UGA recently launched a new crowdfunding platform called the GeorgiaFunder (giving.uga.edu/funder), which aims to raise relatively small donations from a large group of people to directly benefit UGA programs and organizations.
The pilot crowdfunding initiative exceeded its goal on #GivingTuesday, a national day of philanthropy Dec. 2, by raising more than $29,000 from 220 donors. The effort exceeded the day’s goal of $25,000 and more than doubled last year’s amount. Gifts will benefit university-wide initiatives, school or college support funds or other specific interests.
The GeorgiaFunder is modeled after other Web-based commercial services such as Kickstarter and Indiegogo. These initiatives rely on social networks and can spread quickly through social media, email, websites and other grassroots forms of communications.
With GeorgiaFunder, faculty, staff and students can initiate approved campaigns to raise money for official UGA causes. Funds go to the project whether the project reaches its goal or not.