More Sites Offer Free Money From the Public

crowdfunding worth a shot for innovators and creative people

More Sites Offer Free Money From the Public

Chris Durst and Michael Haaren

      Just when you thought the Web couldn't bring you any more surprises,here comes another. More and more sites are enabling individuals toget "free money" from the public, for a growing variety of needs.

Here's the backstory.

THE GROWTH OF "THE CROWD" (U.S.)

In the 1990s, AOL famously tried to bring the Internet inside itsgated community, to make AOL synonymous with "being online." And italmost worked. As the company flooded the public with CDs offeringfree hours of online access, millions signed up. Thus, "the crowd"began to migrate online, and equally important, to hang out there.

We slowly began to feel that the online world was real. Experts beganto wonder if the "World Wide Web" might actually have commercialpotential. Would people trust it enough to buy things there?

Fast forward to now. "Internet users" is an obsolete phrase, becausenow it simply means everybody. And for millions, the online world hasreplaced "meatspace" as the dominant reality. (Just look at sites likeSecondLife.com, or massively popular online games.) And almost everytransaction that occurs offline can occur online -- including givingstrangers money.

WHERE TO GET THE DOUGH   http://www.ratracerebellion.com/

Crowdfunding means getting money from the public in the form of adonation or with the passing of new laws, an investment. But todaywe're talking about donations. Here are three websites where you canget donations for everything from medical expenses to your new movie.

-- Indiegogo.com: "People all over the world use our industry-leadingplatform to raise millions of dollars for all types of campaigns," thesite says. "No matter what you are raising money for, you can startright now with no fee or application process."

As we write, requests include a young man who needs money to study inJapan (he's raised $4,417); a cancer victim who needs medical expenses(he's raised $11,762); and a singer's first solo album (she's raised$2,341).

Like other crowdfunding sites, Indiegogo subtracts a commission basedon the amount the campaign receives.

-- Crowdtilt.com: Crowdtilt calls itself a "groupfunding" site andlets you pitch your project to a group of friends. To help accomplishthis, it requires you to connect your campaign to your Facebook page.Campaign examples include wedding presents, an alumni tailgate fundand a Phish party bus going to Washington, D.C.

-- Kickstarter.com: Kickstarter specializes in the funding of creativeprojects. But these are defined fairly broadly and include clothinglines, dance, books, albums, entertainment films, documentaries,photography collections, etc.

Most Kickstarter projects are funded for less than $5,000, but somehave been funded in the millions.

Christine Durst and Michael Haaren are leaders in the work-at-homemovement and advocates of de-rat-raced living. Their latest book is"Work at Home Now," a guide to finding home-based jobs. They offeradditional guidance on finding home-based work atwww.RatRaceRebellion.com. To read features by other Creators Syndicatewriters and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page atwww.creators.com.

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Sieg Holle BS MBA