Crowdfunding (n): the practice of funding a project or venture by raising small amounts of money from a large number of people, typically via the Internet.
Whether you are looking to supplement your funds for a specific project or just for your overall artistry – crowdfunding campaigns are a wonderful resource to gather funds from your direct connections, family, friends, and/or anyone who believes in pushing your work forward into the world.
If you have ever wanted to know what sort of crowdfunding websites are out there, and what the difference between them even is – you are in the right place! We put together a list of the top crowdfunding websites that can help you hit the ground running for your next project.
- Kickstarter: Kickstarter is a great resource for getting a “kickstart” on your next artistic venture. Each project has to have an end result that the creator will provide (i.e. a book, an album, etc) – which means no fundraising for charity or just your general finances. However, Kickstarter provides crowdfunding opportunities for all creatives across multiple disciplines, so you are in good hands no matter what your art form is! While Kickstarter is an amazing platform used by lots of artists, keep in mind that you must reach your crowdfunding goal in order to receive the funds. If you fall short for any reason, you will not receive anything, and your backers’ cards will not be charged.
- Indiegogo: if you are looking for a crowdfunding campaign that will allow you to keep any funds you receive (regardless of whether or not you meet your expected goal) – Indiegogo might be the best platform for you. In addition to being a great option for artists, Indiegogo can be used for a wide variety of innovations in tech, health + fitness, the environment, and artistic ventures for the social good!
- Ko-fi: allowing creators to receive donations from fans of their content, Ko-fi is a wonderful way to fund your creative endeavors. All you really need to set up your Ko-fi page is a PayPal account, and voilà! You are ready to receive ca$h money. Of course, it helps if you have content posted, what the funds are going towards, etc. But, the cool thing about Ko-fi is that there are no “goals” you set up – it’s just a great way to have additional income from fans who feel so inclined to support you.
- Patreon: another great platform to help fund your artistic endeavors is called Patreon. Patreon is unique in that it creates a system where you get paid for your work on a monthly basis from repeating supporters, called “patrons”. Your patrons sign up for one of your available perk tiers, and they are billed monthly – creating a steady stream of income for you. In return for financial support, you supply them with “perks” for being your patron. The perks received are based on their tier level and the respective benefits promised. Patreon is a perfect way to not only remain accountable in your creative endeavors and promises, but to create your own little creative community backed by people who support you on a consistent basis. It is recommended that you already have a solid fanbase before creating a Patreon, otherwise, you may not see the results/amount of patrons you want. However, it is not required! Patreon additionally offers tons of online workshops, creative advice, and more. All in all, a fantastically helpful resource and funding platform for creatives!
- GoFundMe: if you are looking for a platform where you can fundraise for just about anything (whether it be creative projects, charity, personal needs, etc) – then GoFundMe may be your best bet. There is also a 0% platform fee, which is an added bonus for those who could use every penny!