Q: Help, I’ve forgotten my password!
A: Click on ‘login’ and then select ‘Forgotten your password?’ to re-set it.
Q: How can I change my email address and / or profile details?
A: Log in, click on your username in the top right, then select ‘edit profile settings’ to edit any of your details.
Q: Why do projects have to raise 100+% in the funding timescale to get the funding?
A: Projects should set their funding target at the amount they need in order to realise their project aim. So, if they do not raise 100% of it they may not be able to deliver the project and may not be able to honour the rewards they have offered.
It also helps motivate backers and projects to have a goal to work towards.
All projects are able to raise more than 100% of their funding amount so go ahead and back projects you like that have raised more than 100% of their funding aim. That often means they will be able to deliver a much better project!
Q: How do I back a project?
A: Once you find a project you like you can select which “pledge” amount (and reward) you want, you will be asked to enter your payment details through GoCardless' "one-off" Direct Debit payment system. However, your money will not leave your account unless the project raises at least 100+% of their funding target. If they do you will receive a notification and the money will automatically leave your account.
Q: How does a “one-off” direct debit work?
A: GoCardless' "one-off" direct debit is a secure, quick transaction system. A direct debit is set up and the authorisation is automatically cancelled once the funding timescale ends. The funds will only leave your account if the project reaches 100+% of their funding target.
Q: Why does Peoplefund.it use GoCardless' payment system?
A: By using a "one-off" direct debit system they also offer lower rates so more of your pledge goes straight to the project. GoCardless offers a secure, quick, simple-to-use transaction system which enables you to pledge now, and pay later if the project raises their target.
Q: Can I back a project with a cheque or other payment?
A: No. In order to ensure we know if projects raise 100% of their target all pledges need to be made through GoCardless.
Q: How do I know the project will deliver my reward?
A: It's up to each project to work hard to earn backers trust. Successful projects normally put in a lot of work to this – adding updates to the project, replying to questions, adding links to their personal sites etc. All this should help you to make a judgement call on whether you trust the project and want to back them.
And of course, as backers we all need use our common sense! If in doubt it's always worth tesing a project out by asking them a question.
Q: What happens if a project doesn't deliver my reward?
A: By pledging to a project you have enetered into an agreement with the project that they will deliver your reward. They will contact you after the funding time is complete to confirm delivery details. If they are late in delivering a reward please contact them. It is very rare that a project doesn't deliver the rewards agreed, but if this does happen, please leave feedback on the project owner so that we can consider whether to block them from the site. And of course, you are free to follow any legal action to ensure the project honours the agreement you made.
Q: Is my pledge publicly show on the site?
A: Yes – unless you select ‘anonymous’ when you pledge. Once you pledge your profile picture is displayed by default as a backer on the project page.
Q: Can I change the reward I have selected?
A: No, not once you have pledged it.
Q: Can I cancel a pledge?
A: No, not once you have pledged.
Q: Where can I find out about your Privacy Policy and Terms of Use?
A: They find them at the bottom of the page, and you can also read them here: Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Q: How do I report a project?
A: Please use the 'report' button at the bottom of the project page to report and projects that don't meet the community guidelines.
Q: Can I ask projects questions?
A: Yes, absolutely. You can add a question on the comments tab in the project's page and the project should get post an answer back so everyone knows the response. Alternatively you can send the project a direct message from the Project Owner section on the bottom right of the project's page.
Q: How much work do projects need to do?
A: If you do nothing, nothing will happen! Ways that we can support projects include featuring them on the homepage, throughout the website, in press releases, in the newsletter, on our sister websites, on facebook, twitter and our other social media platforms. You can do many things to promote your project, see our crowdfunding tips page.
Q: How much money can you raise?
A: You choose how much you aim to raise - up to £50,000. You can also raise more than 100% of your funding target - even if you choose the highest funding target (£50,000). The higher your funding target, the harder you will have to work to reach it. Take into account the size of your existing network, how strong your commercial offer is, and whether you have a communications plan in place.
