Crowdfunding For Your Summer Camp

The overall cost and maintenance of summer camps can not only put strain on the owners and staff, but camp parents’ too!  Instead of raising camp tuition and fees, or taking out a business loan, crowdfunding can be a great alternative to raising money for your summer camp.

What is crowdfunding?

The practice of funding a project or venture by raising many small amounts of money from a large number of people, typically via the Internet.

How can camps use crowdfunding?

Crowdfunding can be a great source of funding for camps who are looking to improve their programs and upgrade facilities. A crowdfunding campaign typically results in something that benefits everyone that is involved in camp, not just the staff or camp owners.

Below are some examples of the type of projects or improvements that a crowdfunding campaign could fund:

• Updated bunks
• Updated facilities (The more specific the better: a new hockey rink, new rock wall, 5 new canoes, etc.)
• New camper gear for everyone at camp (sweatshirts, jackets etc.)
• Updated menu for camp (new menu items)
• New activities/programs
• Additional Day Trips (amusement park costs, water park tickets, etc.)

Which crowdfunding platform is best for your camp?

With the increase in popularity of crowdfunding platforms, it’s difficult to know which platform will be best for your camp’s specific needs. When choosing a crowdfunding platform, it’s likely that the biggest decision you will have to make is the type of platform you want to use: an “all or nothing” platform (the goal has to be met or no money is received) or a “what you get is what you keep” platform.

Another important factor are the fees that each platform will deduct from your overall campaign. These fees vary from platform to platform and can run anywhere from 3-6%. Want to see a side by side comparison of all the crowdfunding platforms? Visit http://crowdsunite.com/ to learn more about all the different platforms available and decide which is best for your camp’s goals.

Once you are ready to launch your crowdfunding platform make sure you reach out to blake@socialsummercamp.com to ensure a successful social media and marketing campaign to spread the word to all your camp families!

This blog post was written by Social Summer Camp Contributor, Alyssa Allen