The minimum amount is the amount a project must raise to be successful. This means the campaign operates on an “all-or-nothing” basis: Your contribution will only be charged if the project reaches its minimum amount by the end of the campaign period. Not every project has a minimum amount—some are funded flexibly.
What happens to my donation if the minimum amount isn't reached?
If an all-or-nothing campaign does not reach its minimum goal by the end of the campaign period, the project is considered unfunded. Your contribution will then be canceled and will not be charged.
- Your donation amount will not be charged.
- If a reservation or pre-authorization temporarily appears on your credit card or PayPal account, it will disappear again. Depending on your bank or payment provider, this may take a little while.
How can I tell if a project has a minimum goal and whether it has already been reached?
You can see whether a project has a minimum amount and how far along it is in several places on the project page:
- On the funding bar: Depending on the project settings, you'll see the current funding amount and the goal in euros, either as a percentage or in specific units—for example, "100 books out of 250."
- In the list of funding goals: In an all-or-nothing campaign, the first funding goal is the minimum amount. There, you can also see whether it has already been reached. A first funding goal alone does not necessarily mean that the campaign is running on an all-or-nothing basis.
- In the project disclaimer, under the "Thank You" section: This section explains whether the project is funded on an "all-or-nothing" basis or flexibly, and whether the minimum amount has already been reached.
Funding Progress in Individual Units
Some projects track their progress not in euros but in a suitable unit, such as “books” or “pre-orders.” To do this, the project creators set a fixed euro amount as a reference value per unit. The funding total and the goals are divided by this value and displayed as a number.
Example: With a reference value of €60 per book, a minimum amount of €15,000 corresponds to a minimum quantity of 250 books. A funding level of €6,000 is displayed as “100 books out of 250.”
This figure was calculated. It does not indicate how many books were actually ordered or how many people supported the project. Unspecified contributions without a thank-you note are also included in the calculation.
The euro amount is what counts toward reaching the minimum amount. Displaying the amount in units does not change the "all-or-nothing" principle or the amount of your contribution. You will continue to pay in euros.
What happens if a project raises more than the minimum amount?
If so, the project is already a success and can continue to raise funds. Many projects set additional funding goals beyond the minimum amount—so-called milestone goals. Your support makes a difference in every case and helps reach the next goal.
Once the project has reached its minimum goal, the progress bar may already show the next milestone. If the progress bar is not yet fully filled, this does not mean that the minimum goal has not yet been reached.
What is the difference between this and flexible financing?
With flexible funding, there is no minimum amount: Your contribution will always be collected, even if the funding goal is not fully reached.