Kickstarter is a crowdfunding platform where creators raise funds directly from backers to bring their creative project to life. We use an all-or-nothing model, which means pledges are only collected if a campaign reaches its funding goal by the deadline. If the goal is not reached, no money changes hands.
Kickstarter is a Public Benefit Corporation (PBC), with a stated mission to help bring creative projects to life. We support projects across art, comics, crafts, dance, design, fashion, film and video, food, games, journalism, music, photography, publishing, technology, and theater.
How Kickstarter works
- A creator will launch a campaign for their project, with a set funding goal and deadline. The maximum campaign duration is 60 days.
- Backers will browse campaigns and pledge funds to projects they want to see come to life. They can choose to pledge for available rewards tied to the project.
- At a campaign’s deadline, the outcome is all-or-nothing. If the goal is met, backers are charged and the creator receives the funds. If not, no money changes hands.
For creators
Kickstarter is a way to raise funds for a new creative project without giving up equity or taking on debt. Every project must fit one of Kickstarter's categories, have a defined goal, and produce something new to share. Each campaign must offer new and unique rewards related to the project, that are designed or created by the team working on the project.
All projects must meet Kickstarter's rules
For backers
Backers pledge funds to projects they want to see come to life. In return, creators offer rewards tied to the project. This could be a finished copy of the work, early access, or exclusive experiences. Kickstarter is not a store. It is important to keep in mind that a pledge is helping to fund a creative process, not purchasing a guaranteed product.
Fees
If a project is successfully funded, Kickstarter collects a 5% fee from the funds collected. Stripe, our payments processor, will also collect a payment processing fee (roughly 3-5%).
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of projects can launch on Kickstarter?
Kickstarter is for creative projects only. Supported categories include art, comics, crafts, dance, design, fashion, film and video, food, games, journalism, music, photography, publishing, technology, and theater. Every project must produce something original to share with backers.
What is all-or-nothing funding?
All-or-nothing means a campaign only collects pledges if it reaches its goal. If the goal is met, backers are charged and the creator receives the funds. If not, no money changes hands.
Learn more about all-or-nothing funding
When are backers charged?
Backers are only charged if the campaign reaches its funding goal by the deadline. If the campaign falls short, no payment is processed.
What happens if a project does not reach its goal?
If a campaign ends without reaching its funding goal, no money changes hands. Backers are not charged, and the creator receives no funds. When a campaign ends short of its goal, creators are welcome to relaunch their project at any time.