Supporting community-based entrepreneurship and solidarity through civic crowdfunding

<< Background >>We applied for the GrowthFundMe project to address a gap in access to entrepreneurial training and financing tools for individuals from underserved or underrepresented communities. Civic crowdfunding remains underdeveloped in many EU countries, yet offers strong potential to promote inclusive entrepreneurship. Many community-based entrepreneurs lack the skills, knowledge, and platforms to transform ideas into action. By linking training on community entrepreneurship with a civic crowdfunding platform, we aimed to empower local changemakers to mobilize resources and build projects that contribute to sustainable, inclusive growth.<< Objectives >>Our main objective was to develop a comprehensive and accessible training programme on community entrepreneurship and civic crowdfunding, supported by a dedicated digital platform. We aimed to equip community members and aspiring entrepreneurs with the skills to create and finance projects that improve their local contexts. The project also sought to increase cooperation among trainers, experts, and stakeholders across Europe, to promote inclusive innovation, build local capacity, and make crowdfunding a viable, community-driven tool for social change.<< Implementation >>We implemented a series of activities across five work packages. These included mapping existing crowdfunding platforms, developing training content based on the ENTRECOMP framework, and delivering Train-the-Trainer sessions and national pilot workshops. We created seven e-learning modules, finalized open-source training materials, and launched the GrowthFundMe Platform with dual components: a Civic Crowdfunding tool and an E-learning Academy. Activities were delivered in hybrid formats to ensure accessibility, with partner collaboration ensuring contextual adaptation in Belgium, Bulgaria, Poland, and the Netherlands.<< Results >>The project delivered multiple tangible outputs: a Civic Crowdfunding Manual, a full training package, 7 e-learning modules, and the operational GrowthFundMe platform. Over 90 participants were trained and 40 crowdfunding campaigns were launched across four countries. The platform will remain live for at least three more years, ensuring access to open educational resources and community support tools. The project fostered new collaborations, empowered disadvantaged groups, and created a replicable model that can support community-led entrepreneurship and social innovation across Europe.