1. Research Crowdfunding on OWL
OpenWorldLab provides a dedicated crowdfunding platform engineered specifically for scientific research, laboratory infrastructure, student fellowships, field expeditions, open-source scientific software, and public interest science. Browse active projects on the Campaign Directory.
Unlike generic crowdfunding sites, OWL combines scientific peer validation, transparent budget itemization, and Stripe Connect destination charges to give backers full confidence in where their contributions go, all governed by our Fundraising Policy.
2. Custody & Stripe Connect Architecture
OpenWorldLab is not a bank, broker, escrow agent, or financial institution. We never take custody of contributed funds into a platform wallet. All transactions are processed by Stripe via direct Stripe Connect destination charges.
- Each Group connects its own legal Stripe account verified by Stripe KYC/KYB.
- When a backer contributes, funds settle directly into the group’s verified Stripe account (minus the platform fee).
- OWL maintains an immutable transaction audit log for transparency and compliance.
3. The 3 Funding Models
Groups can choose from three specialized funding models depending on their project's requirements:
1. Keep What You Raise (Flexible Funding)
Funds settle immediately to your group's connected Stripe account as each contribution arrives. Ideal for ongoing research, lab consumables, student support, or projects where any amount raised can be immediately put to productive use.
2. Incremental (Component-Based Milestones)
The overall budget is divided into discrete, fundable sub-components (e.g. Phase 1: Sensor Array ($5k), Phase 2: Field Deployment ($3k)). Funds settle as raised, and sub-components are dynamically marked fulfilled on your campaign page as milestones are reached.
3. All or Nothing (Fixed Target Escrow)
Backer pledges are held and only captured if 100% of the funding goal is met before the campaign expiration deadline. If the target is missed, all pledges are automatically refunded to backers with zero platform fees charged.
4. Campaign Lifecycle & Statuses
Every campaign moves through clearly defined lifecycle states from initial drafting to completion:
| Stage | Status Badge | Accepts Contributions | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Draft | Draft | ✗ | Creator drafting project story, budget lines, and cover media. |
| In Review | In review | ✗ | Submitted for mandatory OWL compliance and scientific review. |
| Changes Requested | Changes requested | ✗ | Reviewer returned with feedback (e.g. clarify ethics, safety, or budget breakdown). |
| Rejected | Rejected | ✗ | Submission declined by compliance reviewers for failing safety or eligibility requirements. |
| Active | Live | ✓ | Approved, publicly listed, and actively accepting backer contributions. |
| Paused | Paused | ✗ | Temporarily paused by creator (page remains viewable, checkout is disabled). |
| Compliance Hold | Frozen | ✗ | Compliance freeze (sanctions verification or payment provider hold). |
| Funded | Funded | ✗ | All-or-nothing or milestone target successfully reached; funds releasing to group. |
| Completed | Completed | ✗ | Campaign concluded successfully; research deliverables and updates posted to backers. |
| Closed | Closed | ✗ | Concluded flexible campaign or missed all-or-nothing deadline with refunded pledges. |
5. Compliance Review & Risk Tiers
No campaign can accept money until it has been human-reviewed and approved by an OWL compliance officer in accordance with our Fundraising Policy.
Reviewers evaluate scientific legitimacy, safety, budget sanity, and international sanctions compliance. Each campaign is assigned an internal Risk Tier:
Low Risk
Standard university lab consumables, student society projects, software tools.
Medium Risk
Independent labs, international fieldwork expeditions, hardware capital items >$50k.
High Risk
Dual-use technology, gene editing, large financial goals. Requires enhanced diligence.
6. Who Can Fundraise, and Who Can Do What
Two separate questions decide fundraising access: whether the group is eligible to fundraise at all, and which members may perform each fundraising action.
Group Eligibility
Fundraising is not open to every group by default during the initial release.
University-affiliated groups — groups linked to an institution in OWL’s registry — can start campaigns and payout onboarding immediately.
Other groups can request access through the Fundraising Waitlist on our contact form; OWL enables fundraising on the group once approved.
Banned or archived groups can never fundraise, and an existing campaign stops accepting contributions.
Member Privileges
Fundraising is split into eight independently grantable privileges rather than one “finance” switch.
Draft, edit, and submit campaigns for review.
Post campaign updates to backers.
View the contributor list and, separately, export contributor data as CSV (donor PII).
Issue refunds and manage payout accounts — the two that move money and bind a bank account.
Owners and Admins hold all eight by default.
7. Payout Onboarding & Entities
To accept contributions, groups must complete Stripe Connect Onboarding under one of three supported legal entity types:
- Individual / Sole Proprietorship: Independent researchers and project leads. Verified via official photo ID and residential proof.
- Company / Corporation: University spin-outs and private research enterprises. Verified via corporate registry number and beneficial owner data.
- Non-Profit / Charity / University: Degree-granting universities, registered educational charities, and foundations. Verified via charity tax exemption documentation.
8. Platform Fees & Calculations
- Platform Fee: Standard 5% (500 bps) platform fee on funds raised.
- Payment Processing: Standard Stripe processing rates apply (~2.9% + $0.30 depending on card type and region).
- "Backer Covers Fee" Option: Creators can enable this checkbox during checkout, allowing generous backers to voluntarily pay the 5% platform fee so 100% of their intended pledge reaches the lab.
- Minor Unit Precision: All financial arithmetic is computed in integer minor units (cents/pence) to prevent rounding errors.
9. Itemized Budget Breakdowns
Backers demand financial transparency. Every campaign must specify an itemized budget:
- Up to 30 budget lines with clear labels and costs.
- Optional explanatory notes per line (e.g. Reagents batch for CRISPR-Cas12 assay).
- The exact sum of all budget lines must match the total Campaign Goal Amount.
10. Backer Experience, Receipts & Privacy
- Payment Methods: Visa, Mastercard, AMEX, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and European localized payment rails (iDEAL, Bancontact, SEPA).
- SCA Compliant: Full 3D Secure verification for European and international security compliance.
- Privacy Control: Backers can choose public attribution or select Anonymous Backer to keep their profile hidden on the public campaign wall.
- Receipts & Contribution History: Backers can manage past donations and download tax receipts from Settings > Contributions. You can also view rankings on the Leaderboard.
11. Refunds, Disputes & Freezes
- Flexible Funding: Because funds settle immediately to the receiving group's Stripe account, refund requests are managed directly with the research group.
- All or Nothing: If the goal is not met before the deadline, all authorizations are canceled and refunded in full.
- 5-Year Retention: In compliance with international Anti-Money Laundering (AML) standards and our Fundraising Policy, all campaign financial records, review histories, and transaction logs are preserved for 5 years.