Firstly, a quick glossary…

When ‘Sponsor’ is referred to in the FAQs, this means anyone who wishes to support a crowdfunding campaign. As it is a donation to an enrichment project, the terms ‘Sponsor’, ‘supporter’ and ‘donor’ are often used interchangeably. The FAQs also refer to the role of the ‘Creator’. The role of the ‘Creator’ is the person that is responsible for the crowdfunding campaign and whose project it is to run if the desired funds are raised. Again, you may read the terms ‘Creator’, ‘project owner’ or ‘project manager’ used to describe this role.

How Crowdfunding Works

At the University of Salford, we like to do things a little differently in order to ensure the maximum benefit to current and future students. Therefore, we have partnered up with our friends at Hubbub to bring you FundUS – a crowdfunding hub that facilitates projects from our community come to fruition. This means that you could see projects created by our students, staff and university members in need of your support. The projects available for crowdfunding have been carefully- selected by the Alumni Engagement & Development team at the University, and are the types of projects that would usually be the focus of our philanthropic work, and where traditional sources of funding may not reach. FundUS recognises just how important the student experience and working with the community is to students having an enriching study experience. Therefore, you may find crowdfunding projects to sponsor students go on placements, to help provide resources to our many clubs and societies, or ensure that student groups can really achieve their full potential.

The University already has a fantastic community of students, staff, alumni and other stakeholders who already support our work as an exempt charity, and FundUS is a new way for the social media- savvy among us to support our philanthropic mission at the click of a button. Don’t forget, we like to keep you updated with the progress of the project you have supported, so you will automatically receive updates about it.

For more information on the University’s charitable remit and the types of projects have we already fundraise for, please visit our priorities webpage.

For more information on the sponsorship process for both Sponsors and Creators, please visit our About section.

Who can be a Creator?

FundUS has been created for students, so a Creator must be a registered member of a university, college or school. Where the Creator is a member of staff, the project must be for the direct benefit of students.

Crowdfunding is an inherently public process so, for child protection reasons, Creators have to be at least 16 years old. If younger than this, students can ask a member of staff at their school to register as the Creator of the project, e.g. their teacher or coach.

Why do alumni sponsor projects?

Most alumni had close attachment to clubs and societies during their time at university, college or school. They are keen to help and support their old establishments, especially when Creators offer them rewards which help them to reconnect.

How much can Creators raise for projects?

University of Salford supports all sorts of projects, from big to small. However, to ensure success for all of the worthy endeavours on FundUS, We will be looking for projects that would like to raise anywhere up to £3,000. We will be looking to your communications plan when you come to pitch for us, as we would like to be sure that your project has the social media reach to be a fundraising success.

What is all-or-nothing funding?

All-or-nothing funding means that unless your project has achieved its minimum fundraising target by its fundraising deadline, no donations or rewards change hands.

Assuming you reach your minimum target by your fundraising deadline, we will process your pledges. In order to arrange payment, please contact us after your completion date. If we don’t hear from you, we will get in touch with you.

Account Settings

Can I change my profile name?

Make sure you're logged in, go to 'account', and click on the 'edit profile' button.

I forgot my password. How can I log in?

D'oh! You can reset your password by clicking the 'reset your password' link on the login page. You will be sent an mail which contains a link to gain access to your account.

How do I delete my account?

Contact Hubbub by using our the contact form! We'll miss you!

Can I change my email notification settings?

You will only receive emails (from Hubbub in partnership with FundUS at the University of Salford) about projects which you are following. To stop receiving these, go to the project page and click 'Follow' - when the pink heart is absent you won't receive email updates. If you no longer wish to receive Hubbub’s newsletter, click on 'Unsubscribe' at the bottom of any newsletter.

Starting your project

What types of projects are we looking for?

