Grow the Green is Portland State University’s crowdfunding program — designed to help PSU partners, departments and student groups organize short-term, grassroots fundraising campaigns.
Separate from the PSU Foundation’s annual Giving Day campaign, Grow the Green allows you to organize your own crowdfunding campaign throughout the year in support of a unique cause. You’ll rally your community of supporters and harness the power of collective giving to raise funds for your special project.
Why Participate?
Reach Your Goals
You can raise funds for the projects, programs or initiatives that matter most to you and your community.
Activate Your Network
Inspire your audience with personal outreach and storytelling that shows why your project deserves support.
Professsional Support
You’ll have access to the PSU Foundation’s crowdfunding platform, best practices resources and digital assets to help your campaign succeed.
Participation Requirements
To host a Grow the Green campaign, organizers must:
-
Set a minimum fundraising goal of $1,000
-
Reach out to at least 200 people in your network
-
Provide campaign content and a ThankView video
-
Fundraise for an existing PSU Foundation fund
-
Note: If a new fund is needed, it must meet the $5,000 minimum to be established
-
-
Have a faculty or staff leader as the primary organizer
Fall 2025 Slate
Registration: October 1 - 15
Campaign Active: October 29 - November 21
Winter 2026 Slate
Registration: January 2026
Campaign Active: February 2026
Crowdfunding FAQs
Portland State faculty, staff, and students (with a faculty/staff advisor) can apply to launch a campaign on PSU’s crowdfunding platform. To get started, fill out the application form, and our team will follow up.
To run a campaign, you’ll need to:
-
Select a scheduled crowdfunding slate term to participate in (Fall or Winter)
-
Set a minimum fundraising goal of $1,000
-
Build a list of 200+ contacts to reach out to
-
Provide campaign content and a ThankView video
-
Fundraise for an existing PSU Foundation fund
-
Note: New funds require a $5,000 minimum to be established
-
-
Have a PSU faculty or staff member as lead organizer
You’ll supply the content for your campaign page, including:
-
Fund name
-
Primary image
-
Campaign description
-
Fundraising goal
-
Matching gift info (optional)
-
ThankView video (sent to donors after the campaign)
Success comes from personal outreach and active promotion. You’ll need to:
-
Share your campaign widely on social media and email
-
Ask friends, family, and colleagues to give and share
-
Recruit ambassadors to reshare posts and amplify your message
-
Remember: personal asks are 8x more effective than general appeals
-
Use the [marketing best practices guide] and [digital assets] to boost your efforts
Tip: Don’t be afraid to ask broadly—small gifts add up quickly.
A challenge match motivates giving by offering donor-funded incentives. Matches and challenges:
-
Inspire donors to give more or by a deadline
-
Engage students and younger alumni
-
Encourage new donors to participate
-
Boost momentum for new funds or initiatives
-
Build a culture of philanthropy through gamification
Examples:
-
Match: A donor gives $1 for every $1 raised, up to a limit.
-
Challenge: A donor contributes $X if a specific goal (dollars or donors) is reached.
Do you know a donor or company who could sponsor a match? Contact our team at give@psuf.org.
Yes! All gifts to Grow the Green are made through the Portland State University Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Your contribution is tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. For personalized advice, consult your tax advisor.