Crowdfunding and Donations Policy (Fund My Film)

The key terms

These key terms are also shown on the Fund My Film terms page. The rest of this policy explains them in detail.

Definitions

Campaign

A Fund My Film page raising donations for one film project.

Filmmaker

The NollywoodCV member who runs the campaign and receives the donations.

Supporter

Anyone who donates, with or without a NollywoodCV account.

Executive Producer (EP) donor

A supporter who gives at least the filmmaker's stated minimum for an Executive Producer screen credit.

Subaccount

The filmmaker's own Paystack account record, which receives the filmmaker's share of each donation directly.

Who can run a campaign

• An active Premium member aged 18 or older, with a Nigerian NIN and a Nigerian bank account in their own name.
• One campaign at a time per member.
• The project must be a real film project of the filmmaker. At least 2 cast and 2 crew members from NollywoodCV must be tagged, and each must confirm within 7 days, or the application is cancelled. A person who declines can be replaced within the same period.
• The target must be between ₦10,000 and the maximum the form allows.

Applying and identity checks

• Identity: the filmmaker's NIN, name and date of birth are checked against NIMC records by our verification partner, Prembly, for a fee of ₦250 for 2 tries. A try is used only when Prembly gives a real answer. If there is no match after the tries, or the automatic check is unavailable, the filmmaker can send a picture of the NIN slip or card for a manual check by NollywoodCV at no extra cost. Once verified, the filmmaker is not asked again for later campaigns.
• Bank account: the name on the account is checked with Paystack. A name that does not match is flagged for NollywoodCV to review.
• Consent: the filmmaker agrees that NollywoodCV may use their NIN, date of birth, name and bank details only to verify their identity for the campaign, including checking them with NIMC records through Prembly.
• Review: NollywoodCV reviews every application and may approve it, ask for changes, or refuse it. A decision to refuse is final for that application.

How a campaign runs

1. When an application is approved, a Paystack subaccount is created for the filmmaker and approved on Paystack.
2. NollywoodCV then opens the campaign. It runs for 60 days. The filmmaker and the tagged cast and crew are told.
3. The campaign appears on the Fund My Film list and on its own public page. The filmmaker manages it from My campaigns: donations, Executive Producers, updates, and a request to end early.

Donating

• Anyone can donate, with or without a NollywoodCV account. The minimum donation is ₦100.
• Donations are paid by bank transfer only, through Paystack.
• A donation counts only when Paystack confirms it to NollywoodCV. A transfer that is still on its way shows as "waiting" until then.
• Supporters are listed on the campaign page by name, or as "A private supporter" if they choose. Donation amounts are never shown publicly.
• Supporters who were signed in when they donated see the campaigns they supported in My Film Hub (private to them) and receive the filmmaker's approved updates.

Fees and where the money goes

• NollywoodCV receives 5% of each donation. The rest goes to the filmmaker's subaccount, less Paystack's processing charges.
• NollywoodCV never holds donated money. Paystack splits each donation and pays the filmmaker's share into the filmmaker's bank account according to Paystack's settlement terms.
• The amounts shown to the filmmaker and to NollywoodCV (donation, 5%, Paystack's charges and the filmmaker's share) are exactly as Paystack reports them.
• The filmmaker does not pay any fee to start a campaign, other than the identity check fee.
• The filmmaker is responsible for any tax that applies to the money they receive.

Executive Producer credit

• A filmmaker may offer Executive Producer credit for donations of at least a minimum amount they set (at least ₦1,000), and may limit how many are given.
• An EP donor ticks two confirmations, and gives the name to be shown in the credit and a phone number. The filmmaker and NollywoodCV can see EP donors' names, phone numbers and email addresses; the public cannot.
• The filmmaker must give each EP donor the screen credit promised, in the film's credits, under the name the donor gave.
• When the filmmaker links the campaign to the film's page on NollywoodCV, EP donors who have a NollywoodCV account are asked to confirm the credit. If they agree, the Executive Producer credit is added to the film page and their CV.
• An Executive Producer credit is a screen credit only. It gives no ownership, control, profit share, revenue or other return.

The filmmaker's responsibilities

The filmmaker must:

• describe the project, its stage, its team and how the money will be used honestly, and not exaggerate what has been secured;
• use donations for the film project described;
• keep supporters informed through updates, and give the credits promised;
• have every right needed in the story, pictures and material shown on the campaign;
• not offer shares, profits, interest or any financial return, which could turn the campaign into an investment scheme that needs regulatory approval; and
• comply with Nigerian law, including tax law.

Supporters' responsibilities

• Donate only money you can afford to give, as a gift.
• Read the campaign, check the filmmaker's profile and team, and ask questions before giving.
• Do not donate with money that is not yours, or in breach of any law.

Updates, reports and pausing

• Filmmakers' updates are checked by NollywoodCV before they appear.
• Signed-in members can report a campaign. When 20 different members report a campaign, donations are paused automatically until NollywoodCV reviews it.
• NollywoodCV may pause or resume donations, end a campaign, or refuse an update at any time if it has concerns about honesty, safety or the law.
• If we believe a campaign is fraudulent, we may end it, close the account, keep the records and report the matter to the police and other authorities, and cooperate with Paystack.

Ending a campaign

• A campaign ends automatically after 60 days. Donations stop, and the page stays as a record.
• The filmmaker may ask to end early; NollywoodCV decides. Ending early frees the filmmaker to start a new campaign.
• Campaign pictures are deleted 3 days after the campaign ends.
• The filmmaker and signed-in supporters are told when a campaign ends.

No refunds of donations

Donations are final. They are not refunded if the target is not reached, if the film is delayed, changed or not completed, or if the campaign is ended early. Because the money goes directly to the filmmaker through Paystack, NollywoodCV does not hold it and cannot return it.

The only exception is where Nigerian law requires a refund, for example a duplicate charge caused by a payment error. Contact us with the payment reference and we will work with Paystack to resolve it. NollywoodCV's 5% and the identity check fee are also non-refundable, as set out in the Subscription, Billing and Refund Policy.

Personal data

How identity details are protected and when they are removed is explained in section 9 of the Privacy Policy. In short: the full NIN, date of birth and bank account number are encrypted; the NIN picture is kept privately; and the full NIN and the picture are removed once NollywoodCV decides on the application.

What NollywoodCV does not guarantee

NollywoodCV checks the filmmaker's identity and reviews each campaign before it goes live. We do not guarantee that a film will be made, finished or released, how the money will be spent, or that credits will be given. Our role is to provide the platform and our checks. Disputes about a film project are between the filmmaker and the supporter, subject to the Complaints and Dispute Resolution Policy and Nigerian law.