What is HaloBoost? Okay, this is a great place to start. HaloBoost is a rewards-based crowdfunding platform with a unique, charitable component built in. Like other crowdfunding platforms, HaloBoost users pick a project and pledge money to it in exchange for a small gift and an overall feeling of wellbeing. However, unlike other sites, HaloBoost users (who we affectionately call ‘Boosters’) also choose a charity to support. This charity receives 5% of their pledge and – if the project is successfully funded – this charity will also share in 5% of all sales generated by the project until the entire pledge amount has been paid forward. It’s a win-win-win situation. Projects get positive PR and exposure; charities get donations and new donors; and users gets two good deeds for the price of one. Or what we call a HaloBoost. For more information about how HaloBoost works, please visit our ‘Why & How’ section. What types of projects can use HaloBoost? All types. Books, music, film, television, technology, design… you name it… except for pornography, bombs and things that promote hate. And thanks to our lawyers, a few other restrictions. At this time, however, launching a project on HaloBoost is by invitation only. This is not our attempt to be cool and exclusive, but rather a desire to devote our limited resources to helping each project achieve its goal. That being said, if your heart is really into a project AND you have a realistic budget, marketing plan and production schedule AND you understand and agree to our Terms of Use, especially where our charity partners are concerned, then by all means, email us. Chances are… we would love for you to play in our sandbox. What is a Project Leader? What is a Booster? What is a Charity Partner? What is a Guest Charity? Each Project Creator is allowed to nominate their own charity which becomes that project’s Guest Charity. That Guest Charity, along with four of our Charity Partners, make up the five charities associated with that project. What is a Gift?
How do I know that the people involved with a project are who they say they are? We do our best to verify all projects and the people involved with them. However, we assume no responsibility for the veracity of this information. Should you have doubts, we encourage you to contact the project creator directly and perform your own due diligence. How do I know that a project will be completed in the manner that the Project Creator says it will? The execution and completion of a project are the sole responsibility of the project creators. If you have questions regarding their ability or plans to get this done, we encourage you to contact them directly and perform some due diligence. If you still have doubts, then we suggest finding another project on our site to back. How do I know if a Project Creator is really sending 5% of their sales to the five charities associated with that project? To launch a project on HaloBoost, each Project Creator must sign and post a MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING stating their intention to donate 5% of sales to the five specific charities listed. Each Project Creator is then encouraged to post PROOF of their compliance with this Memorandum on their project page. Proof can be accounting records, images of checks or receipts, and any other evidence that supports their efforts. The MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING is a written, hand-shake agreement; proof that the Project Creator understands and agrees to these conditions. However, like all of crowdfunding, it is not legally enforceable. And while HaloBoost will make efforts to ensure that Project Creators comply, we assume no responsibility should they go back on their word.
Do I have to choose a charity? Yes. Our charity sponsorship is an integral part of HaloBoost. And besides, it feels really good. Trust us on this. Can I give more than 5% to charity? The charity’s portion of a pledge is fixed at 5%. However, you are welcome to visit that charity’s site and make an enormous donation directly to them. Is my donation to the charity tax deductible? The initial 5% donation is tax deductible, and the charity will email you a receipt for your tax records. However, all royalty payments by the project to the charity are a tax deduction only for the project, as they are needed to offset the revenue that is reported to the IRS. What happens when a project is overfunded? The Project Creator drops to his knees and screams, “Halleluhah!” At least that’s what we’ve been told. In short, a project keeps all funds raised as long as it meets its funding goal. But since HaloBoost uses an All-or-Nothing funding model, most Project Creators seek the absolute minimum amount of money they will need to pull off the project. Therefore, any additional funds are greatly appreciated and will, in theory, result in a better end product. What do I do if I have questions about a project? Ask the Project Creator directly. Each Project Page contains a big, yellow “Ask a Question” button, located on the bottom, left hand side. Once you are logged in, you can send a message directly to the Project Creator and they can send a reply directly back to you.
How do I know when a gift will be delivered? When you choose your gift, there should be an “estimated delivery date” listed. If you have not received your gift within two weeks of that date, we suggest contacting the Project Creator. How will a Project Creator know where to deliver my gift? If your gift is something that requires delivery, the Project Creator will send you an email asking for your shipping address and any other information relevant to the gift (i.e. size, color, etc.)
