FCS Fundraising Ideas

[Mattymc727]

So over on the UNH board, we talk about this a lot. UNH has needed a new stadium for 20 years now, and it still hasnt happened. The school gets no money from the state, and the administration seems to be waiting around for some "big donor", which to me is the biggest waist of time on the planet. Recently one of the posters brought up a kickstarter idea, which I thought was interesting. While actually going to kickstarter would never work, the university could use a similar system:

Have reward tiers for backing the project at different levels. 100 bucks gets you a brick with your name on it, 5k gets your name on the seat, 1 mil for the name on the field, 15 mil for the name of the stadium, so on a so forth. It would seem that a school could build a project that is 100% crowd funded, and each piece of the stadium or facility could be a personal touch from the fans. I have seen this type of fundraising used in the community, and wonder why UNH doesnt try something like this. Or any school for that matter.

Draw up some blueprints, set a funding goal and date, and let the crowds back different levels of funding. Every time you go to a game you can check out your contribution. The stadium would actually feel like the community built it, because in reality they did.

Anyway, this thread could be a spot for everyone to voice their FCS fundraising ideas for those that are frustrated with the way their schools administration chooses to do fundraising. Lets talk about what works, what doesnt work, and other cool ways universities have gathered funds for building. Perhaps a school could stumble upon our ideas and try and use them.

[BEAR]

I love that idea. I'd want my brick toward the top of Estes so I could take my boys there and point waaaaaaaaaay up there and say "see that brick?"

http://www.ucasports.com/images/2013/9/3/medium_EstesExterior.jpg

[Mattymc727]

There could also be rewards for things that arent a physical piece of the project. For instance, 500 dollars lets you flip a coin for the next season, or 10k lets you travel with the team. There could be a lot of rewards ranging from wealthy donor levels and superfans to apathetic fans that just want to chip in. Im not sure if something like this could be done for a huge project, say 35 million, but maybe over the course of a year it could.

Some projects on kickstarter raise 10 mil over the course of 2 months.

[Sader87]

Start the countdown clock on UNH being investigated by the NCAA.......now. xsmiley_wix I kid, UNH totally has more than earned an upgrade to their football facility....good luck!!!

[Bill]

why not just sell beer at the games? :) Our "big brothers" at the FBS have started...

or better yet, I guarantee you could get "Marlboro" or "Skoal field" in a heartbeat !xnodx

[lionsrking2]

I have no idea how state politics work in New Hampshire, but the best way to get a major facility funded in Louisiana, and other states, is through capital outlay, combining it with either a direct academic purpose, or something that directly benefits the general student population. We were able to get a new track and tennis complex by combining it with a new academic building which houses our nursing program. Our new press box/suites facility at Strawberry Stadium was combined with a parking garage, which was sorely needed on campus.

As far as fundraising, your ideas are great places to start, but in the end, you'll likely need some big money donors to kick in in order to get a stadium built with private dollars only. My experience has been that folks with a lot of money, who are inclined to donate, like to do so in large chunks, and want a concrete vision for the future in place before they do ... they don't like to piecemeal anything and don't like to support vagueness. And you need somebody leading the charge who's a "get-it-done" type person who is not afraid to be told no. Confidence and vision go a long way in luring donors of all financial stripes.

[Gordon Shumway]

So over on the UNH board, we talk about this a lot. UNH has needed a new stadium for 20 years now, and it still hasnt happened.

Just one minor quibble with your post. UNH has needed a new stadium for over 40+ years. It was needed that long ago when I was there, and it is the same pitiful stadium today as back then, just fewer seats overall.

[danefan]

why not just sell beer at the games? :) Our "big brothers" at the FBS have started...

or better yet, I guarantee you could get "Marlboro" or "Skoal field" in a heartbeat !xnodx


Albany had had a beer garden in the new stadium. Pretty cool.

[Franks Tanks]

So over on the UNH board, we talk about this a lot. UNH has needed a new stadium for 20 years now, and it still hasnt happened. The school gets no money from the state, and the administration seems to be waiting around for some "big donor", which to me is the biggest waist of time on the planet. Recently one of the posters brought up a kickstarter idea, which I thought was interesting. While actually going to kickstarter would never work, the university could use a similar system:

Have reward tiers for backing the project at different levels. 100 bucks gets you a brick with your name on it, 5k gets your name on the seat, 1 mil for the name on the field, 15 mil for the name of the stadium, so on a so forth. It would seem that a school could build a project that is 100% crowd funded, and each piece of the stadium or facility could be a personal touch from the fans. I have seen this type of fundraising used in the community, and wonder why UNH doesnt try something like this. Or any school for that matter.

Draw up some blueprints, set a funding goal and date, and let the crowds back different levels of funding. Every time you go to a game you can check out your contribution. The stadium would actually feel like the community built it, because in reality they did.

Anyway, this thread could be a spot for everyone to voice their FCS fundraising ideas for those that are frustrated with the way their schools administration chooses to do fundraising. Lets talk about what works, what doesnt work, and other cool ways universities have gathered funds for building. Perhaps a school could stumble upon our ideas and try and use them.

