Crowdfunding is a popular fundraising strategy used to raise funds for medical expenses, artistic projects, scientific research, business startups, nonprofit organizations, and more. If you’re interested in starting one of these campaigns but you’re unsure which platform to use, you’ve come to the right place! Here, we’ll walk through more than 45 of our favorite crowdfunding websites to give you a better sense of your choices. It’s important to know what to look for when choosing which site will best meet your fundraising needs, and that can vary greatly depending on your size, cause, and operating budget.Crowdfunding: The Basics
Our Top Picks by Category
Different crowdfunding websites vary in fundraising guidelines, platform and payment processing fees, and so on. Keep an eye out for platform specific rules and practices when considering your options. For example, some crowdfunding sites follow a “Keep it All” (KiA) method of fundraising, while others opt for an “All or Nothing” (AoN) approach. Essentially, organizers of KiA fundraisers receive funding regardless of whether they meet their fundraising goal, while AoN fundraisers can only collect if they reach their initial objective. Most crowdfunding websites price their services based on a percentage of overall funds collected. However, platform and processing fees can vary depending on the site. Additionally, certain platforms cater to more niche fundraising needs, while others cover a broad range of topics. Overall, the best crowdfunding site is one that appeals to a large number of potential fundraisers and audiences—like Fundly!Which crowdfunding site is best?
Best Crowdfunding Websites for Individuals
1. Fundly
The Basics
Fundly’s crowdfunding platform allows individuals (and nonprofits!) to raise money for nearly any cause, project, or event. Fundly is a “Keep It All” (KiA) platform, which means that fundraisers can keep whatever donations they receive (minus a platform fee of 4.9% and a credit card processing fee of 2.9% + $.30/transaction).
Standout Features
Fundly’s crowdfunding site is incredibly easy to use and has a blog-like feel to it. Fundraisers can easily add images and videos, share personal stories on their fundraising pages, and spread the word about their campaign via email, Facebook, and Twitter. An automated fundraising thermometer shows each fundraiser’s progress, and each page can be customized with colors, logos, and even background images.
Final Thoughts
Fundly is one of the best crowdfunding platforms out there for any type of crowdfunding campaign. Plus, their support team is always there for you if you run into any problems during your campaign.
2. MyCause
The Basics
It’s free to start a crowdfunding campaign with MyCause, an Australian-based crowdfunding platform. They offer both a flexible and a fixed crowdfunding model, and they let fundraisers choose which campaign they’d like to run. Individuals can raise money for any cause, whether it’s for personal medical expenses, adoption fees, scientific research, or anything else.
Standout Features
MyCause has a variety of social sharing options so that fundraisers and donors can easily share their crowdfunding campaign via Facebook, Twitter, email, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and other platforms. This feature allows fundraisers to spread the word about their crowdfunding campaign far and wide, reaching as many people as possible.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for a beautiful crowdfunding website to help raise money for any sort of personal need, MyCause is a great option. Their simple layout and easy-to-use tools make it simple for anyone to fundraise!
3. GoGetFunding
The Basics
GoGetFunding is a popular crowdfunding website dedicated to effective fundraising for personal causes. Since its inception in 2011, this platform has raised millions of dollars for all sorts of campaigns, including medical, travel, community, and charity needs.
Standout Features
Crowdfunding pages are simple to set up on GoGetFunding’s intuitive platform, with only four easy steps required before launching your fundraising page. Then, you can begin accepting donations immediately with credit and debit cards as well as through PayPal.
Final Thoughts
GoGetFunding also provides fundraisers with personal fundraising coaches to help guide them through the crowdfunding process. This can be extremely useful for those new to fundraising and experienced fundraisers seeking a basic refresher course.
4. RALLY.org
The Basics
Rally.org is one of the easiest to use fundraising platforms for individuals, groups, and charitable causes. Fundraisers without technical expertise can launch their campaigns in minutes with inspiring, high-end designs. Then, donors can start giving in no time.
Standout Features
Rally.org creates its crowdfunding pages with robust social sharing capabilities in mind to help your team share your fundraisers far and wide. Thanks to their dedicated social sharing integrations, you can invite supporters to participate via email, Facebook, Twitter, and more.
Final Thoughts
Rally.org offers a highly secure payment processing system for credit and debit payments. Plus, a crowdfunding page is free to set up on their site, with a 5% platform and 2.9% + 30 cents credit card fees for each donation. They also offer special rates for agencies and consultants!
5. GoFundMe
The Basics
GoFundMe is one of the biggest names in the crowdfunding space, and their online tools have helped numerous individuals and groups collect funding for a wide range of needs, including medical, emergency, memorial, education, and more.
