Raise funds for your research project through crowdfunding

In conjunction with the Institut Pasteur's Donation & Fundraising Department, the Center for Translational Science recently signed a partnership agreement with Thellie.org, a crowdfunding platform specializing in medical research that can be used by scientists to showcase their projects, launch funding campaigns and raise funds through the support of donor communities (individuals, associations and businesses).

In 2018, a fundraising campaign held for the Pasteur iGEM project raised €5,415, and another campaign for a project led by Jean-Marc Ghigo's team is currently under way on the platform.

Donations made by individuals and companies (with the prior agreement of the Institut Pasteur) are tax deductible.

Projects with potential applications, especially for human health, are given preference; those involving experiments on animal models are excluded. Each project is first selected and then approved by the Center for Translational Science, which works in coordination with the Donations & Fundraising Department to avoid any competition if projects are also being proposed to prospective funding sources (companies or foundations).

Given the amounts raised and the time required to conduct a fundraising campaign (producing a video, promotion on social media, etc.), the Center for Translational Science is particularly looking for PhD students to run these campaigns.

The Center has approached doctoral schools to explore the possibility of recognizing the organization of crowdfunding campaigns as a specific module in PhD students' translational research training.

Organizing crowdfunding is a way for PhD students to develop communication skills, learn how to present their research to non-specialists, and find out about fundraising methods.

The platform is in French, so an understanding of French and good written French skills are required.

 

How to launch a campaign (more details on the Thellie page):

• Fill in the dedicated questionnaire (3 mins)

• Present your proposal at a CRT open desk session (every Thursday – please arrange an appointment in advance), which will then forward it to the Donations & Fundraising Department

• Adjust your proposal and decide on an appropriate budget with the Thellie team

• Prepare, launch and run your campaign with the Thellie team

• Make use of the money raised via the Institut Pasteur

The Thellie platform is an additional means of supporting the Institut Pasteur's research. The Donations & Fundraising Department continues its own activities in support of the Institut Pasteur's missions: identifying, exploring and negotiating funding opportunities with companies and foundations.