Seeking to raise $10,000 within a 24-hour period, the University of Mississippi Foundation is launching a crowdfunding initiative Dec. 1, a global day dedicated to “giving back.”
Donations on the “Giving Tuesday” can be made beginning at midnight at https://ignite.olemiss.edu/rebelsgive.
While all size gifts are welcome, those who make a contribution of $1,000 or more will be given one of 14 slices of a Grove tree branded with the name Ole Miss. (Trees downed by weather or disease on the Oxford campus are often used in some keepsake form.) All proceeds from Giving Tuesday will be directed to the Ole Miss Fund, which addresses needs across the academic community.
“Ignite Ole Miss is the University of Mississippi’s community fundraising platform,” said Suzanne Thigpen, director of Annual Giving. “Ignite Ole Miss allows everyone with a stake in the University of Mississippi to leverage their circles of influence – via social media, emails, blogs or otherwise – to help share more about our institution to a larger audience and bring awareness to projects that will benefit a range of organizations on campus.”
Crowdfunding, which has strengthened the university to the tune of more than $1.6 million since its inception last fall, is another avenue to provide support directly to the university’s schools, programs and specific projects that are most appealing or meaningful to donors.
“Having something specific to support often inspires people to embrace giving,” Thigpen said. “Today’s donors want to know where their money is going and how it will make an impact.”
Peer-to-peer solicitation, rather than institutional, is key to reaching the goal.
“Use your personal, group, department or team’s email lists, Facebook pages, Twitter feeds, LinkedIn groups, etc. to promote this effort,” said Angela Avery, annual giving coordinator. “It’s best to bring your own ‘crowd.’”
Typical crowdfunding projects attract between $2,000 and $10,000. Project campaigns normally run for 30-45 days, requiring 10-12 weeks of focused, intense work before and after the campaign. All philanthropic contributions to UM Foundation are tax-deductible as prescribed by law. Donations are non-refundable.
Visit Ignite Ole Miss Online (https://ignite.olemiss.edu/) or email ignite@olemiss.edu. For more about the University of Mississippi Office of Development Annual Giving Division, call 662-915-6625.
Article courtesy of Edwin Smith and Ignite Ole Miss
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