Page 9 - YC360 Spring 2021 Edition

PEER2PEER FUNDRAISING
YCF’s New JustGiving Platform Streamlines Fiscal Support
By Michael Grady
The Yavapai College Foundation has entered a new era of peer-to-peer fundraising with its new ‘JustGiving’ software.
“We launched JustGiving last Fall,” YCF Major Gifts Officer Ash- ley Hust explained. “We used it with the College Honors Stu- dents to replace the Fun Run.” JustGiving allowed the students to set up a donation page, create individual goals, and reach
out to their contacts digitally. “In the end, we raised just over $5,000, with a lot less time and effort than putting in an event.”
Fundraising used to be either a neighborhood project (like a carwash or a lemonade stand) or a non-profit activity. Peer-to- peer fundraising – often called crowdfunding and made popular on sites like Kickstarter and GoFundMe – fuses the two, allowing grass roots causes greater reach through the web and social media. ‘JustGiving’ continues the trend, streamlining both the start-up and the bottom line.
“If you want to raise funds for the College or a certain program, you can go to ‘Crowdfunding’ on the Foundation page, fill out a form and submit your idea.” Hust said. Money raised, minus a small platform fee, goes directly to the YCF.
The platform is already making a difference, helping the Friends of the Family Enrichment Center raise more than $10,000 for an outdoor play area. The Friends of the Southwest Wine Center used ‘JustGiving’ for their Fall campaign, raising $18,000 in revenue and in-kind contributions -- $3,000 above their target.
Hust says the innovations fast-track the process between people who want to support a program and making that support real. “We want people to sign up as fundraisers and get excited.”
Interested on doing an online peer-to-peer fundraising campaign for YC? Go to: https://www.yc.edu/v6/yavapai- college-foundation/ruffraiser.html
Yavapai College Foundation Hires New Fundraising “Coach” for Athletics
By Sue Wiant
As Yavapai College’s first Major Gifts Officer for College Athletics, Jason Herbers
is wasting no time spreading the word about Roughrider teams – and ways to support them.
“This is our chance to create something new to help student athletes,” he says. “It’s about making community connections and attracting donors.”
Hired in November by the
Yavapai College Foundation, Herbers has worked in higher education, with an emphasis on intercollegiate athletics fundraising, for 21 years. It’s a specialized field, where community connections are key.
“I do a lot of listening. Donors reminisce about their own sports participation – I see the excitement in their eyes and want to give them a chance to share those memories.”
A Wisconsin native, Herbers earned a bachelor’s degree in exercise science from the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse and a master’s degree from Eastern Washington. He came to YC from North Dakota’s Williston State College, where he was Athletic Director.
Here, Herbers will build a network of YC alumni, former players and local businesses. The important thing, he says, is to create a supportive community. “When people donate, they like to be thanked. Small or large, a gift is a gift. We want our donors to know we appreciate their generosity.”
In March, he helped organize a fundraising kick-off event to honor retiring Soccer Coach Mike Pantalione and his assistant, Hugh Bell, and introduce new men’s and women’s head coaches, Andre Luciano and Rozie DeWeese. He’s currently planning YC’s first-ever athletics golf tournament at Antelope Hills this fall.
For more information on Roughrider fundraising, contact Jason at (928) 776-2063 or jason.herbers@yc.edu.
Jason Herbers
SPRING 2021 | ISSUE 7 9
PHILANTHROPY