How SuccessFunding Has Changed Many Lives

Hesitant to start a SuccessFund? You're not alone. All our SuccessFundees had that same feeling before starting their SuccessFund. They didn't know if crowdfunding would work or if people would be willing lend their support to someone who they did not know. However, these SuccessFundees proved that it does work. Student Debt is a big problem in our country but its not bigger than all of us combined. Here is what a couple of them had to say about the SuccessFunding experience!

"The support from people sharing your story and telling you that they support you gives you that extra push."-Paige Witthar

"I did not think I would raise as much as I thought I would."- Sania Ahmad

"The SuccessFunding experience went beyond expectations!"- Shwetha Bhat

"The SuccessFunding process was very easy."-Sania Ahmad

"I would highly recommend SuccessFunding!"- Shwetha Bhat

"My friends believed in what I wanted to do and shared it with others and the next thing I knew, I had a whole network of supporters."-Sania Ahmad

"As long as you're passionate about something, you'll have people want to know your story."-Jannat Choudhury

Now that you've read what our SuccessFundees had to say, what's holding you back? Create a SuccessFund profile today and have an experience you have never had before.

Check out video testimonials at http://vimeo.com/successfunding

4 Tips on How to Create a Great Video

I'm sure you're asking, "Why do I even need to make a video?" for your SuccessFund. No worries, I asked the same question. I'm one of those people who can go out and meet people without any care in the world but when it comes to being in front of a camera, I clam up. But take a deep breath. We wouldn't want you to do anything that would make you uncomfortable without there being a good reason behind it. Studies have shown that a video will increase your likelihood of receiving gifts from your donors. If you don't believe us, look at our former SuccessFundees' profiles. Don't respond saying that they weren't nervous about it. Trust me, we were all nervous in front of the camera.

To have a video as great as ours, follow these tips and we're sure you'll have SuccessFunders in no time.

1) Have good lighting
Make sure you're in a well-lit area. SucessFunders want to see your face clearly. They want to know the person that is going to make a difference in the world so please don't hide yourself behind a curtain of darkness. If possible, make your video during the day.Natural lighting will be your best bet. Don't point your camera towards the source of the light. We don't want you to blind your fans.

2) Be in a quiet place
The last thing you want in your video is distracting noises, like your mom vacuuming in the background or your dog barking for your attention. Be in an area that you know people won't barge in and distract you. Your SucessFunders want to listen to you, and only you! They want to know what you have to say. If they're distracted by what's going on in the background, it''ll be hard to regain their attention.

3) Practice your answers
The questions given are supposed to help you organize what you want to say in your video. We're not saying to write down your answers and memorize it word for word. You're not a robot. You're human-a quality that your SuccessFunders want to see. There's nothing wrong with "winging it," but we've noticed that it takes a lot more time thinking of the answers on the spot. So before you start your video, look at the questions and have an idea of what you want to say and practice.

4) Be yourself!
People want to get to know YOU! If you're afraid of speaking to a large audience, pretend you are talking to a friend. You'll feel relaxed and be more open to sharing some pretty neat things about yourself. Please don't think you have to do something crazy in the video to have people watch it. People will want to watch your video because they want to get to know you and your story better. Relax and let people know that you want to make a difference without student debt holding you back. 

So are you ready to complete your SuccessFunding profile and rock the world ? Lets Go !

4 Simple Tips To Promote Your SuccessFunding Profile

So you have created a SuccessFunding profile but now what ? Here are four simple tips that you can use to promote your profile.

1) Share your profile on Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites.

Be proactive! SuccessFunding gives you the tools to share your profile on social platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. You click the "Share" button and you're on your way to letting the Internet community aware of your goal of reducing your student debt. Forget the phrase, "what they don't know won't hurt them" because you need to make people aware of your profile. Debt is an ugly truth that most people aren't aware of. Let student debt be known and that there is a way to fight the monster.

2) Talk to close family and friends.

Your family and friends are your BIGGEST supporters. They know you better than you know yourself so they make them ideal in jump starting your SuccessFund. These are the people who will be willing to contribute to your SuccessFund without any hesitation, whether it is monetary or them sharing your SuccessFund profile to their networks. Don't be afraid to talk to them about reducing your debt! Let's not forget that debt not only affects you, but everyone around you.

