What can rewards crowdfunding do? Provide the seed from which something greater can grow.
Rewards crowdfunding helped director Matia Karrell raise the $30,000 in development funds she needed to begin pre-production for the FlyGirls TV series and gave the project the credibility to connect with over 40,000 people each week, as well as garnering the support of organizations such as Women in Aviation International & Women in Homeland Security.
Matia attended the first Crowdfund Better "Coffee, Tea & Crowdfunding Workshop" with other women filmmakers in 2015, and we have continued to support the FlyGirls team along their journey. We look forward to watching this project and the projects of so many amazing creators see the light to day because of the support of the crowd.
Learn how to navigate the crowdfunding ecosystem to unlock alternative funding. #communitycapital #s Crowdfunding Education, Advocacy and Training
Operating as usual
01/31/2023
The Main Street Journal
Thank you to and for featuring our Crowdfund Better Certified Advisor™ program in your latest edition!
If you're not familiar with The Main Street Journal - their goal is "to catalyze the movement of $50 trillion from Wall Street to Main Street to facilitate economic development and economic justice. It’s sponsored by the National Coalition for Community Capital, with a grant from the Heron Foundation."
Sign up for their free newsletter and learn more about how you can become part of the movement here:
The Main Street Journal
A hub for news about local investing. Click to read The Main Street Journal, by Michael Shuman, a Substack publication with thousands of readers.
01/26/2023
The Top Marketing Trends of 2023 & How They've Changed Since 2022 [Data from 1000+ Global Marketers]
What's the marketing prognosis for 2023? That some marketing trends seem to never get old or less effective. Check out HubSpot's 2023 Marketing Trends to get the scoop (and also some guides you can download for free)!
Hear what our client Danté Hamilton of PersonalizedNewspaper had to say about the value of our Crowdfunding Roadmap!
01/19/2023
5 Crowdfunding Misconceptions (+ The Most Effective Tool for Getting Contributions!)
Crowdfunding misconceptions...yeah, we've heard quite a few over the years. GoDaddy asked our Founder & CEO Kathleen Minogue to highlight the Top 5. Any ring a bell for you?
ICYMI - This January, we launched the Crowdfund Better Certified Advisor™ Program to provide small business advisors with the tools, training and support to help their clients unlock crowdfunded capital. Thanks, CrowdfundInsider for sharing the news. https://bit.ly/3JaMYNB
01/12/2023
Crowdfund Better 50% Off | SuperCrowd23
If you register for (May 10-11th) before MLK Day, you can get your tickets with the 50% Crowdfund Better discount! Devin D. Thorpe
Crowdfund Better 50% Off | SuperCrowd23
Register for SuperCrowd23, the virtual impact crowdfunding conference, today using the discount code CfBFriend23 on the second page of the registration process below.
01/10/2023
Who Can Unlock Crowdfunding Capital for Small Business?
Announcing the launch of the Crowdfund Better Certified Advisor™ program!
We believe this Certified Advisor program can turn the tide for small business crowdfunding and help unlock community capital for small businesses large and small.
Our Founder & CEO Kathleen Minogue explains the "why" in this blog:
Who Can Unlock Crowdfunding Capital for Small Business?
For the majority of the U.S. population, using crowdfunding to raise capital for a small business is little known or understood. Most assume that crowdfunding can only be used to raise money for personal causes or nonprofit organizations. A Manta survey in 2015¹ found that only 2% of small business...
01/03/2023
Breaking News...We are pleased to announce the launch of the Crowdfund Better Certified Advisor™ Program, the first training program in the U.S. to empower small business advisors with the knowledge and tools to bring the crowdfunding opportunity to their clients. New York SBDC
6 Reasons Why Email Marketing Is Important for Content Creators
We sometimes sound like a broken record about the importance of email. So don't take our word for it - listen to what expert marketer has to say in her latest article, "6 Reasons Why Email Marketing Is Important for Content Creators" - which also applies to most small businesses and entrepreneurs!
Thinking about how you're going to better fund your business in 2023? Here's a little stocking stuffer from Santa to jumpstart your business new year resolutions! Sign up before NYE to get 20% off any of our online crowdfunding courses.
