Year in Review: The Top Crowdfunding Campaigns of 2021

After another year of disruption, uncertainty and resilience, we have seen some amazing achievements from those who took the plunge to launch a campaign!

Thank you to everyone for another amazing year!

We have been delighted to share some of this year’s most trending campaigns from talented creatives not only in our own backyard but from all over! Introducing their new and continued products, featuring books, films, music, startups, theatre productions, artworks and so many other creative endeavours.

Although we had yet another year of lockdown, we still managed to achieve some great outcomes regarding this year’s campaigns. Now that 2021 is almost over, we’d like to take this opportunity to highlight some of the most notable events, campaigns and milestones we achieved together over these last 12 months.

Thanks to everyone who has made a pledge, drafted a project, launched a campaign, shared a post or has been inspired by a vision. We are all lucky to be a part of the innovation and creativity that this platform produces and we can’t wait to continue shaping the future together.

— The Pozible Team

Help Reopen Fletcher Street Cottage

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This campaign was created in collaboration with the Byron Community Centre and Creative Capital, in response to the growing numbers of homelessness within Australia.

Within NSW, the Byron Shire has the second-largest homelessness population, just short of the Sydney metropolitan, with approximately 400 women, and some children sleeping in cars.

The campaign ‘Help Reopen Fletcher Street Cottage’ was launched to provide a safe space and assistance for those in need. Catering from meals to showers, as well as legal aid and mental health checks, Fletcher Street Cottage aims to give back to those less fortunate.

With the support of the community, as well as some celebrity big names such as Chris and Elsa Hemsworth, and the Spell and the Gypsy Collective, this campaign managed to raise an impressive $398,005. Their initial target of $250,000 was well exceeded!

“Fletcher Street Cottage will be a springboard for people to get the right support from a range of professionals: caseworkers, mental health teams, health practitioners, drug and alcohol workers and specialist homelessness services; according to each person’s requirements and capacity.”

— Cherie Bromley, Community Programs Manager

Find out more about the campaign now.

Help Reopen Fletcher Street Cottage by Fletcher Street Cottage

Koalas Need Native Forests

The Bob Brown Foundation works relentlessly to protect and preserve our natural resources, from endangered wildlife, such as the Koala, to native ecosystems.

The work The Bob Brown Foundation does is more important than ever before, with reports stating that two-thirds of Australia’s koala population has been decimated, and at the current rate of decline koalas will be extinct in NSW by 2050. This is due to logging, mining and urban development that is pushing the koala towards the precipice of extinction.

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Their ‘Koalas Need Native Forests’ project was split into two campaigns, towards the end of 2021. Finishing with an astounding $117,409, raised from over 1193 supporters. The donations collected help fund their ongoing efforts, including endangered species research, direct frontline action and national advertising campaigns to continue to spread awareness of the cause.

This campaign can be acknowledged as a great place to start for the immediate end to all native forest logging. With Western Australia leading the way to cease all native forest logging from 2023.

Learn more about this cause here.

Bob Brown Foundation at Pozible

CROWFUNDER—Crowbar Sydney

Crowbar is a family-owned live music venue. Opening in 2018 in Sydney, Crowbar strives to platform budding artists, both emerging local and national acts. Showcasing growing Australian and international talent, with the secret talent of hosting shows for massive bands that are usually playing venues five times the size.

However, with the hit of the COVID-19 pandemic from 2019 onwards, Crowdbar was facing a dire situation. Battling negotiations with landlords, restrictions and reduced income, facing the end of JobKeeper and struggling to pay ongoing fixed costs and debt that keeps piling up, their campaign CROWFUNDER was established to help keep Crowbar alive and open.

Through some consistent social promotions and some exclusive merch from some iconic bands and artists that have graced their stage, the campaign exceeded expectations, raising a whopping $112,458!

With the ease of restrictions lifting, why not stay tuned for some updates on the much-anticipated release of their next gigs…

CROWFUNDER by Crowbar Sydney

SciComm for Social Impact

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Having been accepted into the National Film and Television School (NFTS), in the United Kingdom, Kirsten Slemint made it her mission to campaign for more opportunities for budding Australian environmentalist documentary makers!