What forms a payment do you accept? Payments are processed by our payment processor, WePay. WePay accepts all major credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover). Can I pledge to a project if I do not live in the United States? Yes. You can pledge to a project from anywhere in the world as long as you use one of the four major credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover). Is my payment secure? Yes. All transactions are initiated using SSL, an encrypted browser, and HaloBoost NEVER stores any credit card information. Instead, payments are handled directly by our payment processor, WePay, which currently handles the processing needs of 8 of the 15 largest crowdfunding platforms. WePay is a certified Level 1 PCI Compliant Service Provider (the highest level), and uses state-of-the-art cryptographic algorithms during data transmission (HTTPS with RSA 2048 bit key and SHA 256 certificate) and in their databases (AES 256 encryption with unique per-row keys). When will my credit card be charged? If the project successfully meets its funding goal in time, your credit card will be charge one to four days after the funding deadline has expired. So if a project sets a 30-day time frame, your card will be charged a few days after that. If the project does not meet its funding goal in time, it enters the Angel Round. Should it then secure the rest of the funds within those 15-days, your credit card will be charged one to four days after that. If the project fails to meet its funding goal in time, and is unable to secure the remainder of the funds during its Angel Round, your credit will not be charged at all. Do I get notified when my credit card is charged? At the conclusion of a project’s campaign, you will receive a notification telling you if the project was successfully funded or not. If successfully funded, your credit card will be charged within the next few days. If not successfully funded, the project will enter the 15-day Angel Round. At the conclusion of the Angel Round, you will receive another notification letting you know if the project was able to complete its funding. If it was able to complete its funding, your credit card will be charged within a few days. Is my payment tax deductible? No. Your payment is only tax deductible if the project you are supporting is registered as a 501 (c)(3) non-profit. However, the 5% portion of your pledge that goes to charity is tax-deductible, and a tax receipt will be emailed to you. Can I cancel a pledge? Yes. As long as the campaign hasn’t closed yet, you may contact HaloBoost to cancel your pledge. What if I am interested in making an equity investment? Should a project not reach its funding goal in time, the project will enter the Angel Round wherein the project creator has 15 days to find an investor(s) to finance the difference. If you are an accredited investor (as defined by the SEC) and interested in making an equity investment in a project, you are free to contact the project creator and let them know of your interest. However, all transactions of this nature must be conducted independently of HaloBoost, and HaloBoost accepts no fee or responsibility for the outcome of such transactions.
What information can others see on my profile page? When other users click on your name, they will be taken to your profile page where they can see your ACCOUNT NAME, DATE JOINED, ZIP CODE, the PROJECTS YOU HAVE BACKED and the PROJECTS YOU HAVE CREATED. What if I forget my password? Simply send us an email, and we will help you reset your password. Can I sign in using Facebook or Twitter? Yes, you may sign in using both accounts. Many people choose this option as it eliminates the need to remember yet another password. What do I do if my payment is declined? Since there is a delay of anywhere from 1 to 45 days from when a pledge is made to when a credit card is processed, there is the very real possibility that some cards will expire within that time, resulting in the payment getting declined. If this happens, we will send you an email with instructions on how to provide us with new payment information so that your pledge may go through, and good fortune follow.
What is HaloBoost? Okay, this is a great place to start. HaloBoost is a rewards-based crowdfunding platform with a unique, charitable component built in. Like other crowdfunding platforms, HaloBoost users pick a project and pledge money to it in exchange for a small gift and an overall feeling of wellbeing. However, unlike other sites, HaloBoost users (who we affectionately call ‘Boosters’) also choose a charity to support. This charity receives 5% of their pledge and – if the project is successfully funded – this charity will also share in 5% of all sales generated by the project until the entire pledge amount has been paid forward. It’s a win-win-win situation. Projects get positive PR and exposure; charities get donations and new donors; and users gets two good deeds for the price of one. Or what we call a HaloBoost. For more information about how HaloBoost works, please visit our ‘Why & How’ section. What types of projects can use HaloBoost? All types. Books, music, film, television, technology, design… you name it… except for pornography, bombs and things that promote hate. And thanks to our lawyers, a few other restrictions. At this time, however, launching a project on HaloBoost is by invitation only. This is not our attempt to be cool and exclusive, but rather a desire to devote our limited resources to helping each project achieve its goal. That being said, if your heart is really into a project AND you have a realistic budget, marketing plan and production schedule AND you understand and agree to our Terms of Use, especially where our charity partners are concerned, then by all means, email us. Chances are… we would love for you to play in our sandbox. What is a Project Leader? What is a Booster? What is a Charity Partner? What is a Guest Charity? Each Project Creator is allowed to nominate their own charity which becomes that project’s Guest Charity. That Guest Charity, along with four of our Charity Partners, make up the five charities associated with that project. What is a Gift?