Yes please:

✓ Student-centric projects
✓ Projects with tangible outcomes eg. The purchase of equipment,completion of a trip etc
✓ Project managers/teams with a ‘can-do’ attitude and social media savvy
✓ Projects that enhance the student experience
✓ Projects with entrepreneurship and industry-ready skills as outcomes

No thanks:

✗ Projects that contravene the University’s values of inclusivity and respect
✗ Any fundraising to cover fees. Please visit http://www.askus.salford.ac.uk/page/fees if you require further assistance.
✗ Any fundraising to cover the cost of living. If you would like to access funding for this, please visit http://www.askus.salford.ac.uk/page/salford-support- fund.
✗ Funding for external charities – the University of Salford has exempt charity status

A few rules do apply and you can see these in the Hubbub Guidelines. For more information, please see our Crowdfunding Guide on the ‘Create’ page of this site.

I'm raising money for charity. Can I post on Hubbub?

The University of Salford was granted exempt charity status by statutory instrument in May 1967 (exempt charity number XN7329), which gives us permission to raise funds for vital resources such as bursaries, hardship grants and research – which may not be within the reach of traditional funding streams but are crucial to student opportunities. FundUS is the University’s way of facilitating the raising of funds by staff or students of the University for much-needed projects that have student opportunities at its core.

As the University of Salford is an exempt charity in our own right, if you wish to raise money for other charities, there may be better ways to go about this. Why not try logging on to your chosen charity’s website for their recommendations on how to raise money on their behalf?

Are a minimum needed, funding target and completion date required?

Yes! A minimum needed, funding target and completion date are all required. For advice on selecting your funding target and completion date, please visit Hubbub Academy.

If you are a student and your project fundraising campaign is successful, we will contact you to arrange the secure transfer of funds. If you are a member of staff we will be in touch to arrange allocation of funds to your project.

You can find out more about how we collect donations and transfer these to Project Creators under ‘Transfer of Funds’ in our FAQs.

What is all-or-nothing funding?

All-or-nothing funding means that unless your project has achieved its minimum fundraising target by its fundraising deadline, no donations or rewards change hands.

Assuming you reach your minimum target by your fundraising deadline, we will process your pledges. In order to arrange payment, please contact us using our contact form after your completion date. If we don’t hear from you, we will get in touch with you.

Rewards

Are rewards required?

Yes! We've found that offering a reward for a donation helps Sponsors to engage with your project and encourages donations. The better your rewards, the more likely you are to reach your funding target. But remember, you only need to deliver your rewards if your project reaches its minimum needed and after you have received your funding. This means that the funds you receive will cover the cost of rewards.

For advice on choosing rewards, check out FundUS's Rewards Guide.

Who creates the rewards?

You, the Creator, create the rewards. The better they are the more likely you are to get donations. However, the cost and number of the rewards is also controlled by you, so do consider this when choosing them.

What can be offered?

We leave this largely to you. Rewards are typically items connected to the project itself – a copy of the CD recorded, a limited edition of the magazine, a signed print of the show. Many Creators will also wish to offer experiences – tickets to a show, a concert or a society dinner are popular. Then there are various forms of accreditation reward ranging from a mention on your website or in your magazine to naming something after a Sponsor. Anything that seeks to build a relationship with Sponsors is a great approach.

For advice on choosing rewards, check out FundUS's Rewards Guide.

What cannot be offered?

No alcohol, drugs or pornography please! Investment, loan solicitations and coupons or discounts on future goods are also forbidden. We don't want you to get locked up! Offering raffle tickets, lotteries and sweepstakes is illegal in some countries. In the UK you must notify your local authority if you are ever planning to sell tickets for this type of event publicly.

Can I limit the quantity of a reward?

Yes. When you add a reward to your proposal, you will be asked to specify whether it is in limited supply and, if so, how many you are able to provide.

How can I get Sponsors' information to give them their rewards?

We will collect all of the information you need for you and make it available to you after your completion date if your project is successful.

Why doesn't the number of Sponsors match the number of rewards?

Sponsors have the option of selecting a reward beneath their donation level or to select no reward at all.

After Submission

What happens after I submit my project?

By the time that you have set up your project and submitted it, you should have already had a chat with one of the team at the University of Salford, and should have a pretty good idea of what we are looking for in a project. Please bear in mind that we will be particularly keen to understand your strategy for reaching out to potential supporters, as this is essential if your crowdfunding campaign is going to be a success.

