Crowdfunding is one way that individuals, charities and businesses (including start-ups) can raise money from the public to support a project, campaign or person, usually using a web-based donation platform such as JustGiving. This type of fundraising is a regulated activity under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000.
Expeditions tend to use two forms of crowdfunding:
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donation-based crowdfunding: supporters give money to enterprises or organisations they want to support
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pre-payment or rewards-based crowdfunding: supporters give money in return for a reward, service or product (such as a free lecture, expedition merchandise, or postcard from the field)
Be aware most platforms will charge fees based on each transaction.
>>> Listen to Tom Allen’s experience of crowdfunding as told at the 2019 RGS Explore weekend.