What method do you suggest I use to raise funds for 3 academic conferences?

This Fall I am attending 3 academic conferences. I plan to apply for departmental funding to cover some of the costs within my home college.

There are 3 other beautiful people on my panel.

a) Do you suggest we fundraise separately, or together? My gut it telling me that we will have more success asking our friends and fam and colleagues personally to fun directly to each person…

b) ....and how so? Kickstarter seems focused on creative endeavors which this is, but not totally. Paypal seems impersonal.

Help! :)

Thanks, Fluther. Lurve you.