Standout Features
This crowdfunding website allows you to manage your donations by accepting gifts, processing transactions, thanking donors, and withdrawing funds. GoFundMe also offers a streamlined giving process for donors as well as a simplified fundraising process behind the scenes.
Final Thoughts
GoFundMe employs a number of special assistants called Customer Happiness Agents who assist fundraisers in maximizing their success and troubleshooting the fundraising platform. With 24/7 support available, this crowdfunding website is dedicated to providing users with speedy and efficient responses.
Best Crowdfunding Websites for Nonprofits
6. Fundly Pro
The Basics
Fundly Pro starts with the basics of the Fundly crowdfunding platform and adds peer-to-peer fundraising capabilities specifically crafted for nonprofits. With Fundly Pro, organizations can set up a beautiful and brand-cohesive fundraising page in mere minutes. From there, fundraisers can use Fundly’s tools, such as social sharing options, to spread awareness and take their campaigns to the next level.
Standout Features
Fundly campaigns are meant to be highly shareable and visually appealing. Additionally, teams can set up their fundraisers as peer-to-peer campaign pages to reach an even broader audience.
Final Thoughts
Between cost-efficiency, ease-of-use, and dedicated fundraising features, Fundly Pro is the best choice for nonprofits that are looking to start a crowdfunding campaign.
7. Double the Donation
The Basics
Double the Donation is a matching gift database that nonprofits can use to double (or even triple) their crowdfunding revenue. Using Double the Donations, supporters can look up their employers’ name to learn about their company’s matching gift program and determine their eligibility.
Standout Features
By partnering with Double the Donation, you can embed a search tool with their matching gift database into your nonprofit’s website or online giving forms. This way, you can easily encourage donors to research their eligibility and take the necessary next steps, providing your organization with additional donations at the cost of soliciting one.
Final Thoughts
Although Double the Donation isn’t a dedicated crowdfunding website, it can do a lot to boost the success of any of your crowdfunding campaigns. With all of the new donors you’ll be bringing in, you’re going to want to steer them toward completing a matching gift request as soon as possible to maximize their donations!
8. GivingMail
The Basics
With the majority of individual donations sent via direct mail in the U.S., direct mail continues to be one of the most effective fundraising platforms for nonprofits. A direct mail campaign provider like GivingMail can help create and distribute your direct mail materials, thus amplifying the results of your crowdfunding campaigns.
Standout Features
With GivingMail, your organization simply uploads your art, appeal template, and mailing list to their easy-to-use online platform. You can then start sending out donation request letters within days. Plus, you can examine the letters immediately after they’re designed to ensure they’re up to your standards.
Final Thoughts
Although digital fundraising platforms are on the rise, direct mail remains a viable and effective channel to raise funds for your mission. Your direct mail appeals can work in tandem with your virtual crowdfunding campaigns to enhance your overall marketing approach and reach as many people as possible.
9. Handbid
The Basics
Handbid’s crowdfunding and peer-to-peer tools help nonprofits everywhere connect to philanthropic supporters. With a user-friendly interface, you can easily set up, organize, and run your fundraiser without hassle. Plus, these tools integrate directly into their auction platform—letting you track and engage with our donors all in a single place. Existing users (those who have attended your past events and auctions) can start contributing with just a few clicks!
Standout Features
Handbid puts a unique spin on gamification. While many platforms only offer a fundraising thermometer, this forward-thinking company has developed a unique puzzle feature, giving donors a fun and interactive way to participate in your campaign. Simply select “before” and “after” photos that illustrate some aspect of your mission. Handbid then turns your “before” photo into a puzzle that donors can purchase pieces of to slowly reveal your “after” photo in real-time. They also supply traditional crowdfunding tools like leaderboards and fundraising thermometers to optimize your peer-to-peer campaigns.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for an affordable crowdfunding platform with an easy-to-use interface, Handbid is the solution for your team. This intuitive platform will handle the legwork, so you can spend less time managing your fundraisers and more time engaging your supporters.
10. FirstGiving
The Basics
As the FirstGiving website explains, it is “one of the most affordable, trusted, and experienced online fundraising websites in the market.” Supporting some of the biggest names in nonprofit fundraising, this platform is designed to help organizations launch peer-to-peer crowdfunding campaigns online.
Standout Features
FirstGiving provides software that can assist both nonprofits looking to run peer-to-peer campaigns and individuals hosting solo crowdfunding efforts for their favorite organizations. Additionally, FirstGiving has API developers that can help build out fundraising websites for maximum crowdfunding success.
