Student Academic Fundraising

Fundamentals and Processes

Contents

• Flowchart for External Fundraising Process

• Importance of Coordinated Requests

• Getting Donors

• Handling donations: Integrity and Accountability

• Stewardship: Continuing the Relationship

Flowchart for External Student Fundraising

Student has a project, event, program or activity in mind

Academic-related projects/programs

Student submits proposals/appeals to School Chair to seek approval for external funding

unsuccessful

Approved

Additional Approval for External Funding

Student obtains approval from Dean’s Offices to ensure alignment with strategic funding priorities and avoid competing for College’s space for private support.

If ≥ $100,000

Internal Funding

Student explores internal funding possibilities

Student Org/Hall/Affinity-related group-related activities

Student submits proposals/appeals to Dean of Students/SAO to seek approval for external funding

Submission of Proposal

Proposal submitted for external funding

External Funding

Student explores external funding possibilities

Approved

Approved

Support from Development Office

Development Office can assist if Dean’s Office recommends that such project are of strategic academic fit with their college’s funding priorities

DO’s Annual Giving programmes raises funds for:

• School Advancement Funds (Administered by Chair of Schools)

• Students Activities Fund ( administered by SAO)

Across the University, DO raises funds for academic units:• Professorships and Fellowships

• Bursaries, Scholarships, Awards of Excellence

• Programmes and projects

• Centres and Institutes

• School specific endowments

• Overseas Programs: GIP, INSTEP, GO FAR,GDP, INTERNSHIPS.

Importance of Coordinated Requests

Importance of Coordinated Requests

• Avalanche of requests

- Students, faculty, staff, Development Office, President’s Office –

all approaching almost the same organisations and foundations

- Appeals and requests from other universities and organisations

• You are a small voice in the flood

• Prioritize your funding requests and strategize

Getting Donors– Some Tips

Prospect AskCultivate

Where to find your Prospects (a good match):

• Alumni of your School / College / Division

• Sponsorships from businesses with specific interest in your cause

• Special interest clubs/societies that stand for your cause

• Grants from charitable foundations or community organizations with

specific interest in your cause

Getting Donors

Getting Donors

• Don’t mail the entire phonebook – choose your target eg.

– Companies in the same line of business as your activity

– Companies whose customer profile matches your participants in

your event

– Companies/ orgs with history of supporting your kind of event/

cause

– Companies whose sponsorship policy matches what you are

looking for/ the benefits you can offer

Getting Donors

• Leverage on existing relationships eg.

Approach alumni of your school to donate or open doorso They can relate best to your causeo They have a ready interest in your activities and clubo They have access to new resources/ or different circles of contacts

• Build a school club database of past members ie. alumni

• Build a database of past donors, their gift amounts and events supported

• Call /discuss/visit the contact person in the

organisation to learn their process/procedures/ timeline

Writing a Funding Proposal

1. Project overview

• What, where, when

2. Need Statement

• Not your need, but the macro needs of the field

• Why your FYP/programmes exists and what you stand for to

improve society. What is your purpose to serve the greater good?

3. Proposed Solution

• What you intend to do to address the need, solve the problem

4. Objectives/ goals of the project/ event/ or benefits to the

community

• State measurable outcomes (not just project activities)

5. History of the project (if appropriate)

6. Parties carrying out the project (if appropriate)

If specialists/ experts are involved, include relevant

qualifications

7. Event promotions (if appropriate)

8. Sponsor benefits (if appropriate)

9. Why the prospect should be interested in your project/ event

Overcome objections, defend the idea

• Show alignment with prospect’s objectives

• Your ability to carry out the project

• Your ability to meet project objectives

10. Funding level requested of the prospect

11.Cover Letter (summarizes all the above points, including funding

level requested). Thank them for considering your request.

Handling Donations: Integrity & Accountability

Now that you’ve received the cheque

(payable to Nanyang Technological University),

What do you do?

Donation/ Sponsorship for Student Academic Projects

e.g. FYP, academic curriculum related projects

Cheques

Student informs donor to indicate the following in Payment Advice:

1.A/c Name: Nanyang Technological University

2.School and Project Title

In-Kind Donation

Student submits

to DO for recording purposes

GIRO

Student informs donor to indicate the following in Bank Advice:

1.A/c Name: Nanyang Technological University

2.A/c Number: OCBC 537 010027 001

3.School and Project Title

Students submit to School:

1.Sponsor’s letter, with cheque

2. (must be duly completed)

Students submit receipts/invoices to School to process paymentsDO generates tax-deductible receipts and thank-you letters to donors, with c.c. to Chair of the School

School endorses Gift Transmittal Form and forwards it with the payment and sponsor’s letter to DO

In-Kind Donation Form

Gift Transmittal Form

5 Working days later

Handling Donations: Integrity & Accountability

On receiving a cash gift:• Download and fill in the Gift Transmittal Form. Why?

- Proper processing by NSS Finance

- Government Matching is 1 :1

- Tax benefits for donor

- Appropriate recognition by NTU

On receiving an in-kind donation • Download and fill in In-kind Donation Form

- Send to DO for donor acknowledgement

Handling Donations: Integrity & Accountability

If donation handling procedure is not followed:

• NTU unable to get government matching dollars – “free money”

• Donor does not get double tax deduction

• Donor does not get recognised (listed) in NTU Annual Report or

Honour Roll of Donors

• Audit checks by Commissioner of Charities: NTU’s IPC status

Stewardship: Continuing the Relationship

Thank You!Thank You!

Thank You!Thank You!

Stewardship: Continuing the Relationship

• Saying thanks and showing gratitude/ interest

– Letter or handwritten note to thank donor, telephone call, face to face

– Send greeting cards/ congratulatory notes when appropriate

• Engage donors/ prospects

– Update donors/ prospects on progress

• Newsletters, articles, news clippings of your club’s activities

• Photos/ videos/ write-ups of event/ project

• Notes/ cards from beneficiaries

– Involve donors

• Invite them to your event to see the buzz/ to volunteer on field trips

• Ask for their opinion, invite feedback

Stewardship: Continuing the Relationship

• Accountability

– Let donors know donations have been used appropriately, outcomes are

achieved

• News clippings, photos/ videos/ testimonials etc

– Inform donors if funds need to be put to different uses from initially

agreed/ project has changed in material way

• Think and act long-term

– Students come and go but the School’s student projects remains

– Revisit the donor for another student’s project next year

Questions?