How crowdfunding works in Nigeria
A simple, practical guide on how online crowdfunding platforms work, how donations are collected, and how to raise money safely.
What is crowdfunding?
Crowdfunding is raising financial contributions from many supporters online to cover medical bills, school fees, community projects, or organizational causes.
Instead of asking one person for a large sum (like ₦2,000,000 for surgery), crowdfunding enables 200 supporters to give ₦10,000 each.
How it works in 5 simple steps
- 1. Verify your identity: Sign up on Gathr and complete NIN verification to build trust. Ensure your firstname, lastname, and middlename match exactly as they appear on your NIN slip for your identity to be verified.
- 2. Create your page: Choose your beneficiary (yourself, someone else, or an organisation), set your target goal, upload a clear photo, and write your story.
- 3. Share widely: Send your campaign link across WhatsApp, Instagram, X, and Facebook.
- 4. Receive donations: Supporters give securely via bank transfer, card, or USSD.
- 5. Withdraw instantly: Request direct payouts to your Nigerian bank account at any time.
Who can you raise funds for?
Setting up a campaign on Gathr is completely free for everyone. You can easily create a campaign for different types of beneficiaries depending on your fundraising goals:
- Yourself: Raise money for personal medical emergencies, tuition, rent, equipment, or individual projects.
- Someone else: Fundraise on behalf of a family member, friend, neighbor, or community member in need.
- Organisation: Raise funds directly for registered non-profits, NGOs, foundations, religious institutions, schools, or community development causes. Organisations can reach out via email to support their NGO needs with a detailed proposal at gathrhq.team@gmail.com.
NIN verification requirements
To protect donors and prevent fraud, Gathr requires identity verification before campaign payouts. When submitting your National Identification Number (NIN), your firstname, lastname, and middlename must match exactly as they are printed on your official NIN slip. Any spelling difference or missing middle name will cause the automated verification to fail.
Types of crowdfunding
- Donation crowdfunding (Gathr): Voluntary giving for personal, community, or organisation needs without debt or interest.
- Reward crowdfunding: Supporters receive a physical product or perk in return.
- Equity & Debt crowdfunding: Financial investments regulated by official authorities.
Is crowdfunding legal in Nigeria?
Yes. Donation crowdfunding for individuals and registered organisations is fully legal in Nigeria. Gathr processes transactions through licensed payment partners like Paystack with identity verification.
Platform fees & transparency
Gathr charges a flat 3.5% platform fee per donation. There are zero setup fees, no monthly subscriptions, and you keep whatever funds you raise.