Final Thoughts
FirstGiving is a great choice for organizations that are looking to run peer-to-peer fundraisers with crowdfunding elements. They specialize solely in nonprofit fundraising, and it shows in the way their software caters to each organization’s specific needs.
11. Plumfund
The Basics
Although Plumfund serves a wide range of crowdfunders, the site boasts a strong contingent of nonprofits. At any given time, Plumfund has over 2,700 campaigns running in the “charities” category. Like many of the other platforms, it’s a straightforward crowdfunding model designed to help fundraisers collect more for their causes.
Standout Features
This crowdfunding site lets campaign organizers receive offline contributions to their Plumfund 100% free of charge. That way, all of your funds are stored in a centralized location and you can easily view an accurate representation of your progress toward your goal.
Final Thoughts
Plumfund is a simple and straightforward crowdfunding platform that gives nonprofit fundraisers the tools they need to run a campaign. It’s a safe bet that has a strong suit in combining online and offline fundraising efforts.
12. Fundrazr
The Basics
FundRazr is a crowdfunding website that comes with ready-built social integrations, options for quickly and easily uploading images and videos, and a dedicated fundraising support team. Like with many other platforms, it also offers a feature that lets fundraisers add incentives to encourage giving.
Standout Features
Fundrazr’s crowdfunding website helps to reduce fundraising costs, turn your supporters into fundraisers, run multiple campaigns on a single website, and securely receive contributions directly into your account.
Final Thoughts
Fundrazr promotes their nonprofit offering in a clear and easy-to-follow manner. Their platform lets nonprofits create a crowdfunding campaign in minutes, share the campaign via social media once it is live, and receive contributions immediately.
Best Crowdfunding Websites for Schools
13. Donate Kindly
The Basics
DonateKindly is a free online donation tool and crowdfunding website specialized for year-round campaigns that fund schools, churches, and other nonprofit organizations. To get started, add their free online donation tools to your school’s website and encourage your supporters to give and share your free fundraising pages.
Standout Features
DonateKindly stores basic information about your donors to make it easy to reach out to them for future fundraisers. They also send automated thank you messages and tax receipts to your donors for added convenience. With these features, your crowdfunding campaigns will only get more and more successful as time goes on!
Final Thoughts
DonateKindly’s features make it easy for nonprofits, schools, student initiatives, and other organizations to start free crowdfunding campaigns. Leverage their year-round free fundraising tools to raise more money and reduce fees.
14. DonorsChoose
The Basics
DonorsChoose is designed to help teachers and public schools raise money for supplies, classroom materials, and other education-related items. When a crowdfunding campaign reaches its goal, DonorsChoose sends materials directly to the school.
Standout Features
Because DonorsChoose follows a model where individuals who fundraise receive the necessary materials instead of funds, it relieves the fundraiser of the stress of shopping. To cover the costs of their unique process, this platform subtracts a $30 fee from each crowdfunding campaign.
Final Thoughts
DonorsChoose is a highly specific crowdfunding platform. If you’re a teacher who’s in need of school supplies, it may be the perfect fit for you.
15. StartSomeGood
The Basics
StartSomeGood bills itself as “The Crowdfunding Platform for Changemakers,” and aims to help world-changing projects succeed. In fact, their website is used exclusively for social change initiatives such as education and other nonprofit causes.
Standout Features
One of the best features offered by StartSomeGood is their Global Support Team which provides fundraisers with personalized feedback before launching their campaigns. Their advice helps ensure that every campaign is positioned to reach and surpass its goal.
Final Thoughts
StartSomeGood is a great choice for social change initiatives like schools that are in need of some extra help during setup. With their team’s personalized feedback, your organization will receive the advice it needs to make your campaign stand out from the crowd.
16. Deposit a Gift
The Basics
Deposit a Gift originated as a cash gift registry but has since developed into a full-fledged crowdfunding platform. This unique site includes powerful features such as the ability to sell event tickets and the ability to capture and store donor contact information.
Standout Features
Deposit a Gift has affordable pricing, giving crowdfunding campaign organizers the chance to choose a financial plan that’s right for them, rather than the organizer having to conform to the platform.
Final Thoughts
While Deposit a Gift isn’t the biggest crowdfunding platform around, it offers a host of robust and innovative features, from the “Keep it All” model to premium page designs and personalized email receipts.
17. DoJiggy
The Basics
DoJiggy is an online fundraising platform with a number of revenue-generating solutions including crowdfunding, auctions and raffles, online donations, and e-commerce stores. Their crowdfunding platform allows you to create an online fundraising page, share it with supporters, and securely process donations for your cause.