3) Send handwritten notes.

In the age of quick text messages and emotionless emails, you'd be surprised just how powerful the pen truly is. A simple handwritten note can make anyone's day, whether it's your co-workers or just a person you met at the coffeeshop.You can make supporters in the most unexpected places. Spending 5 minutes writing a note can do wonders for your SuccessFund.

4) Email school professors.

I know that not everyone will know all their professors but there has to be that one professor that made an impact on your education. It doesn't even have to be a college professor. It can be an elementary teacher that you still remember to this day. These educators believe in you in making a difference in the world. Having the people who personally educated you will support your SuccessFund. Your professors and teachers know your true potential. The great thing about SuccessFunding is that you can have people like your teachers endorse you which lets visitors on your SucessFunding page know what kind of person you are and can convince them to give that gift to your SuccessFund.

So what are you waiting for ? Create you SuccessFund today and start reaching out to close family and friends.

Student Debt: Look for alternate options & not just a huge loan (Ali Mirza)

Ali Mirza  Owner of i Social You

Ali Mirza is the owner of "i Social You", a social media service company based in Dallas. He is passionate about helping businesses create engaging social communities. In his spare time, he blogs about simplicity and life at www.letsgraph.com. . SF: What was your biggest challenge in college? AM: Having money to pay for tuition was always a challenge. I was an international student and did not qualify for any grants or loans. Because of my good GPA, I had a scholarship but out of state tuition fee was still very high. SF: Were you impacted by student loans & debt? AM: Yes – I used credit cards to pay for tuition. Being an international student I did not qualify for FAFSA type of loans. So my only option was credit card debt. I paid off $30,000 worth of debt and most of it was after graduation. Almost 75% of my income was going towards credit card debt for a few years after the graduation. SF: What would you do if you didn't have any student debt? AM: I would have been much more open to starting my business & pursuing my dreams. SF: Who is your hero and why? AM: My grandfather. He never went to school but made sure his kids and grandkids did. I learned two very important things from him: 1) Always respect your elders 2) Education is the most important thing in our life SF: If you could change one thing about our education system, what would it be and how would you go about it? AM: I would change it to a “pull system.” Right now education is being pushed on students in schools. I want to flip the system and give more control to students. Imagine you go to your student advisor and say “I want to take these subjects because this is what I LOVE; now you tell me what degree you can give me.” Unfortunately I am not sure how to make it happen yet. SF: What would you suggest to students who are facing student debt? AM: Stop being lazy and do what you can to pay it down as quickly as possible. Also look for alternate options. Crowdfunding & technology platforms like SuccessFunding allow us to think out of the box.

Student Debt: Take as little as possible (Andrew Kramer)

Andrew Kramer  Executive Director of Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship of North Texas

Andrew Kramer is the Executive Director of the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship of North Texas. He has a bachelor’s degree in humanities from the University of Texas, Austin and a MBA from Texas Christian University. He lives in Dallas, shares my life with a wonderful partner, and have 3 dogs. SF: What is (or was) your biggest challenge in college? AK: Managing stress. I took on as much as I could, but that was sometimes very hard to balance, and still have some fun. That, and the first year it was incredibly difficult to figure out everything—in my first semester I arrived at a final exam late because I couldn’t find the classroom the test was being held in. I wasn’t all that good at learning foreign languages so it turned out not to matter very much. SF: Were you (or are you) impacted by student loans & debt? AK: Yes. I paid my way through both my undergraduate and MBA programs. Scholarships, Pell Grants and work study stipends didn’t cover it all. SF: What would you do if you didn't have any student debt? AK: Save. Student debt eats up a significant part of my income. But, my education was the most successful investment I’ve made so far—the return is much higher than the interest I pay on the loans. SF: Who is your hero and why? AK: I don’t think I have one single hero. I have had a lot of mentors in my life that have helped guide me in every facet of my life. I am always seeking out mentors but a lot of the time my mentors have been happy accidents. I read a lot and find a great deal of inspiration and ideas from the characters and people I read about. SF: If you could change one thing about our education system, what would it be and how would you go about it? AK: I’d get rid of the SAT and replace it with a Grit Index. Hard work and resilience are better indicators of future success than a test that tells you how good you are at taking that test. I knew people who got near perfect scores on the SAT but never finished college because they didn’t know how or didn’t want to do hard work and deal with setbacks. And I knew a lot of people who didn’t get great SAT scores but did great in college because they were willing to do the work and looked at setbacks as challenges to overcome. SF: What would you suggest to students who are facing student debt? AK: Think about it as an investment for your future. But, take as little of it as possible—it can be very hard the first couple of years to start paying it back. Go to the best school you can afford; there are some really great schools that don’t cost as much as the “name brands,” including community colleges. Get as much out of school as you can while you’re there—you’re going to be paying for it for a long time.

