Student Org Giving & Fundraising

Donors

To give to a student organization, follow the link below to visit our Student Org Giving Form. Just choose the organization(s) you would like to give to, enter your payment information, and submit! You will receive a receipt or your gift for your records. Thank you for your support of student organizations at CSUSM! 

Give to Student Organizations

If you would like to discuss additional support of student organizations at CSUSM, please contact the Student Leadership & Involvement Center via email at studentorg@csusm.edu or by phone at (760) 750-4970

Student Org Fundraising Tools

Recognized student organizations have the ability to utilize a variety of methods to raise funds to support the mission of the organization. See below for further information about what organization funds can be used for and what fundraising options are available to you as a student organization.

Reasons for Fundraising

Why might a student organization want to fundraise? Fundraising can help your organization raise money for a variety of purposes, including:

• Educational Opportunities
  Organization funds can be used to pay for educational or developmental opportunities for members, such as attending a conference, bringing in a guest speaker, or enrolling in a training program. 
• Event & Program Supplies
  Organization funds can be used to purchase supplies for events and meetings, such as food, beverages, decorations, or prizes, and to pay for space and equipment rental fees. 
• Organization Spirit & Community
  Organization funds are sometimes used to build organization spirit and community by purchasing items like t-shirts, jackets, backpacks, or other spirit items for members. 
• Philanthropic Causes
  Some organizations choose to support various philanthropic causes with monetary donations from student organization funds. 

Fundraising Options

If your organization wants to raise funds, where do you start? Check out the following recommended options:

• Student Org Giving Site

  Students Organizations can encourage donors to give online via the Student Org Giving Form. This form allows donors to select the student organization they want to support and enter their payment information electronically. Funds are then deposited straight into the organization’s account. This new feature is the simplest way to get your organization the funding you need!

  Benefits

  • Easy to promote: Share the giving link on your social media channels and marketing materials!
  • Easy for donors: Donors can easily select your org from the list and set up a one-time or recurring donation electronically.
  • Easy for orgs: Donations made on the site are simple and secure. Funds are deposited directly into your org's account, and there is no need for handling cash or making a deposit.

  Reminders

  • The giving site collects a 5% processing fee for all donations.
  • Do not use the giving site as a point-of-sale system for goods or services (selling t-shirts, crafts, food, etc). 
• Cougar Crowdfunding

  Do you have a great idea, project, or event that could really take off with a little support? Cougar Crowdfunding is designed to help student organizations raise funds by sharing impactful stories to bring groups of donors together to fund specific projects during a time-constrained campaign.

  For more information, please visit the Cougar Crowdfunding website or contact Alex Perkins, Digital Giving Specialist, at aperkins@csusm.edu.

• Community Partner Fundraisers

  Student organizations have the ability to collaborate with community partner organizations for fundraising opportunities. Some common types of fundraisers are:

  • Restaurant Fundraisers: Student organizations can partner with restaurants to donate a portion of sales on a specific date to the organization.
  • Donation Drives: Student organizations can partner with community organizations to encourage donations to their organization or a cause of their choosing.

  Any organization collaborating with an outside organization for a fundraising opportunity must complete the following steps:

  • Notify SLIC of your fundraising plans in writing by sending an email to studentorg@csusm.edu
  • Ensure that your organization is following proper cash-handling and deposit procedures. 
  • If the partner organization requests a W-9 Form, Employer Identification Number (EIN), or Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), contact SLIC at studentorg@csusm.edu or (760) 750-4970.

  For more information about how to prepare for a community partner fundraiser, contact SLIC at studentorg@csusm.edu or (760) 750-4970. 

• Sale of Goods

  Student organizations have the option of selling goods such as crafts or food to raise funds. Organizations often choose to sell items that are relevant to the mission and purpose of their organization, such as culurally relevent food, crafts, or event tickets. 

  All organizations planning to sell goods to fundraise must complete the following steps:

  • Notify SLIC of your fundraising plans in writing by sending an email to studentorg@csusm.edu
  • Ensure that your organization is following proper cash-handling and deposit procedures. 
  • If selling food: Ensure that all organization members handling food have a current Food Handlers certification from CSUSM or San Diego County

Fundraising Tips & Tricks

• Share your story!
  Tell people about why your organization is important, how it has impacted your experience as students, and how it impacts others.
• Share your goals.
  Tell your audience how the funds will be used and set a target goal.
• Encourage repeat donations.
  Ask donors to set up a recurring gift.
• Determine your target audience.

  Who would be the most likely population to donate to your organization or cause? The following groups can be a good place to start:

  • Alumni
  • Community members 
  • Outside organizations (community organizations or companies connected to the purpose of your organization)
  • Family members
  • Fellow students
  • University faculty and staff
• Connect with your alumni!
  Alumni love to give to groups they were part of that made their CSUSM experience meaningful. They can be a great source of funding!
• Thank your donors!
  Whenever possible, make sure to follow up and express your gratitude to your donors! 
• Share your results!
  Anytime you engage in a coordinated fundraising campaign, remember to publicy share the results and thank your donors!