Creative funding opportunities

Whether you're a musician looking for your first recording budget, a theatre company navigating funding cuts, or a community arts group trying to keep your space open, the funds on this page offer match funding that goes directly on top of what your crowd raises. Browse what's currently available, check your eligibility, and start a campaign when you're ready.

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What is match funding for creative projects?

Match funding is when an organisation, a public body, trust, or partner, agrees to top up what your supporters give you, usually pound-for-pound, up to a set total. It means your backers' money goes further, your campaign feels more urgent, and you can reach targets that crowdfunding alone might not get you to.

On Crowdfunder, match funds are run by partner organisations who want to support specific types of creative project. Each fund has its own eligibility criteria, opening dates, and application process. The funds on this page are either currently open or opening soon, check back regularly as new opportunities are added throughout the year.

Add your own match fund to a project on Crowdfunder, and make each donation work twice as hard. Great for leveraging existing partnerships, bringing your own match fund to a campaign can amplify the number of donations and amount it receives.

See all match funding on Crowdfunder

Featured funding partnerships

Creative Scotland Crowdmatch

Creatives based in Scotland

In partnership with Creative Scotland, match funding is available for artists and creatives across Scotland — every donation to your project matched £1 for £1, up to £250. If you're making work in theatre, film, music, or the visual arts, Crowdfunder is where to start.

View the fund

Music Venue Trust

Grassroots music venues

In partnership with Music Venue Trust, over £9 million has been raised on Crowdfunder to help protect music venues at risk of closure, securing vital parts of the UK's cultural fabric. If you run a grassroots venue and need support, Crowdfunder is where to start.

See the projects

Creative UK

Creative businesses and organisations

In partnership with Creative UK, Crowdfunder offers 0% platform fees for creative projects — because traditional funding isn't working for the sector. If you're a creative looking to raise funds directly from the crowd, Crowdfunder is where to start.

Get started

Not sure where to start?

This guide covers the whole landscape — from Arts Council grants and national lottery funding to match funding, prizes, and how crowdfunding fits alongside more traditional routes. Updated regularly.

Read the full guide — UK creative funding: grants, prizes and crowdfunding

Read the guide

FAQs

Can anyone start a creative crowdfunding campaign on Crowdfunder?

Yes, Crowdfunder is open to individual artists, bands, filmmakers, writers, theatre companies, galleries, independent venues, community arts groups, and creative businesses. As long as your project is legal and meets the platform guidelines, you can start a campaign. There's no minimum funding target or minimum audience size required before you begin.

Does Crowdfunder charge fees for arts and creative projects?

Crowdfunder charges no platform fees for arts, music, and film projects, so more of what you raise goes directly into your work. Standard payment processing fees apply to all transactions.
See the full fees breakdown →

What is match funding and how do I know if my project qualifies?

Match funding is when a partner organisation, a public body, Arts Council, trust or brand, adds money on top of what your crowd raises, often pound-for-pound up to a set total. Each fund has its own eligibility criteria: some are open to all creative disciplines, others focus on a specific region or type of work. The best way to check is to browse live match funding → before you launch, as availability changes throughout the year. Don't forget, you can also add your own match fund.

Do I need an existing audience to run a successful campaign?

Not necessarily. A strong campaign with a clear story and well-structured rewards can build its audience as it goes. That said, the first 30% of your target typically comes from your existing network — friends, family, collaborators, existing fans, so having some audience to launch to helps. A prize draw is particularly useful if you want to reach people who don't know you yet, as the prize does the outreach rather than relying on your existing following.

Can I combine crowdfunding with a grant application?

Yes, and many creative projects do. A successful crowdfunding campaign can actually strengthen a grant application by demonstrating proven community support for your work. Some funders explicitly look for evidence that an audience exists and believes in the project before they'll commit. Equally, if you've secured a grant, mentioning it on your campaign page builds credibility with potential backers.

What makes a creative crowdfunding campaign succeed?

The campaigns that consistently perform well share a few things: a specific, tangible goal rather than a vague ask; rewards that give backers a genuine stake in the work; a strong opening few days driven by your closest supporters; and regular updates throughout the campaign. The most important thing is making it easy for someone who's never heard of you to understand in 30 seconds exactly what you're making, why it matters, and what they get for backing it.