Fundraising: Sharing the joy of your iGEM project
“Fundraising is the gentle art of teaching the joy of giving.”
You’ve formed an iGEM team. You and your teammates have decided on a project. You’re excited about the journey that lies before you. Now is the time to share the joy and excitement of your iGEM project with those who can help support and fund your team. Here are some ideas and resources to help you put together a fundraising plan:
Step 1: Develop a Communication Strategy
The first step is getting together with your team and preparing your message. You need to think of a clear, concise way in which you can explain your project and why you need help funding it.
Begin by asking yourself the following questions:
Who are you?
What is your team’s project?
Why did you choose to work on this project?
What will you use the money for?
Why is the iGEM Competition important to you?
Once you have answered these questions for yourselves, think about how you will communicate with others. Presenting your project may be a balancing act; you will need to give the right amount of information so your audience can connect to what you are doing, but be careful to not overwhelm them. A simple and compelling idea can go very far.
Create a brochure
Consider creating a brochure in which you state the goals of your team. Having a team identity (logo, team color, presentation layout, etc.) will help you look professional and serious about what you are doing. For examples, take a look at the brochures created by these iGEM teams: Duke 2006; MIT 2008 page 1, page 2.Record a promotional video
Recording your story in a short promotional video is not only a requirement for the iGEM Competition, it’s also a great tool for raising funds. Let your audience see who they are helping; it will be easier to relate to the project if they see who is working behind it. A promotional video is also useful if you plan to obtain money via an online crowd-funding platform. For inspiration, check out the iGEM 2020 and iGEM 2021 promotional videos.Leverage your wiki
Remember that your wiki is also a valuable tool for fundraising. You can use it as your website to tell your story to the outside world. (You can also look at the wikis of previous iGEM teams in your region to identify sponsors who supported their projects.)
The first step is getting together with your team and preparing your message. You need to think of a clear, concise way in which you can explain your project and why you need help funding it.
Step 2: Create a budget
Be sure to have a budget ready when you present your project to possible funding sources. This will help you explain why you need money and will give your team a serious and professional image. There are several things you need to consider for making your budget, some expenses vary from region and country. You can consult other iGEM teams from your area to get an idea of their budget.
Team Registration Fee
To participate in iGEM, each team must submit a team registration fee. This amount must be submitted before the registration deadline. Team registration in 2024 will open in January and run until May. The earlier you register, the better!Grand Jamboree Fee
The Grand Jamboree is the culminating event of the iGEM Competition, where teams showcase their projects and celebrate together with other teams and the greater synthetic biology community. Each team must submit a Grand Jamboree fee by July 31, 2024 to secure a Judging Session. The Judging Session assignment makes your team eligible for medals and prizes.Grand Jamboree Tickets and Travel
The Grand Jamboree is taking place at the Porte de Versailles (Paris, France). Team members who wish to attend the Paris Jamboree in person must also purchase individual tickets to the event. You’ll also need to consider travel and accommodation costs for your team to stay in Paris.Laboratory Expenses
Talk to your instructors and advisors regarding what lab materials are available at the institution. Some of these materials might already be in your school and can be provided for your team. Also consider reaching out to local biotech companies, they can provide you with lab materials such as lab gloves, pipettes and other useful supplies.Regional Meetups
In a normal iGEM year, we encourage teams to get together and share their work at regional team meetups. These events can sometimes have associated expenses that would need to be included in the team budget. When travel is not possible, you may consider switching to an online virtual meetup.Team Identity
We encourage you to create your own team branding material. Logos and mascots can be used to present your project to the rest of the world. Be as creative as you want! Some local companies can help by sponsoring the creation of these items so be sure to look for their support. Teams have designed logos, T-shirts, Hoodies, Vests, Posters, Mascots, Cups, Comic books, Pins, Stickers, and more!Summer Stipends
Some iGEM teams help students who are working on the project to support themselves during the summer. This aid can take the form of funds to pay the student’s expenses, social service hours or professional service hours in some countries. Talk to the department heads at your institution to get the help you need to work full time on your project.
Teams create a cohesive team identity through branded clothing, and giveaways like pins or stickers.
Step 3: Approach Potential Funders
Once you have your communication strategy and budget, you can start approaching funding sources. You should aim for the majority of your team activities (participation, registration, lab work, stipends, etc.) to be funded by your university and your government. Gaining support from university or government officials is not just good for your team - it can help to build a lasting legacy for iGEM teams after you too!
Your School or University
The first place you should request funding is from your school or university. Try speaking with department heads, school deans, or work with your team PI to get iGEM into their budget and grant proposals. If there is not already a synthetic biology department, teams can seek support from biology, biochemistry, medical, and/or engineering departments.Local or State Government
You may consider approaching your local, state, or federal government to set up funding for multiple iGEM teams in the region. See if your state or country has a bio-economy or synthetic biology strategy, or any initiatives focused on innovation and STEM.
Here are some other ways to get extra funding for your iGEM team:
Corporate Sponsorship
Companies may be interested in providing financial support to a team if the project aligns with their interests. Teams may offer brand exposure based on the level of financial support on places such as their wikis, T-shirts, or presentations. Put your team's branding and communication materials to work to tell a compelling story that will align with the company's interests.
In-Kind Sponsorship
Sometimes companies who are unable to provide financial support are more willing to provide in-kind sponsorship. This can come in the form of free access to their goods and services. This type of sponsorship can reduce laboratory-associated costs, and allow you to divert those funds to other aspects of your project.
Alumni Associations
Some educational institutions have alumni associations that can assist in providing funding for your project. Consider talking to your school's alumni association about this. We also encourage you to work with the iGEM alumni at your school and in your region. Contact iGEM Community to get connected to past participants (email: community [AT] igem [DOT] org).
Crowdfunding
Creating a crowdfunding campaign online can help you easily receive donations from your community. Here is a list of crowdfunding examples:
iGEM Partner Special Offers
The iGEM Foundation is supported by various sponsors. We work every year on getting special offers for our iGEM teams. Subscribe to the iGEM Newsletter to stay updated!
Enjoy the fundraising experience – it’s a wonderful opportunity for you to engage your school and local community in learning about and sharing in the excitement of your iGEM project.
As you develop and implement your fundraising plan, we encourage you to be creative and not be afraid to try new ideas. Approach fundraising in the same way that you approach your iGEM project itself – design a fundraising plan, build your communication materials, test the effectiveness of your approach, and learn what worked and what you could do better. Discover insights and lessons learned by checking out the wikis of previous iGEM teams, and the guides put together by UMaryland 2015, CLSB-UK 2017, and IONIS-PARIS 2017.
Enjoy the fundraising experience – it’s a wonderful opportunity for you to engage your school and local community in learning about and sharing in the excitement of your iGEM project. And remember to thank those who support you. You’ll no doubt make connections, and even friends, that you’ll value long after the competition has ended.
Need more help? Click here to read more blog posts about getting started in the iGEM Competition.
If you have any suggestions for content or questions, please send an email to us at hq [AT] igem [DOT] org!
Originally published January 26, 2022. Updates: January 20, 2023; January 12, 2024.
