Core Concept

This fundraising model involves researchers publicly proposing specific, well-defined research projects with clear objectives, timelines, and budgets on online crowdfunding platforms (such as Experiment.com, GoFundMe, Kickstarter, or potentially a dedicated university platform). Funds are solicited directly from the general public, typically through numerous small donations. 

Backers often receive non-monetary benefits like exclusive project updates, acknowledgements, educational content, or early access to non-confidential results, fostering direct engagement between researchers and the public. The funds raised are designated specifically for the direct costs of the proposed research project.

Implementation Strategy & Key Steps

• Phase 1: Policy & Infrastructure Development:
  • Develop University Policy: Create a comprehensive university policy specifically governing research crowdfunding. This policy must address: approved platforms (third-party and/or internal), the internal project proposal review and approval process (evaluating scientific merit, budget feasibility, communication plan, ethical considerations), mandatory ethical clearances (IRB, IACUC, IBC) obtained prior to campaign launch, clarification of IP ownership (typically remains with university), determination of F&A application (critical policy decision), gift vs. grant classification, procedures for receiving and managing funds, guidelines for appropriate backer rewards/benefits, and use of university name/branding.
    
    
  • Identify/Select Platforms: Evaluate and approve specific third-party platforms based on fees, features, success rates for science projects, and alignment with university policies. Alternatively, consider the significant investment required to build and maintain a university-branded crowdfunding portal.
    
    
  • Create Resources & Training: Develop guidelines, best-practice resources, and potentially workshops for researchers on crafting compelling campaign narratives, creating engaging videos/visuals, developing realistic budgets, effective promotion strategies, managing backer communication, and fulfilling promises.
    
    
  • Internal Processes: Define clear workflows involving the Office of Research (approval, compliance), University Development (fundraising coordination, gift processing), Finance Office (fund management), Marketing/Communications (promotion support), and relevant ethics committees.
    
    
• Phase 2: Campaign Development & Launch:
  • Project Selection & Proposal: Researchers identify suitable projects (often smaller, tangible, with broad appeal). They develop a detailed campaign page including project description, goals, budget breakdown, team introduction, potential impact, and proposed backer updates/rewards, adhering to university guidelines.
    
    
  • Internal Approval: Researcher submits project/campaign proposal for internal review and approval according to university policy (checking scientific validity, budget, ethics, compliance).
    
    
  • Campaign Launch & Promotion: Once approved, the campaign is launched on the chosen platform. The research team actively promotes the campaign through social media, email networks, departmental/university channels, relevant online communities, and potentially local outreach (leveraging NJ location).
    
    
• Phase 3: Campaign Management & Project Execution:
  • Engage Backers: Respond to questions and comments on the platform; provide regular, engaging updates on campaign progress as promised.
    
    
  • Fund Management: If the funding goal is met (or if using flexible funding), coordinate with Finance/Development to receive and manage the funds according to university policy (including F&A application).
    
    
  • Conduct Research: Execute the proposed research project using the raised funds.
    
    
  • Fulfill Obligations: Provide ongoing updates to backers throughout the research process. Deliver any promised non-monetary rewards upon project completion. Share final results/summary in an accessible format. Acknowledge backers as agreed.

Key Stakeholders & Roles

• Internal:
  • Researchers (PIs, Students, Postdocs): Conceive projects, develop and manage crowdfunding campaigns, conduct the funded research, communicate with backers.
    
    
  • Office of Research: Develops/oversees policy, reviews/approves campaign proposals, ensures research compliance.
    
    
  • University Development/Advancement: Provides fundraising guidance, processes donations as gifts (if applicable), ensures coordination with broader fundraising efforts, manages donor data if captured centrally.
    
    
  • Finance Office: Receives and manages funds, applies F&A (per policy), ensures proper expenditure tracking.
    
    
  • Marketing/Communications: Assists in promoting approved campaigns through official university channels.
    
    
  • IRB/IACUC/IBC: Provides mandatory ethical review and approval for relevant projects before campaign launch.
    
    
  • TTO: Advises on IP implications, though IP ownership typically follows standard policy.
    
    
  • Department Administration: May provide local support and approval.
    
    
• External:
  • Crowdfunding Platform Provider: Hosts the campaign, processes payments (unless internal platform used).
    
    
  • Individual Donors/Backers: Provide the funding through the platform.
    
    
  • General Public: The target audience for donations and engagement.
    
    
  • Media/Science Communicators: Potential amplifiers for campaign promotion.
    
