From$0 $0 to Funded-Tips for From toFully Fully Funded— Better Writing Tips forCrowdfunding Better Crowdfunding Writing
CROWDFUNDING CROWDFUNDING
More and more educators are taking money out of their Moreto andfund more both educators are needs taking money out of their pockets to fund pockets basic and those other items both basic needs and those other items that make learning more that make learning more engaging for students. As engaging for students. As crowdfunding, on sites like DonorsChoose, crowdfunding, sitestolike DonorsChoose, becometomore become more on popular pay for school needs, it's important find popular pay your for school needs, important ways ways to to make projects stand out.it's Here are a few tipstotofind go from $0 to make your projects stand out. Here are a few tips to go from $0 to fully funded.
Skip the Fancy Education Words
It's important to give your future donor a picture of a child putting your donation to use.
You're educators, so you know your "language." But, you need to remember your audience—they're not educators and don't necessarily understand your Start Small pedagogy or Lexile Levels. When crafting your message to donors, use simple words, and speak in lay language. You may need a lot, but if you're just starting out with If your goal is to increase reading levels, say something crowdsource funding, think twice before asking for like, "My goal is to help my students read various types everything in one project. Consider breaking up your of text as they enter middle school." "asks" into several smaller projects. The less you ask for, the more likely you'll get funded quickly and attain the supplies you need for your students.
Talk Students, Not Supplies
Be descriptive when talking about your needs. Don't just simply say you need notebooks, talk about the creative stories your students will write on the pages of those notebooks. If you need popsicle sticks, explain how your students will transform those popsicle sticks into catapults for a lesson on gravity. It's important to give your future donor a picture of a child putting your donation to use.
Break Through—Be Creative Chances are there are other projects in your district, and likely your school, that are also vying for online crowdsource funding. When naming your project, think creatively. Remember, you're in essence fighting for funding so you need to market your project in the best way possible. Take this example from a school in Portland asking for new instruments for their music class—"You Know We're All About that Bass Xylophone!" Playing off the popular song for the project's title catches the potential donors' eyes.
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Maine Educator • September 2018
Share Your Project This is where you turn into a marketing director again, and share your project beyond your inner circle of family and friends. If you want people to donate, you need to tell people what you're doing. Share a link with parents, the PTA, any organization you think may be willing to help. AND, don't forget to share it on social media! You never know who may be willing to help unless you ask.
Always Have a Project Listed for Funding Once you've started, don't stop. It's likely there will always be something your classroom and students need, so make sure you have a project online, ready for funding. You never know when a company or celebrity decides to make a donation that will fully fund your project. Think of how much of a bummer it would be to miss out on the generosity of those more fortunate simply because you didn't have a project posted.