Q: What happens if you don’t raise your funding target?
A: If you don’t raise 100% (or more) of your funding target you don’t receive the pledges - but you don’t have to pay any fees.
Q: What fees does Peoplefund.it charge?
A: If you don’t raise 100+% of your funding aim you don’t receive any funds, and we don’t take any charge (because that would be plain mean!). If you raise 100% or more of your funding aims we give you the total amount you raised minus a 5% admin charge (which funds Peoplefund.it) and 3% transaction fees (GoCardless’ transaction charge).
Q: If you raise 100% or more of the funds, how long it is until you receive them?
A: You will receive your funds approximately 14 days after your funding time ends (banking times may vary slightly). Usually it's quicker than this.
Q: What media files can you upload?
A: Any of these: asf, avi, flv, m4v, MPEG4, mov, mp4,m4a, 3gp, 3g2,mj2, JPEG, wmv, and mp3 audio files. You can share files from YouTube, Vimeo, and Flickr by entering the URL and clicking 'add'.
Q: What is the file size for media uploads?
A: 200 MB for videos and pictures.
Q: How do rewards work?
A: Projects offer ‘rewards’ in return for ‘pledges’ of differing amounts. These are listed on their project profile page. Rewards often also strengthen the link between projects and pledgers making those pledgers more likely to support the project in future. We recommend that you should offer at least 5 different levels of reward.
Q: What’s ‘no reward’ for?
A: Pledgers can select to receive ‘no reward' when they pledge to help a project out more. This can be a way to help a project further by reducing the amount they spend on rewards.
Q: What kind of rewards are on offer?
A: Examples could include tickets to their events, products that they have backed, or unique experiences. Projects can offer anything as a reward, but the most successful projects tend to think of what rewards will appeal to their likely backers.
Q: Are the rewards limited?
A: Each project can choose whether to limit the number of rewards they have for each pledge amount, or not.
Q: Should I make a film?
A: Research shows you are far, far more likely to get funded if you have a film. It can be short and there’s no need for it to be professional. Most Mac’s come with inbuilt cameras and editing software, and you can download free editing software from the Internet. For more information check the public video tips section of the site.
Q: How long should we raise funds for?
A: You can choose to raise funds for between 4-10 weeks. Research shows that less than this rarely gives you enough time to reach your extended networks and the site users, whilst more than this just drags! You can’t change it once your project is live.
Q: Can we change our funding aim or funding time once the project is live?
A: Nope. This helps to keep projects and backers focused, and is an important part of your agreement with the backer.
Q: Can you edit a project once it’s live?
A: You can edit everything except: the funding aim, funding time and rewards - once they have backer (you can edit them until you have your first backer).
Q: Can you add more than one project at a time?
A: You can, but we strongly advise against it. Research shows it’s best to focus your project team and network on one project at a time.
Q: Can you end or delete a project early?
A: No. Peoplefund.it is all about shared learning and often the most interesting learning is from failures. You can add updates to your project, and please do add your learning’s to your projects after it ends.
Q: Can you repost a project?
A: Sure, please do try again! But it’s strongly recommended that you spend a while reviewing why your project didn’t work, learning from other projects that did (perhaps in the wiki) and creating a new profile.
Q: What happens if a project doesn’t meet the criteria?
A: Please use the ‘report’ button to report it to the peoplefund.it team. We’ll check it promptly. If it doesn’t meet the criteria, it’ll be taken down and a message will be sent to the project owner.
Q: What format will the videos display in?
A: They display by default in a medium res format so that they load easily.
Q: Who owns the Intellectual Property of projects?
A: You do! By agreeing to the terms and conditions you agree we can help you promote your project by putting it on any of the peoplefund.it platforms once you have uploaded it. You also agree that it can be used for other people to learn from by keeping it in the wiki archive, and by the peopelfund.it team using it as reference from there. You can read more in the Terms of Use.