At Crowdfund Better, our mission has always been to bring crowdfunding education to entrepreneurs and small business owners. Coming soon...something for the advisors who support them!
In the meantime, read this blog written by our founder Kathleen Minogue way back in 2016 about the importance of funding crowdfunding education.
Why We Need to Address Crowdfunding Education Now
(Originally published on November 12, 2016 in Crowdfund Insider) If crowdfunding as a means to improve access to capital for entrepreneurs, small business owners and creatives turns out only to be an ideology, it will be the result of a lack of effective education. By my definition, crowdfunding is....
12/08/2022
Crowdfund Better 50% Off | SuperCrowd23
Did you miss Devin D. Thorpe SuperCrowd22 Conference this year? That's ok. Mark your calendars for May 10-11 for SuperCrowd23. Or better yet, get your tickets now at 50% off the already deeply discounted Early Bird price, compliments of Crowdfund Better.
Get your half-price registration here: https://bit.ly/3FcMmDq using discount code: CfBFriend23.
Crowdfund Better 50% Off | SuperCrowd23
SuperCrowd23 is the two-day virtual conference at the intersection of impact investing and crowdfunding, let's call it impact crowdfunding.
11/29/2022
Don't miss our founder Kathleen Minogue next week, Wed Dec 7th at 12pm PT on GRID110's December Funding Pathways Panel!
When it comes to money for startups, there's no shortage of options - from rewards and investment crowdfunding, equity funding models such as convertible debt, smaller VCs, grants, and even angel investment networks. But how do you know which of the many possible funding paths is right for you and your business?
Join the panel to find out and hear her speak alongside industry leaders from Silicon Valley Bank, StitchCrew, Chloe Capital and Enthuse Marketing Group LLC. We will discuss various funding options for startups and how to figure out which path suits you best. You’ll also have the chance to further connect with our panel in specialized breakout rooms to answer any questions you have.
Don't take our word for it! Hear what Impresario participant Christina Smith of Curly Gurl Luv Beauty Supply from Lawndale, CA had this to say about her experience working with Crowdfund Better.
11/02/2022
Crowdfunding Success 2-course bundle
At the heart of crowdfunding are two things: your community and your story.
Get these two pieces right with our "Crowdfunding Success 2-course Bundle!"
Crowdfunding Success 2-course bundle
Put your crowdfunding foundations together before you launch with our "Finding the Gold in Your Network" and "Storytelling for Crowdfunding" online courses!
10/25/2022
Just arrived - stay tuned for Kathleen Minogue who is participating on the “Capital Providers Panel” Boise at 11am!
10/18/2022
Boise Entrepreneur Week Registration
Will you be attending Boise Startup Week October 24th-28th? We will! Join our founder Kathleen Minogue for the "Capital Providers Panel" on Tuesday, October 25th from 11AM-12PM and the "Funding Provider Meet & Greet" on Thursday, October 27th from 10-11AM both in person at Trailhead Boise.
Crowdfunding 101 & Alternative Funding Options For Women Entrepreneurs
Are you a woman entrepreneur who is curious about crowdfunding and other types of alternative capital? Join this free webinar hosted by Small Business Majority next Wednesday, October 19 from 1:00 – 2:00 PM EDT featuring our Founder Kathleen Minogue and representatives from Founders First CDC & IFundWomen to learn about crowdfunding, grants, and other alternative funding options available to women entrepreneurs.
Email Marketing is like Stocking Your Crowdfunding Pantry
Something we've noticed over the past few years is how many small business clients come to us with social media channels but no email marketing in place. If there's one tool that can boost crowdfunding success while also keeping your customers coming back again & again, it's email marketing. Learn how to improve your email marketing like it's your business pantry in this blog:
Email Marketing is like Stocking Your Crowdfunding Pantry
(Originally posted July 19, 2017 on Medium, Updated 12/2021) Heat up your email communications In crowdfunding articles, email marketing is generally glazed over (if mentioned at all) to get to the part about PR, social media, influencers and big money raises. But passing over email marketing when l...
