Frequently Asked Questions

Of General Interest

Raising Money on The Point

Starting and Promoting Campaigns

Of General Interest

What is The Point?

The Point is a website for organizing group actions that are activated once enough participants commit to reach a “tipping point” that ensures success. Read more about why that’s a big deal.

Who are you?

Behind The Point is an exceptional team of developers, thinkers, and entrepreneurs. Founded in Chicago and launched in November 2007, The Point has raised $6M in venture capital, primarily from New Enterprise Associates.

Who can create a campaign?

Anyone, and for free. It’s easy, and chances are that there’s a situation in your life that a campaign would help solve. Create a campaign now.

What does it mean when a campaign is “tipped” or “closed”?

If a campaign is tipped, that means that the conditions have been met and the members are taking action or money is being collected. If the campaign is closed, that means that people are no longer able to join and the campaign objective has either been met or the campaign has been abandoned.

Can I join campaigns anonymously?

Yes. Campaign creators have the option to allow people to join their campaigns anonymously. Anonymity is a powerful tool when its risky to be the first to support a campaign. For fundraisers, members stay anonymous forever (unless they choose to reveal their identity). For campaigns where you are committing to an action, the identities of all campaign members (but not the organizer) are revealed when the campaign tips.

Why is member anonymity revoked when a campaign tips?

The anonymity feature is meant to protect people while they build the safety in numbers necessary to organize effective action. Once that safety is achieved, member identity enforces the campaign's credibility. Without knowing who the members are, there is no way to verify that they are following through on their pledges.

Do you censor campaigns?

Only in extreme circumstances. We remove campaigns that are blatantly hateful or illegal. See our terms of use for more detail.

How do you make money?

Eventually, there will be non-intrusive advertising on The Point. We do not make money off of the fundraisers on The Point.

Raising Money

Are there any fees?

The Point takes 5% of each campaign to cover the credit card and administrative fees.

Am I billed as soon as I join a campaign?

No. You are charged if and only if a campaign reaches its tipping point.

Is this safe?

Extremely. Your credit card number is transmitted by SSL directly to an extremely safe electronic vault, and your browser will confirm this by displaying a little 'padlock' icon in the footer. At no time is your credit card information stored on our servers, so you can sleep well knowing that your private data is in good hands.

How can I confirm that this is safe?

On pages where we capture sensitive information like credit card numbers or passwords, we always encrypt the messages between your browser and us using SSL. Your browser will indicate that the page you're viewing is using SSL encryption by showing you a 'padlock' icon in the footer.

You can also look for the 'https:' prefix on the URL in your browser's address bar.

What is the “security code” I'm asked for when for when I enter my credit card?

The security code, also called “CVV”, helps protect you from fraud since it should only be known to someone who has the card in hand.

For Visa, Mastercard and Discover, it's a 3-digit code is on the signature panel on the back of the card.

For American Express, it's a 4-digit code on the front of the card.

Can I change my mind and withdraw my pledge?

Yes. You can cancel your pledge at any time before the campaign tips.

What if a campaign tips that I joined like two years ago and completely forgot about?

That is exactly why we send monthly commitment reminders. You may resign from a campaign any time before it tips and be charged nothing.

How can I trust the funding recipient?

By cashing their check, the funding recipient agrees to a statement that they will abide by the terms of the campaign. The name and mailing address of the recipient will be displayed on all fundraiser campaigns. If you suspect foul play, contact us at abuse@thepoint.com.

What if the recipient does not accept the money?

The money will be returned to the campaign members. The recipient has 30 days to cash the check before cancel it and issue refunds.

Do fundraiser campaigns expire?

They can, depending on how the campaign creator set up their campaign. If a campaign has an expiration date, it will be displayed on the campaign page.

Starting & Promoting Campaigns

I need help thinking up the right campaign.

Read the campaign manual, or contact us and we’ll offer some ideas. Soon, we’ll have a community area where you can brainstorm with other people on The Point.

Can I edit a campaign after it is launched?

You can edit everything except the campaign terms. A campaign is a promise between its members, and changing it is akin to rewriting a signed contract.

If you need to make a minor change to the wording of your terms that doesn’t affect meaning, contact us and we’ll gladly assist.

Is there a way I can send a message to the members of my campaign?

Yes. Organizers can post announcements, which are emailed to all campaign members. You will see a link to post an announcement in the discussion area of your campaign.

What if my campaign doesn’t reach its tipping point?

Any campaign that doesn’t have a deadline will remain “untipped” indefinitely unless you decide to close it.

How do you suggest I promote my campaign?

See our campaign manual for ideas.

THE POINT: HELP

Campaign Manual

The Point