The MIT Annual Fund is collaborating with ScaleFunder to offer the MIT community a crowdfunding platform to raise funds for their projects, research, groups, and/or programs. Similar to Kickstarter or Indiegogo, this MIT-exclusive, Institute-supported crowdfunding platform is an easy-to-use tool to collect donations, build cause awareness, and connect socially.

The practice of funding a project or venture by raising many small amounts of money from a large number of people, typically via the Internet.

Groups and individuals affiliated with MIT, including students, alumni, faculty, and staff, can create their own crowdfunding projects on the site, and raise money for innovative creations, service trips, events, research, and other MIT-specific uses.

To get started you will need to apply. Please note, due to the time restraints and staffing that is needed to launch a project, only a limited number of Crowdfund MIT projects will be approved per fiscal year.

The following is required to run a successful crowdfunding campaign:

• Fund designation. You must have an active Fund designation to participate, and it must be listed on the giving to MIT website. If you do not have such an account, we can instruct you how to go about creating one. 
  
  
• Case statement. Tell people why your campaign deserves to be funded. Contributors fund ideas they're passionate about and support people they trust. Introduce yourself and your background. Describe your project and why it's important to you. Explain to contributors what you're hoping to achieve. Keep it concise, yet personal.
  
  
• Include a pitch video or presentation, the more interactive the better.
  
  
• Recruit a team of 5-10 alumni, student, or staff volunteers. We understand campaigns with teams raise 80% more funds than those run by an individual, and we want you to share best practices with other volunteers.
  
  
• Commitment to work. With rare exception, campaigns don’t go viral; for each success story there are dozens of failures. It’s up to you and your volunteers to put in a great deal of effort in preparation of a campaign and during the campaign. The volunteer lead should commit to work and estimate 2-3 hours per week, and other volunteers 1-2 hours per week.
  
  
• Approval from MIT Annual Fund office. Your fund, case statements, videos and/or other supporting materials, and volunteer lists must meet the satisfaction of the MIT Annual Fund. Willingness to try new ideas and share successful ideas with Annual Fund team as well as other project teams is essential.

A campaign is “live” for 30 - 45 days, but requires at least 3 months of work from start to finish — application to campaign completion — in order to be successful. Plus, you should spend time after the campaign to thank you donors and provide updates on the impact of their gifts.

Please allow 7 to 10 days for your application to be reviewed. Your application will be reviewed by MIT Annual Fund staff, and may include alumni and student volunteers. Approved campaigns will then be added to the schedule. A MIT Annual Fund staff member will then follow-up with the applicant.

There are no costs or fees associated with Crowdfund MIT.