How do I know that the people involved with a project are who they say they are? We do our best to verify all projects and the people involved with them. However, we assume no responsibility for the veracity of this information. Should you have doubts, we encourage you to contact the project creator directly and perform your own due diligence. How do I know that a project will be completed in the manner that the Project Creator says it will? The execution and completion of a project are the sole responsibility of the project creators. If you have questions regarding their ability or plans to get this done, we encourage you to contact them directly and perform some due diligence. If you still have doubts, then we suggest finding another project on our site to back. How do I know if a Project Creator is really sending 5% of their sales to the five charities associated with that project? To launch a project on HaloBoost, each Project Creator must sign and post a MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING stating their intention to donate 5% of sales to the five specific charities listed. Each Project Creator is then encouraged to post PROOF of their compliance with this Memorandum on their project page. Proof can be accounting records, images of checks or receipts, and any other evidence that supports their efforts. The MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING is a written, hand-shake agreement; proof that the Project Creator understands and agrees to these conditions. However, like all of crowdfunding, it is not legally enforceable. And while HaloBoost will make efforts to ensure that Project Creators comply, we assume no responsibility should they go back on their word.
How do I know that the people involved with a project are who they say they are? We do our best to verify all projects and the people involved with them. However, we assume no responsibility for the veracity of this information. Should you have doubts, we encourage you to contact the project creator directly and perform your own due diligence. How do I know that a project will be completed in the manner that the Project Creator says it will? The execution and completion of a project are the sole responsibility of the project creators. If you have questions regarding their ability or plans to get this done, we encourage you to contact them directly and perform some due diligence. If you still have doubts, then we suggest finding another project on our site to back. How do I know if a Project Creator is really sending 5% of their sales to the five charities associated with that project? To launch a project on HaloBoost, each Project Creator must sign and post a MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING stating their intention to donate 5% of sales to the five specific charities listed. Each Project Creator is then encouraged to post PROOF of their compliance with this Memorandum on their project page. Proof can be accounting records, images of checks or receipts, and any other evidence that supports their efforts. The MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING is a written, hand-shake agreement; proof that the Project Creator understands and agrees to these conditions. However, like all of crowdfunding, it is not legally enforceable. And while HaloBoost will make efforts to ensure that Project Creators comply, we assume no responsibility should they go back on their word.
How do I know that the people involved with a project are who they say they are? We do our best to verify all projects and the people involved with them. However, we assume no responsibility for the veracity of this information. Should you have doubts, we encourage you to contact the project creator directly and perform your own due diligence. How do I know that a project will be completed in the manner that the Project Creator says it will? The execution and completion of a project are the sole responsibility of the project creators. If you have questions regarding their ability or plans to get this done, we encourage you to contact them directly and perform some due diligence. If you still have doubts, then we suggest finding another project on our site to back. How do I know if a Project Creator is really sending 5% of their sales to the five charities associated with that project? To launch a project on HaloBoost, each Project Creator must sign and post a MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING stating their intention to donate 5% of sales to the five specific charities listed. Each Project Creator is then encouraged to post PROOF of their compliance with this Memorandum on their project page. Proof can be accounting records, images of checks or receipts, and any other evidence that supports their efforts. The MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING is a written, hand-shake agreement; proof that the Project Creator understands and agrees to these conditions. However, like all of crowdfunding, it is not legally enforceable. And while HaloBoost will make efforts to ensure that Project Creators comply, we assume no responsibility should they go back on their word.
How do I know that the people involved with a project are who they say they are? We do our best to verify all projects and the people involved with them. However, we assume no responsibility for the veracity of this information. Should you have doubts, we encourage you to contact the project creator directly and perform your own due diligence. How do I know that a project will be completed in the manner that the Project Creator says it will? The execution and completion of a project are the sole responsibility of the project creators. If you have questions regarding their ability or plans to get this done, we encourage you to contact them directly and perform some due diligence. If you still have doubts, then we suggest finding another project on our site to back. How do I know if a Project Creator is really sending 5% of their sales to the five charities associated with that project? To launch a project on HaloBoost, each Project Creator must sign and post a MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING stating their intention to donate 5% of sales to the five specific charities listed. Each Project Creator is then encouraged to post PROOF of their compliance with this Memorandum on their project page. Proof can be accounting records, images of checks or receipts, and any other evidence that supports their efforts. The MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING is a written, hand-shake agreement; proof that the Project Creator understands and agrees to these conditions. However, like all of crowdfunding, it is not legally enforceable. And while HaloBoost will make efforts to ensure that Project Creators comply, we assume no responsibility should they go back on their word.
What are the benefits? How much can we expect to receive?
How much can we expect to receive? How are payments handled? Can a Booster donate more than 5%? Does each charity receive the same amount? What if a project does not reach its funding goal? Do we receive a portion of the Angel Round?
How does the Pay-It-Forward strategy work? How much can we expect to receive? How are payments handled? How can we be sure that projects are really giving 5% of sales?
What information on Boosters do we receive? Are we allowed to contact them outside of HaloBoost? Are we required to send them a tax receipt?
Will we be promoted on the HaloBoost site? Will the project promote us? What if we don’t want to be associated with a specific project?
What type of commitment is needed from us? What if we bring someone to the project and they pick another charity? If we tweet about a project, aren’t we potentially taking money away from us?