Standout Features
This crowdfunding website comes equipped with a variety of useful features, and the platform has continued to expand its online functionality. Now, their crowdfunding solution can leverage live stream integrations, text-to-donate features, and more.
Final Thoughts
DoJiggy is a great choice for fundraisers who are looking for a comprehensive, all-in-one virtual fundraising platform. It not only incorporates powerful crowdfunding and peer-to-peer fundraising tools, but their software can also set your team up for success in a variety of other ways as well.
Best Crowdfunding Websites for Startups
18. Crowdfunder
The Basics
Crowdfunder is a UK-based crowdfunding website which aims to help individuals and groups connect with supporters to fund their community projects, businesses, sports teams, personal causes, and charities. Crowdfunder gives fundraisers the ability to raise money via their intuitive and simple crowdfunding site.
Standout Features
This crowdfunding website brands itself as both “people led” and “people driven.” Not only do they provide a powerful platform for effective social fundraising, they also offer fundraisers access to their comprehensive coaching and support team.
Final Thoughts
Crowdfunder is a leader in personal and team crowdfunding that has the software to truly help fundraisers get the support they need. It’s a great pick for UK-based individuals looking for an innovative and effective path to funding.
19. WeFunder
The Basics
Wefunder’s goal is to connect investors with founders and startups they believe in. As they explain on their website, “Everyone has their personal motivations for investing in startups, but ours is to support founders we believe in, pursuing a vision we care about, with a good chance of earning a return should that vision transform into reality.” If you’re looking to fund a startup business, this platform is a great place to start.
Standout Features
Wefunder is the largest business-funding portal based on dollars raised, companies funded, and network of investors. This is due to Wefunder’s focus on understanding the mindset and needs of business founders.
Final Thoughts
Wefunder is a great solution for startups looking to turn potential customers into owners with true connections to the business. This site also has the added bonus of being willing to do all the grunt work of fundraising, so you, the founders, can focus on what is important for your business.
20. SeedInvest
The Basics
SeedInvest is a leading equity crowdfunding platform with an emphasis on venture capital and angel investing. Since its creation in 2012, this website has successfully funded more than 235 startup businesses with an average of $975,000 per company.
Standout Features
This platform offers a simplified lending and crowdfunding process, pairing eager startups with willing investors to create effective and long-term partnerships. To get started, businesses complete a streamlined application with basic information about their company and finances which is then screened to determine if the business is a good fit for the platform. Upon approval, investors can start funding your business, providing you with the revenue you need to grow and thrive.
Final Thoughts
SeedInvest boasts a rapidly growing network of personal investors that has recently exceeded 500,000. They were even the first crowdfunding platform to extend investment opportunities to 98% of Americans who had been previously restricted from startup investments.
21. Fundable
The Basics
Fundable’s slogan says it all: “Now anyone can fund your business.” In its first year, this platform generated $80+ million in funding commitments, and the crowdfunding website continues to develop today. To create a campaign, startups choose between the rewards option (funds in exchange for product sales) and the equity option (funding from accredited investors).
Standout Features
One of Fundable’s best features is that they take a hands-on approach. Their team will work with your business to help you better understand fundraising strategies, launch your crowdfunding campaign, and market your company.
Final Thoughts
Fundable works with thousands of investors who might be the right backers for your up-and-coming business. And once you sign up, their investor database is immediately available for you to browse. It’s an online solution to the funding problem many startups face.
22. Crowdcube
The Basics
Crowdcube is all about making investing accessible, affordable, and rewarding by enabling everyday individuals to invest alongside professionals and venture capital firms. This way, startups, early, and growth-stage businesses can secure funding, and investors can gain a stake in companies they previously wouldn’t have had access to.
Standout Features
With Crowdcube, you receive access to the following features: new investment opportunities added weekly, full pitch pages and videos from startups, the ability to handpick the businesses you want to support, and the option to invest as little as 10 pounds.
Final Thoughts
Crowdcube is a European equity crowdfunding site with the tools startups need to secure funding and the opportunities individual investors are looking for. Its focus is on accessible, affordable, and rewarding investments.
23. iFundWomen
The Basics
iFundWomen is a crowdfunding platform dedicated to helping female entrepreneurs fund their startups, receive coaching, and make connections. This statement on their website summarizes their overall mission: “For women who have big ideas, we’re here to make them happen.”
