Crowdfunding.

What is crowdfunding?

With crowdfunding, a group of people makes a concrete and doable project possible with money. It can be about many things. It is important that the goal is clear, doable, urgent, and has a personal touch. Crowdfunding is not financing by banks or governments. It is about the public making concrete projects financially possible. The ‘crowd’ or public decides which projects, initiatives, goals, or ideals are worth funding. This group can be many parties and individuals. For schools, this is usually people in the school’s network, others involved with the school, and local companies.

Crowdfunding only raises money once and is done as donations. People give money without expecting financial profit. Schools do this to buy musical instruments, put solar panels on the roof, or offer a CPR course.

How does crowdfunding work?

The idea is simple. A project starter shows their idea on a crowdfunding platform. Then interested people from their own network, the local area, and other parties give money and share it within their own networks.

This works well because it feels good to make something possible. You see that your contribution reaches a concrete goal or makes a dream come true.

In education

Crowdfunding at school must meet some legal rules. First, agreement from the school participation council is needed. Also, the policy must be stated in the school plan and the school guide. Parents must also clearly know they can complain about crowdfunding using the school complaint procedure.