Cornell crowdfunding breaks record with 65+ student groups

An unprecedented 65+ student groups are working to create positive change on campus and beyond in Cornell’s 2025 crowdfunding burst.

Now in its 13th year, the program helps student groups raise funds to bring resources to rural communities, perform around the country, compete across the world, safeguard research at risk, and transform their ideas into action. Student groups receive 100% of the donations made through the crowdfunding platform. 

This year’s crowdfunding burst—running from November 3 through December 5, 2025—showcases the largest and most diverse collection of student initiatives in the program’s history.

“For our team, designing with the community in mind means listening first, then building together. In Bolivia, we’re not just laying pipes—we’re laying the foundation for dignity, health, and resilience. True engineering impact happens when technical work meets human need, when we unite around a shared purpose. That’s what makes this project—and being part of  Engineers Without Borders—so meaningful to me.”

—Gregory Pepin ’27

Teams participating in their first crowdfunding burst this year include (among others):

• The International Graduate and Professional Student organization (IGPS) aims to ease the transition from graduate school to the workforce for international students. The team is raising funds to host an event in New York City to help students network with Cornell alumni.
• Big Red Buddies connects Cornell students with weekly volunteering opportunities in Early Head Start and Head Start classrooms in the Ithaca, NY  community. 
• The Hangovers, Cornell’s oldest active a cappella group, is fundraising to help bring their music to audiences in Italy in January 2026. The tour will allow both current members and recent alumni to represent the Hangovers.

“The coolest thing I’ve discovered through my work on AguaClara is that complex global challenges like clean water access and equity are deeply multifaceted and can only be addressed through collaboration across disciplines. Even if you aren’t studying water technology or environmental engineering, there’s still a seat at the table and a way to use your unique skills to make an impact. In fact, this diversity of backgrounds isn’t just welcome; it’s essential! I never expected that concepts from my electrical engineering courses could play such a direct role in advancing sustainable water technology, but AguaClara has shown me how interconnected our fields truly are. Tackling systemic problems requires a combination of technical innovation, community understanding, and creative problem-solving that no single discipline can provide on its own.

I can’t stress enough how important our work is on a global scale. AguaClara technology is really one of a kind, and increasingly necessary as water resources shrink due to climate change. The impact of donations cannot be understated.”

—Becca Jeffries ’27

Many successful groups from previous years have returned, including:

• The Cornell Fashion Collective exceeded its 2024 goal by raising a total of $31,000. This year, they are returning to fundraise for their 42nd Runway Show. 
• The Veterans Law Practicum provides free legal services to veterans across the Finger Lakes and Southern Tier. As the only veteran-specific legal aid provider in the region, they are fundraising to fill critical gaps in access to justice for veterans in Upstate New York.
• AlphaCubeSat designs, builds, and launches student satellites to demonstrate new technologies in space. Their mission is to deploy a light sail in low Earth orbit. After nine years and over 100 students collaborating, the spacecraft is finally launching this fall!

“Working on Caucasus Heritage Watch has deepened my sense of how technology can serve the humanities. Using satellite imagery to monitor endangered cultural sites has shown me that digital tools are most meaningful when they help us see traces of human life—and loss—that might otherwise go unnoticed. It’s reminded me that care and precision belong together in this work.

This project has made me realize how powerful technology can be when it’s used thoughtfully. Satellite imagery and data tools can feel abstract, but in this context they help us tell real human stories and protect places that matter deeply. It’s been a reminder that precision and empathy have to go hand in hand.”

—Lori Khatchadourian, associate professor

Explore all of the student projects and help them grow!