Standout Features
This platform knows that raising capital can be the most difficult part of the startup process. As such, they work to provide near-immediate access to funding through their online crowdfunding platform as well as small business grants from corporate partners. Not to mention, iFundWomen also offers access to one of the largest communities of female entrepreneurs who are able to learn and grow alongside one another.
Final Thoughts
iFundWomen is one of the best equity crowdfunding websites for women-owned companies looking for sufficient funding to get started. By partnering with this platform, women are able to bring their business visions to life with the help of eager investors looking to fund up-and-coming businesses like theirs.
24. Seedrs
The Basics
Seedrs is an online platform that allows startup businesses to collect necessary funding via an equity crowdfunding model. This UK-based crowdfunding site has raised an approximate £1,117M for more than 1330 investment opportunities since its start in 2012.
Standout Features
Seedrs offers startup businesses and their founders the ability to grow their networks, acquire new customers, and raise critical investment funding. Then, once you complete your campaign, you can receive long-term benefits by joining the Seedrs Alumni Club, with access to exclusive partners, resources, and events!
Final Thoughts
A Seedrs campaign follows six easy steps to get started: submit a campaign, create a video and marketing plan, host a private launch, make your campaign public, reach 100% of your target revenue, and then collect your funds.
Best Crowdfunding Websites for Religious Groups
25. GiveSendGo
The Basics
GiveSendGo lets churches and congregations raise money for their religious organization. Whether your project is to fund a mission, pay administrative costs, or cover medical expenses, this crowdfunding platform can handle it all!
Standout Features
While other crowdfunding sites typically take between 4 and 10% of donations, GiveSendGo is 100% free. This crowdfunding website is backed by voluntary donations from supporters, so they don’t need to charge a commission from your hard-earned contributions.
Final Thoughts
GiveSendGo even gives 10% of the donations they receive to campaigns on their site. They have so much faith in the individuals and organizations that use their crowdfunding website that they support them personally!
26. We Raise
The Basics
The We Raise Foundation helps organizations and individuals raise funds for youth programs, community projects, and other mission-driven activities. These crowdfunding projects can be large or small, ranging from less than $1,000 to more than $50,000, depending on the organizer’s needs. This platform encourages fundraisers with all types of projects to raise money on their site, giving a special focus to those working to free people from violence, poverty, and inequality.
Standout Features
With We Raise, you get to keep all of the money you collect, whether you reach your intended goal or not. We Raise believes that any gift given is useful to your project, so they urge you to keep your funds and put them toward your mission. They even encourage donors to cover donation processing fees themselves so that your project takes 100% of the proceeds!
Final Thoughts
We Raise empowers its users to share their stories because they find that donors contribute more when they connect with a crowdfunding project’s blog posts, pictures, and videos.
27. WayGiver
The Basics
WayGiver is a Christian crowdfunding website dedicated to providing individuals, churches, and ministries with the tools they need to fund religious causes and overall honor Jesus. Common examples of campaigns on this platform include for mission trips, ministry programs, sabbaticals, service projects, and more.
Standout Features
The crowdfunding process is simple with WayGiver’s intuitive design and easy-to-use platform. To get started, create a free online campaign page and promote it on social media and within your digital network. Then, gifts provided by supporters will be automatically transferred to your bank account, so you can begin funding your need as quickly as possible.
Final Thoughts
Because WayGiver is specific to Christian needs and ministry opportunities, this crowdfunding platform offers a fantastic way for fundraisers to connect with like-minded individuals who are eager to support their efforts.
28. Donorbox
The Basics
Donorbox is a powerful fundraising platform for all sorts of mission-based needs—including churches and religious organizations. With their dedicated crowdfunding tools, individuals and groups can launch innovative fundraising campaigns and begin collecting donations to meet their specific needs.
Standout Features
This crowdfunding website emphasizes strategic donor engagement tactics by encouraging fundraisers to share their stories online and continually update their campaign page. To grab supporters’ attention, Donorbox also allows fundraisers to incorporate pictures and videos to illustrate their mission.
Final Thoughts
Donorbox offers crowdfunding-specific functionality which allows users to create and launch their dedicated fundraising pages online in less than fifteen minutes. Plus, you don’t need to have any design or coding skills to craft a beautiful and functional crowdfunding campaign for your cause.
Best Crowdfunding Websites for Rewards-Based Campaigns
29. Bonfire
The Basics
Bonfire combines classic t-shirt sales with the power of modern online fundraising to create a unique crowdfunding experience. Fundraisers can create custom t-shirts in a variety of styles and sell their products on their personal crowdfunding campaign pages. Crowdfunding campaign organizers can even set their own selling price to have full control over their fundraising potential.
