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What is IndieGoGo?
IndieGoGo is an easy online platform for anybody in the world to raise more money, from more people, fast. With IndieGoGo you can turn your passion into a funding campaign, promote your idea, engage a fan base, and get funded. We provide all the tools you need to build a campaign and share it with the world.
How does IndieGoGo work?
Anyone can create a campaign, where you tell your story, set a funding goal, and offer perks to contributors. You can use IndieGoGo to create your campaign, share it with your network, engage fans, track information about contributors, and collect money. IndieGoGo provides excellent customer service, educational tips, and information tracking for campaigners and funders. We also promote campaigns through social media and press outreach, as well as on our homepage, in our newsletters, and on our blog.
Why does IndieGoGo exist?
We started IndieGoGo to enable anybody with a great idea to make their idea happen. Now anyone has the opportunity to share a campaign and raise money to turn a passion into a reality.
Who can use IndieGoGo?
IndieGoGo is open for anyone to use, anywhere in the world, with any type of campaign -- creative, cause-related, or entrepreneurial.
Can campaigns use IndieGoGo for equity investments?
No. All campaigns on IndieGoGo are contribution based.
Does it cost anything to create a campaign?
No. It doesn't cost anything to create a campaign. There is a 4% fee on the money you raise when you meet your funding goal. 3rd party processing fees also apply. See Pricing.
Where is IndieGoGo located?
IndieGoGo is based in the United States, but we have members in 211 countries and counting. You can post and fund a campaign from any country as long as you have a valid bank account or credit card.
What is a campaign profile?
A campaign profile is the home of your funding campaign. Your profile includes your campaign pitch (an image or video and written story), and any ongoing updates and pictures you want to share with your contributors and fans. Your profile page is where people make contributions, share comments, and pick up widgets to share the campaign.
Who owns the rights to my campaign or idea?
You do. You keep 100% ownership of all the ideas included in your campaign.
What do I need to create a campaign?
You need a thumbnail image, a pitch image or video, a discrete funding goal, and a pitch story about your campaign. It's also recommended to have perks with your campaign, as well as team members helping you to spread the word.
Can my campaign benefit any country?
Yes, except for initiatives or causes that are illegal (according to U.S. law) or are countries listed on the U.S. Federal Sanctions list.
Can I have more than one campaign?
Yes. You can run concurrent campaigns or back to back campaigns.
What are perks?
You can offer perks in exchange for different contribution levels in your campaign. Perks enable you to engage fans, build trust, and provide an opportunity for more people to get involved. You can offer one-of-a-kind experiences, special acknowledgments, or limited supply products. Learn More.
What do I include in my pitch?
Cover the 'who, what, when, where, why, and how' of your campaign. Be honest, transparent, and authentic. Explain to a stranger (and to your mom) what you are raising money for.
How do I get my campaign on IndieGoGo's homepage, in the blog, or featured in the press?
Campaigns are featured based on their GoGoFactor. The GoGoFactor is tracked automatically and is a combination of your activity updating and sharing your campaign, and the traction you are gaining externally with contributions. Keep updating your campaign, using the share tools, and driving activity to your campaign, and your GoGoFactor will go up!
What if I don't meet my funding goal?
That depends on whether you chose Fixed Funding or Flexible Funding when you created your campaign. With Flexible Funding you still keep the money you raise with your campaign. You will be charged a 9% fee on the money you raise, despite the unmet funding goal. With Fixed Funding, IndieGoGo will refund all your campaign's contributions if your goal is unmet, and you will not be charged any fees.
How do I create a campaign profile?
Just click on the "Create" link at the top of the page.
Who can create campaign profiles?
Each campaign has one administrator (the person who creates the campaign's profile). The administrator can add as many team members as he or she likes and grant them editor access to help create and manage the campaign.
Can I change my campaign after I have started fundraising?
Yes. You can change all elements of your campaign except your funding goal, goal type, and deadline. Also, you cannot change perks that have already been redeemed, but you can add new perks or delete un-redeemed perks.
Can I contact my contributors directly?
Yes. On your campaign profile, go to the Updates tab. You can make a text or video announcement, or attach a document. All updates are automatically sent to your contributors via email first thing the following morning. The use of Updates contributes to your GoGoFactor.