Student Debt Elephant (Ramon) and "Astronomical Student Loans"

Ramon Trespalacios  Student Body President, Southern Methodist University

At SuccessFunding, we have never had more laughs and fun than with Ramon Trespalacios, Student Body President at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. You may have also seen him in our video comic series, The Student Debt Story as none other than the Elephant. Get to know this hilariously outgoing person by reading the interview below. SF: What is your “personal mission” as SMU’s Student Body President and as an individual? RT: My mission as Student Body President is to create an inclusive environment where every student receives the best college experience possible. My personal mission is to help develop other individuals so they can reach their maximum potential and impact a greater community. SF: How do you believe student loans impact current college students? What effect do they have in the future? RT: Student loans create a burden on students and young professionals. They are impeding people from doing what they love and focusing more in which job would give them more monetary resources for them to pay their loan. I have friends that have told me that they will not be done with their loan payment until the age of 40. At that point it will not only be affecting them individually but those around them, like family members and business partners, just to name a couple. I think it's great that there is a way for students to get a great education but the amount of loans out there is astronomical. SF: Tell us about your role as “The Elephant in the Room.” RT: When I was invited to participate in "The Elephant In the Room" series I was truly excited. Volunteering in such manner aligned with my personal values and I really wanted to spread the word of the great cause SuccessFunding has started. I was really happy to have the opportunity to work with fellow SMU students to create a fun series that communicates a message that should be heard.

Student Debt: Pay it down as quickly as possible

Justin Nygren is co-owner of The Grove, Dallas, a collaborative co-working community in downtown Dallas. He spends his days connecting people to the resources that they need to pursue their dreams in their businesses, non-profits and creative careers. His plans to regularly blog have been overtaken by his to-do list.

SF:What was your biggest challenge in college?
JN: My greatest challenge was knowing that I would be deeply in debt after graduation. This particular challenge actually led me to forgo college altogether. If I would have had access to other options, my collegiate career may have been much different.

SF: Were you impacted by student loans debt?
JN: Yes, I was. It took me 3 years to pay off 3 semesters worth of school debt.

SF: What would you do if you didn't have any student debt?
JN: I would have been much more open to pursuing my dreams.

SF: Who is your hero and why?
JN: I currently have many, but among them are the founders of "The B Team"-Arianna Huffington, Richard Branson, and Muhammad Yunus. They are a group of global leaders who are helping push the Triple Bottom Line of People, Planet and Profit.

SF: If you could change one thing about our education system, what would it be and how would you go about it?
JN: I would create learning that is self-paced. Sal Khan of Khan Academy would be in charge of implementation.

SF: What would you suggest to students who are facing student debt?
JN: Do what you can to pay it down as quickly as possible. If you have a loan that will penalize you for early payoff, weigh that option against moving it to a loan that will allow you to pay down faster. The less time you spend burdened by your debt, the more time you have to focus on your dream.

