Build Guide

Build a Crowdfunding Platform Without WordPress

WordPress crowdfunding plugins don't handle the complexity of pledges, reward tiers, and all-or-nothing funding. Build a platform that actually works.

Start Building
The Old Way

The WordPress Approach

Required Plugins

1WP Crowdfunding ($199/year) — crowdfunding for WooCommerce
2IgnitionDeck ($199-999/year) — crowdfunding platform
3FundEngine ($99/year) — basic crowdfunding

Limitations

All-or-nothing funding requires manual refund processing if goal isn't met
Reward tier management is basic — no shipping logistics or variant selection
Campaign pages don't show real-time funding progress without page refresh
Backer management (communication, updates, surveys) is nonexistent
No stretch goals, early bird pricing, or limited-quantity rewards

Typical Cost

$100-300/year in plugins + payment gateway setup + hosting

The Modern Way

The Modern Approach

Next.js + Supabase + Stripe (payment intents) + Resend

Supabase stores campaigns, reward tiers, and backer data. Stripe payment intents authorize pledges upfront and only capture if the campaign reaches its goal. Resend handles backer updates and campaign notifications.

True all-or-nothing funding — Stripe authorizes pledges and only captures on success
Real-time funding progress bar with live backer count
Reward tiers with quantity limits, early bird pricing, and variant selection
Backer dashboard for managing pledges, surveys, and shipping info
Campaign creator dashboard with analytics and backer communication tools

WordPress vs. Modern Stack

WordPress

  • All-or-nothing funding requires manual refund processing if goal isn't met
  • Reward tier management is basic — no shipping logistics or variant selection
  • Campaign pages don't show real-time funding progress without page refresh
  • Backer management (communication, updates, surveys) is nonexistent
  • $100-300/year in plugins + payment gateway setup + hosting

Modern Stack

  • True all-or-nothing funding — Stripe authorizes pledges and only captures on success
  • Real-time funding progress bar with live backer count
  • Reward tiers with quantity limits, early bird pricing, and variant selection
  • Backer dashboard for managing pledges, surveys, and shipping info
  • Campaign creator dashboard with analytics and backer communication tools

Recommended Tools

Supabase

Campaigns, rewards, backers, and real-time progress tracking

Free up to 500MB, $25/month Pro

Stripe

Pledge authorization, capture on success, refund on failure

2.9% + 30¢ per captured payment

Resend

Backer updates, campaign milestones, and reward surveys

Free up to 3,000 emails/month

Next.js

Campaign pages with real-time funding progress

Free and open-source

Vercel

Hosting with serverless functions for pledge processing

Free hobby tier, $20/month pro

Step-by-Step Build Guide

1

Design the Supabase schema — campaigns (goal, deadline, status), reward tiers (price, description, quantity limit), and pledges (backer, tier, amount)

2

Build campaign pages with real-time funding progress, reward tier selector, and backer count via Supabase Realtime

3

Implement pledge flow — backer selects reward tier, enters shipping info, and Stripe authorizes the payment (but doesn't capture yet)

4

Create campaign end logic — if goal is met, capture all authorized payments; if not, release all authorizations

5

Build the campaign creator dashboard for creating campaigns, posting updates, and sending backer surveys

6

Add the backer dashboard where backers manage their pledges, update shipping info, and track campaign progress

7

Set up Resend for campaign milestone emails (50% funded, fully funded, shipping updates)

Frequently Asked Questions

How does all-or-nothing funding work technically?
Stripe payment intents authorize the pledge amount on the backer's card without capturing it. If the campaign reaches its goal by the deadline, you capture all authorizations. If not, you cancel them, and backers are never charged.
How do I handle reward fulfillment?
After a campaign succeeds, send backer surveys via Resend to collect shipping addresses and reward preferences. Use your backer dashboard to track fulfillment status per backer.
Can I charge a platform fee?
Yes. Use Stripe Connect to take a percentage of each pledge. This is identical to how Kickstarter (5%) and Indiegogo (5%) handle platform fees.

Crowdfunding Platform Guides

In-depth guides and tutorials to help with your migration

Ready to Build Your Crowdfunding Platform?

Skip the plugin bloat. Build with modern tools or migrate your existing WordPress site.