At the moment, we are looking for projects to be featured on FundUS at specific times of the year. If you are looking to put your project forward for crowdfunding, please speak to us in the first instance by emailing supporters@salford.ac.uk and we will advise you of the next available crowdfunding window.

For advice on how to promote you project, you can visit the Promotion section of Hubbub Academy.

They also have some great advice and checklists in their Promotions Guide.

Can I edit my project after submitting?

Sorry! Apart from us needing to keep reviewing amended proposals, we feel this allows too much room for Creators to change the deal after Sponsors have made donations.

However, you can add updates to your project once published so that Sponsors can keep track of the latest developments.

Can I change my minimum, funding goal or completion date after submitting?

No. It is not permitted to edit your project after submission.

Can I edit my project after funding is completed?

No, otherwise Creators would be able to raise money donated for one purpose and then spend it on something different. This isn't fair on your Sponsors.

How many projects can I post at the same time?

Our advice is to only post one project at a time to FundUS. We want to make sure that you are maximising your social media networks effectively, and by only focusing on one project at a time, you can ensure that you are getting the message out to your networks in the best way possible.

Can I share my project with friends before I submit?

Yes. In the sense that you will be able to discuss what you're doing with people online and via word of mouth. However, you will not be able to send people a link to your project in draft mode (though screenshots are possible).

Can I cancel my project?

You can cancel a project by informing us using our contact form. We will notify your Sponsors.

Can I retry if unsuccessful?

Yes. If you didn't reach your minimum you can re-submit your project as many times as you like. However, we recommend that you make some alterations. Why weren't you successful last time? Would a different funding target or completion date help?

You can view advice on setting these in Hubbub Academy.

What happens if funding is completed before the completion date?

Nothing! There isn't an option to end a project early. Donations are only collected at the completion date. We allow Sponsors to continue donating even after your target has been reached so you could even generate more. We have found that projects offering great rewards have managed to achieve many times their funding target!

Can I raise more than my minimum needed?

Yes. Your minimum needed is the minimum you need with which to carry out your project.

How many Creators can I have on my project?

There can only be one Creator account per project, but you should definitely get help from your friends and other society, club, group or department members to help create and promote it. Your kind colleagues who are willing to lend a hand sound like the ideal candidates to become helpers. People can register to become helpers by visiting your project page and clicking the ‘become a helper’ button.

Can I pledge to my own project?

Sadly no. Credit card rules do not allow Creators to make a payment to themselves. This prevents individuals from attempting to obtain a cash advance. Please don't try it - not even from another account. PayPal may suspend your account, but may not tell you until after the project completion date. This will mean losing all of your Sponsors' donations!

Where can I find Sponsors?

Finding Sponsors is vital if you are to achieve your funding target. For advice on how to promote you project, please visit the Promotion section of Hubbub Academy.

Fees

Thanks to historic generosity of our alumni and friends at the University of Salford, for the year up to the end of July 2018, we are delighted to say that the University will be able to cover any transaction fees on your behalf. This means that 100% of the funds raised goes straight to the project’s success.

Does it cost anything to post on Hubbub?

No. Not a penny. Payment fees will only be applied when a project is successfully funded.

Can I still support a crowdfunding project on the FundUS webpage if I live overseas?

Yes you can, but it is important to know where you stand and what support the University of Salford is set up to provide:

USA: The University of Salford is not directly set up to provide tax-effective giving to those living in the USA or those that have a USA bank account. Therefore, you can still support any project you would like and you can still use the usual ‘Sponsor’ button on your chosen project’s page – your contribution will just not be tax deductible.

Canada: The University of Salford is delighted to be on the list of ‘prescribed universities outside Canada’, which means we are able to issue you with a tax receipt for your contribution. In practice, this means that you can still use the usual ‘Sponsor’ button and payment facility on FundUS, but if you would like a tax receipt, please email us on supporters@salford.ac.uk with your full name and address, then title your email ‘Canadian Tax Receipt Request’. Please note that tax receipts can only be issued for donations of £20.00 or more. It may take some time to issue the tax receipts as tax receipts can only be processed once full payment is taken from you at the end of your chosen project’s campaign. For more info, please visit this webpage.

