Taking a page from entrepreneur’s books, the University of Kansas is turning to social media to help fund new projects.
Launch KU is a crowdfunding platform that will help fund smaller university projects. It started in November 2015, with the goal of allowing people to contribute smaller amounts to help fund university projects.
David Decker is the senior director of annual giving, which oversees Launch KU. He says budget issues nationwide have led some universities take innovative approaches to raise money.
“In an environment where budgets are becoming tighter for our university and our programs, this is providing an opportunity for units, programs, people that care about these programs to be proactive about their funding," says Decker.
Four different initiatives are currently underway, with goals range from $5,000 to $100,000.
“The projects really span the whole spectrum of human interest from academic university side all the way to projects that are making a difference in our communities," Decker says.
The Women Philanthropists for KU is fundraising for Opening Paths to Individual Opportunity and Success, which is a residential program designed to assist first-generation college students with their transition from high school to KU.
The Lied Center has almost reached their $6,500 goal to finance an interactive performing arts program for preschoolers.
The highest goal is for the Department of Film and Media Studies, which is raising money for equipment for when they move into a new building in 2017.
The KU Natural History Museum also wants to send a paleontology team to Montana this summer to look for more of a Tyrannosaurus Rex discovered there.
Decker says even if the projects don’t reach their goals, they’ll be able to keep any money they raised.
Lisa Rodriguez is a reporter and the associate producer of KCUR's Up To Date. Connect with her on Twitter @larodrig.
