Crowd Funding

Crowdfunding is the process of raising money to fund what is typically a project or business venture through many donors using an online platform, such as Kickstarter or Indiegogo. The fundraising window is usually finite — 90 days, for instance — and the fees and rules vary across platforms.

Crowdfunding is typically done through an online platform that allows the fundraiser to set up a public campaign for accepting donations. The campaign will advertise details such as the nature of the project or venture, the amount of money the company is hoping to raise and the campaign’s fundraising deadline. People can donate a specified amount through the fundraising campaign’s website and often receive some sort of acknowledgement or reward in return for their donation.

There are various applications for crowdfunding. These can range from charitable and educational projects to creative projects — like funding films — as well as supporting scalable businesses. Crowdfunding platforms each tend to cater to specific categories, such as Kickstarter which focuses on creative projects or Crowdfunder, an equity-based platform which is used for businesses looking to raise investment capital.

Below are links to some local resource organizations that provide crowd funding resources for Baltimore area entrepreneurs:

Baltimore Corps

Baltimore Corps

Baltimore Corps and Kiva have partnered to offer the Greater Baltimore Region with access to 0% interest loans up to $10,000 through Kiva Baltimore. Kiva's community is passionate about helping entrepreneurs in our city--with over a million lenders, corporate sponsors, and our network, we will help you find the resources you need to grow your business.

Specializes in: Crowd funding

Kaetlyn Bernal

Phone: (520) 784-3946
Website

2401 Liberty Heights Ave
Suite 2730
Baltimore, MD 21215

Community Wealth Builders

Community Wealth Builders

The MD Neighborhood Exchange is a new crowdfunding platform designed to connect great local businesses seeking capital with residents hoping to earn returns while strengthening our local economy.

Specializes in: Crowd funding

Stephanie Geller

Phone:
Website

1600 W 41st Street
Suite 700
Baltimore, MD 21211

iFundWomen

iFundWomen

iFundWomen is a crowdfunding ecosystem for women-led startups and small businesses. Our mission is simple: to drive cash funding into the hands of early stage female entrepreneurs so they can start and grow their businesses.

Specializes in: Crowd funding

Karen Cahn

Phone:
Website

575 5th Ave.,
New York, NY 10001

Venturize

Venturize

Venturize is an online resource that puts the power in your hands to feel good about your loan options, access responsible capital, and discover possibilities you didn’t know existed. It’s not a lender – but a program from Small Business Majority, a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide entrepreneurs with the education and resources they need to thrive.

Use our clear, trustworthy information and mobile-friendly tools – no strings attached. We’re here for one simple reason – to help you borrow confidently.

Specializes in: Crowd funding

Debi Roder

Phone: (202) 828-8357
Website

1101 14th Street, NW
Suite 950
Washington, DC 20005

Baltimore County Small Business Resource Center

Baltimore County Small Business Resource Center

The SBRC is a free service to help you establish, grow and improve your business through one-on-one sessions.

Kimberly Taylor

Phone:
Website

102 W. Pennsylvania Ave. #101
Towson, MD 21204

Baltimore Roundtable For Economic Democracy

Baltimore Roundtable For Economic Democracy

We help worker co-ops in the greater Baltimore area get the capital they need to start and grow.

Christa Daring

Phone:
Website


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Still have questions?
Of course, if you have questions on financing options and would like to visit with someone, call us at 410-984-3337.  We can answer your questions and connect you to the resources you need.