Ghent (The Brussels Morning Newspaper): In 2020, Ghent launched Belgium’s first crowdfunding platform, gathering local projects for community support. Alderman Astrid De Brucker emphasized citizen involvement and fundraising success, raising over €100,000 for various causes.
In 2020, Ghent became the first city in Belgium to start its crowdfunding platform, which is meant to gather different local projects in one place. This platform lets people, groups, and businesses raise money for various community projects, such as cultural events, neighborhood improvements, and social or environmental causes. By putting all these efforts on a single website, the city makes it easy for supporters to find, contribute to, and track the progress of local initiatives.
How does Ghent’s crowdfunding platform support local projects while ensuring quality?
The platform wants to involve the community and show how donations are used so that people can see the difference their support makes. It helps local projects succeed without needing regular funding and encourages teamwork, giving citizens a say in their surroundings. Before sharing a project, the city checks it to ensure it meets certain standards. Since it started, 64 projects have been submitted, but not all have been accepted. Council member Zeneb Bensafia (Groen) said that only about one out of three applications gets approved, which shows there are strict rules to follow.
According to Alderman Astrid De Brucker (Vooruit), the platform is a great way for people in Ghent to take part in local decisions and get involved in their community. However, there are strict rules that stop some projects from being shared. These rules help make sure the platform focuses on projects that positively impact society, culture, or the environment. By carefully choosing which projects to support, the city ensures that the platform helps initiatives that truly benefit the community.
In Ghent, projects need to be linked to the city, and applicants can’t focus on personal interests or anything related to religion or politics. They work with the city to set realistic funding goals, and about one out of three projects reach those goals. The city also advises fundraising campaigns. During the coronavirus crisis, the website helped support local restaurants and artists by promoting various projects, including music and art funding. It raised over 100,000 euros for flood victims in Wallonia and 14,000 euros for earthquake relief in Turkey. Groups have also used this platform to raise money for causes like an animal food bank and to challenge a new depot.
