About MDXCrowdfund

What is MDXCrowdfund?

MDXCrowdfund is our easy-to-use, rewards-based crowdfunding platform. It connects people to some of the incredible student and staff initiatives taking place at Middlesex University daily.

MDXCrowdfund is powered by Hubbub, specialists in the provision of crowdfunding platforms to educational institutions and non-profit organisations.

How does rewards-based crowdfunding work?

In crowdfunding a large number of people (e.g. family, friends, people with shared interests) donate small amounts of money to a project they are interested in. These donations add up to a much larger amount, enabling you to bring your project to life.

The rewards-based element means donors receive a small reward related to the crowdfunding project – e.g. a special thanks video, a film credit, or a ticket to the show or gig they have helped crowdfund, or even branded merchandise.

For more information please go to How it works.

Who can be a Creator?

MDXCrowdfund is open to all Middlesex University students and members of staff.

Who can sponsor projects?

Anybody can sponsor projects. Typically earlier donations come from a Project Creator’s family and friends, who then help to raise awareness by promoting the campaign to their own contacts. Alumni also frequently donate to projects featured on university-branded crowdfunding platforms because they have a close attachment with the institution and want to support it and its students.

Donations from other sources (e.g. organisations, specialist groups/societies or the wider community) tend to be made if there is a shared interest, the rewards are particularly appealing, or when a healthy proportion of funding has already been raised.

How much can Creators raise?

Creators can raise funds for projects of any size they wish. There really isn't a limit on too small or too big - whether that's £100 or £100,000!

What is Gift Aid?

Gift Aid is a tax relief available to UK registered charities, like us! To qualify, pledges must come from a UK taxpayer. The amount of Gift Aid that can be reclaimed on a pledge depends on the value of the reward being provided. We use the reclaimed tax to cover the platform's running costs and those associated with PayPal. This means project creators always get 100% of what they raise, whereas other crowdfunding platforms and their payment partners typically take a percentage.

How can I contact the platform administrators?

Please contact us using our contact form.

Account Settings

Can I change my profile name?

Make sure you're logged in, go to 'account', and click on the 'edit profile' button.

I forgot my password. How can I log in?

You can reset your password by clicking the 'reset your password' link on the login page. You will be sent an email which contains a link to gain access to your account.

How do I delete my account?

Can I change my email notification settings?

You will only receive emails about projects which you are following. To stop receiving these, go to the project page and click 'Follow' - when the pink heart is absent you won't receive email updates. If you no longer wish to receive our newsletter, click on 'Unsubscribe' at the bottom of any newsletter.

Project Creators - FAQs

Starting Your Project

What types of project can I post?

The sky is the limit! Projects can focus on anything from a business idea, to a creative or community project, an event, a university club or sports team, a research project, a personal challenge and much more. Each project is judged on its own goals and merits, and the level of organisation and commitment demonstrated by the individual or group of individuals involved. A few rules do apply and you can see these in the Hubbub Guidelines.

If you have a business idea, why not also get in touch with our Enterprise Development Hub (‘EDH@MDX’). Run out of Middlesex University Business School, EDH@MDX equips entrepreneurs with the knowledge and tools required to turn ideas into viable businesses. Contact EDH to learn more.

What are the platform fees?

We cover the costs of the platform and payment processing fees so that you always get 100% of the value of successful pledges.

I'm raising money for charity. Can I post on Hubbub?

We divide charity fund-raising into two parts. We can help you raise funds to finance your travel, accommodation or equipment for a charity trip. However, we recommend using a site like MyRaising to collect funds for the charity itself. This is a more efficient way of collecting as you will raise more money per donation for the charity. This is largely due to the tax incentives websites like these can apply for on the charity's behalf.

Example: You need to raise £1000 for Charity X in order to qualify for a charity expedition to Nepal. We recommend you use MyRaising to raise this money, but MyRaising will not permit you to use the website to raise money to cover personal costs (e.g. hiking equipment). Step forward MDXCrowdfund. We can help you with all of your personal and/or group expenses.

How many projects can I post at the same time?

As many as you want but it might be in your interest to keep the number of live projects low. This prevents you exhausting your networks of potential Sponsors as they are unlikely to donate several times to the same person, department or society in a short space of time. Even if they do, their donations are likely to be far smaller when shared between multiple projects, meaning there is a chance none of your projects get funded!

How many Creators can I have on my project?

There can only be one Creator account per project, but you should definitely get help from your friends and other society, club, group or department members to help create and promote it.