Europe/ Rest of the World: You are most welcome to support your chosen project through the standard ‘Sponsor’ button on the project’s page, but we are unfortunately unable to support any tax-effective giving schemes that you may be eligible for.

… And remember! If you are not a UK taxpayer and do not meet the criteria listed on the payment page, your gift will not be eligible for us to claim Gift Aid on.

Project Media

Do I have to make a video?

No, but a video is highly recommended as it greatly improves your chances of achieving your funding target.

Can I add a video later?

No. You can't edit a project after submitting it.

Any advice on what makes a great video?

Hop on over to the Video section of Hubbub Academy for advice on how to put a great video together.

What types of video can I use?

Hubbub accepts Vimeo and YouTube videos.

How large can my video's file size be?

Hubbub accepts Vimeo and YouTube videos. Vimeo's basic account has a limit of 500mb per file and 5GB for premium accounts. Youtube has a limit of 2GB.

How many images can I have?

One video, but as many images as you like! You just need to enter the web address of the image in your project description.

Can I use music on my video?

Yes, but only if you have permission to do so from its owner! Alternatively you can use any music from http://freemusicarchive.org/

Can I embed media?

You can add images to the description section of your project, but not videos.

Updates

What are Updates?

An Update is a bit like a status update on Facebook or a tweet on Twitter. It lets Sponsors know about developments in your project and how you're getting on. They breathe life into your project and are essential to the sponsorship process. For advice on how to use them visit the Updates section of Hubbub Academy.

What media can I use in Updates?

You can add images, but not videos.

Will Sponsors know if I've posted an Update?

Yes. We will notify them automatically. For advice on how to use them visit the Updates section of Hubbub Academy.

Responsibilities

What is my responsibility for answering questions from Sponsors?

Sponsors will ask you questions about your project. They may want more information on your rewards or to ask for more details about how you will carry out your project, or even for more information on you! Sponsors should be answered promptly. In cases where many Sponsors ask the same question, you should answer with an Update to your project so that anyone viewing it can see this information.

What if I can't complete my project as listed?

If this is the case you must cancel funding. However, please be aware that this could damage your reputation and that of the University of Salford, so please do not do it lightly. If you are considering this, before you take any action to cancel the funding, please speak to a member of the FundUS team.

You can cancel a project by informing us using our contact form. We will notify your Sponsors.

What if I can't deliver a reward?

Get in touch with the Sponsor(s) immediately. Creators who are honest and open will find Sponsors to be far more forgiving. You may be asked to provide a different reward. In very rare instances, a Sponsor may request a refund. When you submit your project you will be asked to agree to a refund policy, which we will also display to the Sponsor when they make a pledge.

Pledges

Can I be a Sponsor?

Yes. Anybody can be a Sponsor. All you need is a debit or credit card. You will be asked for your details when you pledge to a project.

FundUS uses a provider called Stripe, which is really handy when it comes to ensuring our supporter’s pledges are received by the project if successful or returned to supporters if not.

How do I make a pledge?

Simply find a project you like and hit the 'Sponsor This Project' button at the right-hand side of the page and follow the on-screen instructions.

When will I be charged?

Your card will be charged after the project fundraising deadline but only if the project you pledge to achieve its minimum needed by this date. You can see if the minimum has been reached by checking back on the project page. If the project is unsuccessful no money changes hands, so your card/account is not charged.

What happens if a project does not achieve its minimum needed?

Nothing! No money changes hands. This is all-or-nothing funding.

Can I pledge anonymously?

Yes. When you make a pledge you will be given the option of displaying:

• your name and the value of you pledge;
• just your name; or
• remaining completely anonymous.

Please note that you will not be anonymous to the Creator - only to the public, as if you select to receive a reward and the minimum on the project is reached, the Creator will need to contact you in order to send you your reward.

