Here are some Frequently Asked
Questions...
What is Kickstarter?
Kickstarter is a new way to fund
creative ideas and ambitious endeavors.
We believe that...
• A good idea, communicated well, can
spread fast and wide.
• A large group of people can be a
tremendous source of money and encouragement.
Kickstarter is powered by a unique
all-or-nothing funding method where projects must be fully-funded or no money
changes hands.
Why do people support projects?
REWARDS! Project creators inspire
people to open their wallets by offering smart, fun, and tangible rewards
(products, benefits, and experiences).
STORIES! Kickstarter projects are
efforts by real people to do something they love, something fun, or at least
something of note. These stories unfold through blog posts, pics, and videos as
people bring their ideas to life. Take a peek around the site and see what
we're talking about. Stories abound.
Who can fund their project on
Kickstarter?
Kickstarter is focused on creative ideas
and ambitious endeavors. We're a great way for artists, filmmakers, musicians,
designers, writers, illustrators, explorers, curators, performers, and others
to bring their projects, events, and dreams to life.
We know there are a lot of great
projects that fall outside of our scope, but Kickstarter is not a place for
soliciting donations to causes, charity projects, general business expenses, or
raising funds without a specific goal.
How does funding work?
Every project has a funding goal (any
dollar amount) and a time limit (from 1 - 90 days) set by the project creator.
When the deadline is reached, there are either of two results:
1. Funding Successful: If a project
has met or surpassed its funding goal, all backers' credit cards are instantly
charged and funds go directly to the project creator. Project creators are then
responsible for completing the project and delivering rewards as promised.
2. Funding Unsuccessful: If a
project has NOT met its funding goal, all pledges are canceled. That's it.
How do I make a pledge?
To make a pledge to a project, click the
green “Back This Project” button on any project page. You will be asked to pick
your pledge amount and select a reward. From there, you will go through the
Amazon checkout process. Note that you must finish the Amazon checkout for your
pledge to be completed.
If I make a pledge, when is my card
charged?
If the project you’re backing is
successfully funded, your card will be charged when the project reaches its
funding deadline. If the project does not reach its funding goal, your card is
never charged. That's why we call them pledges.
If funding does not succeed, do backers
pay anything?
Nothing. If funding fails, all pledges
are canceled and that's that.
How does the money stuff work?
Amazon Payments processes all the
pledges on Kickstarter. When you decide to make a pledge, we'll quickly send
you to an Amazon Payments page to confirm. If you have an Amazon account this
takes only a few clicks. If you don't have an Amazon account, Amazon will ask
you to register during the pledge process — it's painless. You won't need to do
anything annoying like stop in the middle and check your email.
Can I cancel a pledge?
By pledging, you are committing to
supporting that person’s project; canceling that commitment is discouraged. If
you must cancel, visit the project page and click “Manage My Pledge.” At the
bottom of the next page you’ll see the “Cancel My Pledge” button.
Can projects be shared on other sites
and social networks?
Absolutely. Kickstarter projects are
all-or-nothing — they either happen or they don't. Every project depends on
their backers' and creator's networks for its survival.
There are simple buttons for the major
social networks in the share section of each project. Just look under the
project video slot.
Is there a widget that can be put on
other blogs and MySpace pages and other sites to promote a project?
Yep. You can find it right underneath
the project's video/image in the share section: "grab the widget."
Is there a way to share a project on
sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Digg or via email?
Yes. Click on the icons for email and
the major social networks in the project page's share section.
Do projects have RSS feeds?
Each project has an RSS feed of its
project updates. You can find it in the project's share section. (Note that
backer-only updates are not included.)
Thanks so much!!!