Can I split funding for one project into several projects?

Yes. The advantage of doing this is that people might be more interested in one aspect of your plans than another and, in doing so, you're giving them the freedom to choose where to put their money.

The disadvantage is that sponsors are unlikely to donate to the same person, department or society in a short timeframe. You must also remember that if you earn funding for one aspect of the project, but not the others, you are still obliged to complete the successfully funded project.

Can I share my project with friends before I submit?

Yes – in fact we would recommend that you begin talking about your campaign before it goes live and try to line up a few potential donors.

You can discuss what you're doing with people online and via word of mouth but you will not be able to send people a link to your project in draft mode (though screenshots are possible). In order for other people to view your projects prior to it going live, you will need to log in to your account and demo the project in preview mode.

When will my project go public?

Once you've created your project you will need to press the 'submit' button. If it meets all of our guidelines we'll make it available to the public. Please note that you can't edit your project once it is live but you will be able to add updates.

Please allow up to three working days for review. Campaigns are typically reviewed within three working days. Please note, if you submit on a Thursday or Friday, your campaign might not be reviewed until the start of the following working week so if you want to go live over the weekend, please factor in enough time for review of your crowdfunding campaign.

Project Media

Do I have to make a video?

No, but a video is highly recommended as it greatly improves your chances of achieving your funding target.

What types of video can I use and how large can my video's size be?

Hubbub accepts Vimeo and YouTube videos. Vimeo's basic account has a limit of 500mb per file and 5GB for premium accounts. Youtube has a limit of 2GB.

Any advice on what makes a great video?

You can go to the Video section of the Hubbub Academy for advice on how to put a great video together.

Can I use music on my video?

Yes, but only if you have permission to do so from its owner! Alternatively you can use any music from http://freemusicarchive.org/.

How many images can I have?

One video, but as many images as you like! You just need to enter the web address of the image in your project description.

Can I embed media?

You can add images to the description section of your project, but not videos.

After Submission

Can I edit my project once it is live?

Sorry! Apart from us needing to keep reviewing amended proposals, we feel this allows too much room for Creators to change the deal after Sponsors have made donations.

However, you can add updates to your project once published so that Sponsors can keep track of the latest developments.

Can I change my funding goal or completion date once live?

It is not permitted to change your funding goal once your campaign is live but we may be able to extend your campaign for you.

Once Your Project Is Live

Where can I find Sponsors?

Finding Sponsors is vital if you are to achieve your funding target. For advice on how to promote you project, you can visit the Promotion section of the Hubbub Academy. Hubbub also have some great advice and checklists in their Promotions Guide.

Can I raise more than my target goal?

Yes, absolutely, there is no cut off. If donors continue to donate once you have reached your goal, this will be reflected in your campaign total.

What happens if funding is completed before the completion date?

Nothing unless you ask us to bring your end date forward for you. You can do this using our contact form. That said, Sponsors can continue donating even after your target has been reached so you might want to stick with your end date so that you can generate even more. Projects offering great rewards often exceed their funding target!

Can I cancel my project?

You can cancel a project by informing us using our contact form. We will notify your Sponsors.

What if I can't complete my project as listed?

If this is the case you must cancel funding immediately. However, please be aware that this could damage your reputation and that of your university or society, so please do not do it lightly. You can cancel a project by informing us using our contact form. We will notify your Sponsors.

What is my responsibility for answering questions from Sponsors?

Sponsors will ask you questions about your project. They may want more information on your rewards or to ask for more details about how you will carry out your project, or even for more information about you! Sponsors should be answered promptly. In cases where many Sponsors ask the same question, you should answer with an Update to your project so that anyone viewing it can see this information. If you are unclear about your responsibilities to your Sponsors, please re-visit our Terms & Conditions.

Transfer Of Funds

If my project is successful, how are Sponsors’ donations collected and transferred to me?

To process online project donations we use PayPal. Assuming your fundraising campaign is successful, Middlesex University will collect money donated online by Sponsors on your behalf. It will be your responsibility to follow up on any cash pledges (i.e. offline donations).

If you are a student, we will contact you to obtain your bank details so we can transfer the funds securely to you. Payment will only be made by bank transfer to a bank or building society account held in the name of the project creator. If you are a member of staff we will contact you to arrange allocation of funds to your project.

For money raised via PayPal, please allow up to 21 days from the end of your campaign and receipt of the finance form we will need you to complete in order for the funds to be released. Please note, any delay in returning the completed form to us may result in the release of funds being delayed.

