15 Best Crowdfunding Websites for Fundraising

15 Best Crowdfunding Websites for Fundraising

Whether you aspire to be an entrepreneur, dream of creating revolutionary tech gadgets, or anything else, there is always a need to turn financial ideas into reality. However, securing funding for "just" ideas is always difficult. And this is especially true for startups, which often find investors and venture capitalists hard to entice.

but not anymore. Thanks to crowdfunding websites, securing funding for that next big creative idea of ​​yours has never been easier. In the most basic terms, they provide a platform where you can share your upcoming project, idea, startup, etc. to people all over the world, and if they are interested, they donate to it, usually in exchange for some rewards. But with the seemingly endless number of crowdfunding websites to choose from, deciding which one to trust for your dream project can get a little confusing.

Fret not, as we are here to help. Excited? Here is a list of the 15 best crowdfunding websites.

1. Kickstarter

Kickstarter is without a doubt the most popular crowdfunding website, Kickstarter has helped well-known products like the Pebble Time smartwatch and the OUYA game console become a reality. It features thousands of live projects spanning a diverse range of arts, journalism, food, and technology. Since its inception, Kickstarter has raised more than $2 billion in funding to more than 10 million people to realize more than 100,000 projects. Starting a project is fairly simple, provided you meet the manufacturer's requirements. Anyone around the world can back projects on Kickstarter, and depending on the amount of money pledged, backers (can) also receive rewards, set by the project's creators.

Pros: Basically synonymous with crowdfunding, maximum project visibility/traffic, an all-or-nothing scheme means backers are not charged if the specified funding target is not fully met.

Limitations: Strict project approval process, project construction limited to only a few countries (see note below), cannot be used for donation-based funding.

Commission/Fees: 5% of the total funds secured. In addition, (3% + $0.20) per transaction, the fee is charged as a processing fee.

Note: Project Creation - Limited to the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Netherlands, Denmark, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, and Luxembourg.

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2. Indiegogo

A well-known name among crowdfunding sites, Indiegogo has been used to raise funds for Ubuntu Edge smartphones (as if the funding target was not met). The website hosts myriad funding campaigns, including everything from community and education to film and writing. So far, more than $800 million has been raised through Indiegogo, and more than 9 million people have supported the many projects hosted on it. It allows campaign creators to choose from various flexible funding schemes for easy fund collection. Indiegogo also has a sister site, Generosity, specifically geared toward securing money for social and charitable causes.

Pros: Project creation available anywhere around the world, less strict to accept projects, both maintain it and all or nothing funding plans available, Analytics support.

Limitations: Lower project visibility than Kickstarter, decreased project success rate.

Commission / Fee: 5% of the funds secured (total or partial). In addition, 3-5% per transaction is charged as a payment processing fee.

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3. GoFundMe

If you're looking to secure funds for a charitable or community-oriented cause, or pledge financial support for such an initiative, there's no better place to start than GoFundMe. And although the website is primarily focused on raising funds for social causes, it can also be used to collect financial aid for personal life events such as financial gatherings. Getting started with a fundraising campaign is very simple. And if you get stuck, GoFundMe has 5-minute email support.

Pros: Easy to use, all money can be kept safe.

Limitations: Campaign creation is restricted for some countries, No PayPal support.

Commission/Fees: 5% of each donation. In addition, (1.4% -4.25%) is charged as a payment processing fee.

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4. JustGiving

Although primarily for easy collection and processing of donations made to registered charities, JustGiving can be used by individuals to secure funds for social causes. Pledging financial aid is easy, and can be done directly through a credit/debit card. If the charity and the donor are located in the UK (JustGiving Home), donations can also be sent via SMS. In addition, donations can be sent directly to the charity once references to JustGiving are added, thus reflecting the amounts on the fundraising page set up for the charity. JustGiving operates on its models, so funds can be kept even if the target is not met.

Pros: Multiple currency support, Additional tax exemption through gift aid (only for UK-based donors), Transfer of donations on a weekly basis.

Limitations: Countries have to register with JustGiving, Banned (In Charities) in a handful of countries, with the primary focus on the UK.

