Are you ready to turn your great ideas into reality? Crowdfund UC Davis is accepting applications from students, faculty and staff from main campus and UC Davis Health for its 10th cohort, taking place in October. The deadline for the applications is Thursday, June 27.

Crowdfund UC Davis cohorts take place in October and February each year. Since its debut in February 2020, Crowdfund UC Davis has raised more than $2 million for student and faculty-led projects at UC Davis and UC Davis Health. The most recent cohort in February 2024 included 28 projects that raised $107,525 from 1,094 gifts. Fourteen of the projects in that cohort met or exceeded their fundraising goals.

Crowdfund UC Davis is proud to have helped various campus projects raise money for their programs. Here are some highlights from projects that return again and again.

Cal Aggie Camp

Cal Aggie Camp has participated in five February crowdfund cohorts and has collectively raised $67,856 from 774 gifts. With 189 gifts this past February, they currently hold the title for most gifts raised during a crowdfund cohort. Each year, their donors’ generosity helps ensure two weeks of free summer camp are available to children in foster care.

Engineers Without Borders

Engineers Without Borders, or EWB, a student-led, nonprofit organization, provides potable water and addresses other necessities abroad. They have raised $40,419 across the four cohorts in which they have participated. Like many clubs across UC Davis, EWB raises all its funding for its program. Donations to EWB support the program's basic needs and allow more of their members to travel and directly work with the communities, increasing the club’s impact.

Student Emergency Relief Aid

Run by the UC Davis Student Foundation, the Student Emergency Relief Aid, or SERA, project has raised $15,531 from 230 gifts, across four crowdfund cohorts. Funds for this project help keep current students from dropping out of UC Davis, by providing a one-time-a-year grant award of up to $2,000 to students facing financial stressors. SERA awards cover unexpected medical bills (e.g., wisdom teeth or emergency room costs), rent (eviction notices or assistance for unhoused Aggies), vehicle repairs and more.

About Crowdfund UC Davis

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