Interview with Chris Bhatti, Director of External and Alumni Relations, SMU

Chris Bhatti  Director of External Affairs and Alumni Relations, SMU

SuccessFunding had the opportunity to interview the Director of External Affairs and Alumni Relations for the Simmons School of Education and Human Development at Southern Methodist University, Mr. Chris Bhatti. We hope you enjoy reading about this great interview as much as we had in interviewing Chris. SF: What are the pressures facing students? CB: It's no secret that the cost of college is skyrocketing. One of the biggest pressures on students is weighing the cost and benefit of going to college. If I take out this much money to pay for tuition, is that going to give me a return on investment and get me where I want to get to? Of course it will! There's a direct correlation between education and salary, except if you're an outlier which is 1% of the population. Students have to ask themselves: Is this a cost upfront that I can handle? If I pay through loans, can I repay that? SF: How do you think students can protect themselves from suffering the effects of long-term student debt? CB: My dad always said, "Don't chase money. Money is in whatever field. Do what you love and money will come." Not everyone has that opportunity because of the stress student debt puts on people. You may not be afforded the opportunity to do this thing you love; you have to do what you have to do in order to survive. What I would say to students is to work hard on the front end (scholarships) but from the back end do what you want, what you love and money will come. SF: How do you think SuccessFunding will benefit students? CB: SuccessFunding is a phenomenal idea for individuals to begin putting money into a 529 account. Now there is an opportunity for students, future students even, to take ownership of your education. You're going to want to take ownership and do everything you can to take advantage of your education because you helped yourself get there. I believe SuccessFunding provides opportunities for a large number of students in a way no other company does.

Interview with Charley Johnson, President of Pay It Forward Foundation

Charley Johnson, President of Pay It Forward Foundation

Last week, we at SuccessFunding had the opportunity to interview the President of the Pay It Forward Foundation, Mr. Charley Johnson. Pay It Forward is a movement that promotes that good deeds be repaid to others. For example, if someone opened the door for you, you will repay that person by doing a good deed for another. We found that SuccessFunding and Pay It Forward were similar in their beliefs in giving back to others through small good deeds. We hope you enjoy reading about this amazing interview as much as we had in interviewing Charley. Getting To Know Charley I got involved with Pay It Forward like most people do. I saw the movie back in 2000, loved the concept and got hooked. I loved that I could do something for someone and not have that awkward moment of them figuring out how to pay you back. I didn’t like that situation so as soon as I saw that movie, everything clicked for me. The very fact that I could do something and tell them to do it for someone in the future however they chose was perfect for me. I could move on with my life after doing something nice for someone and everyone can go their separate ways. I got more involved with PIF when we created the bracelet in 2007. During this whole time of seeing the movie and creating the bracelet, I had a business for 15 years, from the age of 15 to 30.  A little over two years ago, I left that business. Instead of going back into corporate America, I wanted to try something new. No one had ever worked on the Pay it Forward movement full time, growing it, branding it, making more people in the world find out about the movement. We’ve jut been building momentum. We’ve been succeeding in some ways, and failing in others. We’ve been seeing what’s been working and what hasn’t. We’ve traveled and talked to many, many people in dozens of countries. SF: Why is gratitude important to you? How do YOU show gratitude? CJ: I show gratitude by action; actions speak louder than words. We have lost that sense of gratitude. On social media, we talk about gratitude and how blessed we are but our actions don’t match up. I’m a big fan of action. Those actions on how you treat a coworker, family member, stranger, even an animal, etc. is a much bigger thing than just saying you’re appreciative of them.  I’m a much bigger believer in action than words. SF: What motivates you to give to someone? CJ:  It just feels good.   Anytime I’m having a bad day, the sooner I can get out and hold a door or get someone coffee, I don’t know what it is scientifically, but it just feels really good. It gets you thinking about something other than your own problems. SF: According to your TEDxSMU talk in 2012, you talk about how a simple act of kindness can change someone’s life. What acts of kindness do you usually do? CJ:  I think the most powerful act of kindness is looking someone in the eye when they’re talking to you. It infuriates me when you’re trying to have a conversation with someone and they look over your shoulder or past you trying figure out what’s happening next or what they are missing out on. Give that person your full attention, allow them to talk and feel listened to. I really love to just catch eye contact with someone and have that human interaction. SF: How do you see SuccessFunding following the Pay It Forward ideology of how a simple act from one individual can better the world? CJ:  Do what you’re doing. Get more people to understand how important higher learning is, give people less anxiety about debt. You are helping Change the mentality on the next generation when it comes to debt and creating a way to get college funded for more students. This will be a massive Pay it Forward for this generation.  SuccessFunding is already bettering the world. SF: Do you think SuccessFunding embodies your idea of bettering the world? How so? CJ:  Yes, just by changing the mentality.  Changing up how people view debt. Changing up how people view higher learning. Changing the way people view each other.  The good and the bad thing about PIF is that it’s so broad. It can infiltrate every aspect of life, business and anyone’s life. There are 7 billion people and there are 7 billion ideas on how to better the world. Your organization is doing quite well in helping more and more people Pay it Forward in their own way.

