The Fashion Show, a student-run organization on the Iowa State campus to showcase student designers, has been preparing the 2017 production since just two short weeks after the 2016 show last spring.

The new FundISU Campaign program has revolutionized the fundraising methods for the Fashion Show, making 2017 the first year the event is fully funded before ticket sales.

Through the Iowa State Foundation, many organizations are able to raise money for special causes by crowdfunding. Maggie Anderson and Emilee Meyer, both seniors in apparel, merchandise and design, are two of the outreach producers for the Fashion Show who are directly in charge of the Fashion Show’s FundISU Campaign.

“This is our very first year that we have ever had a fully funded show before the year has started, which is amazing” Meyer said. “We don’t even need to raise a penny to fund the 2017 show this year and are contributing all of this year’s donations to the 2018 Fashion Show.”

The Fashion Show requires more than $45,000 to produce it each year. 

“FundISU is a great way to show the Fashion Show at a personal level,” Anderson said. “With the mailing forms, there wasn’t anywhere that donors could view our bios or view our video and get to know where this money goes toward.”

Anderson said getting on a personal level with donors has helped their contribution significantly.

“It’s really just word of mouth,” Anderson said. “[The FundISU page] is the biggest way to promote FundISU and putting in that personalization when telling them about the Fashion Show in general and telling them it is a way to come and have a fun night, dress up and go see some student garments that you wouldn’t see anywhere else.”

Before the 2016 show, reaching the financial goal was a challenge.

“All donations were done by paper, where donors would mail in a check,” Anderson said. “It used to be such a mess.”

Making donations available electronically is proving to be more successful in their mission and how they fundraise.

Incentives are provided for donors who contribute at least $25 to the campaign. From the $25 glitter level all the way to the $500 platinum level, donors have a chance to give and gain a little in return.

“We do the incentive program because we want [the donors] to feel appreciated for their contributions,” Meyer said. “Anyone can donate any amount [to the Fashion Show] and it’s up to the donor, and it is a great way to make it [possible] for any college student to donate.”

For donations of $100 or more, a donor is able to purchase a pre-sale ticket to the show. Pre-sale tickets will go on sale March 6 before the public sale begins on March 20 up until the day of the show. A price-point for tickets is currently being established and is not known at this time.

Anonymous donors are accepted, but those donors will not be presented in the program and not given credit for their contribution.

Not only does the Fashion Show use FundISU to pay for producing the show, but it also gives scholarships to participating students in the show.

“We want it to be worth it to [designers] to enter the show, so offering scholarships helps them pay for the line that they made for the show, pay for their internships during the summer and we want to help them in their major get through,” Meyer said. “It’s important for us to reward them for helping us by entering [into the show].”

For each category, scholarships are given to a first-, second- and third-place winner. First-place winners receive $500, second-place winners receive $300 and third-place winners receive $100 in scholarships. The grand prize of “Best In Show” wins $1,000 for the best collection overall in the show.

Another scholarship is available for merchandising students participating in the Fashion Show. From this, the Fashion Show is able to give out two $500 scholarships.

“Last year, we had Maurices present a case study that merchandising students would complete, where Maurices then picked the winners,” Anderson said. “It’s a great way to reward merchandising students as well for all of their hard work.”

Every year there is a different company that gives out the case study. Organizers are still looking for one for this year’s show.

The FundISU Campaign begins today at 7 p.m. and closes February 24 at 7 p.m.

For more information on the Fashion Show and how to donate, visit https://fundisu.foundation.iastate.edu/project/3971.

Check out the Fashion Show’s new theme for 2017