Create Your SuccessFunding Profile in 5 Simple Steps

Ready to begin taming your student debt? Follow these 5 steps to create your SuccessFunding profile.


1a. All you need to get started is your name, a .edu email address, and password!

1b. Spruce up your profile and give people a face to put with your name by uploading a picture. Make it easier for your potential donors to find your profile—include your hometown or the location of your college.

Voila! You’ve finished Step 1. The profile creation wizard is now visible. You’ll notice that you’ve already completed the “Name” tab.

There is now a percent bar on the right side of the window: it shows your progress toward completing your profile. Additionally, our “fan plan” is now visible to you. The fan plan gives you a blueprint for a successful fundraiser.

2. Next, tell us about your collegiate passions. Give us a taste of your love for your school. What degree are you seeking and what is your major?

3. Decide on a reasonable goal for your SuccessFund. Remember, you can always surpass your SuccessFunding goal!

Why did you decide to create a SuccessFund? What effect will the funds have in your life? Give your potential donors a glimpse into your life and talk about your plans for the funds in your "SuccessFund Title" and "Short Blurb". Make your profile easier to find by creating a friendly profile URL.

4.Show your personality through your profile. Add pictures of you in action and create a video. A video will increase the likelihood of receiving gifts from potential donors.
Check out our tips on how to make a great profile video!

5.You're almost done! Write a note thanking your donors for their generosity and belief in you. This message will be automatically sent to anyone who donates to your SuccessFund. Additionally, you can upload a picture of your signature to give your note a personalized touch. Click "Submit for Approval". Once your profile has been approved, you can begin receiving donations!

You'll have 45 days to raise funds toward your goal. During that time period, you can edit your SuccessFund and add more information like your career and education history.Tell your friends and family and use social media to spread the word about your SuccessFund in order to get maximum exposure.

Have any questions or need guidance creating your profile? Contact us--we're happy to help!

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 !

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.

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.