The ninth cohort of Crowdfund UC Davis launches Feb. 1, with several new and returning projects led by students, faculty and staff that strengthen the UC Davis community and amplify its impact on the world.

As always, this February cohort includes projects that represent a wide range of passions and interests, from community engagement to educational resources, and student clubs to new groundbreaking research. And because of the leap year, there is an extra day to contribute this time around.

The sheep mowers are baaaack!

The sheep mowers return again this February to partner with the Green Care Lab on the Shepherding Wellness with Therapeutic Pastures project, which will blend environmental care with mental health research. Through eco-friendly sheep grazing and studying nature's healing effects on well-being, the team will study how to foster healthier landscapes and minds for a greener, calmer tomorrow. The sheep mowers previously raised $8,325 through Crowdfund UC Davis to support their program.

Perfecting the fundraising algorithm

HackDavis 2024 is UC Davis’ annual collegiate hackathon, completely run by students. This team is dedicated to empowering student hackers of all levels to collaborate and build impactful projects that make the world a better place. In this space, their ideas turn into websites, mobile apps, hardware and more that can help reshape the future.

Preparing for launch

The Aggie Propulsion and Rocketry Lab project is raising money to support a student-run rocketry team that hopes to build UC Davis’ first-ever liquid-fueled rocket. The project will enable students to design a multi-system rocket that crosses many disciplines of science and engineering, including hands-on manufacturing and testing.

About Crowdfund UC Davis

Crowdfund UC Davis takes place in October and February each year, and since its debut in February 2020 has raised more than $2 million for student and faculty-led projects at UC Davis and UC Davis Health. In October 2023, 26 projects raised over $90,000 from 662 gifts. Nine of those projects met or exceeded their fundraising goals, and four reached over 80 percent of their goal.

The Annual and Special Gifts Program  in Development and Alumni Relations works with Advancement Services to ensure all projects comply with university legal and fund requirements. The Crowdfund UC Davis team manages the platform and provides training for each project team, but it’s up to the project teams to fuel the marketing and networking that lead to fundraising success.

The application period for the October 2024 cohort will open this spring.