STUDENTS SUPPORTING BRAIN TUMOR RESEARCH (SSBTR) FUNDRAISING AND OUTREACH STRATEGIC PLAN AND EVALUATION

Abstract

Students Supporting Brain Tumor Research (SSBTR) is a non-profit, student organization that raises money and awareness for brain tumor research. Founded in Phoenix 20 years ago, SSBTR has raised over $4 million for brain tumor research. The organization is new to the UArizona and Tucson communities. This thesis project provides a strategic plan and evaluation for expanding SSBTR’s footprint in the UArizona and Tucson communities through three goals: 1) raising money, 2) raising awareness, and 3) continuity planning of the student organization. The need for brain tumor research is discussed through a brief literature review. Various fundraisers were planned for the fundraising goal, with the plan to statistically compare funds raised with respect to planning effort cost. For the awareness goal, multiple events were planned to perform STEM outreach and neuroscience education with the Tucson community, with IRB-approved surveys to evaluate the efficacy of the strategies. The COVID-19 pandemic prevented data collection, and the thesis project was revised to primarily discuss the third goal of a continuity plan, containing a “How-To” leadership guide for future leaders of SSBTR at UArizona, while discussing the original plans and strategies. Ultimately, this thesis explains a strategic plan the for development of a student organization to motivate students to support scientific research to mitigate a public health crisis that we are fundamentally unequipped to face.