This webinar presentation summarized crowdfunding for international education programs. It began with introductions and an overview of crowdfunding trends. General crowdfunding sites were compared to niche sites for international education. Successful crowdfunding campaigns have realistic funding goals, engage supporters through photos and videos, and create awareness of the cause. Concerns about crowdfunding included ensuring funds go to programs and concerns about cancellations. The presentation discussed Project Travel's approach to supporting students through the entire crowdfunding process and working with advisors and institutions. It concluded with a question and answer period.

1. Welcome to the Webinar
on Online Fundraising
for International Programs!

2. today
• Intro
• What is Crowdfunding?
• General vs. Niche Crowdfunding sites
• What Makes it Successful?
• Crowdfunding Concerns
• Group Funding
• Working Together (Project Travel’s Approach)
• Q & A
plus your input!

3. Samantha Martin
Project Travel
Study Abroad Advisor
Gilman Scholar, Cyprus
U. of South Carolina
International Scholarship Advisor
SUNY New Paltz
Program Coordinator
IEP @ Jacksonville U.
Study Abroad Peer Advisor
Project Advisor
Director
MA Peace & Conflict Studies
University of Ulster
Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar
Customized Faculty-Led Programs
2006
2008
2009
2013
2012

4. Meet Our Team of World Citizens.
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.” – Mark Twain
Kathryn Weimann
International Education Advisor
Jennifer Thomas
Founder & CEO
Greg Williams
Development
Veronika Goldberg
Design
Samantha Martin
Director
Michael Pottern
Business Strategy Advisor
Jackie Berkery
Community Strategist
Ezekiel Binion
Experience & Design Strategy Advisor

5. WHAT IS CROWDFUNDING?
(also referred to as peer-funding & crowdsourcing)

6. To crowdfund is to tell a personal story
online and engage the community to
raise money & social support for a cause,
project, creative product, business, or event.
Man designed by Nina Machado from The Noun Project

7. $2.7B raised
in crowdfunding
in 2012
2011
2012
2013
81%
increase over 2011
89%
increase expected for 2013
Financial information provided by Massolution: 2013CF-
The Crowdfunding Industry Report, crowdsourcing.org

8. Already, crowdfunding curriculums
have been created at Carnegie Mellon
University and Northwestern University.
~Gerber, E. (2012) Easy Money? The Demands of Crowdfunding Work
http://egerber.mech.northwestern.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Easy-
Money-_The-Demands-of-CrowdfundingWork-_2012.pdf. Northwestern
University

9. Create a profile.
Tell a story online
(& offline)
through
words, video, &
photos.
Raise money
& support.
End project or
campaign.
Reach the goal or the
end of the project or
campaign.
Fulfill commitments.
(Go on program.)
Crowdfunding
Process
1
2
3
4
5
6
Ongoing
Thank &
Update
Supporters

10. GENERAL VS NICHE
(a platform that allows you to fund
anything versus a specific purpose )

11. Poll: Which of these crowdfunding
platforms are you familiar with?

12. Go niche!
(what type of community do you want to be a part of?)

13. Int’l Education Crowdfunding Sites
• Project Travel(launched public in 2013)
• FundMyTravel (launched public in 2012)
• Volunteer Forever (launched public in 2012)
crowdfunding is new in the
international education space!

14. • additional resource to traditional
funding
• does not affect financial aid
package
• empowers every motivated
student to create a funding
solution
Students solve a funding problem,
Man designed by Nina Machado from The Noun Project

15. In addition to creating funding goals, creators also learn new skills, such as
budgeting, management, and videography, to complete preparation work.
~Gerber, E. (2012) Easy Money? The Demands of Crowdfunding Work http://egerber.mech.northwestern.edu/wp-
content/uploads/2012/11/Easy-Money-_The-Demands-of-CrowdfundingWork-_2012.pdf. Northwestern University
• digital storytelling
• budgeting
• marketing
• fundraising
• community outreach
learn new skills,
Man designed by Nina Machado from The Noun Project

16. & create awareness about
international education.
• why it is important
• where they are going
• who with
• impact on self & others
• need for social & financial
support
Man designed by Nina Machado from The Noun Project

17. WHAT MAKES IT SUCCESSFUL?
(the do’s and don’ts of crowdfunding)

18. (hint...it doesn’t look like this)

19. Poll: What do you think is the
single most important factor in a
successful crowdfunding project?

20. Average Success Rates
68%
funded*
32%
fully funded*
*Numbers based on 353,003 projects in two separate studies
across platforms and crowdfunding purposes.

