So, you want to visit Costa Rica, but a little low on cash? What to do? Crowdfunding may be the answer. What the heck is crowdfunding?
Crowdfunding i s the collective effort of individuals who network and pool their money, usually via the Internet, to support efforts initiated by other people or organizations. Crowdfunding is used in support of a wide variety of activities, including disaster relief, citizen journalism, support of artists by fans, political campaigns, startup company funding, motion picture promotion, free software development, inventions development, scientific research, and civic projects. And your trip to Costa Rica.
There are a number of crowdfunding platforms. In fact ss of 2012, there were over 450 crowdfunding platforms, that include ArtistShare, based in the United States, referred to as “a pioneering crowd-financing platform”, was started in 2001,followed later by sites such as IndieGoGo (2008) and RocketHub (2009).
A search for Costa Rica on Indiegogo – the premier crowndfunding for trips to Costa Rica, based on my search (this is not a paid ad from or sponsorship of Indiegogo) – includes requests for funding education, animal, community and environment trips.
Joe Schmidt from New Jersey, has raised US$250 (4% of his goal), to “We would like to include a volcano tour, a zip lining trip, and a snorkeling trip to our annual trip to Tamarindo, Costa Rica.”
Jessica Seus, of Corvallis, Oregon, is asking the crown to support Georg’s Service Trip to Costa Rica. “Last year, Georg went on a service trip to Peru to build a school. Help him do it again – COSTA RICAN STYLE/.” With 42 hours left, Jessica has raised US$480 (96%) of her goal, from 19 funders.
Help me go to Costa Rica!, asks Dena Zimmerman, of Denver, Colorado. “I need help raising funds to study Ecotourism in Costa Rica in the Summer of 2014. Anything and everything helps!” Dena has raised US$1.347 dollars (67%) from 20 funders with still 9 days left on her funding campaign.
Funding results for different reasons can be from as little as US$20 to more than $4.250 (Canuck dollars) raised by Cassie Heward, of Beaconsfield, Quebec, Canada of her “my community service trip to Costa Rica. Aidez moi à recueillir 4000 $ pour mon voyage de service communautaire au Costa Rica.”
AND here is the best part. It’s free to sign up, to create a campaign.
When your campaign raises funds, Indiegogo charges a 9.0% fee on the funds you raise. If you reach your goal, you get 5.0% back, for an overall fee of 4.0%.
Crowdfunding campaigns provide benefits for the creator, like getting funds for your trip to Costa Rica. But, Crowdfunding also comes with a number of potential risks or barriers, like reputation. Are you really going to care about your reputation if you get your trip to Costa Rica?
Pura Vida, mae. Hope to see you in Costa Rica real soon!