Standout Features
Bonfire makes designing high-quality apparel easy for anyone, regardless of your graphic design skill level and tech expertise. You can use their t-shirt builder to create unique designs that represent your cause in mere minutes. To take it a step further, accept additional donations on top of t-shirt sales so everyone can support your cause in whichever way works for them.
Final Thoughts
If you want to add a unique twist to your crowdfunding campaign, try starting a Bonfire campaign. You can raise money and awareness for your cause by creating awesome-looking t-shirts for your supporters to wear for years to come.
30. ABC Fundraising
The Basics
ABC Fundraising lets individuals and organizations raise money by selling various products such as candles, popcorn, face masks, and even holiday merchandise. Creating a product fundraising campaign is free and painless because their team does all the heavy-lifting, including designing, creating, and distributing your merchandise.
Standout Features
ABC Fundraising offers a vast array of unique products to sell. Your supporters will never get tired of your fundraisers because there’s always something new to choose from! Plus, tools like their free fundraising thermometers and online storefronts can help boost your campaign and bring in more revenue and new support.
Final Thoughts
ABC Fundraising is known for its successful fundraisers hosted by schools and churches, although organizations of all shapes and sizes are welcome to take part. Your supporters will love receiving memorable, branded merchandise while giving to a good cause.
31. Teespring
The Basics
Millions of unique apparel items produced by the Teespring team in Kentucky are sold on their crowdfunding website each month. This site makes it easy to launch your fundraiser by designing your shirts, mugs, pillows, sweatshirts, and more.
Standout Features
Teespring offers intuitive social sharing buttons for your crowdfunding page. While individuals browse your products and read about your cause, they can share your page on Facebook or Twitter, potentially expanding your donor base!
Final Thoughts
Teespring encourages supporters to make purchases and support your cause with effective marketing strategies like their active countdown on every page. Supporters can view how much time is left in your campaign and how much you need to sell to meet your goal, which creates an incentive to support your mission.
32. Represent
The Basics
Represent offers an intuitive crowdfunding platform for designing and selling t-shirts to raise money for any cause. With a simple startup process and no upfront costs, this site saves you time and money. This rewards-based crowdfunding site has even been recognized by TIME and The Wall Street Journal for their unique and innovative platform.
Standout Features
Represent’s campaigns are remarkably user friendly. In just three steps, you can customize your products, share your fundraising page, and sell merchandise. Then you just need to wait for your products to be shipped. Represent also offers a “no inventory” model which means no financial risk to the fundraiser, along with extensive customer service to help guide users’ campaigns.
Final Thoughts
With Represent, you can track real-time sales analytics so you can see which products are the most popular and successful.
Best Crowdfunding Websites for Creative Projects
33. Kickstarter
The Basics
Kickstarter is one of the most recognizable names in crowdfunding, helping thousands of creative fundraisers earn money for projects related to the arts. Kickstarter does not allow fundraising for charity organizations, and fundraisers cannot offer monetary incentives.
Standout Features
Kickstarter’s platform is designed to help artistic entrepreneurs showcase their story and cause. Kickstarter has even put together a “Creator Handbook” to help guide fundraisers through the crowdfunding process.
Final Thoughts
Kickstarter is a major power player in the creative project fundraising world for a reason—it’s run with creative thinkers and innovators in mind! Just remember that they practice the “All or Nothing” method, meaning if you don’t reach your goal, you don’t keep any of the money you’ve raised.
34. Indiegogo
The Basics
Indiegogo is a crowdfunding platform for creative individuals with great ideas. Fundraisers first create a “Coming Soon” page to promote their campaign. Once they’ve generated enough engagement around their idea, they can start raising money for it. After the project has been successfully funded, the organizer can sell their product in the Indiegogo marketplace.
Standout Features
Indiegogo offers two different crowdfunding models: flexible funding and fixed funding. The flexible model allows fundraisers to keep whatever they raise, regardless of whether they hit their goal or not. The fixed model is a bit more risky and only lets fundraisers cash out if they meet their goal by a certain deadline.
Final Thoughts
Indiegogo is one of the leading crowdfunding platforms for creative projects. They also have a separate platform, Generosity, that can be used to raise money for charitable causes and events.
35. WeMakeIt
The Basics
WeMakeIt is a crowdfunding platform for “fresh ideas, artistic endeavors, and creative products.” People all over the world use WeMakeIt to fund artistic endeavors from cookbooks and musicals to design projects.
