What is crowdfunding?

Crowdfunding is sponsorship by a crowd of many donors, each making an individual, small donation in return for a small reward, like a t-shirt or a project poster. It works really well for universities because there are large groups of people who want to see your projects succeed, such as alumni, or your friends and family.

Who will support your project as a Sponsor?

Your Sponsors will be people interested in supporting you or the impact that your project will have if it is successful. They will be your friends, family and peers, as well as the wider Bristol community that you reach - Bristol Crowdfunding will help you use different channels of communication to reach these people.

Can I raise more than my funding target?

Yes! There is no ceiling to how much you can raise and it is common for projects to raise more than their minimum and sometimes more than their funding target!

What's all-or-nothing funding?

You need to make sure that you can run your project even if you don't reach your funding target. You can still set a bigger project target though, and set "stretch goals" to help encourage further support.

What is a project?

When you publish your idea, we call it a project. For your idea to become a project, you must have a clear goal and explain how you will spend the funds if successful. It must also benefit the Bristol Community and relate to one of the following themes: Climate and environment, student experience or widening access and participation.

Are there any fees?

No. We cover the costs of the platform and the costs of processing donations towards your project. This means you receive 100% of all donations if your project meets its minimum funding target.

Resources

The Crowdfunding Handbook
Rewards Guide
Promotion Guide