The Dos & Don’ts of Fundraising for PhysCon
Danielle Weiland presenting at PhysCon 2012 on behalf of the Wisconsin Space Grant Consortium High Altitude Balloon Launch Team. Photo courtesy of Eric Ireland.
Thinking of going to PhysCon this year? Worried about how to pay for it? Whether you’ll be the only chapter member attending PhysCon 2019, or your chapter is bringing the whole crew, this article provides best practices, fundraising ideas, and SPS National resources to help you start the fundraising process NOW! As a veteran of the 2012 and 2016 PhysCons, I’ve learned a lot about what it takes. As your chapter begins the fundraising journey, consider these suggestions and determine what mix of ideas works best for you. You can never think too outside the box when fundraising, so get creative and share your ideas with other chapters too!
There are endless ideas for fundraising, and some will work better in different settings and situations. So talk to other nearby chapters or confer with your zone councilor or associate zone councilor for some additional inspiration. You can find contact information for your local zone councilor and associate zone councilor at
Travel poster made by Eleanor Sayre of Kansas State University.
If you are just starting to fundraise for your chapter, here are a few simple but effective fundraising ideas.
- Students often forget to eat during busy days. Take advantage of this and sell coffee and donuts or pizza and soda once a month or during exam weeks. Make sure you pick a high-traffic location and focus on class change times. Remember that inclusivity is an SPS value, so try to provide gluten-free, dairy-free, and/or vegan options.
Put on physics demo shows and sell tickets or ask for donations. This takes a bit more planning, but incorporating performance (such as a light show, music, jokes) will really help your outcome, especially when asking for donations. You can download easy, fun, and inexpensive demos from SPS at
SPS National is Here to Help!
You can find many of the tips mentioned, along with the top ten student fundraising tips, a travel cost calculator, and more, at https://www.sigmapisigma.org/sigmapisigma/congress/2019/fundraising . Watch the website for Student Travel Award information in spring 2019!