Commission/Fees: 5% of each donation. In addition, 2.95% per transaction is charged as a payment processing fee.

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5. YouCaring

YouCaring is one of the better online places to run fundraising campaigns related to social causes. In the past, it has also been named the second most popular crowdfunding website for philanthropic causes. There are many welfare causes, such as adoptions, volunteer projects, veterans, etc., for which you can either start a fundraising campaign yourself or pledge your financial support. You can specify the target as well as the time frame for the campaign, which can be easily extended. By its own stats, YouCaring has garnered over $335 million from a community of 4.5 million supporters. Donations can be made directly through credit/debit cards, and no account or anything is required as such.

Pros: None of the commissions charged by YouCaring for donations support many social causes.

Limitations: Nothing major we can find.

Commission/Fees: YouCaring does not charge anything. Only (2.9% + $0.30) is deducted as a payment processing fee.

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6. Razzo

Following the general approach of securing financial aid through online fundraising campaigns, Razoo is catered to everyone from individuals to non-profit organizations. Setting up a fundraising campaign is a trivial matter, and you can specify details such as target funding, time frame, and even set the impact level for specific donation amounts. Rajju also supports "Giving Days," which are 24-hour long online fundraising events. Giving Days features include scheduled donations, instant fund transfers, and more.

Pros: Can be used for both individual and team-based charitable fundraisers.

Limitations: Relatively high platform fees, information on the website is a bit unclear.

Commission/Fees: 4.9% charged as platform fee. In addition, a fee per transaction (2% + $0.30) is charged as a payment processing fee.

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7. Ulu

It may not be as established as some of the other names on this list, but Ulule (or more specifically, its influence) continues to grow. So far, it has successfully supported over 11,000 projects, as well as secured close to $50 million in funding. The European crowdfunding website hosts projects spanning a diverse spectrum such as music, technology, heritage, and sports. Yule follows the All or Nothing funding scheme, which means that if the funding goal is not met, backers are not charged.

Pros: Driven project approvals reduce the chances of fraudulent campaigns.

Limitations: Project construction is limited to countries in the EU, pricing structure is a bit confusing.

Commission / Fee: Varies according to the money collected; Starting at 6.67% for credit/debit card payments, and 4.17% for check/PayPal payments (for a detailed breakdown, visit here)

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8. Patreon

The Ulu discussed earlier, Patreon also offered relatively low. It has gained a lot of popularity over time. It can be considered as a specialized crowdfunding platform, geared more towards comic artists, YouTube content creators, podcasters, etc. than budding entrepreneurs. Patreon allows artists to secure funding on a recurring basis. So if you're an indie artist churning out artworks on a regular schedule, Patreon might be just what you need to get you going. That being said, Patreon has been the target of a massive hacking attack in the past, so be a little careful when moving forward.

Pros: Recurring or pre-construction funding options for patrons for easy continuing support, no geographic restrictions.

Limitations: None specifically, except for questionable account security measures (in the wake of previous hacking attacks).

Commission/Fees: 5% platform fee. In addition, 4-6% per transaction is charged as a credit card fee.

9. CrowdRise

One of its co-founders is actor Edward Norton (yep, the Incredible Hulk!). As such, CrowdRise is a platform to raise funds for individual causes, registered charities, as well as popular events such as marathons designed once a fundraising profile has been set up, it can be shared on social networks for better visibility. It even custom branding and services like email, redeemable reward points, and instant access to funds.

Pros: Very easy to use, backed by big names, and trusted by well-known charities and events.

Limitations: None that we could find, except for the weird (though fun) questions sprinkled in the general FAQ section.

Commission/Fees: (5% or 3%) of each $100 secured in charity. This also includes credit card fees.

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10. GiveForward Give

Designed to be an easy way to receive donations for both individual and community-focused social causes, GiveForward does a great job at this. In addition to financial aid, the website offers several ways to pledge to the cause, such as sending household items to those in need and even organizing meals. According to its own statistics, GetForward has raised over $180 million for various reasons. It works on the Keep it All scheme, so the donation amount can be kept even if the target is not met.

