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Crowdfunding fails for around 55% of campaigns, so it might be regarded as high risk if your organization depends on it to fund a project. To aid success, use these tips: Be realistic – about the funds you need to raise and the number of backers needed to achieve this; Be prepared – make sure the whole organization understands the campaign and buys into it. Ensure that reward schemes are followed through and that consistent messages compatible with the organisation’s ethos are given out by everyone; Prepare the crowd – use social media to build anticipation and awareness before the campaign starts; Reward your backers – develop rewards/experiences that connect backers’ interests to a charity’s mission and day-to-day activities; Maintain the momentum – have a communications plan to ensure the message reaches new people and introduces new content as the fundraising deadline draws closer. Peter Baeck’s crowdfunding report, ‘Crowding In’, is at www.nesta.org.uk/sites/default/files/crowding_in_report.pdf Fundraising via internet shopping You can get free cash donations for your cause by asking your supporters to shop via a number of websites and support your cause. It will not cost you or your supporters an extra penny – it all comes from the retailers. Typically, these websites will keep a portion of the commission received for themselves and pass the rest on to you. It is a great way to get supporters to donate extra cash to you at no extra cost to them. An example of this is easyfundraising.org.uk, which has raised over £9 million for causes throughout the UK. Using the system is