Crowdfunding is a technique that harnesses the power of social sharing and personal networks. Individuals ask for donations from their friends, family members, and peers and can create an online crowdfunding page to tell their story, upload photos, and accept donations.

Donation-Based Crowdfunding

Donation-Based

Donor platforms let you raise money without any obligations to investors. Contributions to your cause are donations or gifts with no strings attached. Common donation-based causes include philanthropy, medical expenses, and disaster-relief.

Equity-Based Crowdfunding

Equity-Based

Equity crowdfunding is the process by which an individual is able to invest in an early-stage company in exchange for shares in that company. This type of crowdfunding is best suited for businesses that are established but in need of capital for expansion.

Rewards-Based Crowdfunding

Rewards-Based

Rewards-based fundraising is most commonly associated with platforms like Kickstarter and Indiegogo. Through the rewards system, individuals and businesses raise money by offering a product or service in exchange for a campaign contribution.

The majority of the information covered in this guide will be about donation-based crowdfunding. However, much of the advice mentioned is relevant across all types of crowdfunding.

Popular sites like Fundly, YouCaring, and GoFundMe all fall into the “donation” category.

While the basic premise of a donation-based platform is that contributions are in fact gifts, many of the most popular crowdfunding websites still provide built-in tools for organizers to offer incentives, like t-shirts and water bottles. So, there’s a rewards element mixed in as well.

For more on the how donation platforms work, check out this video. And if you’re ready to start your own campaign, click here.

One of the best things about crowdfunding is that you can use it to raise money for virtually anything.

If you have a creative project that you need to raise money for, crowdfunding can help.

If you recently lost a loved one and need to cover funeral costs, you can use crowdfunding.

If you want to support a particular charity or cause, you can raise money and awareness with crowdfunding.

We’ve listed 18 of the most popular reasons that people turn to crowdfunding to raise money. Each category will take you to a specific fundraising page with more information about that particular cause, project, or event.

Have fun exploring how you can use crowdfunding to raise money!

The Benefits

  • RAISES MONEY QUICKLY: With the right crowdfunding platform and ample promotion, a crowdfunding campaign has the potential to raise quite a lot of money in a very short amount of time. In fact, many campaigns reach their goal in just 40 days!
  • RAISES AWARENESS: Crowdfunding can help you spread the word about an injustice, problem, disease, or social issue while you raise money. It’s an effective way to educate your peers. The more people you know, the more willing they’ll be to give!
  • BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER: People love to come together under one common cause. It gives them a sense of purpose and empowers them to raise money for something they care about. Crowdfunding brings people together for just that!

The Process

  • 1. Pick a platform.
  • 2. Set up your campaign.
  • 3. Promote your fundraiser.
  • 4. Track your crowdfunding campaign’s progress.
  • 5. Thank your supporters for their donations.

The Numbers


$88

Average crowdfunding
campaign donations.

$34000000000

Global amount raised by
crowdfunding campaigns.

$7000

Average amount raised by
successful crowdfunding

Ready to get started?

Create your crowdfunding campaign, or learn more.

1. Post Regular Updates:

Post regular updates while crowdfunding.

Your donors want to know the progress of your crowdfunding campaign.

When you have updates or reminders, post them on your crowdfunding campaign’s page to keep supporters in the loop.

Posting updates also shows that you’re invested in your campaign.

Updates don’t need to be long. It can be something like, “We’ve reached half of our goal! Thanks, everyone!”

The key is to interact with your donors and make them a part of your campaign.

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2. Use Images and Videos:

Use photos and videos with your crowdfunding campaign.

A crowdfunding campaign can’t survive on just words alone.

You should definitely include images and videos that are related to the cause, project, or event that you’re raising money for. This helps donors connect to your cause and see what their donations are going toward.

You can create a schedule and post an image or a video once a week or once every few days.

Including media will further engage your supporters and show them the results or progress of their donations.

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3. Offer Incentives:

Crowdfund better by offering incentives.

Offering incentives works better for certain types of crowdfunding campaigns over others.

They typically fit well with crowdfunding campaigns that are set up to raise money for entrepreneurial and artistic projects, trips and adventures, or sports teams or clubs.

You can offer different types of incentives for different giving levels.

For example, if you’re raising money for your school band, a $50 donation might correspond with discounted tickets while a $150 donation might result in a private concert.

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4. Share via Email and Social Media:

Share your crowdfunding campaign over social media and email.

If you want to raise money for your cause, project, or event, you have to get the word out!

People won’t know about your crowdfunding campaign unless you tell them about it and ask them for donations. Email and social media are the most effective ways to accomplish this.

Post regularly, but don’t over do it!

Your donors don’t want to feel pressured into giving to your fundraiser. Instead, develop a promotion schedule that updates followers every week or so. That way, you can keep people in the loop and ask for donations!

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Helpful Crowdfunding Resources

Examples of Crowdfunding Campaigns: A Few Success Stories

A Ray of Hope

After setting out to raise money to build a center for special needs children in India, this fundraiser managed to bring in an astounding $259,336 for the cause.

Ready to get started?

Create your crowdfunding campaign, or learn more.

Our Top Picks

Fundly is a top-tier peer-to-peer fundraising platform.

Fundly

Fundly is the ideal platform to launch your crowdfunding campaign on. With Fundly, you get to keep everything you raise. Plus, you can set up and share a visually appealing campaign in minutes!

Salsa offers peer-to-peer services.

Kickstarter

Kickstarter is one of the biggest names in crowdfunding for a reason. It is a great choice if you’re raising money for a business venture or creative project and have a product or service to fund and sell.

Giveeffect has peer-to-peer fundraising software.

Bonfire

Bonfire is the perfect combination of product fundraising and crowdfunding, allowing fundraisers to collect contributions in exchange for custom t-shirts. It’s an excellent incentive-based fundraising model.

Fundly is a top-tier peer-to-peer fundraising platform.

Fundly

Fundly is the ideal platform to launch your crowdfunding campaign on. With Fundly, you get to keep everything you raise. Plus, you can set up and share a visually appealing campaign in minutes!


Salsa offers peer-to-peer services.

Kickstarter

Kickstarter is one of the biggest names in crowdfunding for a reason. It is a great choice if you’re raising money for a business venture or creative project and have a product or service to fund and sell.


Giveeffect has peer-to-peer fundraising software.

Bonfire

Bonfire is perfect combination of product fundraising and crowdfunding, allowing fundraisers to collect contributions in exchange for custom t-shirts. It’s an excellent incentive-based fundraising model.

Start Your Crowdfunding Campaign Today