Pros: Strong community support for many social causes, no (obligatory) goal or deadline requirements, personal fundraising coach.

Limitations: Restricted only in the United States.

Commission/Fees: 5% platform fee. In addition, (2.9% + $0.30) is charged as a payment processing fee per donation.

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11. RocketHub

Whether it is about musicians, entrepreneurs, scientists, filmmakers or anyone else, RocketHub is meant to serve as a crowdfunding platform for all. It operates on its all model, funds can be retained even if the target is not met. RocketHub's popularity can be gauged from the fact that in the past it was supported by organizations like the US State Department.

Pros: Popular and associated with big names and organizations, a variety of creative causes can be crowdfunded.

Limitations: Comparatively high costs, especially if funding targets are not met.

Commission/Fees: 4% Donation (if goal is met). 8% donation (if target is not met) . In addition, 4% is charged as credit card handling fees.

Wishbury

Get your creative idea on the fast track with these crowdfunding sites With

the emergence (and subsequent popularity) of crowdfunding platforms, it's easier than ever to gather financial backing for that next big, creative vision, be it a creative idea. Be it social cause, scientific research, or sports. Take 'em all for a spin, and let us know which one you'd like to pick for your own, in the comments below.

12. Good Luck

Good Luck is definitely worth checking out. It can be used to collect financial aid for a diverse array of creative projects. It follows a very strict approval process for projects and only accepts them if they are somewhat complete (and not just ideas). In addition, WishBrite makes it very imperative for creators to award rewards to (potential) backers, as this increases the chances of successful funding. It follows the all-or-nothing model, so if the target is not met, the funds are returned to the backers (minus processing charges).

Pros: specifically geared towards India, but worldwide anyone can contribute (credit card only supported), consulting, analytics support available to create rewards, pitch videos, etc.

Limitations: Mandatory period time limit required (maximum 60 days), no PayPal support.

Commission/Fees: INR 2,500 (~$36) to be paid upon project approval. In addition, 10% commission is charged on the secured fund. In addition, a total service tax of 14% is levied on the platform fee (not on the total amount deposited).

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13. Keto

Another crowdfunding platform for people living in India, Keto lets you raise money for both creative endeavors (like music, fashion, tech) as well as social causes (like NGOs, charities). The platform has raised over $100 million for over 4000 campaigns. Compared to Wishberry, keto's approval process is much more relaxed. Project creators are provided with a personal account manager before a project goes live. Apart from this, Keto also provides some exclusive services, such as the option of Cash on Delivery to deliver the collected funds.

Pros: Keep it all planning ensures that funds are disbursed even when targets are not met, no hard deadlines.

Limitations: Any, in particular, other than vague information regarding usage charges.

Commission / Fee: 8% of the amount. In addition, there will be payment gateway charges.

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14. Experiment

If you want to contribute to the progress of scientific research, the experiment is probably the best place. From fossil excavations of dinosaurs to historical studies of monasteries, the experiment lets you crowdfund many scientific endeavors. Before being accepted, projects submitted on experiment go through a rigorous approval process. There are no rewards for supporting. The all-or-nothing model ensures that backing is charged only when the funding target is met.

Pros: Specific focus on funding scientific research. The results of scientific findings are shared with backers.

Limitations: Only available in the United States.

Commission/Fees: 8% Platform Fee.

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15. Fig

In its own words, Fig is a curated platform that allows people to crowdfund and invest in games. Fig is only a few months old (launched in August 2015), but it still challenges the "standard" crowdfunding approach. In addition to the regular "rewards" system available with other crowdfunding websites, Figures also allows early investors/backers of the game project to receive a portion of the profits, once issued. The website is gaining traction real fast, and only recently, the funding target for platform game Psychonauts 2 has been successfully met, marking the largest funding goal achieved in video game crowdfunding history. How cool is that?

Pros: A focus towards the gaming industry, unique approach to partner early backers in profit, All or Nothing funding plan.

Limitations: Only available in the United States, restricted to only one or two active projects at a time.

Commission / Fee: 5% of the total amount. In addition, 5% of game sales may also be charged based on specific sales terms.

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