To be eligible for this fund your project must be of benefit to the wider community.

Crowdfund Kent is designed to help new ideas get off the ground, therefore we cannot fund the same projects more than once. Organisations who have run a successful campaign and received a KCC pledge are welcome to apply again but any subsequent projects must be distinct from the initial project.

This programme is not intended to fund capital cost items (see eligibility for further details). Where capital projects are developed we will only look to use our funds to contribute towards activities to be delivered as a result of capital investment. 

This funding is also not intended to fund large scale events, all projects must be able to demonstrate a tangible and sustainable legacy.

See here for more information on the fund criteria. 

The Crowdfund Kent programme objectives have now been updated to better respond to the current needs within our communities; We are looking to support projects that meet at least ONE of the following objectives:

We are looking to support community initiatives within our most disadvantaged communities, particularly coastal communities

Specifically, this may include:

• Projects to support people living with financial difficulty due to cost-of-living pressures or those in poverty that seek to improve their health and wellbeing, and/or support them to help alleviate financial hardship
• Projects to support children and young people living in our most disadvantaged communities to ensure they have the best start in life
• Projects to reduce health inequalities through community-based initiatives
• Projects that support community-based initiatives aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of the local community

We also want to support community initiatives aimed at tackling social isolation and improving health and wellbeing in rural communities.

 Specifically, this may include:

• Projects to deliver innovative ways to support people in their local area seeking to reduce social isolation, reduce the impact of cost-of-living pressures and improve health and wellbeing
• Projects aimed at addressing the specific challenges of access to support and services within rural communities
• Projects to support people to proactively manage their own health and wellbeing and enable them to live fulfilled lives

CrowdFund Kent has been designed to specifically provide funding of up to £10,000, or a maximum of 50% of an organisation’s crowdfunding target.

Where multiple Kent County Council funds have been used to support the same campaign, the combined value of the funds cannot be higher than 65% of the total campaign target. 

See here for more information on the fund criteria, the key objectives of the fund and who can apply. 

Crowdfund Kent is focused on giving local organisations and groups the opportunity to take forward projects and ideas to improve their local area. Since the introduction of the programme in 2021 we have seen an incredible response from our communities, creating innovative and meaningful projects and proving that when people come together as a “crowd” this can lead to better support and resources for people in Kent.

Crowdfund Kent opperates two funding rounds a year. See here for a breakdown of the current round and associated timeline. 

1.    SHARE YOUR IDEA + ATTEND A WORKSHOP

Complete our Project Idea Form ​​​​as soon as possible to tell us about your idea and register for a workshop (see News & Events tab for more information).

2.    CREATE YOUR PROJECT ON SPACEHIVE

Create your project page on Spacehive which will match you to the fund name. You are encouraged to create your project early, to unlock support from the Spacehive team. 

3.    GET YOUR PROJECT VERIFIED

The project costs and necessary permissions will be checked by Spacehive's verifiers before you begin crowdfunding. Submit early to ensure you’re verified before the deadline. Verification takes an average of four days where project creators have the relevant documents to hand. 

Before you submit for verification, make sure that you have:

• Proof of permission (e.g. event license, council agreement, landowner consent). Read more about permissions.

• Evidence of costs (e.g. building work quotations, links to online shop listings)

• Relevant insurances, policies, or qualifications (e.g. organisation constitution, safeguarding policy, certifications)

• Evidence of any funds that you have received for this project that you would like to have shown on your campaign (e.g. grant agreement, scan of a cheque, bank statement).

4.    LAUNCH YOUR CROWDFUNDING CAMPAIGN AND PITCH TO THE FUND

Once verified, launch your crowdfunding campaign. Ensure you have submitted your fund pitch by the deadline too, to be considered for a pledge from the council.

Please note: the council will not be the first organisation to pledge to your project and will first want to see community support and backing, in the form of pledges from local people towards your campaign.

Start by getting lots of small pledges from the community to show local support for your project. This will help unlock bigger pledges.

Please note: a typical crowdfunding campaign should not exceed three months.

5.    ASSESSMENT AND PLEDGE

The council will review all projects typically 6 weeks after the deadline and successful projects can expect to receive a pledge of up to £10,000 (max 50% of target) during their live campaign. For example, a £10,000 campaign could get up to £5,000. 

6. HIT YOUR TARGET AND DELIVER YOUR PROJECT 

You need to hit your target in order to receive the funds you raise. Please allow up to three weeks to receive funds once your campaign ends. Once you deliver your project, you can update your backers by completing a colourful impact report on Spacehive. 

To learn more about crowdfunding on Spacehive, visit the Help Centre. 

For any additional questions, please contact Spacehive on support@spacehive.com.

Your group must be constituted in some way, have a group bank account where the account is managed by at least two unrelated and authorised individuals in your organisation and be a not-for-profit organisation designed to deliver benefit to the community (and not designed to create a profit/dividend for shareholders).

CICs (Community Interest Companies) and CIO (Community Interest Organisations) are deemed eligible as their activities generate revenue which in turn fund activities that deliver community benefit. CIC's must be limited by guarantee not shares. 

District and parish councils cannot directly apply for funding but can officially partner with a local community group who would apply for the funding. The district and parish council can offer support and can be involved in the delivery of the project, but the community group must lead on the project.

If you are unsure if your organisation is eligible pledge email support@spacehive.com or crowdfundkent@kent.gov.uk

What we can fund

• Projects must benefit Kent (KCC area) residents and be delivered by Kent led organisations.
• Projects should demonstrate creativity / innovation.
• Projects must contribute to improving places, spaces, or residents’ quality of lives.
• We can only match-fund projects that are being delivered by constituted organisations including community groups, CiC’s or registered charities.

What can't we fund:

• Individuals are not eligible for this fund.
• Projects supporting private interests / profit making organisations.
• Projects excluding any particular groups in society or those with protected characteristics.
• Proposals from political groups.
• Projects that are part of a campaign or promote particular religions/faiths/political ideologies not considered to be inclusive
• We are not able to match fund Statutory provision, Local Authority teams or Council projects.
• District and parish councils cannot directly apply for funding but can officially partner with a local community group who would apply for the funding. The district and parish council can offer support and can be involved in the delivery of the project, but the community group must lead on the project.
• Schools including independent schools are not eligible for funding.
• We cannot fund capital projects, the purchasing of property and buildings, or the building of extensions to existing premises.  We may consider small adaptations, where there is a tangible community benefit from the proposed improvements, and they meet the objectives of the fund. KCC reserves the right to review all project costs and make decisions on a case-by-case basis.