09/22/2022
5 Crowdfunding Misconceptions (+ The Most Effective Tool for Getting Contributions!)
Thank you GoDaddy for inviting our Founder & CEO Kathleen Minogue to share "5 Crowdfunding Misconceptions" with your network of small business owners. Check out the video here:
"Creating Campaign Rewards" is an online, self-paced course to help you learn a step-by-step process to create compelling rewards that won't break your budget but will inspire campaign support. Includes actionable worksheets you can use to break down your campaign financial goal and campaign rewards costs at the same time!
Don't miss it! Next week is Devin D. Thorpe's virtual conference September 15-16th. Our Founder Kathleen Minogue will be speaking during the September 15th Evening Breakout Session "Crowdfunding for the Black Community" at 7pm ET. Be sure to register using the coupon code below for your Crowdfund Better discount!
Business advisors, will you be at the America's SBDC national conference in San Diego next week?
Our founder Kathleen Minogue will be presenting on how to "Bring Crowdfunding Knowledge to your Center'' Thursday, Sept. 8th from 3:45-5:00pm PT (in Grand Ballroom 4).
Want to connect with Kathleen in person at the conference? DM us to arrange a time to meet between workshops! https://bit.ly/3ABSkvd
08/29/2022
Will you be joining us in tomorrow at 12pm ET for the second webinar in our partnership with New York Small Business Development Center? "Unburying Social Capital & Networks for Small Business" will cover how you can find and build the support of your community within your existing networks to help fund your business (and not just using crowdfunding).
Thank you Zions Bank for highlighting crowdfunding and Crowdfund Better in your latest article "4 Financing Options Every Startup Should Consider" in Idaho Business Review.
Will you be joining us in less than 2 weeks for the second webinar in our partnership with New York Small Business Development Center? "Unburying Social Capital & Networks for Small Business" will cover how you can find and build the support of your community within your existing networks to help fund your business (and not just using crowdfunding).
One month away from the Devin D. Thorpe's virtual conference September 15-16th! Our Founder Kathleen Minogue will be speaking during the September 15th Evening Breakout Session at 7pm ET. Be sure to register using the coupon code below for your Crowdfund Better discount!
Next week! Crowdfund Better in partnership with New York Small Business Development Center is the first (of two) free webinars for New York small businesses! Register now for "Crowdfunding for Small Business" webinar on August 18th at 12pm ET. This is your chance to learn how crowdfunding can help you fund your next business goal with the support of your local NY SBDC advisors!
Crowdfund Better is proud to be partnering with New York Small Business Development Center in the first (of two) free webinars for New York small businesses! Register now for the introductory "Crowdfunding for Small Business" webinar on August 18th at 12pm ET. This is your chance to learn how crowdfunding can help you fund your next business goal with the support of your local NY SBDC advisors!
The crowdfunding online course bundle you have been waiting for (and our clients have been using and helping us develop over the past 10 years). Our "Rewards Crowdfunding Success" 4-course Bundle will help you plan and prepare you on your way to rewards campaign success!
What is the best platform for crowdfunding? Without a doubt, this is the most common question we get from aspiring crowdfunding campaign creators. So we thought we would answer it in this brand new blog! You might be surprised with what we have to say...
Crowdfund Better is pleased to be one of the co-hosts for the upcoming Devin D. Thorpe's virtual conference September 15-16th! Our Founder Kathleen Minogue will be speaking during the September 15th Evening Breakout Session "Crowdfunding for the Black Community" at 7pm ET. Be sure to register using the coupon code below for your Crowdfund Better discount!
These Black-Owned Businesses Are Thriving Thanks to Jrue and Lauren Holiday
We were honored to be half of the chosen crowdfunding expert team (alongside FundBlackFounders) to work with the jlhfund 2021 Small Business Grantees. Read more about the participants we worked with and how their businesses were impacted in this Sports Illustrated article:
6 Crowdfunding Creators Offer Advice on Community Building
Curious how you can collect email subscribers on your website to build your community? Read this BackerKit blog on the power of a Landing Page:
6 Crowdfunding Creators Offer Advice on Community Building
Join us Wednesday, May 26th at 10 AM PT for Landing Page Do’s and Don’ts. During this live presentation, BackerKit will be covering everything you need to know about building an expert-level landing page to help grow your email list. RSVP today! The email list you build before your crowdfundi
06/23/2022
This Non-Profit Launched A Crowdfunding Platform To Help Minority Businesses Access Capital
We've been keeping this partnership on the DL as we get it going, but when it gets featured in Essence, it's time to shout it out!
