Crowdfunding with a focus on making an impact through sustainable initiatives.
Last updated: January 2021
Green crowdfunding is a way to combine your passion for the environment with your investment portfolio. This form of crowdfunding not only allows investors to see a return on investment, but allows for startups and ventures to acquire funds that they need to make a difference in the natural world. It’s a great way to both diversify your portfolio and make a difference. Check out the list below and discover innovative projects that are slated to save our planet, but with your help.
The Environmental Funders Network (EFN)
Industry: Environment & Sustainability
Location: United Kingdom
Type: Grants/Donations
Participating members pay a minimum contribution of $500 or as suggested by a sliding scale which goes towards grantmaking and operations. Since 2003, EFN has assisted in funding over 170 projects. The network consists of three focal points: relationship building, intelligence sharing, and research.
Windcentrale
Industry: Wind Energy
Location: The Netherlands
Type: Equity
Windcentrale has raised over 14.3 million euros since its inception in 2010, which qualifies the platform as the largest in the renewable energy crowdfunding space. The money that is invested is used to acquire windmills, which in turn generates energy credits that the investor can use to cover their monthly energy bill.
Sunfunder
Industry: Solar Energy
Location: United States
Type: Debt
Debt funds are used to finance solar initiatives in parts of the world without access to electricity. Sunfunder has provided clean energy to more than 7 million people and has unlocked $152 million in debt funding for investors.
WorthWild
Industry: Green Products & Recreation
Location: United States
Type: Rewards-based
A free, rewards-based platform catered to eco-friendly products and businesses. WorthWild focuses on education, entrepreneurship, conversation, and recreation. Members can upload videos to inspire funding, which in turn attracts a network that encourages idea-sharing, feedback, and experience.
Energy4Impact
Industry: Solar Energy
Location: United Kingdom
Type: Grants/Donations
A nonprofit based in the United Kingdom that operates off of money raised through donations. Energy4Impact was founded in 2006, making it one of the longest-standing green crowdfunding platforms still in existence. This platform focuses on providing South Africa with access to affordable and clean energy. The nonprofit boasts 8,100 supported businesses, 15,000 jobs created, $160 million raised, and has provided access to over 18 million Africans.
Indieogogo
Industry: Technology & Design
Location: United States
Type: Rewards-based
One of the largest and most reliable crowdfunding sites around, Indiegogo focuses on innovation – bringing ideas to life. The platform has an ‘Environment’ section that focuses on environmental innovations and ideas. A 4% fee is collected for using this crowdfunding site.
Lendosphere
Industry: Green Energy
Location: France
Type: P2P
Founded in 2014, Lendosphere is the first P2P lending crowdfunding site devoted to the switch to renewable energies. It costs only 50 euro to get started.
Trine
Industry: Green Energy
Location: Sweden
Type: P2P
Another P2P lending platform, Trine empowers individuals to invest in solar which provides power to homes and offers a return on investment based on the project’s success. The 6.2% average return on investment is based on 11,500 Trine investors.
StartEngine
Industry: Early-Stage Startups
Location: United States
Type: Equity
Investors are not only offering a helping hand, but are uniquely purchasing stock and gambling on startups and their ideas. Green projects such as the Affordable Community Energy Services Company and G3C Technologies Corporation got their start here.
Citizenenergy
Industry: Green Energy
Location: Portugal
Type: Debt, Equity
Funded by the Intelligence Energy Europe Programme of the European Union, Citizenenergy is unique in that it is a cross-border green energy crowdfunding initiative. Investors can choose to participate through loans, equity, or bonds. Citizenenergy is known for vetting investment opportunities to minimize your risk and maximize your reward.
Seedrs
Industry: Multiple
Location: United Kingdom
Type: Equity
In 2020, Seedrs saw 293 million euro invested into 295 deals. This platform features different sectors, including green energy, sustainability, and other environmental topics. Noteworthy environmental projects include Hydro Wind Energy and Aqua British.
Fundeen
Industry: Green Energy
Location: Spain
Type: Equity
A FinTech platform that allows investors to receive benefits from their contributions starting at just 500 euro. Projects are able to get financing without jumping through the hoops of traditional financing calculations.
Ener2Crowd
Industry: Green Energy
Location: Italy
Type: Debt
Italy’s first platform dedicated to environmental initiatives. With a low minimum investment of 250 euro, Ener2Crowd brings citizens and institutional investors together to debt towards established Italian companies that are dedicated to sustainability initiatives, particularly green energy and energy efficiency.
Mosaic
Industry: Solar Energy
Location: United States
Type: Privateequity
A financing option to invest in solar energy made easy. Mosaic focuses on simplifying and the financing process for both the investor and the contractor so that we can more quickly and effortlessly make the switch to solar energy.
Firstgiving
Industry: Multiple
Location: United States
Type: P2P
Firstgiving offers options such as online auctions, P2P lending, and monthly contributions that are sure to appeal to investors of all shapes and sizes. The platform boasts an ‘all-in-one’ experience. Although not dedicated solely to green crowdfunding, the platform has a ‘non-profit’ section that features many environmental projects. It also boasts low fees of less than five percent.
Tridos Crowdfunding
Industry: Green Energy & Sustainability
Location: United Kingdom
Type: P2P
A P2P lending service for an incredibly low minimum investment cost of 50 euro. Tridos Crowdfunding was founded in 2018 by the Tridos Bank. It puts its members in contact with well-intentioned organizations that focus on green energy, sustainability, and more.
StartSomeGood
Industry: Multiple
Location: United States
Type: Donations, Rewards
A platform that focuses only on ‘good’ projects that are set to benefit humanity and the natural world. It’s a fairly large and popular site that allows for users to submit projects for free. If the project reaches its funding goal, then it is charged a 5 percent fee.
EcoCrowd
Industry: Environment & Sustainability
Location: Switzerland
Type: Donations
A crowdfunding platform with strict guidelines that limit applicants to that of the environmental sector. The only focus here is sustainability and the environment at large. Projects involve wildlife conservation, sustainability, clean energy, and climate. It’s a donation-based platform that stretches to Austria and Germany as well.
Crowd4Climate
Industry: Climate
Location: Austria
Type: Debt
Crowd4Climate’s allows for small debt contributions of 250 euro to sponsor projects with a goal of reducing greenhouse gasses. This platform’s sole purpose to fund projects that are set to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This encompasses not only renewable energies, but also sustainable agriculture practices and more.
GoParity
Industry: Environment & Sustainability
Location: Portugal
Type: P2P
GoParity offers an eye-popping minimum investment of 5 euro. For just 5 euro, you can receive monthly payments and up to 8% return each year. The platform has coined the term, “Impact Investing” and focuses only on impact projects related to the environment and sustainability. To date, over 9,800 investors have contributed 4 million euro and received 750,000 euros back.
Whether you are interested in P2P lending, debt, equity, or donation platforms, this list is guaranteed to offer a green crowdfunding platform that appeals to you. The green crowdfunding platforms on this list have been vetted for legitimacy and well-established within the crowdfunding community. The compilation of platforms offers investment minimums from 500 euro down to 5 euro in hope that there is an option out there that fits within your investment goals and abilities.
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