Crowdfunding Application

Alumni Relations and Development: Northwestern Crowdfunding Application

Catalyzer and Northwestern logos

Thank you for your interest in crowdfunding through Catalyzer at Northwestern University. Please apply for a Catalyzer cycle during the application window.

Student groups are allowed to participate in one Catalyzer cycle per school year. If accepted, project leaders from each student group are required to complete online Catalyzer training and corresponding quizzes where they will be given the resources and training to successfully run a crowdfunding campaign.

Please note that groups participating in Catalyzer for the first time have a $5,000 cap for their fundraising goal. However, this does not mean you cannot raise more than that initial goal.

2024/2025 Academic Year

Catalyzer fund restrictions:

• Costumes/uniforms/props (unless rented or owned by a department)
• Fees for competition, membership dues, or entrance fees
• Food/beverage/alcohol
• Travel/lodging accommodations (unless for a speaker)
• Student/Faculty/Staff salaries to support event
• Funds being given to another organization or charity

For questions, please contact the Catalyzer Team at NUFundraising@northwestern.edu

For alumni interested in using the platform, please go to the Alumni Catalyzer Project Form

Student Organization Information

Organization Name or Department Affiliation: Required Field

Tell us about your group or organization: Required Field

Number of years your student group has existed: Required Field

Is your student group registered on Wildcat Connection? Required Field

Is your student group registered on Wildcat Connection? Yes
No

Who is invited to join your student group? Required Field

Project Leaders and Advisor

The two Project Leaders are the main contacts for the Office of Alumni Relations and Development (ARD) and will provide updates (new videos, social media postings such as Twitter and Facebook, campus events, and email) throughout the campaign (pre, during, and post). The Project Leaders will meet regularly with their ARD mentor and delegate tasks to other student group members.

Name of your group's advisor: Required Field

Advisor's title or role at Northwestern: Required Field

Advisor Email Address: Required Field

Is your advisor aware of the project submission? Required Field

Project Leader 1: First Name Required Field

Project Leader 1: Last Name Required Field

Project Leader 1: Email Required Field

Email

Project Leader 2: First Name Required Field

Project Leader 2: Last Name Required Field

Project Leader 2: Email Required Field

Email

Student organization President: Full name Required Field

Student organization President: Email Required Field

Project Information
If you are unsure on whether your project is a good candidate for Catalyzer, we encourage you to submit your application anyways and someone from the Catalyzer team will be in touch. For more on what kinds of projects might be a good fit for Catalyzer, check here.

Project Name: Required Field

Number of group members that will help with this crowdfunding campaign: Required Field

Purpose of your project: Required Field

How does your project further the mission of Northwestern University? Northwestern's mission: Northwestern is committed to excellent teaching, innovative research and the personal and intellectual growth of its students in a diverse academic community. Required Field

Who will benefit from your project? (i.e. the Northwestern community, your group's alumni, an external nonprofit, etc.): Required Field

Is your event or project open to the NU community, especially NU students? Required Field

Does it cost money for someone to attend your event, initiative, or project? Required Field

Proposed fundraising goal: Required Field

Cycle you wish to participate in crowdfunding: Required Field

Financial Information

SOFO Chartstring Number (can be obtained through the SOFO office and should be in the 731-xxxxxxx-xxxxxxxx-xx format) Required Field

Your group's annual budget: Required Field

What are your other sources of funding? (ASG, Grants, etc.)

List any additional organization fundraising activities and dates:

Why do you think you'll be successful in achieving your financial goals? Required Field

Is this project funding urgent (time dependent)? Required Field

Please download and use this budget template to submit project budgets with this application.

Using the template above, please upload your proposed budget for how funds raised through Catalyzer would be used in regards to your project. Required Field

Student organization Treasurer: Full name Required Field

Student organization Treasurer: Email Required Field

Your Contact Information

Name:

Primary Email: Required Field

Email

Cell Phone: Required Field

School:

Position on student group: Required Field

How did your group hear about Catalyzer? Required Field

Please share anything else you would like us to know about your group or your project.