Is the value of my pledge made public?

Not automatically. We leave it entirely up to you to decide whether your name and contribution should be displayed as described above.

What info about me do you give to the Creator?

Creators see your username, the size of your donation, and the reward you've selected. If their project is successful, we'll also give the Creator your email address so that they can contact you regarding your rewards.

Will you notify me if a project I'm sponsoring is successful?

Yes. You will receive an email regardless of whether the project is successful or not.

Can I change my pledge?

When you make a pledge you make a commitment to that Creator. We, and the Creator, would really appreciate it if you don't cancel your pledge. If you would like further advice on this, please email supporters@salford.ac.uk

How do I change my credit card details before funding ends?

Please visit PayPal and log in to change your credit card details. If you paid directly by card, please get in touch with us at info@hubbub.net

Can I cancel my pledge?

When you make a pledge you make a commitment to that Creator. We, and the Creator, would really appreciate it if you don't cancel your pledge. If you really really must, you can do so through the PayPal website.

What happens if my credit card is declined?

Don’t worry, if this happens you will be sent a re-pledge link so you can make sure you have the necessary funds available and re-donate.

Gift AID - what is it?

As the University of Salford is an exempt charity, your support of one of our projects is a philanthropic gift, meaning that if you are a UK taxpayer, we can claim back 25p of tax in every pound given to us, allowing your support to make an even greater difference to Salford students.

Rewards

Can I change my reward selection?

Sorry, no. Creators need to be able to manage the quantity of their rewards so changes could cause problems for them. You can make another pledge if there is a reward you particularly want.

Can I get a reward if I live in a different country?

Yes. But Sponsors are encouraged to select a higher donation level to counter the postage and packaging cost incurred to the Creators in the process of sending out rewards.

When will my reward be delivered?

If a project is successful, your reward will be delivered at the approximate delivery date stated on the Creator's project page. If you would like more information, you can contact the Creator directly through their profile or project page.

What do I do if the rewards haven't yet been delivered?

The delivery of rewards is a tough part of the process for Creators, especially where there are large numbers of rewards to send out or they have problems with the organisations producing their rewards. Hopefully, they will communicate any problems to you and we ask for your understanding here. However, if you wish to inquire further, you can contact the Creator directly through their profile or project page.

Responsibilities

Can I trust Creators?

In terms of a Creator's ability to deliver, it's up to them to make the case that they can successfully bring their project to life. A creator will find it very difficult to raise funds for a project without enlisting the support of individuals in their network, as well as related organisations, and their institution.

In many cases, you will know the project creator, or you heard about the project from a trusted source. Obviously, in these cases, you will have fewer problems of trust. The advantage of our focus on registered students is that it's very difficult for these to avoid detection and institutional redress.

Creators are encouraged to share links to their personal websites, Facebook groups and Twitter feeds as well as any pages that show work related to the project, or past projects. Still not sure? Ask the Creator a question via their profile or project page. At the end of the day, we leave it to your judgement. If you spot anything you think looks suspicious, there is a button on every project page where you can report suspicious projects.

How can I get more info about a project?

Most people will be happy with the information provided in the proposal and video. Short of visiting the Creator's website, you can ask them directly! You can contact the Creator directly through their profile or project page. If you have already sponsored a project and you would like to make your question public, you can post a comment on the project. The Creator will be notified by email when you do.

Will projects be completed as described?

In terms of a Creator's ability to deliver, it's up to them to make the case that they can successfully bring their project to life. Part of the Creator's job is earning the trust of Sponsors, especially those who don't personally know them.

What do I do if the rewards haven't yet been delivered?

The delivery of rewards is a tough part of the process for Creators, especially where there are large numbers of rewards to send out or they have problems with the organisations producing their rewards. Hopefully, they will communicate any problems to you and we ask for your understanding here. However, if you wish to inquire further, you can contact the Creator directly through their profile or project page.

In very rare instances, you may wish to request a refund from a Creator. You can view the Creator's refund policy on the payment page, before making a pledge.

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