Introduction
The good news is that there are generous individuals out there who are always willing to help those in need of financial support.
If you’re struggling with bills, education costs, medical expenses, or trying to fund a new idea, you’re not alone — and help is available!
I’ve put together a list of 10 trusted websites where kind-hearted strangers — and even wealthy donors — give away money to people who genuinely need it.
These sites have funded causes like:
Keep reading to discover how you can connect with people who are ready to make a difference in your life.
The List of 12 Legit Websites
Seed&Spark is a niche crowdfunding platform dedicated specifically to
independent filmmakers.
If you have a film project you’re passionate about, this site allows you to create a campaign and seek financial support from a generous community that loves storytelling.
Over $55 million has been raised on Seed&Spark so far, successfully funding over 1,000 film and TV projects.Many of these projects have even been selected for prestigious festivals like Sundance, Tribeca, and SXSW.
How It Works:
Instead of just asking for donations, filmmakers on Seed&Spark offer specific rewards to their backers, such as:
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Digital downloads of the finished film
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Physical DVDs or Blu-rays
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Private film screenings
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Film character naming rights
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Behind-the-scenes set visits
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Executive producer credits
By offering these rewards, filmmakers create a strong connection with supporters and make their campaigns more exciting and rewarding for everyone involved.
Why Seed&Spark Stands Out:
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It's focused purely on creative projects (especially film and TV).
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It helps you build a real community around your project.
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It gives new filmmakers a chance to succeed without big studio backing.
If you're a filmmaker with a dream project, Seed&Spark could be your ticket to making it a reality — while building lifelong fans and supporters along the way!
If you have a brilliant app idea or an amazing business concept but lack the funds to bring it to life, Crowdfunder can open the door to the capital you need!
This platform connects entrepreneurs with investors who are actively looking to fund promising business ventures.
Whether you need a small seed investment or a large amount to fully launch your startup, Crowdfunder provides the opportunity to raise the money by pitching your idea directly to potential backers.
How It Works:
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Upload a detailed business plan clearly explaining your idea’s Unique Selling Point (USP), projected growth, and monetization strategies.
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Highlight realistic and exciting growth projections to get investors excited about the potential returns (ROI) they can earn.
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In exchange for their investment, investors receive equity (ownership shares) in your company.
Why Crowdfunder Stands Out:
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Focuses on serious startups and business ideas.
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Connects you directly with professional investors.
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Offers a chance to secure significant funding — not just donations.
Before launching your pitch, make sure your business plan is well-prepared, transparent, and compelling to boost your chances of attracting the right investors!
When it comes to modern crowdfunding, Kickstarter is often considered the king of the game.
Since its launch in 2009, Kickstarter has helped creative individuals raise over $7 billion to fund more than 241,000 projects — covering everything from films, video games, and art installations to tech innovations and more.
While Kickstarter charges a 5% fee on successfully funded campaigns, creators retain full ownership of their projects and ideas.
How It Works:
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Build a campaign page featuring a catchy video to showcase your project.
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Clearly state the funding goal — how much money you need and why.
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Offer detailed donor rewards — such as early access, exclusive products, or limited-edition merchandise.
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Engage your audience actively with regular updates and storytelling to build a passionate community.
Important to Know:
Kickstarter has faced some criticism for allowing questionable projects or campaigns that fail to deliver on promises.
However, despite a few setbacks, there are many heartwarming success stories where people turned their dreams into reality, thanks to the platform.
The key is not to treat Kickstarter like just an online tip jar — the most successful creators build communities of excited supporters who feel invested in the project's journey.
Why Kickstarter Stands Out:
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Massive visibility to millions of potential backers.
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Perfect for creative and innovative projects.
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Helps you build a loyal and excited supporter base.
To maximize your success, focus on genuine storytelling, clear communication, and consistent updates to keep your backers connected and excited about your journey!
GoGetFunding is a versatile crowdfunding platform that allows individuals to raise money for almost any personal cause imaginable. Unlike other platforms with restrictive project categories, GoGetFunding gives you the flexibility to create a campaign for just about anything you need. (Nigerians not allow)
Since its launch in 2011, over $97 million has been raised through GoGetFunding.
While medical fundraisers make up a significant portion of the campaigns, people have also successfully raised money for celebrations, volunteer trips, education costs, and more.
How It Works:
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Create a campaign for any personal cause or project, with no category limitations.
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Share your story and the reason behind your fundraiser to connect with potential backers.
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Offer incentives and keep donors updated regularly to build trust and keep their support strong.
Why GoGetFunding Stands Out:
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No restrictions on the types of projects you can fundraise for.
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High success rate with 80% of campaigns successfully reaching their goals.
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Dedicated support team to help maximize your chances of success.
Whether you need help paying for medical expenses or funding your education, GoGetFunding is an excellent platform that allows for personal and heartfelt causes to find support.
If you're an entrepreneur or small business owner looking to raise funds, Fundable could be the perfect platform for you.
Fundable connects startups with two key sources of funding: accredited investors and future customers. Whether you’re looking to raise funds from investors or generate revenue from early product supporters, Fundable helps you take your business to the next level.
