Crowdfunding Alberta platform – Start a campaign

Overview

Crowdfunding Alberta is a made-for-Alberta crowdfunding platform that enables non-profit organizations to create fundraising campaigns and invite supporters to donate and share on social media. Organizations may receive up to $5,000 annually in match funding from the Government of Alberta.

Match funding

The Alberta government will match 50% of funds raised, up to $5,000 annually, to eligible non-profit organizations. Match funding eligibility is assessed automatically and transferred through electronic funds (EFT) to eligible organizations.

Match funding eligibility criteria

Organizations must meet the following criteria to be eligible for match funding:

• Raise at least $2,000 within 8-weeks of launching their campaign.
• Receive donations from at least 5 individuals.
• Raise funds through cash contributions received, exclusively, on the platform – assets and in-kind donations are not accepted.
• Raise funds to provide programs or services for the benefit of Alberta-based communities – campaigns in the name of, or for the benefit of a specific individual will not be eligible for match funding.
• Raise funds for one of the following costs expected within 18 months of launching your campaign:
  • operating
  • capital and equipment
  • programming
  • staff training
  • wages and benefits
  • research and development

Eligibility criteria

To participate in Crowdfunding Alberta, organizations must:

• operate in Alberta
• have up-to-date accounting and reporting related to any grant previously awarded by the Ministry of Arts, Culture and Status of Women, or the Alberta Foundation for the Arts, or both
• be registered for a period of one year and in active standing under one of these acts:

Provincial legislation

• Part 21 of the Business Corporations Act - Extra-Provincial Corporations
• Companies Act, Part 9 (Non-profit Companies)
• Societies Act of Alberta
• Agriculture Societies Act
• Special Act of the Alberta Legislature

Federal legislation

• Special Act of the Parliament of Canada
• Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act, and registered in Alberta under the Business Corporations Act
• Income Tax Act (of Canada and operating in the Province of Alberta (Charities))

Read the Crowdfunding Alberta fact sheet for complete match funding and program eligibility information.

Ineligible organizations

The following entities are not eligible to use the Crowdfunding Alberta platform:

• hospitals
• co-operatives
• politically affiliated organizations
• municipalities, First Nations and Metis Settlements
• commercial and for-profit organizations
• schools or school boards
• post-secondary institutions
• individuals

Processing fees

Payment processing fees

The Government of Alberta is not involved in donation transactions. All donations are processed through third party payment processors, Stripe or Paypal, and issued directly from the donor to the organization.

Go to Stripe or PayPal for more information

Platform fees

In addition to payment processing fees, there may also be fees for using the crowdfunding platform. The platform fees range from 0% to 5% payable to our platform provider, ConnectionPoint Systems Inc. ConnectionPoint Systems Inc. offers 3 payment models for your organization to choose from:

• Optional Tips
• Fee Recovery
• Flat Rate

Optional Tips model

Under the complimentary plan, non-profit organizations are exempt from paying any platform fees. Instead, when donors proceed to checkout, they are given the choice to enhance their donation with an optional tip. Donors have the option to decline the tip by selecting "change amount" beneath their tip amount.

Fee Recovery model

With the fee recovery model, non-profits pay a platform transaction fee of 5% to ConnectionPoint. During the checkout process, donors are asked if they are willing to pay all the payment processing and platform fees on behalf of the non-profit organization.

Flat Rate model

With the flat rate model, non-profits pay a platform transaction fee of 5% to ConnectionPoint. This model is most often used when the non-profit has a government partner, corporate sponsor, major donor, or endowment who is willing to pay the fees on behalf of the non-profit organization and allow them to say, “100% of each donation goes to our work.”

Sign up

Now that you understand the eligibility criteria and fees, you can create a profile and start a Crowdfunding Alberta campaign.

Step 1: Create your organization's profile

If your non-profit organization is new to Crowdfunding Alberta, you need to create a profile on the platform.

Sign in to create a profile

Step 2: Create a campaign

Before you can submit your organization's profile for approval to use the Crowdfunding Alberta platform, you must also create your organization's first crowdfunding campaign.

Once your organization has been approved for use of the platform, you may create and submit as many additional campaigns and as often as you would like. Your organization receives all of the donations raised, less third-party payment processing fees and platform fees, whether you reach your funding goal or not.

Sign in to create or manage a campaign

Campaign approval

Each campaign is reviewed and approved on a case-by-case basis. Submissions are reviewed within 3 government-business days of receipt. Campaign submissions that are incomplete or include incorrect information may take longer to review. Your organization will be notified by email once a decision has been reached.

Once approved, your campaign will be live on the Crowdfunding Alberta platform and ready to share with your networks. Your 8-week timeline to earn match funding begins automatically as soon as your campaign is approved.

Learning resources

How-to guides

View the following resources for guidance on various processes to help make the most of Crowdfunding Alberta, quickly and simply.

• Crowdfunding Alberta Registration Guide
• Crowdfunding Alberta Campaign Story Template
• Crowdfunding Alberta Campaign Marketing Tip Sheet

Webinars

There are a variety of Crowdfunding Alberta webinars to help non-profit organizations learn how to create and promote campaigns.

Newsletters

Subscribe to Community Development Unit’s newsletter for upcoming webinars and news.

Success stories

View previous campaigns that received government match funding.

Crowdfunding Alberta Success Stories

Contact

Technical support 

Connect with a Customer Care Representative through the platform’s chat feature or email us to request support: 
Email: [email protected] 

Program inquiries 

Connect with us about general program information: 
Email: [email protected]