    

Resource Requirements

• Personnel: Significant researcher time for campaign creation, promotion, and backer engagement. Staff time in central offices (Research, Development, Finance, Communications) for policy development, oversight, review, support, and administration.
  
  
• Financial: Funding is provided by external donors. University costs include staff time for administration/support, potential platform fees (if using third-party sites), costs for creating promotional materials (e.g., video), and potentially investment in an internal platform if pursued.
  
  
• Infrastructure/Technology: Access to approved crowdfunding platform(s). University website, email, and social media for promotion. Video production/editing capabilities (basic). University financial systems for managing incoming funds.
  
  
• Policy/Administrative: A dedicated, comprehensive Research Crowdfunding Policy is essential. Streamlined internal processes for project approval, fund management, and compliance tracking are needed. Clear guidelines for researchers.
  
  

Potential Challenges & Mitigation

• Campaign Failure (Not Reaching Goal): High probability for many campaigns if not well-planned or promoted.
  • Mitigation: Mandate strong planning (compelling story, realistic budget, clear promotion strategy) in internal approval process; provide robust training/resources; encourage building audience pre-launch; leverage university communication channels strategically; consider platforms with flexible funding options.
    
    
• Researcher Time Sink: Campaign management demands significant time, potentially detracting from research.
  • Mitigation: Set clear expectations regarding time commitment; provide templates/tools to streamline content creation; encourage team efforts; integrate campaign updates with necessary research documentation/communication.
    
    
• Public Communication & Scrutiny: Managing public comments, questions, and expectations requires careful communication. Failure to deliver can damage reputation.
  • Mitigation: Train researchers in science communication and online engagement; require transparency and realistic promises in campaigns; mandate regular updates to backers; have a plan for addressing difficult questions.
    
    
• Administrative Overhead: Processing many small donations, tracking compliance, managing F&A, and potential reward fulfillment creates work.
  • Mitigation: Implement clear internal procedures tailored for crowdfunding; establish clear F&A policy for these funds; use platforms with good reporting features; keep backer rewards simple and digital; centralize support where feasible.
    
    
• Ethical Lapses: Campaigns launched without necessary IRB/IACUC approval; misleading claims; misuse of funds.
  • Mitigation: Mandatory internal review and documented ethical approvals before university permission to launch. University policy must enforce responsible conduct, accurate representation, and use of funds solely for the approved project. Transparency in budget and progress reporting.
    
    
• Platform Dependency & Fees: Reliance on third-party platforms involves fees (reducing net funds) and adherence to their terms.
  • Mitigation: Carefully vet and select approved platforms; clearly communicate fee structures to researchers (factor into goals); ensure platform terms don't conflict with university policy. Evaluate cost/benefit of an internal platform (high setup cost, no fees).

Success Metrics & Evaluation

• Financial: Total funds raised across all campaigns, average funds raised per campaign, % of campaigns meeting their funding goal, average donation amount.
  
  
• Participation & Reach: Number of campaigns launched, number of unique donors participating, geographic distribution of donors (if available), social media engagement/shares.
  
  
• Project Fulfillment: % of successfully funded projects completed, evidence of promised updates and rewards being delivered.
  
  
• Public Engagement: Qualitative assessment of public interaction, media coverage generated, increased visibility for specific research areas.
  
  
• Evaluation: Central tracking of campaign metrics by Office of Research/Development. Periodic review of policy effectiveness, administrative burden, researcher satisfaction, and overall contribution to research funding and public engagement goals. Use data to refine support structures and policies.
  
  

University Policy Considerations

• Research Crowdfunding Policy: Must be established. Covers approved platforms, internal review/approval steps (scientific, budgetary, ethical), IP clarification (usually standard policy applies), F&A rules, fund management (gift vs. grant), allowable rewards, data privacy, branding, reporting, and compliance enforcement.
  
  
• Gift Acceptance Policy: Defines how crowdfunded donations are formally accepted, processed, and acknowledged by the university.
  
  
• Intellectual Property Policy: Standard policy typically applies, affirming university ownership of inventions made using its resources, regardless of funding source.
  
  
• Ethics Policies (IRB/IACUC/IBC): Emphasize requirement for approvals before soliciting public funds.
  
  
• Communications & Branding Policy: Guidelines for use of university name/logo and representing the institution on external platforms.
  
  
• Financial Policies: Procedures for handling potentially numerous small donations, applying F&A (if policy dictates), managing designated funds, and ensuring appropriate expenditure tracking.
  
  
• Responsible Conduct of Research Policy: Applies to ensuring scientific integrity and ethical execution of crowdfunded projects.