When creating your project, you need to provide UK bank account details in the Financials section. If your project is successful, the funds raised will be deposited into this bank account.
You may need to upload a form of identification and a document that proves your home address to verify your identity. Since this verification process is automated, it’s important to upload the files in the correct format and ensure they meet all the specified requirements for successful verification.
Bank account
To launch your project, you must provide details of a UK bank account that is registered to a UK mainland address. If you do not have a UK bank account, or if your account is based in a British Crown Dependency (such as Jersey, Guernsey, or the Isle of Man) or in a British Overseas Territory like the British Virgin Islands, you will not be able to raise funds on Crowdfunder at this time.
Unfortunately, our payment provider will only accept accounts with UK-registered banks. Accounts from online payment platforms such as Payoneer may not be accepted, as they are money-transferring services rather than a full bank account. You cannot use accounts which need reference numbers or specialist accounts, such as credit unions.
What details do I need to provide?
The documentation you need to upload will depend on who is running the project. Individuals, organisations, registered charities, charitable companies and registered businesses all have different requirements.
After you upload your documentation, the verification process can take up to 48 hours. However, it is usually sooner than this. Since the verification is managed by our payment provider Stripe, we are unable to expedite the process for you.
When entering your personal, charity, business or organisation details in the Financials section, please ensure they match exactly what is displayed on any documents you are uploading.
You can watch our video guidance or go to the relevant section below for further details on documentation. To submit your proof of address:
Navigate to the Financials tab on Crowdfunder.
Select "Upload documents" to access the upload page.
Attach the file(s) and submit them for verification.
Who is running the project?
Registered charity or CIO
Select this option if you are running the project as a registered charity or Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO). If your charity is not registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales, OSCR or the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland, please choose ‘Organisation’ instead.
As a registered charity or CIO, you will need to:
Provide the same personal information as required for individuals (because you are personally verified as a representative of the charity). Please make sure that your representative is a trustee of the charity.
Once you have completed this step, please then add the information of all the charity's trustees
Provide your charity’s name, registration number, and bank details- these must match your registered details on the Charity Commission exactly.
Upload your charity overview. You may have the option to print the page at the bottom of the page, which can then be saved as a PDF.
Important: The charity name, registration number, and address you enter in the Financials section must match your Charity Commission registration exactly. You can use the Charity Commission’s search function to confirm your registered details.
Charitable Company
Select this option only if your charitable organisation is registered with Companies House. If you are not registered with Companies House, please select ‘Registered charity or CIO’ or ‘Organisation’ as appropriate.
As a charitable company, you will follow the registered business verification flow. You will need to provide:
The same personal information as required for individuals (because you are personally verified as a representative of the organisation).
Once you have completed this step, please then add the information of all your directors as listed on Companies House.
Your Charitable company name, business address, and company number as registered with Companies House.
A valid business document showing your business name, address, and Companies House company number.
You may also be asked for a document showing your directors. You can provide an overview of your person's page on Companies House.
You must also provide details for anyone with 25% or more ownership or control of the organisation. This may include uploading proof of home address and a government-issued ID for each such person.
If you are not registered with Companies House, our payment provider will not recognise you as a business. Please select one of the other options above.
Registered Business
Choose this option if you are running the project as a business that is registered with Companies House. As a registered business, you are required to provide the same personal information as individuals (because you are personally verified as a representative of the business), along with the business name, business address, company number, and business bank details.
IF YOU ARE NOT REGISTERED WITH COMPANIES HOUSE, OUR PAYMENT PROVIDER WILL NOT RECOGNISE YOU AS A BUSINESS, SO YOU MUST SELECT ONE OF THE OTHER OPTIONS.
In addition to the usual verification requirements, registered businesses must also provide a document showing:
The same personal information as required for individuals (because you are personally verified as a representative of the organisation).
Once you have completed this step, please then add the information of all your directors as listed on Companies House.
Your Business name, business address, and company number as registered with Companies House.
A valid business document showing your business name, address, and Companies House company number.
You may also be asked for a document showing your directors. You can provide an overview of your person's page on Companies House.
You can easily download an acceptable document from Companies House.
You must provide details for anyone with 25% or more ownership of the business. This may include uploading proof of home address and a government-issued ID for each person with this level of ownership.
Organisation
Select this option if you are a registered organisation but not registered with Companies House or the Charities Commission.
To verify your financial details, you may need to provide:
Your details – Full name, date of birth and address
Identity document – Passport, driving licence, etc.
Address document – Utility bill, bank statement, etc.
Organisation details – Name of the organisation
Individual
Select this option if you're running the project as an individual or sole trade, or if none of the other options below applies to you.
To verify your financial details, you may need to provide:
Your details – Full name, date of birth and address
Identity document – Passport, driving licence, etc.
Address document – Utility bill, bank statement, etc.
Documentation requirements
We always recommend uploading a clear photograph of the original document. Ensure there is no glare or reflection from bright lighting and that the text on the document is easy to read.
Accepted identity documents:
Passport
UK-issued photo driving licence
Biometric residence permit (BRP)
Citizen Card
Identity document requirements:
Documents must be uploaded in full colour as a PNG or JPG
Make sure that all corners and edges of the document are visible
Documents must be clear and readable
Documents must not be expired
Make sure the name and DOB on the document match exactly with the details you've provided (for example, if your legal first name is 'Robert', you cannot enter 'Rob' as your first name)
Passport:
Take a photo that shows the entire passport, and open it to the other page with your photo. Make sure that both pages showing your photo and personal details are visible. Check that it is signed and has not expired.
UK-issued photo driving licence:
Take a photo that shows the entire front of the driving licence. Check if it has not expired.
Biometric residence permit (BRP):
Both the front and back of the card are required, as your DOB appears on the back of the card. You'll need to take two photos and then combine them into one file in order to upload them. Check if it has not expired.
Citizen Card:
Take a photo that shows the entire front of the Citizen Card. Check if it has not expired.
Accepted address documents:
Utility bill (must be from a large utility provider like Scottish Power, EDF Energy, British Gas, South West Water, etc.)
Bank statement
Government-issued letter
Solicitors letter
Council or housing association documentation
Benefits Agency documentation
Electoral Register entry
Letter of registration with a GP
UK-issued photo driving licence (if this has not already been used as your identity document)
Address document requirements:
At least one full page of the document where the full name and address of the individual are clearly stated and legible
Documents must be clear and large enough to read
Documents must be dated within the past six months
Documents can be uploaded as PNG, JPG or PDF
Charity document requirements
The document must clearly show the charity name, registration number, and registered address
The charity name, number, and address you enter in the Financials section must match your Charity Commission registration exactly
Documents must be valid and up to date
Documents can be uploaded as PDF, PNG or JPG
Business document requirements:
Documents must be clear and large enough to read
Documents must be valid and representative of up-to-date registration
The document must clearly show the business name, business address and company number (issued by Companies House).
If this information is spread across multiple pages of your document, please upload one PDF containing all the relevant pages.
Documents can be uploaded asPDF.sF
The company number and business address you enter in the Financials section must match the details on Companies House. You can use their search function to find your documents here.
What documents won't be accepted?
The following documents will not be accepted:
Tenancy agreement/lease
Utility company attestation letter
Private insurance bill
Telephone/mobile bill
If you are having issues going live and your account is showing as unverified, please see our troubleshooting guide.
If you have been asked to set up a Crowdfunder Wallet to receive match funding, please see this guide.