for stewardship is discouraged; however, it is allowed as long as all sponsors are same size and viewership is limited. If you offer this, you must fulfill your obligation.

Featuring company logos on RSO websites is discouraged. If an RSO offers this, the logo must have a limited presence and a limited timeframe on a site that must be clearly communicated to the company before the company agrees to funding. Don’t hyperlink company logos, that is not allowed as a sponsorship benefit.

Funding must be controlled by the RSO. A funder may not influence or direct how funding is used in exchange for their support.

For all requests: Contact and follow up

Make sure the company knows you are serious; follow up with a phone call or an email within two weeks of initial contact.

  1. Prepare a solicitation packet that includes:
  2. Mail or email (depending upon company preference) the solicitation packet.
  3. Within one week, call the contact to make sure they received your letter and to discuss the program and sponsorship information.

    • Success!

      If they agree to donate, send them the Gift Request Form (invoice) and ask them to return the form to you.

    • Not ready...

      If they are not ready to commit, but want to be involved in other ways, ask when you should call back to discuss. Or, offer to meet in person.

    • Decline

      If they decline, thank them for their consideration and ask if they would be interested in participating in another way, as a classroom speaker, mentor, or panelist. If they express interest in that, follow up with details of events and how they can participate.
  4. Continue to provide them with updates on the program.