Welcome to HenFunder!

 

HenFunder is UD’s crowdfunding platform that provides a quick, easy and effective way to raise funds for a variety of campus projects, scholarships, athletic programs and other much needed student resources. HenFunder allows your group to leverage your social media network to reach not only returning donors but new donors to maximize fundraising efforts. HenFunder provides an online fundraising project page as well as sample posts and emails to communicate with your network. Project campaigns typically run over the course of 30-45 days.

 

100% of the funds raised through HenFunder will be credited to your fundraising project!

 

If you or your group have any questions regarding fundraising at UD, please view the list of FAQs below or contact us at annualgiving@udel.edu

FAQs

FAQs for Donors

Yes! All gifts made through the University of Delaware's Community Funded platform will go directly to the University and are tax-deductible.

Yes, 100% of your gift will go directly to the project(s) you choose to support.

Yes! The crowdfunding platform, Community Funded, which has partnered with the University of Delaware, will not share any of your information. All gifts are collected through the University's official payment processing vendor, CashNet.

Yes. If you prefer not to have your name listed as a donor, simply uncheck the box that says “display name when you checkout.”

Absolutely. Please include a note with your check that you are supporting a specific project and we will make sure that your contribution goes towards the project's totals.

Of course. Once you select one project to support, you will be prompted to continue reviewing projects or go to checkout, similar to an online shopping experience.

FAQs for Project Leaders

All types of projects can be submitted, however, they must have an official UD account in which funds can be deposited into. If your group does not have an account, or if you are not sure if it has an account, contact us at annualgiving@udel.edu.

Project goals will vary, but the most successful will be between $1,000 and $5,000. Project goals of over $5,000 will be considered on an individual basis.

Projects must raise 50% of goal submitted within the first 30 days of the campaign to remain active.

If you find that you are not quite to 50%, here are some strategic ideas you can employ:

  • Be sure you hold everyone in your group accountable. Give each fundraiser an individual goal.
  • If you have been sending emails to a list, recruit members of your project group to send personal emails to individuals on the list. Split the list among the group to avoid duplication and to make follow-up easier.
  • Have members of your project post to social media about the importance of the project and share with their network.
  • Reach out to your department’s Director of Development for guidance to identify potential /individual donors who may have an affinity for your specific cause and make a personal ask.

Even if a project does not reach its goal, all funds raised will go toward the project. But know that your project could be archived. If your project does not reach 50% by the end of the first month it will be removed. If you need additional time to reach your goal, please contact annualgiving@udel.edu to discuss the needs of the project.

Great! All funds raised will go toward the project and can help provide additional resources and opportunities for the cause. You may increase your goal if you wish.

As much as possible. If we think you have too much, we can help you revise. If you can submit photos, video, names of the beneficiaries and any information about what you are specifically fundraising for, you will be the most successful.

The more people that you have spreading the word about your project, the more likely it will succeed. Videos on your project page also help to make the donor feel engaged and get a personal look at your project. In addition, regular email communication and social media posts (on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and any others that you have a following on) will keep your project relevant and create a sense of urgency. Try to send out an email at least once a week to your friends and family, as well as posting on social media at a minimum of once a week. Check out this helpful Henfunder Toolkit for sample emails, social posts and more.

Funds will only be deposited into University accounts associated with your project. You will need to work with your University representative to access your accounts.

Here is a helpful Henfunder Toolkit with sample emails, social posts and other ways to market your project among your program's followers. The Office of Development and Alumni Relations (DAR) is planning on sending out one email a month highlighting all active projects and encouraging visitors to explore the site. However, project owners should NOT rely on the DAR email as the only way to generate traffic to their project pages. It is up to the project owners to develop their marketing/communication plans and send their projects out to colleagues, friends and family to encourage support. 

HenFunder Policies

This document outlines the internal and external policies for using the HenFunder platform at the University of Delaware. This will be publically available for potential fundraising groups to view. When a group uses the platform, they are agreeing to these policies. The University of Delaware reserves the right to change these policies at any time.

The University of Delaware’s Annual Giving Department, in its sole discretion, will select the participating projects for UD’s online HenFunder platform. The Annual Giving Department reserves the right to discontinue an active fundraising group at any time for any reason, without notice, including, and without limitation because of a group’s eligibility status or a group’s failure to comply with the University of Delaware’s policies.

