Our Crowdfunding Groups
Welcome to the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse Foundation's Crowdfunding Page, Eagles Give. It is a space where students, faculty, and staff from the UWL community can come together to create, support, and share fundraising campaigns aimed at reimagining the possibilities for groups to make their projects a reality!
On the crowdfunding page, you can:
-Discover limited-time projects launched by UWL students, staff, and faculty.
-Make tax-deductible donations using a convenient and secure online form.
-Share projects with other advocates to help generate even greater interest for the campaign.
-Keep tabs on progress made toward goals and stay up-to-date on the impact made with your gift.
See some of our FAQs below and thank you for visiting. We hope you will find a project that inspires you to support UWL!
Do I have a project fit for crowdfunding?
-You have a niche project or need... Can you quickly and easily explain what you need funding for?
-Have a realistic funding goal... Can you explain how funds will be used? Is the goal manageable for the individuals we are trying to engage?
-You have a specific group dedicated to working on getting the project funded... Is there a team of faculty/staff/students who have have a vested interest in reaching the goal and time to raise money?
-A sense of urgency... Do you have a deadline to raise the money?
If YES to ALL of the above then you should proceed to the basics of crowdfunding at UWL.
Crowdfunding Basics
-Crowdfunding is the practice of funding a project or initiative by raising many small donations of money from a large number of people through an online campaign.
-Crowdfunding can be used to fundraise for a wide variety of projects initiated by faculty, staff, and students, that further UW-La Crosse's mission.
-Accepted campaigns will have goals ranging from $500 to $5,000.
-Campaigns at UWL will run for 30-60 days.
-A campaign team consists of
-Team Lead: the "project manager" and liaison with UWL Advancement. This person will submit the application, oversee/manage team members, and manage the communication plan.
-Team Members: these people are the members of your group/department/organization who will assist with developing and sharing content throughout the campaign.
-Supporters: individuals you know who will donate to your project.
-UWL Advancement: reviews project content and communication plans, consults regarding best practices and trains team on technology as needed. Additionally, Advancement will provide a step-by-step guide page builder, suggested marketing timeline, and will send between 2-4 emails on behalf of the campaign.
Who can apply to use the crowdfunding platform?
All registered UWL student, organizations, faculty, UWL staff members, colleges, departments, and other members of the UWL community that would like to raise funds through the UWL Foundation.
What do crowdfunding donations support?
It depends on the project! Past projects have used donations to fund or create scholarships and host events. We want you to feel great about making your philanthropic donation towards the department, project or program that is meaningful to you.
Why should someone contribute?
There are a number of reasons why you might contribute, but feeling passionate about the project and how your gift will help change our community is certainly a big reason. Your gift, whether big or small, supports the Eagles who are remarkable pioneers, scholars, and global leaders.
Are gifts tax deductible?
Of course! All gifts to Eagles Give campaigns are tax-deductible. Please note, sometimes if you receive a cool perk (such as a T-shirt or notepad) that has a fair market price, and following UWL policy guidelines, the cost of that item is deducted from your total tax deductible amount.
For your records, UWL's federal taxpayer ID for gifts to the UWL Foundation is 39-1145116. Please visit the UWL Foundation financial reports and history for additional information. If you have questions, please reach out to our Donor Relations team and mention the Eagles Give campaign you gave to and they'll be sure to help. You may direct questions via email to foundation@uwlax.edu or call 877-895-3863.
What kind of campaigns are successful on Eagles Give?
Successful campaigns typically are led by passionate individuals who are engaged in their adventure to make a difference in their community.
How long does it take to prepare for a campaign?
Typically, it is recommended that crowdfunding teams set aside 30-45 days to plan and prepare prior to their campaign launch. The rule of thumb is to apply 90 days before you need your funding in the bank. This gives the team time to apply, be approved, plan and implement their campaigns within the Eagles Give platform.
How much information do I need to provide in the application?
Our application process is very extensive, but we recommend as much as possible, especially regarding the budget and distribution of funds raised in order to ensure the project can be approved in a timely manner. You will also want to demonstrate in full detail how the project will impact the UWL campus community in a positive way.
How are Eagles Give funds disbursed?
Funds raised through Eagles Give are disbursed to the college, organization, or department fund within the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse Foundation.
All new crowdfunding projects must establish a fund or use a fund they already have within the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse Foundation. Contact us if you have questions about establishing a fund: twilmoth@uwlax.edu
Why should I use Eagles Give rather than another crowdfunding platform?
Eagles Give is the only approved fundraising platform for crowdfunding projects affiliated with the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse. Therefore if other platforms like GoFundMe are found to be used, they will be taken down and all funds raised will go back to the donors & the party will be banned from using the Eagles Give platform for the remaining of the academic year.
Donors who make a gift through Eagles Give are making a direct impact on the project they are wanting to support at the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse rather than giving to a third-party crowdfunding platform. That means that their gifts are tax-deductible and they are subject to the same record keeping procedure as regular UWL donors.
What happens after I submit a crowdfunding application?
Eagles Give crowdfunding applications are reviewed by the UWL Advancement team before being given approval to start raising funds.
In the review process, applications may be approved as submitted, revised to meet UWL Foundation guidelines or deferred to a later date. A member of the team will reach out to project teams as updates are made to their application.
General FAQ
Who should I contact if I have a question about my gift?
For general questions about your gift, please email foundation@uwlax.edu or call 608-785-6803.
When will my credit card be charged?
Your card will be charged immediately.
Is my contribution tax-deductible?
Yes, contributions to UWL support the university and are eligible for income tax charitable deduction as allowed by law. You will receive an email confirmation that may serve as your receipt for tax purposes.
Will I receive a receipt for my contribution?
Yes, UWL will send you a gift receipt via email for tax purposes.