How do I get feedback from contributors or fans about my campaign?
Contributors and fans can provide feedback on the Comments tab of your funding campaign. To encourage comments and discussion, you can direct people there in your pitch or on your campaign profile. The use of Comments contributes to your GoGoFactor.
How do I share my campaign?
You can share your campaign with the tools in the share box on your campaign page, directly below the pitch image or video. The use of share tools contributes to your GoGoFactor.
How do I change my campaign's unique URL?
On your campaign profile click on "Edit" in the upper right corner. Scroll down to the bottom of your Basics tab and you can create a custom URL. It will be http://www.indiegogo.com/[fill in the blank].
What is an individual profile?
Each campaign administrator or team member will be asked to create a individual profile. This profile can include a picture and information about you. Your profile will also highlight which campaigns you have created or funded. Your individual profile will help potential funders get to know you and what you're all about.
How do I know when I have started fundraising?
Your campaign is open for contributions when you read and accept the terms of the “Go Live!” agreement and click the “Go Live!” button. You can find this on the “Go Live!” tab of your campaign profile after you click on "Edit".
Is there a time limit for funding?
Yes, you set your own deadline (120 days or fewer).
How do I collect money for my campaign?
All campaigns can accept payments via credit card and PayPal.
When do I receive my funds and how does it work?
PayPal:
If you choose Flexible Funding, contributions made through PayPal will be deposited directly into your campaign's PayPal account and are available immediately. The amount of money disbursed will be the amount you raise, less PayPal fees. If you choose Fixed Funding, we will hold your contributions until your campaign reaches its goal. In either case, we hold back 9% on every dollar raised, but when you reach your funding goal we release 5% back to you, bringing your net fee down to 4%. The 5% is released at the end of your campaign to your bank account via ACH or international wire transfer.
Credit Card:
If you choose Flexible Funding, contributions made via credit card will be sent via ACH or international wire transfer at the conclusion of your funding campaign. These disbursements are initiated on Friday, and include campaigns that have ended by Thursday at midnight, the day before. It takes 5-7 business days for the disbursed funds to arrive in your account. The amount disbursed is the total raised, less credit card fees, and less the 4% or 9% funding fee. Credit card funding is not available for Fixed Funding campaigns.
Where can I check the status of my funds?
Your fund status can be viewed on your Dashboard Funds tab, which can be accessed when you are logged in to your campaign.
What if my campaign ends and I want to continue fundraising?
To continue fundraising, just create a new campaign. You can direct visitors there by updating your pitch section and posting an Update to your old campaign.
What happens if my campaign reaches its funding goal before its deadline?
Good for you! Your campaign can continue raising money until the deadline.
Can people contribute anonymously?
Yes, contributors can choose to make their identity and/or amount of the contribution anonymous.
How do I keep track of my contributors and the fulfillment of Perks?
Your contributors and the perks they claim can be viewed on your Dashboard Fulfillment tab, which can be accessed when you are logged in to your campaign.
How do I track where my contributors are hearing about my campaign?
The referrals to your campaign can be viewed on your Dashboard Analytics tab, which can be accessed when you are logged in to your campaign.
Are contributions refundable?
Contributions are not generally refundable because they are disbursed immediately to the campaign as the funds are raised. The only exception is the group of refunds that happen when a Fixed Funding campaign reaches its deadline without reaching its funding goal, in which case all contributors will receive refunds to their PayPal accounts.
Are contributions tax-deductible?
If the campaign has 501c-3 nonprofit status or has fiscal sponsorship, the contribution can be tax-deductible if funds are disbursed via PayPal directly to the tax exempt organization. Contributors should contact the non-profit or fiscal sponsorship organization directly for instructions on getting a receipt for tax purposes, and consult their tax advisers about how to deduct.
With IndieGoGo's partnerships with Fractured Atlas and the San Francisco Film Society (SFFS), all contributions to campaigns that are fiscally-sponsored by those organizations can be tax-deductible.
What is fiscal sponsorship?
Many funding sources - including foundation, government, corporate, and private donors - will give only to nonprofit organizations with IRS tax-exempt status. Because acquiring this status is a lengthy, involved, and costly process, campaigns often enter into a fiscal sponsorship contract with a nonprofit to benefit from the nonprofit's tax-exempt status. Tax receipts are issued by the nonprofit to the donors on-behalf of the campaign.