How It Works:
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Customer-based campaigns: Allow people to preorder your innovative product or service by pledging money, helping you generate starting revenue. This type of campaign also builds anticipation and accountability, as backers expect to receive the product they’re pledging for.
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Investor-based campaigns: For these campaigns, you offer equity (ownership shares) in exchange for meeting fundraising milestones, giving investors a stake in your company’s success.
Why Fundable Stands Out:
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Over $500 million raised for startups, proving its effectiveness as a crowdfunding platform for early-stage businesses.
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Offers both customer and investor-based campaigns to cater to different funding strategies.
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Focused on helping startups secure crucial early funding rounds to fuel their growth and success.
Fundable is ideal for early-stage startups looking for seed funding to kickstart their projects and establish a strong foundation for future growth. If you have a product or service people are excited about, Fundable’s preorder system can generate revenue while you work on delivery!
If you're building an innovative consumer product brand,CircleUp could be your ideal platform to connect with investors. Specializing in industries like food, beverage, beauty, and pet supplies, CircleUp helps startups secure the funds needed to rapidly grow.
Whether you’re dreaming of creating the next Blue Apron meal kit empire or a healthier Halo Top ice cream brand, CircleUp can help you get your initial funding rounds sorted out.
How It Works:
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Investor-Backed Campaigns: CircleUp connects you with investors specifically looking to fund consumer products.
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Innovation Summit: Brands looking to raise funds must first impress judges at CircleUp’s annual Innovation Summit, where the best products gain invaluable exposure in the Winning Product Gallery.
Why CircleUp Stands Out:
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Over $200 million invested into over 700+ early-stage consumer product companies.
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The platform vets both companies and investors to ensure legitimacy and quality.
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A competitive Innovation Summit adds excitement and exposure for top products.
Do you have an unforgettable trip in mind but lack the funds to make it happen? FundMyTravel might be the perfect platform for you. Since 2013, FundMyTravel has helped raise over $17 million in donations for a wide range of global adventures.
Campaigns range from volunteers seeking support for missionary trips to families needing funds for dream vacations or people seeking financial help for medical travel.
How It Works:
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Create a campaign explaining why your trip is life-enriching and how the funds will be used.
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Backers are motivated to contribute to your journey, whether it’s for medical treatment abroad or a family trip.
Why FundMyTravel Stands Out:
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Facilitated over $17 million in donations since 2013.
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Provides a platform for life-enriching experiences that might otherwise be impossible.
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Appeals to people looking to fund personal travel, medical treatments, and volunteer efforts.
8. Patreon
Patreon is a well-established platform designed for creators to monetize their art, videos, music, podcasts, and more through ongoing crowdfunding. Unlike one-time campaigns, Patreon allows artists to offer exclusive content to patrons who commit to monthly membership subscriptions.
From musicians offering song downloads to podcasters providing live streams, Patreon gives creators a steady stream of income, helping them continue producing regular content.
How It Works:
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Create exclusive content for subscribers, such as early access to songs, drafts, or live streams.
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Patrons pledge a monthly fee, and creators receive a reliable income to support their creative endeavors.
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Some creators earn over $100k per month.
Why Patreon Stands Out:
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250,000+ creators use Patreon to earn money for their work.
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Offers recurring income to creators, ensuring a steady cash flow.
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Patreon takes a 5-12% commission on earnings, but the platform supports consistent content creation.
Indiegogo is the largest global fundraising platform, having facilitated over $2 billion in funding since its launch in 2008. Known for its flexibility, Indiegogo caters to a wide range of campaigns, from medical bills to real estate projects, inventions, and charity drives.
With customizable funding types, campaigns can either have a fixed or flexible model, allowing you to keep funds raised even if your target isn’t met.
How It Works:
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Flexible Funding: Keep all funds raised, even if your target isn’t met.
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Fixed Funding: You only receive funds if your campaign reaches its goal.
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Indiegogo’s 5% fee applies, but 90% of campaigns hit their goals.
Why Indiegogo Stands Out:
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$2 billion+ raised globally for creative, cause-based, and entrepreneurial projects.
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Flexible funding options let you keep all raised funds, even if targets aren’t met.
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Famous for highly successful campaigns, such as the Tesla Museum.
10. JustGiving
JustGiving is a platform specializing in charity fundraising but also supports individual campaigns for personal causes. Since its launch in 2001, the site has raised over $6 billion globally, with campaigns covering healthcare, education costs, youth programs, and more.
Although healthcare-related campaigns dominate, you’ll find a wide variety of fundraisers aimed at helping people in times of need.
How It Works:
Why JustGiving Stands Out:
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Raised $6 billion since 2001, making it one of the most trusted platforms.
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Global reach with a large number of campaigns centered on healthcare and education.
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Transparency is key, but always make sure to vet campaigns requesting significant sums.
Conclusion
Crowdfunding has revolutionized how people raise money for personal, business, and creative causes. Platforms like CircleUp, Patreon, Indiegogo, and others allow individuals and organizations to tap into the power of crowdsourcing. Whether you're raising money for a start-up, personal cause, or creative project, the opportunities are endless.
However, always remember to practice ethics and transparency when either donating or requesting funds. Crowdfunding should be about creating a positive impact and helping others in meaningful ways. Take pride in being part of a global community that helps one another achieve their dreams.