Kickstarter is a difficult conundrum. You can support the smallest, most homegrown American DIY operations directly on Kickstarter. For those who aren’t familiar, it’s a place where you can raise money to bring an idea to market. Typically by donating you are reserving yourself one of whatever it is they’re building, once it’s completed. People raise money for inventions, video games, book, movies, and other creative works. Is it a great way to support America? Absolutely. I would advise caution, however. There is no guarantee that you’ll ever get anything for your money when you support someone’s idea. It may sound great, but it may turn out to be unrealistic, and they may fold before they ever successfully build something. This happens frequently enough to give us pause.
I would say that if you can make a contribution on Kickstarter to something that you believe in with no expectation of getting anything in exchange, go right ahead. If they succeed and you get your product, great. Call it a bonus. Just don’t give out money that you can’t afford to lose, because it can definitely be a gamble.
Another thing to note is that there is no guarantee that everything you see on Kickstarter is American Made. You should read through the descriptions carefully to determine where they are based and where they are sourcing their materials. If they’re outsourcing them from another country, you may want to send them a quick email asking them if they can’t find any American Made Materials. Spreading the word is important to the Spend on America ethos!
