Traveler's Edition
If you’re dreaming of taking the trip of a lifetime and the only thing holding you back is a lack of funding, then this travel trend could be just the ticket.
Crowdfunding has been around for a while now, primarily helping budding entrepreneurs to get businesses of the ground, but did you know you may be able to fund your vacation too?!
Tell me more!
Crowdfunding websites essentially offer the chance to create a campaign and raise money for your project from ‘backers’, whether that’s funding a start up business or taking a road trip to your best friend’s wedding. Increasingly, they’re now used as a way to raise money for a dream trip with a number of dedicated travel crowdfunding sites well established. Different crowdfunding websites have different rules and there are generally fees involved in using them. You can just ask close family and friends to contribute, or open up your campaign to the big wide world!
How?
Whilst all crowdfunding sites vary, the foundations are generally the same: set up a crowdfunding page, detail what you’re funding and how much you’d like to raise, and click go. Each crowdfunding site is different. These are some of the most popular:
- Kickstarter. Focused on creative projects, any Kickstarter campaign has to create something which can be shared with others.
- Go Fund Me. Raise funds for personal projects: there’s a travel section where users can post campaigns to raise funds for dream trips and experiences.
- Fund My Travel. A dedicated travel funding site, the aim is to “fund meaningful travel experiences” – current projects include a road trip to a best friend’s wedding and a journey to Cuba for a school program over summer.
- Plumfund. Devoted to travel and adventure crowdfunding, this site aims to “make giving feel good”.
Many crowdfunding campaigns offer something from their trip in return for a donation; it’s a great way to ensure that donors also get something out of supporting your dream journey! For example, offering to send a handwritten postcard from your destination, or providing something based on any skills you may have. Great at taking photographs? Offer prints from photos taken on your trip! 
Why?
If people genuinely want to help, or you’re offering something in return, it can be a great way to raise funds. If you want to get a great idea for a travel based project or business off the ground, but your budget is holding you back, this could be the way to go.
Why not?
This method of raising money for a trip isn’t without its critics: it’s a controversial practice often met with a variety of responses, not all of them positive. Equally, you may not raise the money you hoped to – some campaigns barely scratch the surface, which is something to be aware of.
Knowing the rules on the site you choose is also important – for example, some operate on an all-or-nothing basis, meaning you need to raise the whole of your target amount or end up with nothing. 
Ultimately crowdfunding may not be the right choice for everyone. However if you have something truly meaningful, it seems that there’s a good chance you could raise enough money to ensure your plans are able to go ahead.