#SciComm for Social Impact is a campaign about increasing media coverage and gaining accessibility of scientific literacy, through connecting people with the world of science via film.

Campaigning for what Kirsten states is a “once in a lifetime Masters degree opportunity”, her efforts deserve nothing short of applause. Raising a total of $79,093 from 83 pledges, SciComm for Social Impact enables Kirsten to achieve her longtime dream of pursuing a Masters in Directing and Producing Science and Natural History, as well as covering tuition and basic living expenses for her sojourn abroad!

Check out Kirsten’s Instagram page to follow her journey!

SciComm for Social Impact by Kirsten Slemint

Amplify our Voice

More than doubling their intended goal of $25,000, with an astounding $52,070, this campaign can be described as a major win for the Robin Boyd Foundation (RBF)!

Amplify our Voice marks the RBF’s newly released book ‘After The Australian Ugliness’. From what can be described as a provocative collection of essays, this book explores how Australia sees itself 60 years since Boyd’s original publication of ‘The Australian Ugliness’.

The pledges collected from this match-funded campaign unite not only the support of architects, designers, students and design enthusiasts, but also allow the foundation’s mission to “develop and deliver programs that encourage a wider understanding of the value of design and how design can improve our world”.

Amplify our Voice by Robin Boyd Foundation

Wuggs: Eco-Friendly boot

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Tasmanian trio John and Katrina Kelly and Sally Bruen created Wuggs to promote a new line of sustainable fashion. Producing what they deem:

“ The first sustainably produced, luxury ugg boots in Australia. An ugg boot made from methane-free wallaby fur”.

Their campaign sold almost double their pre-sale goal of 100 boots! Selling 188 products of their first-ever fashion line of ‘Wugg boots’ and other textile goods such as wallaby fur socks and even a fur stubby holder!

The ‘Wuggs — the eco-friendly boot’ campaign allowed new and old supporters to buy their first line of eco-conscious fashion products, from the extension line of their sustainable Wallaby meat business. Read more about their story here.

Wuggs – the eco-friendly boot by Wuggs

Brisket and Pickle BBQ

Tom Spinks had the dream of bringing people together with great BBQ.

His mission was to create a sense of community, food and fun and exceptional BBQ. As Spink states “it’s not just about meat — it’s about fire, food, music, laughter and being with friends”.

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Having created the ‘Brisket & Pickle- BBQ Mobile BBQ’ campaign with the intent of mobilising a brisket-based food truck, this project exceeded his goal of $20,000!

Achieving $20,415 a total from 80 supporters, Tom has made plans to tour around Australia bringing unreal brisket and company. Starting off in Greater Melbourne and then onwards to Greater Sydney by early 2022. As well as exploring places in between the two destinations and bringing his new mobile smoker to cook up a storm.

To stay updated with Tom’s campaign head to his website.

Brisket & Pickle BBQ – Mobile BBQ by Brisket and Pickle

Keep the Rainbow magic alive

After the devastating impacts of the December 2019 bushfires, followed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the ‘Keep the Rainbow magic alive campaign’ was ignited to support the next Rainbow Serpent Festival.

The Rainbow Serpent Festival is a collaborative music, arts and lifestyle festival, set amongst Dja Dja Wurrung and Wadawurrung country, in Western Victoria. Rainbow Serpent Festival began 23 years ago as a small gathering of friends, to today, a following of over 34,000. Welcomed by the Traditional Owners of the Land, The Briody Family, and the local Pyrenees communities, this festival can be described as an explosion of colour and creativity! Thriving on connection to the community, as well as the land.

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With the help of community rewards sourced from Lexton and Beaufort locals, as well as a massive 521 supporters pledging, the organisers managed to raise an impressive $28,585!

Their campaign was in support of a free live stream concert which took place on Saturday, January 23rd. View the event page here.