Plenty of schools do this already. 5k will get your name on a locker in the football facility at Lafayette.

[Twentysix]

There could also be rewards for things that arent a physical piece of the project. For instance, 500 dollars lets you flip a coin for the next season, or 10k lets you travel with the team. There could be a lot of rewards ranging from wealthy donor levels and superfans to apathetic fans that just want to chip in. Im not sure if something like this could be done for a huge project, say 35 million, but maybe over the course of a year it could.

Some projects on kickstarter raise 10 mil over the course of 2 months.

If you are rewarded with something, doesn't it effect the tax deductibility of the donation?

[citdog]

http://www.krispykremeok.com/img/kk-donuts.png

[buffalobill]

If you are rewarded with something, doesn't it effect the tax deductibility of the donation?
You are correct, but generally you only lose a portion.

[PAllen]

If you are rewarded with something, doesn't it effect the tax deductibility of the donation?
Reduced by the "fair market value" of the reward. A used brick that is still part of someone else's building? $0.01

[superman7515]

Have reward tiers for backing the project at different levels. 100 bucks gets you a brick with your name on it, 5k gets your name on the seat, 1 mil for the name on the field, 15 mil for the name of the stadium, so on a so forth. It would seem that a school could build a project that is 100% crowd funded, and each piece of the stadium or facility could be a personal touch from the fans. I have seen this type of fundraising used in the community, and wonder why UNH doesnt try something like this. Or any school for that matter.

I built a brand new multi-million dollar fire station that way. Literally. Obviously not as expensive as a stadium, but I assure you that you have an exponentially larger base of potential donors to draw from than I did. It's possible, but seeing how much work and time (literally years) went into the fire station, you're going to need a LOT of staffing.

[Drblankstare]

I'd say find the Alums who are state reps and try to plant the idea with them. Bikini car wash might work also

[caribbeanhen]

I built a brand new multi-million dollar fire station that way. Literally. Obviously not as expensive as a stadium, but I assure you that you have an exponentially larger base of potential donors to draw from than I did. It's possible, but seeing how much work and time (literally years) went into the fire station, you're going to need a LOT of staffing.

when are you going into Delaware politics? You've got my vote. (although it would have to be a write-in)

[superman7515]

when are you going into Delaware politics? You've got my vote. (although it would have to be a write-in)

I was deputy mayor of my hometown in slower lower at 20, youngest ever. But I don't live in a town now, so I have no local government to be involved in, haha.

[citdog]

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5kwUudLXBlA/TtxJoeGaSrI/AAAAAAAAKyo/NzjFzgs3zgY/s1600/Car%2BWash%2B2.JPG

[superman7515]

Well at least Citdog keeps showing up to have his truck washed by UNHFan@RWU.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mbb1ThfMhAk

[caribbeanhen]

I was deputy mayor of my hometown in slower lower at 20, youngest ever. But I don't live in a town now, so I have no local government to be involved in, haha.

Dorothy Oliver of Ellendale served as treasurer (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treasurer) of the NAACP (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NAACP).
Earl Isaacs of Ellendale was a delegate (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delegate) to the 1952 Republican National Convention (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1952_Republican_National_Convention) in Chicago (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago).
Air Force (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Air_Force) Major (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major_(United_States)) Sonnie Bates (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sonnie_Bates&action=edit&redlink=1) of Ellendale was given an honorable discharge in March 2000, after becoming the highest-ranking officer of Armed Forces to refuse to take the expiremental anthrax vaccine (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthrax_vaccine) in the Anthrax Vaccine Immunization Program (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthrax_Vaccine_Immunization_Program) ordered by President Bill Clinton (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Clinton).[18] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellendale,_Delaware#cite_note-18) At the time Major Bates was also the President of the Ellendale Town Council.
David Hamas of Ellendale is the current Command Sergeant Major of the United States Army.
Theodis Bowe (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Theodis_Bowe&action=edit&redlink=1) of Ellendale was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cincinnati_Reds) as a center fielder in the 21st round on Day 2 of the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_Major_League_Baseball_Draft).
Curtis Ennis of Ellendale was the 28th president of the Delaware Volunteer Firemen's Association (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delaware_Volunteer_Firemen%27s_Association).
Elmer Ennis of Ellendale was the 1996 Delaware Volunteer Firemen's Association Fireman of the Year and is a member of the Delaware Volunteer Firemen's Hall of Fame.
Norman Jones is a member of the Delaware Volunteer Firemen's Association Hall of Fame and was the 1996 Fire Policeman of the Year.
Dean Stockman is a member of the Delaware Volunteer Firemen's Association Hall of Fame and was the 1984 Heroic Fireman of the Year.
Theodore Walius is a member of the Delaware Volunteer Firemen's Association Hall of Fame and was the 1982 Heroic Fireman of the Year.
Robert Lord was the Delaware Volunteer Firemen's Association 1984 Heroic Fireman of the Year.
M. Richard Walls was the Delaware Volunteer Firemen's Association 1987 Fire Policeman of the Year.[19] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellendale,_Delaware#cite_note-19)