“No one has ever become poor by giving.” — Anne Frank.
Today, many non-profit organisations seek donations from people for social causes to make the world a better place. These organisations primarily rely on crowdfunding platforms to raise funds. In India, over the past few years, crowdfunding platforms have become the go-to medium for donation seekers and donors who are looking to contribute to a social cause they hold dear to their heart.
Whether an individual wants to raise funds for their sibling’s medical treatment, or a startup wanting to raise seed funding; crowdfunding platforms like Ketto have successfully hosted thousands of campaigns and helped donation seekers. Knowledge of crowdfunding can empower many causes and ventures. So, here is a detailed guide covering crucial aspects of crowdfunding in India.
To begin with, let’s take a look at three types of crowdfunding in India:
Donation-based
Here, many compassionate hearts come together to help someone in need, purely for the joy of giving. There is no expectation of a reward, just good wishes. The donors contribute an amount towards a cause that they feel most connected with. Most online crowdfunding campaigns in India are donations-based.
Rewards-based
Startups and business enterprises typically initiate a rewards-based crowdfunding campaign. The individual hosting such drives offer a reward for monetary contributions made to the campaign. Generally, the rewards are calculated on the amount of money contributed. Artists, musicians, technology, or educational startups are some of the most popular hosts of crowdfunding campaigns. They offer their product or service in return for faith and monetary donations.
Debt-based
This type of crowdfunding has become a popular alternative to traditional systems of borrowing money from lenders. A business puts up an online campaign looking for investors to fund their projects. These investors get a pre-determined interest on their investment. Since this is crowdfunding, there can be multiple investors.
Now that you know the types of crowdfunding in India, let’s take a look at what goes into running a successful campaign:
The first step is to have a rough idea of how much money you wish to raise. Next, find out which crowdfunding platform offers you the services you need, the protocols you’re comfortable with, and the fees you can afford.
Write a compelling story that tells the potential donor about why you want to raise money. Whether you are an aspiring entrepreneur who has designed robots that can eat away plastic or an individual who wants to raise money to buy cycles for children in rural India, you need to have a hard-hitting story. Make it personalised, include pictures, show what difference can the donor’s contribution make.
Execute the campaign. Run it on social media, spread the word through podcasts, word-of-mouth, emailers, and even phone calls. If you are a non-profit with an 80G certification, you can offer your donors tax benefits under the Income Tax Act.
Keep your donors and investors in the loop—post updates on your venture/beneficiaries. Let them know how their money and goodwill has helped your cause.
While you embark on your crowdfunding mission, it is wise to have a support system that can help you run the campaign, lift your spirits on a slow day, and remind yourself of your vision. Now that you know what is crowdfunding in India is and how to go about it, take the leap of faith, start chasing your entrepreneurial dreams, or raise funds for a social cause close to your heart.
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