University of Queensland catalyses
peer-to-peer fundraising to accelerate
COVID-19 vaccine research.

Researchers at the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia, already
were investigating how to respond to a new virus by creating a vaccine
within days when a real, global pandemic began. Uniquely positioned to
address the public health threat, UQ’s team got to work tackling COVID-19.

“They had a very ambitious plan to cut more than six months off an
already very aggressive timeline on their vaccine,” said Jen Karlson,
Pro-Vice-Chancellor at UQ. “They needed immediate support to accelerate
that project.”

The government, along with corporations and foundations, provided
generous support—but the request for funding followed closely behind the
economic toll of devastating bushfires. UQ faced a funding gap.

“As we all know, there was no time to lose,” Karlson said. “We needed to
raise millions quickly, and so after we started with our larger partners, it
was clear we needed to also think differently.”

Activating ‘Team Vaccine’

UQ launched an online campaign through Blackbaud’s peer-to-peer
fundraising solution to enable the general public and help move the vaccine
forward. Campaign supporters became known, collectively, as “Team
Vaccine.”

“The biggest plot twist was a catalyst that was unexpected,” Karlson
recalled “It came from a very unlikely place, and that was a group of fifthgraders who asked the research team if $100 would make a difference in
what they’re doing. Of course, the team was blown away.”

The fifth-grade girls touched off a wave of giving that engaged 2,600
people around the world who contributed. “From kids in Melbourne to
alumni in Hong Kong to CEOs of global corporations and foundations, it’s
been absolutely stunning,” Karlson said. “It’s truly been a public-private
partnership, and if it hadn’t been for those girls, I don’t think we would have
been so successful and seen so many people step forward.”

Combining all funding sources, UQ raised $23.5 million by July 2020,
trimming critical months from its research timeline.

Solving the World’s Greatest Problems

At the time of publication of this story, UQ’s vaccine remains in stage-2
human trials with promising early results. If success continues, Karlson said
distributors anticipate a mid-2021 release. With every research milestone,
Karlson and her team update donors as stakeholders who made it possible.

“Beyond financial support, ‘Team Vaccine’ has inspired and energised our
researchers in ways we never could have anticipated,” she said. Children
send in drawings of researchers in superhero capes, all of which hang in
the lab for daily inspiration.

“We need to support our experts who are best placed to solve the
world’s greatest problems,” Karlson said, “and there are few places better
to do that than at a university.” In addition to highlighting the role of
research universities in addressing global challenges, “Team Vaccine” also
illuminated the key role of the fundraising team.

“One other unexpected plot twist is an added internal spotlight on
advancement and what we can do when we work together, particularly
when we’re trying to do something that’s critical and urgent,” Karlson said.

“It’s been an opportunity for us to shine as a team in lots of ways.
We could showcase what’s possible through strong and effective
partnerships that included alumni, donors, industries, government, and
foundations. Given the economic times we anticipate ahead, philanthropy
and engagement have never been more critical.”