What you need to know about Crowd funding

Jan 17, 2022

Crowdfunding is a way of raising money to finance projects and businesses. It enables fundraisers to collect money from a large number of people via online platforms like E-Collecta.Crowdfunding is most often used by startup companies or growing businesses as a way of accessing alternative funds. It is an innovative way of sourcing funding for new projects, businesses or ideas.

Crowdfunding harnesses the power of social networks and the internet to give people the means to raise funds, help others overcome hardship, and meet aspirational goals. The core principle behind the crowdfunding definition is that you can help a friend or help an entire community. You can do everything from pay for your own surgery to fulfill a student’s dream of attending college—and so much more.

How does crowdfunding work?

Crowdfunding platforms are websites that enable interaction between fundraisers and the crowd. Financial pledges can be made and collected through the crowdfunding platform.Fundraisers are usually charged a fee by crowdfunding platforms if the fundraising campaign has been successful. In return, crowdfunding platforms are expected to provide a secure and easy to use service.

What are the advantages of crowdfunding?


When funding from the government and nonprofits falls short, many people turn to crowdfunding, meaning that they will rely on the kindness of their community. Online fundraising removes the traditional barriers that typically exist when asking for support, making it simple to overcome financial obstacles quickly or raise money for a worthy cause. For those looking for crowdfunding basics, here are some of the main advantages of crowdfunding:
  • There is no application process.
  • There are no long wait periods to receive your funds.
  • Crowdfunding takes the fear out of asking for financial help. It’s simple to share your fundraiser with your network of friends and family members on social media.
  • Crowdfunding makes it easy to reach people outside of your network. 
What Nonprofits Should Know About Online Crowdfunding

There are important nuances in online platforms that nonprofits should be aware of. Some platforms are tailored for creative projects, while others cater specifically to nonprofits interested in using crowdfunding to fundraise. Additionally, different platforms charge different fees: some charge more if a project doesn’t reach its goal, while others don’t charge a fee at all, but also don’t allow the sponsoring nonprofit to collect donations unless they reach the target amount. In that case, donations are never actually collected/debited from the donor’s credit card, so donors’ contributions are not made, and neither the crowdfunding platform nor the nonprofit receive revenue. Something to be alert to: most crowdfunding platforms charge a baseline processing fee, and fees vary.