Seattle gets excited about applying technology in new ways, as crowdfunding websites do, and as a community often supports new innovative ideas. It would seem that crowdfunding couldn’t find a better audience. A distinct advantage of crowdfunding online is the ability to tap into the international community for support, most often financial. However, Seattleites are also very dedicated to local causes, arts, and industry. Can the possibilities and innovation of crowdfunding be utilized at a local level?
Several crowdfunding sites including Kickstarter, GoFundMe, and Indiegogo allow visitors to search projects by location to view ongoing projects in the Seattle area. Kickstarter and the City of Seattle Office of Film and Music offer a compilation of local film and music Kickstarter projects through this link.
As “a hotbed for film and music projects” Seattle is home to many music, film, and other interactive projects that seek to use Kickstarter to fund production. Projects range from visual arts compliations, filming feature length films and thrillers, to producing EP and studio albums by local musicians. Many projects have been fully funded with new ones appearing all the time. For a full listing of Seattle-based Kickstarter projects, visit this page.
To fund something local on one of these sites visit the links below.
There is also a Twitter account focused local projects. @CrowdfundingSEA aims to “bring attention to projects created by Seattle-area entrepreneurs seeking capital through crowdfunding.” There is a meet up group affiliated that focuses on Seattle’s crowdfunding.
Crowdfunding has already affected Seattle in numerous ways, especially within the food industry according to a December Seattle Weekly article “2014 Was the Year of Crowdfunding in the Seattle Food World.”
Last fall the media drew attention to an increasing number of couples turning to crowdfunding for assistance with adoptions or fertility treatments. The Seattle Times covered the trend which includes several Seattle-area couples.
Crowdfunding is now frequently referenced in coverage of non-profits, events, small businesses, and projects that defy categorization, like this one. Seattle-based technology news site Geek Wire provides a variety of coverage and events about the growth of crowdfunding both locally and at large.
Update 1/29/2015:
Fremont Universe readers informed us about two other crowdfunding websites partnering with businesses in the Seattle area.
Community Sourced Capital focuses on offering small business loans in amounts not usually available through traditional banks. Members of the community can contribute by purchasing “Squares” each worth $50. “Squareholders” can fund a business by purchasing one, three, or up to twenty “Squares.”
Community Sourced Capital approves all campaigns but relies on “Squareholders” support, or not, as the final approval. The funding is provided to businesses in the form of a zero-interest loans and “Squareholder” do receive repayments as the business makes them, however repayment is not guaranteed.
Check out the ongoing and funded campaigns here.
The second other crowdfunding site is Power2Give, hosted in the Puget Sound area by Arts Fund, a Seattle area non-profit with a focus on supporting the arts for more than forty years. Power2Give is hosted by other non-profits in 13 states around the United States. All projects are sponsored by non-profits and donations are tax deductible.
Visit Power2Give-Puget Sound for local non-profit projects.
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