How do I apply for fiscal sponsorship?
We offer fiscal sponsorship benefits through our partnerships with Fractured Atlas and the San Francisco Film Society (SFFS). You can apply to either of these programs and lever the benefits through your IndieGoGo campaign. Please see our Fractured Atlas Resource and our SFFS Resource for details on how to apply. Note, the IndieGoGo fees vary if you are a member of one of these fiscal sponsorship programs.
My campaign is fiscally sponsored, but not by Fractured Atlas or SFFS. How do I use IndieGoGo?
Create a campaign on IndieGoGo as you normally would. Then set up your funding section so that your contributions flow to your fiscal sponsor directly. To do so, use PayPal as your only payment option, and include the email address associated with the PayPal account of your campaign's fiscal sponsor instead of your campaign's email address. This will link your IndieGoGo campaign to your fiscal sponsor's financial accounts.
What are the tax requirements for my campaign?
We can't provide tax or legal advice - but we do recommend that you get it. How you recognize your campaign's contributions can depend. How a campaign is incorporated (i.e. sole proprietorship, LLC, non-profit, etc.) and in what tax jurisdiction the campaign resides will impact your tax requirements. We recommend that you speak with a tax professional about your specific campaign.
What do I receive for contributing to a campaign?
Campaigns may offer unique perks to their contributors. You also get the satisfaction of supporting a project someone is passionate about!
How much information do I share when making a contribution?
You can make an anonymous contribution. Only the person running the campaign and campaign editors can view your name and contribution details. You may need to enter your mailing address if you redeem a perk or for your payment via credit card.
What happens after I contribute to a campaign?
The person running the campaign will contact you regarding updates to the campaign and how to fulfill your perk. You will also receive a confirmation email.
Are contributions final?
Yes. The only exception is when a Fixed Funding campaign reaches its deadline without reaching its funding goal, in which case contributors will receive a full refund to your PayPal account.
I want to start receiving a campaign's updates before I fund it, how do I do that?
Go to the campaign, and in the share tool box click on the heart icon. This will add the campaign to your favorites and you will automatically receive updates.
Where does the money go if the funding goal isn't reached?
This depends on the campaign type—Fixed or Flexible. If the campaign uses Fixed Funding, you will receive a full refund to your PayPal account. If the campaign uses Flexible Funding, the campaign owners keep all the money they raise. Their funding plan is likely outlined on their campaign profile. If you are unclear how funds will be used, you can contact the campaign administrator directly by sending a private comment via the Comments tab on their campaign page.
How can I tell fixed and flexible funding campaigns apart?
Campaigns are clearly labeled as fixed or flexible right above the “Contribute Now” button on the campaign profile page. Also, the fixed funding campaigns have light blue background on their funding bar while flexible funding campaigns are light green.
How do I contribute to a campaign?
We offer two ways to contribute to a campaign: credit card or PayPal. Campaigns choose which method of payment they would like to accept; so some campaigns might not offer both options.
I don't want to contribute to a campaign using PayPal, but it's the only option I am given. Can I still contribute?
Yes. You can pay with your credit card as a Guest on PayPal (no PayPal account required!). After you click "Contribute" on the campaign, you'll be taken to a PayPal screen. At the top, you will see "Choose a Way To Pay." Click on "Pay with a credit or debit card." Uncheck the box that says "Save this information with a PayPal account. It's easy and free to sign up. Learn more about PayPal." Then proceed to pay as Guest with your credit card.
Can I contribute with a check?
We no longer have the option of contributing via check. If you are not able to contribute to a campaign via PayPal or credit card, please contact our customer happiness team for a solution on how to make a contribution.
I never received a confirmation email after I signed up. What do I do?
Sometimes our emails go to "spam" folders. Add noreply@indiegogo.com to your address book to prevent this. If that doesn't work, please Contact Us.
I forgot my password. What do I do?
Go to the Forgot Password page and we'll email you a temporary password. If that doesn't work, you can always Contact Us.
How do I cancel my registration?
If you would like to cancel your registration and remove your individual and campaign profiles, please Contact Us. Please include "Cancel Registration" in the message. We will send you a cancellation notice to confirm.
Is my personal information shared?
No. See our Privacy Policy.
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