Beyond Co-Op: How does MBSU Fundraise Off-Campus?
Student band “Holden Meier and the Boys” performs at Spring Playback on May 3, 2025. (John Towner)
The Music Business Student Union (MBSU) hosts two signature events on campus; Elmhurst Unplugged is a (nearly) all-acoustic concert featuring a variety of student artists on stage in Founders Lounge in the fall, and Spring Playback, an outdoor music festival on the mall, intended to also include an off-campus guest artist to draw a wider audience.
These events have grown in popularity since their inception, and with them, cost. Co-Op, the funding apparatus that SGA provides for student events, limits funding at a $1,000 reimbursement subject to their approval, so how is MBSU able to pay for the events they run on campus?
Alexis Culli, sophomore, and treasurer for MBSU, gives insight into the various off-campus fundraisers she has helped organize.
“We have done Buffalo Wild Wings, we did Chipotle, we did Kilwins,” said Culli. “Those are all local stores in, like, downtown Elmhurst, and like, nearby.”
While most of the fundraisers are partnerships with franchise locations in Elmhurst, Culli highlighted their work with Double Good Popcorn, an online popcorn store that delivers orders directly to buyers from across the country.
“[Double Good] has actually probably been our most successful one. We did this one last year, it was also very successful, I think we raised like $800,” said Culli.
Culli’s role as treasurer focuses mostly on connecting MBSU with the local businesses, while the executive board as a whole workshop the ideas.
Culli said, “we discuss as an executive board what fundraisers we want to do, like, with which businesses or local businesses.” She continues, “My role is to reach out to them [via] email or make the in person [connection].”
MBSU primarily focuses off-campus fundraisers, as they have found it difficult to get approval for their ideas on EU grounds. Culli attempted to organize a coffee stand in partnership with Pilot Petes and a sale with Nothing Bundt Cakes, but ran into issues when Chartwells, EU’s dining services provider, restricted them from the ability to sell outside food on campus.
Not every off-campus fundraiser is a sold-out show either. In particular, Culli noted a profit-sharing fundraiser with Chick-Fil-A where MBSU was denied any revenue from the program as they didn’t reach a specified minimum profit amount.
“They said in order to receive any of the funds, we had to reach at least the minimum, which we didn’t,” said Culli. “I guess that is an issue that we’ve realized now. Now when we schedule other fundraisers, we check the minimum and see if it’s worth investing in continuing that fundraiser.”
MBSU does still use Co-Op funds for their events, primarily for complementary snacks and promotional items like tee shirts for event volunteers. According to Culli, those few expenses alone still eat up the vast majority of any awarded funding from SGA.
Culli said she spent “a couple hundred for the tee shirts,” also having to limit food expenses to fit within approved spending from Co-Op.
“We tried to limit it to small snacks and appetizers,” said Culli. “We spent as much as Co-Op gave us, but we were also [spending] a few hundred.”
Elmhurst Unplugged’s snacks included a table with lemonade and water and small dessert snacks such as cookies and brownies. Culli did not disclose exactly how much money MBSU was allowed to spend, but funds cap at $1,000 for a single event.
Culli still finds the work rewarding, stating, “it has a direct connection to what I’m bringing to the organization and team and helping to, I guess, make the events possible for everyone.”
MBSU is actively fundraising for future events, including a revenue sharing event at Panera Bread in Elmhurst on Feb. 12. Spring Playback 2026 will occur on May 2.