Crowdfund Better is proud to be providing free crowdfunding education & training to minority and women entrepreneurs in and beyond in partnership with Impresario by New Economics for Women. Read more here:
Liberation looks like nourishing L.A. Visit a Prosperity Market and see for yourself
Community is at the heart of everything our client Prosperity Market does - which is why crowdfunding was a natural fit to successfully fund their mobile farmers market food trailer on FundBlackFounders. Read their letter featured in the Los Angeles Times:
Hello Colorado small business looking for funding! Join Crowdfund Better 's founder Kathleen Minogue tomorrow, June 16th from 4-6pm MT, for the Larimer SBDC "Show me the Money Panel" featuring panelists from traditional and non-traditional funding sources.
Are you preparing for an campaign? Take these 3 courses to improve your network outreach, messaging, & online marketing tools to increase your chances of success.
7 QR code mistakes that can kill your promotions and how to avoid them
Many small business owners use a QR code to direct potential backers to their crowdfunding campaigns. Here's some best practices from Becky McCray at Small Biz Survival to add value for in-person visitors and physical marketing materials.
7 QR code mistakes that can kill your promotions and how to avoid them
7 QR code mistakes that can kill your promotions and how to avoid them By Becky McCray Now that QR codes are appearing in my local small town paper, on bags at the trade show last week, and everywhere else, it’s time to look at what works and what does not work. Because your QR codes are either bo...
Since 2012, Crowdfund Better has been providing crowdfunding education, strategy, and coaching to entrepreneurs, creatives, nonprofits, small business advisors, and crowdfunding platforms. We are educators and professionals who understand both the broader crowdfunding ecosystem and how to work with clients on the ground to guide them toward successful campaigns. We are not a marketing agency. We are not campaign managers.
We are a relationship-focused crowdfunding consultancy.
Crowdfund Better clients are looking for education and coaching on how to manage the relationship-building and marketing of their campaigns themselves – putting in their own time to keep costs down rather than outsourcing to agencies except to obtain specific expertise and training. Our clients have done very well using this strategy.
The Crowdfund Better Process™ is the system we developed over the last 6 years to provide tailored, just-in-time crowdfunding guidance for our clients.
Step 1: Assessment & Feedback
Before you launch a campaign, get some feedback on your potential to crowdfund. Complete our online Crowdfunding Rapid Assessment and receive written feedback via our Crowdfunding Report Card
Step 2: Your Crowdfunding Questions Answered
Have a 30-minute one-on-one Assessment Review Call with our team for more personalized feedback and to have your unique questions answered
Step 3: Create a Crowdfunding Plan
Crowdfunding isn’t rocket science but there is a science to crowdfunding success. It’s all in the planning. Gather your team for a 2-hour Crowdfunding Strategic Planning Session to create a campaign plan that works for your goals – including our Crowdfunding Toolkit
Step 4: Prepare & Launch Your Campaign
Now that you have a plan, how will you execute it? Sign-up for Crowdfunding Coaching Sessions for network preparation & campaign development including: campaign messaging, video script development, marketing & PR strategy, and marketing implementation
Want some experienced eyes to look over your work before you launch? During a Crowdfunding Pre-launch Review Session, our team will review your campaign copy, video, rewards, marketing & PR materials
No matter how well you’ve prepared, surprises happen. During Post-Launch & Pivot Calls we’ll help you tackle those surprises and generate ideas to increase your engagement
Step 5 : Leverage Your Experience
Overwhelming success? Didn’t reach goal? Our Learn & Leverage Call looks at how to make the most of your experience
The Morrison Knudsen Nature Center offers a one-of-a-kind fish and wildlife experience on a 4.6-acre site along the Boise River Greenbelt near downtown Boise. The Nature Center's stream walk and education building provide a glimpse of Idaho.
Idaho Parents Unlimited, Inc. supports, empowers, educates and advocates to enhance the quality of life for Idahoans with disabilities and their families.
SBFC stewards the 4 million acre Frank Church and Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness areas across ID and MT. We are community of wilderness minded and hardworking individuals dedicated to bringing citizens and youth to wilderness to work, live, and play.