Can I edit my project after funding is completed?

No, otherwise Creators would be able to raise money donated for one purpose and then spend it on something different, which would be breaching the contract your Sponsors have entered into with you.

What if I can't deliver a reward?

Get in touch with the Sponsor(s) immediately. Creators who are honest and open will find Sponsors to be far more forgiving. You may be asked to provide a different reward. In very rare instances, a Sponsor may request a refund. When you submit your project you will be asked to agree to a refund policy, which we will also display to the Sponsor when they make a pledge.

Unsuccessful Projects

Can I retry if unsuccessful?

Yes. If you didn't reach your minimum you can re-submit your project. However, we recommend that you make some alterations. Why weren't you successful last time? Would a different funding target or completion date help?

You can view advice on setting these in Hubbub Academy.

Project Sponsors - FAQs

Can I be a Sponsor?

Yes. Anybody can be a Sponsor. We use PayPal to process donations to projects featured on MDXCrowdfund. When pledging a donation, you will be asked to log into your PayPal account or create one which only takes a couple of minutes. There is also the option to make a cash pledge if you would prefer. To make a cash pledge, please email us.

Making A Pledge

How do I make a pledge?

Simply find a project you like and hit the 'Sponsor This Project' button at the right-hand side of the page and follow the on-screen instructions. If you would prefer to make a cash pledge, please email us.

Can I change my pledge?

You will not be allowed to amend an existing donation but you can add another one.

Can I cancel my pledge?

When you make a pledge you make a commitment to that Creator. We, and the Creator, would really appreciate it if you don't cancel your pledge. If you really really must, you can do so through the PayPal website.

When will I be charged?

Your donation is collected instantly by Middlesex University's PayPal account as all projects on MDXCrowdfund currently run as 'get what you raise' projects. Donations made using PayPal are paid out to the student or staff member fundraising at the end of their campaign. Unlike other crowdfunding platforms who take a percentage to cover running costs, students and staff using MDXCrowdfund get 100% of what they raise as the university covers platform and payment processing costs.

Will you notify me if a project I'm sponsoring is successful?

Yes. You will receive an email.

Your Privacy

Is the value of my pledge made public?

Not automatically. We leave it entirely up to you to decide whether your name and contribution should be displayed as described above.

Can I pledge anonymously?

Yes. When you make a pledge you will be given the option of displaying:
a) your name and the value of your pledge;
b) just your name; or
c) remaining completely anonymous.
Please note that you will not be anonymous to the Creator - only to the public.

What information about me do you give to the Creator?

Creators see your username, the size of your donation, and the reward you've selected. When their project completes, we'll also give the Creator your email address so that they can contact you regarding your rewards.

Creators & Projects

Can I trust Creators?

In terms of a Creator's ability to deliver, it's up to them to make the case that they can successfully bring their project to life. A Creator will find it very difficult to raise funds for a project without enlisting the support of individuals in their network, as well as related organisations, and their institution.

In many cases, you will know the project creator or have heard about the project from a trusted source. Obviously in these cases you are likely to have fewer issues with trust. The advantage of our focus on current students and staff is that it's very difficult for these to avoid detection and institutional redress.

Creators are encouraged to share links to their personal websites, Facebook groups and Twitter feeds as well as any pages that show work related to the project, or past projects. Still not sure? Ask the Creator a question via their profile or project page. At the end of the day, we leave it to your judgement. If you spot anything you think looks suspicious, there is a button on every project page where you can report suspicious projects.

How can I get more info about a project?

Most people will be happy with the information provided in the proposal and video. Short of visiting the Creator's website or social media, you can ask them directly! You can contact the Creator directly through their profile or project page. If you have already sponsored a project and you would like to make your question public, you can post a comment on the project. The Creator will be notified by email when you do.

Will projects be completed as described?

In terms of a Creator's ability to deliver, it's up to them to make the case that they can successfully bring their project to life. Part of the Creator's job is earning the trust of Sponsors, especially those who don't personally know them.

What do I do if the rewards haven't been delivered?

The delivery of rewards is a tough part of the process for Creators, especially where there are large numbers of rewards to send out or they have problems with the organisations producing their rewards. Hopefully, they will communicate any problems to you and we ask for your understanding here. However if you wish to inquire further, you can contact the Creator directly through their profile or project page. You can also contact us at crowdfund@mdx.ac.uk so we can follow up on your behalf too.

In very rare instances, you may wish to request a refund from a Creator. You can view the Creator's refund policy on the payment page before making a pledge.