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Hi! Welcome to The Crowdfunding Playbook.

This is a free resource designed for creators to leverage crowdfunding to build independence in your creative careers.

Independence comes from a direct connection with your audience. And if you follow the steps in this playbook and really invest in crowdfunding as an act of community care, the direct connection to your audience will do so much more than just raise funds for your current project: you can set yourself up for successful distribution, drive meaningful community impact, and future-proof your career no matter what technology rolls out next.

The entertainment industry is in a crisis moment. We believe that the principles of great crowdfunding will not just help you build a sustainable, independent creative career when done right (and we’ll teach you how to do it right!), but will also pave the way for creators to own the future of the industry.

Crowdfunding is a long game. It moves at the speed of trust. If you invest in this process it will pay you back tenfold. (And, it will get your project funded in the short term which we realize is why you have come here.)

And we don’t stop at crowdfunding. You can visit The Distribution Playbook and learn how to connect your audience building/funding strategy directly to a powerful distribution strategy that you also own.

<aside> <img src="/icons/star-of-life_blue.svg" alt="/icons/star-of-life_blue.svg" width="40px" /> This playbook is for the diverse creator community of all mediums: filmmakers, writers, theater-makers, musicians, comedians, podcasters, performers, film festival runners, creative company owners, and more. If you’re bringing to life a creative storytelling project, this one is for you.

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<aside> <img src="/icons/star-of-life_blue.svg" alt="/icons/star-of-life_blue.svg" width="40px" /> By the end of this playbook you’ll understand how to fund your project and build an audience through a successful crowdfunding campaign, covering all the essential elements needed to craft a knockout campaign page and execute a powerful and organized outreach strategy; tee-ing you up perfectly for The Distribution Playbook.

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<aside> <img src="/icons/star-of-life_blue.svg" alt="/icons/star-of-life_blue.svg" width="40px" /> This playbook is a work in progress! The first version of this was launched on 11/18/25. We plan to keep editing this as our knowledge on crowdfunding expands and welcome you to contribute what you’ve learned here.

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Our Mission

To empower creators with the education and tools they need to fund their creative storytelling projects, build an audience, and share it with the world.

Creators who come here don’t just want to make a living—they want to move culture forward. We’re committed to constantly innovating and building new pathways for creators to build sustainable careers while maximizing the cultural impact of their work.

So let’s get started!

First, you might’ve heard that we have the highest success rate in the world. You heard right.

Fact: More than 80% of projects that crowdfund with us successfully hit their fundraising goal. But that’s just the beginning of success - Seed&Spark campaigns are 10x more likely to be accepted into a festival and 30% go on to receive awards.

How? We help every campaign learn to leverage the community-building power of crowdfunding to create great outcomes: better creative work, more engaged audiences, and additional distribution pathways. We also have a unique personalized feedback process, creator rewards, additional funding through the Patrons Circle, and an incredible distribution partnership with Kinema to set each and every creator that crowdfunds with us up for the best chance of success. Learn more below!

<aside> <img src="/icons/calendar-day_blue.svg" alt="/icons/calendar-day_blue.svg" width="40px" /> When to start: Start working through this Playbook at least 2 months before your crowdfunding launch.

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<aside> <img src="/icons/hourglass_purple.svg" alt="/icons/hourglass_purple.svg" width="40px" /> Time needed: 1-2 hours for an initial overview, and then you can dive deeper as you prepare to run your campaign. Crowdfunding is as much of a commitment as making the work itself, and you need to prepare meticulously to really do it successfully.

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<aside> <img src="/icons/branch-create_blue.svg" alt="/icons/branch-create_blue.svg" width="40px" /> Who to assemble: Core project team: Director(s), Producer(s), and anyone else on your creative team who will be committed to helping you run your campaign.

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The first version of this was launched on November 18, 2025, and while filmmaking has historically been our primary focus, we have expanded (and will continue to expand) our education to include creative mediums of all kinds.

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<aside> <img src="/icons/light-bulb_blue.svg" alt="/icons/light-bulb_blue.svg" width="40px" /> This playbook was co-created by the minds at Seed&Spark. Visit the full list of contributors here.

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<aside> <img src="/icons/inbox_purple.svg" alt="/icons/inbox_purple.svg" width="40px" /> Have additions? Tell us! Fill out this form.

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In 2016, we released the Crowdfunding To Build Independence online class series. While this playbook contains the most up-to-date education, this easy-to-watch online series is still a great crowdfunding overview and worth checking out!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKdbIY80ab8&list=PLqTFWS13qKPLtLdtZSUn781cJyulHnxfb

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What You Get With Seed&Spark

Everything you need to know, in order:

The following sections are designed to help you create and execute your campaign in the right order.

The campaign timeline starts NOW, and we recommend to you start working on these components at least 8 weeks before you plan to launch your campaign. From identifying and building your audience, to preparing a killer outreach strategy, crafting a compelling crowdfunding page with rewarding materials & incentives, running your campaign successfully, and building a lasting relationship with your audience — we’ve got your back. Remember, the more prepared you are, the more successful the campaign will be, both in how much funding you can raise for your project and how deeply engaged your audience is to help you reach your goals.

Start This as Early in Your Project Planning as Possible

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6-8 Weeks Before Launch - Set Yourself Up For Success

1. Gather Your Team

2. Develop an Outreach Strategy

3. Craft a Compelling Campaign Page

1+ Month Before Launch - Tell Everybody

Begin Early Outreach

3+ Weeks Before Launch - Get Campaign Feedback