21. Evers, M (2012) Marketing Management & Management of Innovation, Rotterdam School of Management,
Erasmus University, http://cultuurmarketing.nl/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Mart-Evers_Master-
thesis_Main-drivers-of-crowdfunding-success_RSM_Marketing-Management_9-2012_PDF.pdf

22. Project
Starters
Students
• realistic funding goal (cost of
admin. fees up to $5,000+)
• photos & video
• engagement with supporters
• cause of need
• high positive sentiment
Man designed by Nina Machado from The Noun Project

23. Supporters
Supporters
• positive labeling
• high engagement
• decisional control
• request size
Man designed by Nina Machado from The Noun Project

24. Advisors &
Faculty
Advisors & Faculty
• determine if crowdfunding is
a viable resource for your
students
• give consistent referrals to
crowdfunding options across
campus or your organization
(financial aid, education abroad office,
career services, faculty & staff)
• program verification*
*Specific to Project Travel
Man designed by Nina Machado from The Noun Project

25. CONCERNS
(crowdfunding is a solution but not a magic bullet)

26. Poll: Which is your biggest concern
about crowdfunding?
Man designed by Nina Machado from The Noun Project

27. Are these funds really
going towards a
program-related
expense?
I get so many funding
requests. Is this one
worth my support?
Is my credit card
information secure?
Supporters Advisors & Faculty
What happens if they
cancel their program?
Man designed by Nina Machado from The Noun Project

28. However, if they cancel,
their Project is canceled
and they return the
funds.
Supporters are
informed that dollars
given are legally gifts.
I can actually help make
this dream a reality for this
student? I’ll give!
My information is
secure & won’t be
shared!
Supporters Advisors & Faculty
Project Travel won’t
open a Project for
funding until it is
verified that the
student submitted a
program application.
They also have a 15%
tipping point in
place.
Man designed by Nina Machado from The Noun Project

29. What if my family &
friends think I am
“begging?”
What if I fail?
Why are there fees to
crowdfund?
Students
Do I have time to crowdfund?
How do I do this?
Man designed by Nina Machado from The Noun Project

30. My Project Advisor
is helping me and I
have access to
online resources at
any time.
The small fee retained from
gifts given is worth this
platform & the support.
I pay nothing out of pocket
and I don’t have to pay
anything back.
This is a learning
experience and I
have people to
support me.
People who care about me
will care about what is
important to me.
People who connect with
my story will support me.
If this is truly important to
me, I will do the work to
reach my goals!
Students
Man designed by Nina Machado from The Noun Project

31. “This was a great learning experience because I
have never really had to do fundraising like this.
~Stephanie, SUNY New Paltz
“I am almost done with my promotional video ...
I'm really excited.”
~Marisol, Bard College
My goal is to raise $3,000 to fund my round trip
plane ticket to NZ this Spring! For every $100 we
raise, I will donate 1 hour of service to a
designated charity.
~Briana, University of South Carolina
Project Starters
(in their own words)

32. GROUP FUNDING
(yes! it’s possible)

33. Group Funding Alternative Spring Break &
Other Service Programs
will crowdfunding reduce cancellation rates?
Man designed by Nina Machado from The Noun Project

34. Poll: Do you see group funding as
a potential option for reducing
cancellation rates on service or
volunteer programs?

35. WORKING TOGETHER
(Project Travel’s approach)

36. Understand
the Needs of
Int’l Educators
Support Our
Community
Start to Finish
Mission Motivated.
Results Driven.
Three Pillars of Who We Are

37. Ways We Work With Our Community
• Support existing advising structures
• Program verification
• Joint email outreach
• Printed materials
• Unique URL (e.g. www.projecttravel.com/go/envoys)
• (Your ideas here!)

38. NAFSA 2013 Poster Session Info on Crowdfunding
http://blog.projecttravel.com/nafsa13-poster-session
Short Video Introduction to Project Travel
http://blog.projecttravel.com/learn-more
Sign up for our monthly newsletter
http://u.gopt.me/community-newsletter
Additional Resources

39. Questions?
Please use the ‘question’ box to submit a
question. This presentation & all questions will be
compiled in a follow up document and sent to all
participants on the call.

40. from
here
to
there
thank you.
(do stay in touch)
Samantha Martin
samantha@projecttravel.com
866 720 7572 x20
@goprojecttravel
www.projecttravel.com
hello@projecttravel.com
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