From the Chair of Journalism Innovation, S.I. Newhouse School.
Kick it Up
Kick it Up is a new crowdfunding program open to students from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications who are using Kickstarter or other similar services to fund their projects. If your project meets certain requirements, we’ll consider featuring it here and on our curated page on Kickstarter. We’ll also promote it to other Newhouse students and alums.
WHAT’S CROWDFUNDING?
Crowdfunding is a new way for you to raise money and build a community of supporters for new initiatives. You post details about your creative project, including a video showing how it will work, and promote it to your social network. People can contribute funds in increments as low as $1, and these backers receive benefits that you offer based on the level of their contribution. A benefit can be anything from having your name listed in the credits of a documentary film to receiving the first edition of a new product (physical or digital).
WHAT’S KICKSTARTER? Kickstarter is the leading crowdfunding platform for creative projects with thousands of projects covering everything from films, games, art, music, design and technology. But we don’t have to tell you that, because you probably already know some students who are using it. Check out these three successfully funded campaigns by Newhouse students and alums:
The Bly Project, by masters graduates Leah Stacy and Pete Wayner
NOT SURE WHERE TO START? WE’LL HELP.
We’re offering training on how to effectively run a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter. You can get started by watching this informative 35-minute webinar by Kickstarter ambassador and trainer Stephanie Pereira. We plan to offer more in-person training opportunities in the future.
CAN NON-NEWHOUSE STUDENTS APPLY?
As long as your project has at least one currently-enrolled Newhouse student on its team, your project is eligible to apply. Any matching funds will be given directly to the Newhouse student, and it will be up to the team to ensure that these funds are applied to the project.
CAN ALUMS APPLY?
If you’re a Newhouse alum with a Kickstarter project, we encourage you to let us know so that we can add you to our Kickstarter network and feature your campaign. To do that electronically, simply sign in to Kickstarter and request a connection with us online. You cannot apply for matching funds directly, but if you partner with a currently-enrolled student, you can have that student apply on behalf of your project. It is up to you to work with the student to determine how the matching funds are shared with the project.
QUESTIONS?
Feel free to send questions to Dan Pacheco at drpachec@syr.edu.
SUBSCRIBE FOR UPDATES
We invite you to join our mailing list below. We’ll provide updates about the KICK IT UP program, as well as other programs of interest to innovative journalists, storytellers and civic media types.
Featured Campaigns
These student projects are currently raising funds or have successfully gone through the program.
Kick it Up is a new crowdfunding program open to students from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications who are using Kickstarter or other similar services to fund their projects. If your project meets certain requirements, we’ll consider featuring it here and on our curated page on Kickstarter. We’ll also promote it to other Newhouse students and alums.