Standout Features
One of the best things about WeMakeIt is their social media and email tracker. When someone lands on a campaign page, they can immediately see how many times the campaign has been shared via Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and email. When people see how much traction a campaign is gaining, they are more likely to donate to it themselves!
Final Thoughts
WeMakeIt is a great international crowdfunding option for individuals looking to raise money for creative projects or artistic endeavors. With beautiful campaign pages and an easy-to-use interface, this platform is a great choice for fundraisers everywhere.
36. Pozible
The Basics
Pozible’s slogan, “We crowdfund awesome stuff,” tells you everything you need to know about this crowdfunding platform. From comic books and plays to art exhibits and films, Pozible helps individuals raise money for the artistic and creative projects they care about.
Standout Features
Pozible follows an “All or Nothing” crowdfunding model, which they frame as a plus for their fundraisers. Their website states that, “We believe creators know the most about what it will take to make their project a reality, and only receiving a fraction of their target amount is not going to be enough for them to be able to complete their project.” By having to set a realistic target, fundraisers only have to complete their project if they are successful in receiving sufficient financial support.
Final Thoughts
With fundraisers in more than 100 countries, Pozible is a smart global crowdfunding platform for creative individuals. If you need help funding a creative or artistic project, look to Pozible for help!
37. Experiment
The Basics
Experiment’s mission is simple: to help fund the next wave of scientific research. As Bill Gates said about Experiment, “This solution helps close the gap for potential and promising, but unfunded projects.”
Standout Features
Experiment’s platform concentrates solely on creative projects that fall within the scientific and academic communities. To help ensure that all campaigns are viable and adhere to the platform’s requirements, Experiment’s team reviews each page and provides feedback before letting the campaign go live.
Final Thoughts
Experiment is the perfect solution for those looking to fund scientific research. Because it is a specialty site, if your needs fall within its scope of services, you’ll be more than set!
38. Patreon
The Basics
Patreon is a unique subscription-based crowdfunding website which brands itself as “the best way for artists and creators to get sustainable income and connections.” By offering bronze, silver, and gold tiers of memberships, supporters can choose the amount they give monthly based on the perks and incentives offered at each level.
Standout Features
Patreon provides an easy-to-use platform for fundraisers of all shapes and sizes, including podcasters, musicians, visual artists, nonprofits, and local businesses. Creators can sell varying levels of membership to their top levels of supporters, who in turn receive exclusive content and behind-the-scenes insights.
Final Thoughts
Patreon’s crowdfunding model looks a bit different than that of a typical crowdfunding platform, relying on monthly membership fees to sustain creators and fund their work. This way, creators and fundraisers are able to receive a recurring stream of income, rather than one-time gifts.
Best Crowdfunding Websites for Lending
39. LendingClub
The Basics
LendingClub follows a simple premise. They connect borrowers with investors via their online marketplace. As they state on their crowdfunding website’s homepage, their mission is “to transform the banking system to make credit more affordable and investing more rewarding.”
Standout Features
LendingClub’s model allows borrowers to secure up to $40,000 in personal loans. Their process also lets borrowers apply for loans online, secure funding in a matter of days, and make fixed monthly payments to pay it off.
Final Thoughts
LendingClub was one of the first platforms to jump into the lending crowdfunding space. With any loan process, be careful and do your research, but if you’re interested in this new borrowing and investing model, consider checking out what LendingClub has to offer.
40. Upstart
The Basics
Upstart is a crowdfunding company that lets borrowers easily secure loans. The company was founded by former Google employees and takes education and experience into account, evaluating a borrower’s case beyond just their credit score. As a result, borrowers can secure loans for up to $50,000 with ease.
Standout Features
Upstart provides loans of between $1,000 and $50,000 with 3 and 5-year terms. Their website also states that borrowers save up to 25% as compared to their credit card rates, and they don’t charge a prepayment penalty.
Final Thoughts
Upstart takes a holistic approach to reviewing applicants as opposed to the typical lender. They assess a potential borrower’s FICO score, years of credit, education, areas of study, and job history to determine their rates. After all, as their website explains, you can get better rates through better data.
41. Funding Circle
The Basics
Funding Circle wants to build a better financial world, and they are doing so by connecting interested investors with small businesses across America. These connections all occur through their expansive online marketplace.
Standout Features
Funding Circle has term business loans starting at 4.99% with no hidden fees or penalties, a 10-minute application process, and personal support specialists. For investors, Funding Circle boasts attractive returns, access to a new asset class, and high levels of transparency and control.
Final Thoughts
Funding Circle is exclusively focused on lending to small businesses. If you’re a small business owner seeking financial support for your growing company, this crowdfunding platform is an excellent option worth exploring.
