ConnectionPoint’s platforms all let users choose how we get paid – it all depends on the pricing model for your campaign.
Transparency is very important to us. There’s often lots of confusion as to how crowdfunding platforms make money, and we want to be completely upfront about how we do things. So here you go, no holds barred:
A couple of important points to know:
There are no ‘fixed’ fees to use our platforms: no monthly, annual, registration fee, etc. Everything is transaction-based, meaning we only make money when you do*.
All payment processing fees go to Stripe and PayPal – we don’t get any of that either.
We do have an in-depth article about our pricing models, but here’s the simplified version of how the platforms collect funds from each:
✅ Optional Tip model #
You are only charged the payment processing fee. The platform asks your supporters to leave a tip to help us keep things running — but it’s completely optional and easy to opt out of. It’s totally possible to run a successful campaign where ConnectionPoint doesn’t make a single cent, and that’s okay with us! Tips do not count toward your campaign goal.
✅ Fee Recovery Model #
This is our way of helping you run your campaign as close to free as possible. We ask your supporters to cover all the fees — including the 5% platform fee and payment processing — on your behalf. If they say yes, you keep 100% of your intended donation. The more supporters cover your fees, the closer to free your campaign becomes! Recovered fees do not count toward your goal.
✅ Flat Rate Model #
Want to keep things simple for your supporters? With Flat Rate, we don’t ask them for anything extra. You pay the standard 5% platform fee and the payment processing fees from each transaction. What you see is what you get. Easy and straightforward.
✅ Keep the Most Model (new addition) #
This model helps you keep the most from your donations. Supporters are asked to cover the payment processing fee and leave a small, optional tip to support the platform. Most people do — but if they don’t, you only pay the payment fee, never a platform fee. Tips and covered fees do not count toward your campaign goal.
Can I remove the ask for a tip from the Optional Tip model?
This is a common and understandable question. However, the answer is ‘No’ simply because we must make money somehow. Our platforms are quite unique, and they require a lot of manpower to develop and run. Plus, we offer FREE support, coaching, and resources, and there are tons of other behind-the-scenes work done by phenomenal teams that deserve fair compensation. We understand the severity of the need out there, and the simple fact is that we would not be able to put the dedication and resources into our platforms, which we do, if we didn’t provide this compensation.
* The only caveat to this is our Implementation packages. While we provide step-by-step guides through every aspect of the platforms, as well as free coaching tools for success, time is sometimes more valuable to an organization than money (or time IS money, as the saying goes). Therefore, we do offer our team to set up an organization with a profile and campaign so they don’t have to take the time to learn how to do so themselves, for a fee. Inquire with us if you’re curious about our Implementation Packages.