Keep the Rainbow magic alive by Rainbow Serpent Festival

The Shed

The campaign:‘ The Shed’ aimed to Shine light on the entertainment industry and local performing artists within the Mornington Peninsula region, in Victoria.

The Pig & Whistle can be described as a multi-entertainment venue and tavern that hosts a diverse array of live concerts and festivals within a newly transformed machinery shed known as ‘The Shed Theatre’.

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Yet, over the last 2 years, The Pig and Whistle faced extreme setbacks, primarily due to COVID-19, to complete the construction of a small 100 seat performance and artist hub known as ‘The Shed’.

This campaign sought to fund the final construction costs, as well as the ability to platform local creative talent. Raising a total of $26,250, The Shed was able to launch, thanks to their amazing supporters.

Look out for the latest live concerts, cabaret, comedy and much more at The Shed in 2022.

The Shed by The Pig And Whistle

dARTbase—Creative Social Marketplace

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The newly developed website dARTbase, launched this year thanks to the ‘Creative Social Marketplace’ campaign! dARTbase is a user-friendly website that provides a portfolio, network and marketplace services to creatives and the industries that surround them to help turn their passion into a profession!

This project succeeded in meeting dARTbase’s targeted goal of $25,000, to match the funds collected from the City of Sydney. Impressively, their ‘PROfesional’ reward was the most sort after, allowing pledgers to receive 3 months of premium subscription for free upon launch. As well as offering 10% off KARST stone paper products and planting a tree in the supporter's name with the collaboration of the Wirrinyah First Nations Conservation and Land management.

To find out more about this service check out their Instagram page and blog, or watch our interview with founder Gemma Colbran below!

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Creative Social Marketplace by dARTbase

Climb Tasmania Guide

Continuing their third edition of ‘Climb Tasmania’ guidebook, the campaign Climb Tasmania Guide launched their latest arrival in November 2021!

Impressively, this campaign gained the support of 358 pledgers, raising a total of $23,773! Almost $8,000 over their original goal!

The guide showcases over 1300 of the very best rock climbing routes in Tassie. With the special edition of ‘the Tassie Tigers’ feature. An additional, comprehensive guide of the most quintessentially Tasmanian climbs. These routes capture the rich history and beauty of uniquely Tasmanian only scenic routes. This go-to guidebook can overall be described as a concise map for both local and international climbers travelling around the state.

To keep up to date with Climb Tasmania’s next adventure head to their website now!

Climb Tasmania Guide by Climb Tasmania

Some Mums (are Fat Molls)

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After Nelly Thomas was called “ya fat moll” by an anonymous troll during a comedy gig, she decided to pen ‘Some Mums (Are Fat Molls)’ a good twenty years later.

‘Some Mums (Are Fat Molls)’ Is a beautiful newly released picture book featuring Illustrations by Cat MacInnes, combined with Nelly’s comedic sensibilities, gender-bending fire and of course, a good dose of salty language.

A book as commented by Nellie “she wished she’d be given when she became a mum”, this page-turner is funny, forthright and a little bit filthy.

Some Mums (are Fat Molls) raised a total of $22,286, from her 425 loyal supporters!

Some Mums (are Fat Molls) by Nelly Thomas

Special mentions

Porch Diaries Photobook

$9,327 raised from 110 supporters

Porch Diaries: portraits from Melbourne's coronavirus lockdowns – photo essay

Darcy Fox—Let’s make an album

$15,430 raised from 153 supporters

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Lockdown Locals Book

$17,170 raised from 125 supporters

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We personally thank everyone that has been a part of the Pozible community for 2021 and look forward to sharing 2022 with you all!

We can’t wait to continue creating with you in 2022, for anyone with an idea you can get started drafting a campaign at any time here.

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Year in Review: The Top Crowdfunding Campaigns of 2021 was originally published in The Pozible Blog on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

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• Source: https://blog.pozible.com/top-crowdfunding-campaigns-of-2021-5dced368acc6?source=rss—-ae0d23b22248—4