42. Prosper
The Basics
Prosper is “a diversification opportunity that delivers solid monthly returns.” This platform is open to borrowers and investors for the following categories of loans: debt consolidation, home improvement, auto and vehicle, adoption, small business, and special occasion.
Standout Features
Prosper is in line with many top platforms for debt and lending crowdfunding. Some of its best features include low interest rates, fixed terms of 3 or 5 years, single monthly payments, and no hidden fees or payment penalties. You can even check your rate without impacting your credit score!
Final Thoughts
Prosper’s process is simple. For borrowers, all you need to do is check your rate, choose your term, and get your funds.
Best Crowdfunding Websites for Real Estate
43. Fundrise
The Basics
Fundrise bills itself as a “completely new alternative to investing in stocks and bonds.” There are three core benefits of this crowdfunding platform: (1) direct access to private real estate assets, (2) up to 40% savings on costs via technology, and (3) better overall expected earnings returns.
Standout Features
The biggest asset of Fundrise is that it opens its users up to private market investing. Rather than adhering to the historical limitations placed on individual investors, Fundraise helps users invest in a similar portfolio strategy to that of some of the most successful professional investors.
Final Thoughts
Fundrise is part of a new model of investing that lets individuals access opportunities previously reserved for major institutions. As with any investment decision-making process, users need to do ample research before signing up.
44. Patch of Land
The Basics
Patch of Land gives visitors two options: invest or borrow. Through Patch of Land, individuals can secure funding for a real estate project or invest in projects others are looking to fund.
Standout Features
Patch of Land matches accredited and institutional investors with borrowers looking for timely and consistent funding for their real estate projects. Key features include the peer-to-real-estate lending marketplace and a five-step application process for interested borrowers.
Final Thoughts
This crowdfunding site explains that its goal is to “solve the problem of inefficient, fragmented, and opaque real estate private lending by using data-driven processes to create transparency and to efficiently underwrite projects for borrowers with real estate projects that are routinely bypassed by traditional lenders.” If that mission aligns with your needs, you might want to check out Patch of Land.
45. IINTOO
The Basics
IINTOO is a real estate crowdfunding site that offers the opportunity to invest in debt, equity, commercial, or residential investments nationwide. The majority of the crowdfunding platform’s investments have monthly or quarterly distributions of cash flow.
Standout Features
IINTOO investors have financed over 375 projects, and the platform has returned over $74 million to its principal investors. Additionally, more than 186,000 investors are registered on the platform. Thanks to the constantly expanding online platform, individuals can invest from any location on any device with just a few simple and secure steps.
Final Thoughts
Real estate investing via crowdfunding platforms like IINTOO is a growing market. However, there are risks associated with the process just like there would be any other kind of investing. Explore their site to learn more about the overall approach as well as what makes IINTOO a unique platform.
46. RealtyMogul
The Basics
RealtyMogul calls itself “commercial real estate investing for all.” Through this platform, users can invest in crowdfunded commercial real estate opportunities. The entire process can be completed online, and participants can invest with as little as $1,000.
Standout Features
RealtyMogul offers a few unique benefits for choosing their platform over a competitor’s. First, their security offerings are created exclusively by a FINRA registered broker-dealer. Second, their investment committee has more than 200 years of collective experience. And finally, they spend more than $1 million annually on data and technology for vetting deals.
Final Thoughts
RealtyMogul’s offerings are very much in line with the real estate crowdfunding market. We recommend taking a look through their website to see if any of their features are suited to your needs as a real estate investor.
Additional Resources
Crowdfunding Statistics to Know: Updated for 2021
Crowdfunding is one of the most effective types of fundraising campaigns you can run for a wide range of projects. If you’re still not sure whether you want to host a crowdfunding campaign, these statistics might help you reconsider crowdfunding’s potential.
Check out this list of key facts and figures to inspire your upcoming campaign.
Virtual Fundraising Ideas for Powerful Campaigns
Looking for virtual fundraising ideas to supplement your crowdfunding efforts? Hosting online fundraisers increases the reach and accessibility of your fundraising efforts and makes it so that more supporters can get involved.
This list of unique and effective campaign ideas can get you off to a great start!
Crowdfunding 101: Raising Money and Awareness Online
A successful campaign is a combination of the right tools and the right strategies. Once you’ve found the perfect crowdfunding website for your campaign, check out these best practices to raise more.
These tips and strategies will help you optimize your crowdfunding page and share your campaign so that you can reach the widest audience possible.
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