The scope of crowdfunding in responsible university relations

Abstract

This paper describes the first decade of crowdfunding (CF) experiences carried out in the Spanish university environment from the perspective of social responsibility and determines the impact of their campaigns in solving social problems. To do so, the literature, from traditional patronage practices to current models of micro crowdfunding in the digital environment, allow framing crowdfunding by putting the focus on the relationship of universities with their audiences and the agents involved in the campaigns they launch from 2012 to the present, as part of their purposes with society. To achieve the objectives, a content analysis of the 56 CF campaigns, launched by a dozen Spanish public universities, was carried out. The study concludes that the fluctuations in the evolution and development of university crowdfunding (UCF) and the scarce existence of their own platforms have not yet allowed its consolidation as a tool of their University Social Responsibility (USR). In addition, UCF campaigns in Spain place value on research at the service of society, moving away from philanthropy to exercise social responsibility, although they are generally focused on their internal audiences, so their social impact is limited.