👋 Welcome & Overview
Congratulations on deciding to crowdfund! RaiseIt connects visionary creators with backers who believe in their work. This handbook is your complete guide to navigating the platform, building a compelling campaign, and delivering on your promises.
Whether you're launching a tech gadget, funding a film, or supporting a community project, our guidelines are designed to protect both you and your backers while maximizing your chances of success.
🚀 Getting Started
Before you publish, prepare these core elements. A well-structured foundation increases early traction significantly.
Define Your Funding Goal
Calculate manufacturing, shipping, marketing, and platform fees. Add a 15% buffer for unexpected costs. Be realistic.
Prepare Your Assets
High-resolution images, a 1-2 minute explainer video, reward tiers, and a clear timeline for fulfillment.
Set Up Your Account
Verify your identity, connect a verified bank account, and complete the tax/W-9 form to ensure smooth payouts.
✨ Campaign Best Practices
Your campaign page is your storefront. Treat it like a product launch, not a donation request.
Craft a Compelling Story
Start with the problem you're solving. Introduce yourself and your team. Show, don't just tell, why this project matters. Use short paragraphs, bold key phrases, and embed visuals throughout.
Design Reward Tiers Strategically
- Early Bird: Limited quantity, 20-30% discount to drive early momentum.
- Standard: Clear value proposition, covers your baseline costs.
- Premium/Bundle: Higher margin, appeals to super-fans.
- All-Tier Add-ons: Shipping, extras, or stretch goals to increase average order value.
Update Frequently
Post at least one campaign update per week. Transparency builds trust. Share prototypes, factory visits, shipping milestones, and behind-the-scenes content.
📢 Marketing & Outreach
70% of successful campaigns raise 50%+ of their goal from pre-launch email lists. Don't rely solely on the platform's traffic.
Pre-Launch Checklist
- Build a landing page collecting emails (use our free RaiseIt Landing Page tool).
- Secure 3-5 media outlets or influencers in your niche.
- Prepare social media assets (15-20 posts across platforms).
- Set up a 24-hour launch day email sequence.
Launch Day Strategy
Go live when your core audience is most active (typically Tuesday-Thursday, 9-11 AM EST). Pin your campaign on social profiles, share your video first, then drive traffic to specific reward tiers.
⚖️ Funding Rules & Fees
We believe in transparent pricing. Here's exactly how funding works on RaiseIt.
Funding Models
- All-or-Nothing: Keep 100% of funds only if you hit your goal. If not, no charges are processed.
- Flexible Funding: Keep whatever you raise, but you're responsible for fulfillment regardless of whether you hit your target.
Platform Fees
- Platform Fee: 5% of total funds raised (waived for first-time creators raising under $10K).
- Payment Processing: 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction (standard Stripe rate).
- International Payments: Additional 1% for non-domestic backers.
All fees are deducted from the final payout. You'll see a real-time fee calculator in your dashboard before publishing.
💳 Payouts & Taxes
Getting your money shouldn't be complicated. RaiseIt automates the process while staying compliant.
Payout Schedule
Funds are released 7 business days after your campaign ends and the dispute window closes. You'll receive an email notification once the transfer initiates.
Tax Compliance
Creators are responsible for reporting crowdfunding income per their local tax laws. RaiseIt provides:
- Annual payout statements (PDF/CSV)
- 1099-K forms for US creators exceeding $600 in gross payments
- Multi-currency settlement support (USD, EUR, GBP, CAD)
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Most successful campaigns run 30-45 days. Shorter campaigns (≤20 days) create urgency but require a larger pre-launch audience. Longer campaigns (≥60 days) often lose momentum as backer excitement fades.
Yes. You can update text, images, and rewards at any time. However, changing the funding goal or switching funding models after launch requires support approval and may pause your campaign.
Transparency is key. Update your backers immediately with a revised timeline. RaiseIt's Creator Support team can help mediate, but fulfillment is the creator's responsibility. Chronic non-fulfillment may impact your ability to launch future campaigns.
For most personal or creative projects, no. However, if you're manufacturing physical products, importing goods, or selling regulated items, consult your local regulations. RaiseIt doesn't handle import/export compliance.