The Cost of Going to College

by: Kat Thompson Wonder why student debt is such a pressing issue? Check out the most expensive colleges in the nation: http://www.cnbc.com/id/100880127?__source=yahoo%7Cfinance%7Cheadline%7Cheadline%7Cstory&par=yahoo&doc=100880127%7CMost%20Expensive%20Colleges. And according to many experts, this recent spike in tuition could just be the beginning: http://www.cnbc.com/id/47565202 That’s where we come in. SuccessFunding wants to help students, and especially parents, still want to pursue a higher education despite these looming costs! With our mini scholarships, we seek to make college affordable and accessible, regardless of tuition costs. We believe the individual student has insurmountable potential that should not be hindered merely by finances.

United We Stand...Against Student Debt

by: Drew Clancy Co-founder of SuccessFunding and CEO of Publishing Concepts (PCI)

As Americans… We believe in the American dream: our right to pursue life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. We believe in our ability to work hard and make something of ourselves. We believe that no matter where we start, the sky is the limit. We are bound only by the nature of dreams and our willingness to work hard to make those dreams a reality. We know that education has always played a critical role in this equation. We believe that regardless of the circumstances of our birth, education provides a path not only to more knowledge, but to a better life. Education + hard work = a better life. This equation is under siege. The current financing model is broken. Over the past 10 years, as states have cut their support of higher education, students are being forced to compensate by taking on an alarming amount of debt. Today, there is more than a trillion dollars in student debt. There is more student debt than credit card debt. On average, students who borrow money graduate with more than $26,000 in debt. In some cases, students are graduating with more than $100,000 or even $200,000 in debt. Still more alarming: nearly one in three of those re-paying student debt are in default. The statistics are scary. They tell us we have an emerging national crisis. But what is even scarier is the reality that each number represents a real person and a real life in crisis. The current situation is unacceptable. And it is getting worse. According to Einstein: “Problems cannot be solved by the same level of thinking that created them." Reducing the interest rate on student loans by 1% is simply not going to solve the problem. A new, different and better way of thinking is needed. In the current student financial aid model, it is difficult for donors to support individual students. SuccessFunding solves this problem. We allow individual donors to support individual students, to provide “mini scholarships” that benefit the student and help them reduce the amount of debt it takes to finance their education. At SuccessFunding, we believe if given the opportunity, donors will support individuals in whom they believe. Students who are from their hometown, or their high school, or who are attending their alma mater. Students who share similar passions and interests. Students who want to make a difference in the world. As donors, our support allows these individual students to pursue their dreams. As they pursue their dreams, we all share in their accomplishments. And it doesn’t end there. By supporting an individual student, the donor creates a “virtuous circle” of giving that never stops. Each SuccessFunding student takes “The SuccessFunding Pledge.” They pledge to repay the generosity of their donors not by repaying the donor directly out of future earnings, but rather by pledging to support future students in the generations to come. At PCI, we are passionate about helping our college, university, and association clients engage their alumni and raise money so that they can fulfill their mission of educating our nation's future leaders.

