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Crowdfunding Campaign Setup Guide

This guide will teach you how to create, customize, and launch a successful crowdfunding campaign using the UCR crowdfunding platform, from initial setup and content creation to final approval.

Please review the guide to familiarize yourself with the assets your campaign may need. When ready, submit an application below, and a member of the Annual Giving Team will reach out to you. If approved, the next steps will include a meeting with the Annual Giving Team and access to Givecampus.
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Crowdfunding Campaign Checklist:

To successfully set up your UCR Crowdfunding campaign, please make sure you have the following items completed and ready to go.

Crowdfunding Campaign Page (the main page where you will direct donors to):
  • Campaign Name: This is the title of your crowdfunding campaign. 
    • Important Note: When choosing a name, you cannot change it again, as it will break the page URL.  
  • About Section: This is where you can write a summary about what you are raising funds for
    • We recommend keeping the copy between100-300 words max.
    • Images, video links, and other options can be inserted here. 
      • Size should not exceed 300px wide or tall.
      • Example from 2024 Giving Tuesday: The copy in the “About” Section. 
  • Background Hero Image: This is the background image of your crowdfunding campaign. This can be left blank, or you can upload your preferred image.  
    • Image Specs: 1920 x 1200 pixels (aspect ratio: 8:5). There should be no copy, just a simple pattern or solid color image. 
  • Landing Page Image or Video: This is the still image or video that is positioned at the top of the page.
    • We recommend you upload an image or video unique to your campaign that potential donors can easily associate with your program.
    • Image Specs: The image dimension needs to be 630 x 350 pixels (aspect ratio: 16:9).
    • Video Specs: 30-90 second videos explaining your program and why you are fundraising can be placed here as well. 
  • Campaign Card Thumbnail: This is the image that will be used to represent your crowdfunding campaign on UCR’s Crowdfunding website. It is often the main entry point for your donors to view and learn more about your campaign.  
    • Example from 2025 Give Day: The various tiles representing different project pages. 
  • Sharing Text: This is the default social media text for your donors when they post about your fundraiser on social media. 
  • Custom Leaderboard: Ask the Annual Giving team for guidance.
  • Custom Content Section: Ask the Annual Giving team for guidance.
  • Matches and Challenges: Ask the Annual Giving team for guidance.
Navigating UCR’s Crowdfunding Platform:

After you have compiled your crowdfunding campaign checklist items, now login to GiveCampus and set up your crowdfunding campaign.

  1. Campaign Name
  2. About Section Content
  3. Background Hero Image
  4. Landing Page Image or Video
  5. Campaign Card Thumbnail
  6. Sharing Text
  7. Custom Leaderboard*
  1. Custom Content Section*
  2. Matches and Challenges*
  3. Donation Form Heading
  4. Donation Form Text
  5. Giving Form Background Image
  6. Donation Confirmation Email Receipt

* = Optional, only include if your campaign requires this.

Login to GiveCampus
  1. Please access GiveCampus (https://www.givecampus.com/login) and log in using your GiveCampus account created by AG. 
  2. The Gift Icon at the top left will take you to the crowdfunding page(s) that you have been invited to.
Access Your Campaign
  1. To access your campaign page, click on Campaigns on the left side menu.
    • At the top, you will see options for Online, Draft, Completed, and Archive. 
  2. Select Online or Draft to bring up a list of campaign pages and find your desired campaign. 
    If your campaign has not been approved by Annual Giving, then your campaign will be located under the Draft tab. 
Access your campaign
Edit Your Campaign
  1. To edit your campaign in Draft Mode, scroll to the far right of the page and select Settings. 
Edit your campaign

 

  1. Under Basics, please fill out the following fields:
Under Basics

 

  • About Your Campaign
About your Campaign

 

  • Sharing Text
Sharing text

 

  • Campaign Video / Image
Campaign video image

 

  1. Once you’re done making edits, make sure to press the Update Campaign button to save changes.
  1. The following fields will be entered by the Annual Giving Team. Changing these fields may cause your campaign page to malfunction or break. DO NOT MAKE CHANGES TO THESE FIELDS:
    • Campaign Name
    • Campaign Page URL
    • Campaign Form
    • Goal Type
    • Goal
    • Relevant Gifts
       
  1. Then, under Images and Display, you can upload your crowdfunding campaign’s background hero image.
Background hero image

 

  1. Once you’re done making edits, make sure to press the Update Campaign button to save changes.
Preview Your Campaign

After you’ve filled out all the required sections for your crowdfunding campaign, it’s time to preview your campaign!

For Crowdfunding Campaigns with a Tier 1 Page (most common):

  1. If you want to preview how your donors would see the campaign’s landing page (Tier 1), under the Name column, select the name of your campaign.
Name your campaign

 

For Crowdfunding Campaigns with a Tier 2 Page(s):

  1. If your crowdfunding campaign has a tier 2 page(s), then scroll to the far right of the page and select Settings.
Selecting Settings

 

  1. You should see Tier 2 page(s) associated with your crowdfunding campaign. To view the desired Tier 2 page, under the Landing Page Name column, select the page name to preview your page.
Tier 2 pages

 

  1. To edit the desired Tier 2 page, scroll to the far right of the page and select the Pencil icon to make changes to your page.
Edit desired tier 2

 

  1. After clicking the Pencil icon, you will be taken to a page where you can modify your page content.
Pencil Icon
Donation Form and Email Receipt (this is the checkout form after a donor decides to donate):
  • Donation Form Heading: This is the title and may be your brief call to action. 
  • Donation Form Text: This is the brief overview of your fundraising purpose. 
    • Example from UCR Impact: With a gift to UC Riverside, America’s most transformative university, you redefine what’s possible – for our students and our world.
  • Giving Form Background Image: This is the background image of the giving form. 
    • Example from UCR Impact: The Bell Tower background image is our default; customization is possible.
    • Dimensions: 1200 x 1200 pixels or larger (aspect ratio: 1:1).
  • Donation Confirmation Email Receipt: Provide a brief thank you message to include in the gift confirmation receipt email. We recommend 100 words or fewer as ideal for most campaigns.
Permission Levels

Most users will have Basic Campaign Admin and Basic Tiered Landing Page Admin access to the campaign page dedicated to your fund. 

Tiers

GiveCampus crowdfunding campaigns are set up in a tiered system. A typical crowdfunding campaign will have 1 tier (aka your crowdfunding campaign that displays the messaging and call to action).

There are instances where a crowdfunding campaign will have multiple tiers (sub-pages representing a specific set of designations or affiliations). 

  • Example from 2024 Athletics Give:
    • Tier 1 Page: Athletics: Give!   
    • Tier 2 Pages: The various tiles representing the different sports. 
       
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Apply for UCR Crowdfunding

Review and approval may take 1-3 business days. The AG team will follow up with you with feedback/final approval. 

Apply

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Still Have Questions?

Read our FAQs or contact the Office of Annual Giving at: annualgiving@ucr.edu