Refers to the practice of securing financial support for scientific or scholarly research by soliciting small contributions from a large number of individual donors, typically through online fundraising platforms such as GoFundMe, Experiment.com, or Kickstarter. This alternative funding method may be used when traditional sources—such as federal grants or institutional support—are unavailable, delayed, or politically restricted. Fields such as environmental science, reproductive health, public health, and social sciences have recently experienced particular growth in this practice.

Crowdfunded research is viewed by many as allowing for greater public engagement and democratization of research agendas, although it also raises concerns about sustainability, equity, and peer review standards. Commonly referred to as crowdfunded science or citizen-funded research, this model can enable early-career scholars, educators, and under-resourced institutions to fund projects that may not yet be competitive in traditional grant systems or that address timely issues outside mainstream funding priorities.

Examples of fundraising platforms:

• GoFundMe – for general research needs and emergencies.
• Experiment.com – a science-focused platform tailored for research projects.
• Kickstarter – occasionally used for public-facing science products or media projects.
• Patreon – supports ongoing research or science communication through recurring donations.

Related terms include alternative funding, public science, scientific crowdfunding, research democratization.