A selection committee comprising UNCW faculty, staff and students will review all applications.

Successful TEALstarter projects have a specific goal they want to achieve, a particular need they want to address, or a specific result they aim to produce that directly impacts the Seahawk student experience. 

Projects are selected based on:

• Quality of application
• Clearly outlined goal, need or result
• Demonstrated impact on the student experience
• Achievable fundraising goal

Project Requirements:

• Projects must have at least two project leads, one of whom is a UNCW student.
• Projects must have an associated UNCW account that can receive donations.
• Funds raised must be spent according to UNCW spending policies.
• Funds cannot be used to support any organizations outside of the university.

Training and Project Setup

• Project Team Leads must attend TEALstarter training with the Office of Annual Giving. We will help you solidify your fundraising goal and then create a fundraising and outreach plan. 
• Project Teams will receive access to the crowdfunding platform to create their project pages. Photos and/or videos, along with the project details, will need to be provided by the group. 

Project Run 

• Project Teams are expected to take the lead in actively promoting and driving their fundraising efforts, ensuring consistent updates and engagement throughout the project.
• The Office of Annual Giving will support projects with promotions throughout the campaign, particularly on the last day, which is #GivingTuesday. 

Stewardship 

• Project Teams are required to thank their donors and share their appreciation for gifts they receive. The Annual Giving Team will provide guidance to help teams express gratitude and acknowledge the impact of donor support.

Who can apply and how are TEALstarter projects selected? 

Any active university or student organization may apply to TEALstarter.

Projects will be evaluated on these areas:

• Ability to clearly outline a goal, need or result they want to achieve. 
• Quality of application.
• Demonstrated impact on the student experience.
• Achievable fundraising goal.

Project Requirements:

• Projects must have at least two project leads, one of whom is a UNCW student.
• Projects must have an associated UNCW account that can receive donations.
• Funds raised must be spent according to UNCW spending policies.
• Funds cannot be used to support any organizations outside of the university.

Where does my gift go?

100% of the money raised—whether or not the goal is met—goes directly to the project’s designated fund. As a bonus, donations made to crowdfunding projects count as tax-deductible gifts in support of UNC Wilmington.

How are funds disbursed?

The distribution of funds will take between two weeks to one month after the end of the campaign. UNCW Campus Life Business Operations & Facilities can assist any group with a question about their funds at campuslife@uncw.edu.

Are payments secure?

Yes. All payments will be processed using a secure online giving form. The information collected through the crowdfunding site will be used only by UNC Wilmington. You can now use mobile wallet to complete your donation.

Are gifts be tax-deductible? 

Yes. Your gift is tax-deductible, and a receipt for tax purposes, according to law, will be emailed as soon as the transaction is completed.

Can recurring gifts be made through TEALstarter?

No, all gifts made through the TEALstarter Crowdfunding site will be processed as one-time gifts. However, you can set up a recurring monthly gift at any time to support university and student organizations with an active fund. 

Can goods or services be donated to TEALstarter projects?

No. TEALstarter projects are based on cash gifts. However, UNCW does accept some goods and services as donations. For more information on how to make a gift of this type, please contact us at giving@uncw.edu.