Freedom

by: Kat Thompson

What does it mean to be free? Sure there’s the cookie cutter answer- “freedom means doing what you want, not having limitations, choosing for yourself”, but ask yourself- are we really free? Think of all the things we are a slave to- technology, the rules and regulations that govern nearly every aspect of our lives, and most noticeably, money. Student debt is hindering us from our freedom. It’s telling us that we cant have our dream job, we have to choose whichever job offers us the most money, because we have debts to pay. It’s telling us we have nowhere to go, we might have to head back to mom and dad, because we cant afford an independent life, we should pay our debts. It's telling us we cant own a house, can't move away, can't get married, can't travel, and can't enjoy all the perks of being an independent college graduate, because no matter where we go, student loan debt will follow. As Americans, we know the value of education. The benefits of higher education are so significant, 12 million students a year, sixty percent of all college students, are willing to take out loans that will take decades to repay. We know that education offers us many freedoms. The freedom to choose our dream occupation, the freedom to garner a wealth of knowledge to apply to all aspects of life, the freedom to participate in and pursue outside interests, the freedom to connect on a global scale with people to share ideas and knowledge. But in this modern age, graduating and entering the labor force isn’t an assertion of independence, it’s a sentence to a long and laborious period of debt repayment. Until now. We at SuccessFunding are working to change this. We have the idea, we have the tools, we have the people to offer students a new outcome and to give them the freedom to pursue that second degree, or graduate program, or medical school, or that dream job. We know that everyone has the power to rock the world, and we want to help make that happen. We want you to dream without limitations by offering the opportunity to utilize mini scholarships that are raised through crowdfunding. If you want an education without limits and the freedom to pursue your dreams, we are here for you. Kat Thompson is a sophomore at Southern Methodist University studying Economics, Public Policy, and Biomedical Anthropology. She is currently interning for SuccessFunding.

People Helping People

by: Michael Shulman

Why am I passionate about the SuccessFunding cause? Until recently, the topic of student debt was not one I knew much about or cared to know much about… As I reread that last sentence, I realize how pretentious I sound. How could I not understand the monumental costs of a college education? The answer is simple: no one ever told me. I am lucky enough to be raised by a loving family who supports me unconditionally. They find happiness in paving my path to success in life. When the idea of college appeared on the horizon, it was a no brainer. The price tag never came into the discussion. For my parents, the only thing talking about the price would do is discourage me. They kept me in the dark about how steep college tuitions were to avoid my worrying about things that were out of my control. The expression ‘ignorance is bliss’ has never rung so true. My education was paid for in full by my parents, and that’s the way it was. When I talked to my old man about this a few months ago, I saw a side of him I rarely do. I came home to visit with the family and we got to talking. In a way that only he could, he explained to me that the way I pay him back is to do the same for my kids someday just as his parents had done for him. As he spoke, I saw a side of him which I rarely do. There is nothing more beautiful than people helping people. Whether it is family, friends, or complete strangers, we can all help turn dreams into reality. Michael Shulman is a senior finance major with a concentration in risk management at Southern Methodist University. He serves as a member of SuccessFunding's student advisory board.

Life's Asterisk

by: Paige Witthar

We often tell children they can do anything they want in their lives. However, there is an asterisk we forget to include--* with an education.  Higher education refines the existing talents and gifts of students; it is the foundation for careers and gives wings to students' dreams. But college is just as much a learning experience about life as it is a learning experience in a lecture hall. It exposes students to people, situations, and ideas they wouldn’t otherwise encounter. I have matured in countless ways during my three years at SMU: I have friends with backgrounds very different than my own, and I’ve slowly been introduced to adult responsibilities like paying rent and living courteously with other people. Additionally, I’ve become a better collaborator and learned to become my own advocate. I see the world through a higher quality lens because of my undergraduate education. I believe in SuccessFunding because it places power in the hands of students. It frees students from the burden of excessive student debt and provides them with greater freedom to make their educational decisions. SuccessFunding empowers students to chase their dreams using the tools they gained in college. Student debt turns these tools into heavy weights. SuccessFunding also offers fans, or donors, freedom that traditional forms of giving do not. Fans can choose whom their money goes to and donations aren’t absorbed by administrative costs. The traditional depiction of a donor is someone who gives millions of dollars to have their name on a building or an endowment. A fan can see the difference encouragement and a $10, $20, or $50 donation have in the life of a student. Education nurtures Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. Debt hinders these Rights. SuccessFunding assures that education will prevail. Paige Witthar is a senior marketing major with an entrepreneurship concentration at Southern Methodist University. She works as a marketing intern for SuccessFunding and is a member of our inaugural SMU beta group.