To ensure compliance with University of Delaware policies, all projects must have a UD approved development account into which funds will be distributed. If a fundraising group or project does not have a UD development account already created, the University of Delaware’s Development and Alumni Relations Office will determine whether or not the group/project qualifies for its own development account.

Henfunder is not permitted for personal use. Only those with an approved University account may utilize this platform to raise money for their department, program or group.

HenFunder Lead Ambassadors are the primary fundraising individuals that are responsible to promote their cause in the following ways:

  • Provide photo(s) that represent their group or project
  • Create a video to support the need
  • Write content that clearly articulates their project’s goal
  • Develop a target audience comprised of email addresses of interested parties
  • Commit to enlisting a minimum of five (5) social media volunteer ambassadors to help spread the word
  • Prepare personal thank-you messages to donors, and submit updates on how they will be spending the funds (for example, notifying donors through the HenFunder platform that the group reached their goal and will now be purchasing new equipment this month)

Note: Fundraising groups that increase their outreach are more likely to succeed. Research shows that groups with 30% fulfillment of their goal within 48 hours are most likely to achieve their total goal.

The Annual Giving Department will not provide any contact data on alumni, parents, friends or students. It is the responsibility of the HenFunder Ambassadors to contact their own personal contacts. For more information on ways to promote your fundraising page, please contact annualgiving@udel.edu.

The University of Delaware’s Development and Alumni Relations (DAR) team will provide all official tax receipts issued to donors.

HenFunder is not intended to serve as a primary account for funds but rather an online fundraising platform. Therefore, offline donations will only be accepted on a case-by-case basis with advance approval sought by a written request. Scholarship campaigns will show uploaded offline gifts at the frequency agreed upon when the campaign is created. When offline donations are approved and uploaded to an online campaign, the names of offline donors may not be highlighted. All offline donations will be added as a one-line item from an anonymous donor. Full account balances may not be accessible within HenFunder due to offline contributions.

Premiums and services are not to be used to induce gifts. Incentives and sales, such as, and without limitation, bake sales, t-shirt giveaways, car washes, or similar events or activities, are not permissible, as it affects a donor’s right to a full tax deduction for his/her gift.

HenFunder Ambassadors are strictly prohibited from keeping any portion of the funds raised as a profit or compensation.

Each project will be hosted on the HenFunder platform for a pre-determined amount of time, no more than 4-6 weeks, though some exceptions may apply (note: quick campaigns tend to drive urgency and perform better). If the project is not funded within the allotted timeframe, the funds raised will still be allocated to the project; however, the Annual Giving Department will remove the project from the HenFunder platform and will no longer actively market the project. Any funds raised, even without meeting the final goal, should be spent to offset the cost of the promoted project.

The same fundraising group may not participate in back to back terms; however, it may be considered again following its project end date.

When possible, HenFunder Ambassadors should provide the University their list of potential donors at the time of project submission. This may help the Annual Giving Department determine the eligibility of a project.

Projects should have specific goals and be driven by tangible accomplishments – for example, buying new club equipment, funding Alternative Break travel fees, or providing student workshop opportunities. Projects without a specific goal are generally less successful and may not qualify for their own project page.

All content on project pages will be approved by the Annual Giving Department. UD has the right to edit, or require edits by HenFunder Ambassadors, at any point in the campaign.

The Annual Giving Department reserves the right to decline any project based on content or discontinue an active fundraiser at any time due to changes in the group’s eligibility status.

The University of Delaware is a 501c3 non-profit educational institution with a mission to provide excellent teaching, research, and public service. In order for HenFunder Ambassadors to ask for a gift of any amount to the University, all gifts must be compliant with the institution’s mission. Projects must align with UD’s purpose. Projects cannot violate any laws. All gifts must be spent on the project’s expenses as specified on the HenFunder platform and in the anticipated timeframe per campaign. Projects must support UD programs and initiatives. Funds cannot be redirected to a third-party, external charity such as the ALS Foundation, Big Brothers and Big Sisters, etc. Funds cannot be raised as a “Pass Through” to other charities.