STEP 4. A Guide to Designing Rewards for Individuals Preparing for Their First Funding Campaign
Updated: July 6, 2026
ExperienceFor Experiential Projects
Rewards Design Guide
Read this post to find out
- Rewards are a tokenfor supporters that they “were part of this project.”
- A postcard, a mention of their name, or even a single online call can all serve as Rewards. There’s no one “right” way to do it.
- From deciding on the Rewards to setting the price, this guide is all you need to get started right away.
01. What are Rewards?
Rewards are products or services provided to supporters who participate in a project as a token of appreciation. A short handwritten note, listing the supporter’s name, or a newsletter highlighting the project’s results can all serve as Rewards. There’s no need to overcomplicate it—just choose something that offers a meaningful experience for your project.
Why are they necessary?
Rewards turn participation in a project into a special experience. Through rewards, supporters can feel that they’ve done more than just offer cheers—they’ve helped bring the project to life. In particular, forexperience-based projects in the sponsorship and fandom categories, designingrewards not as “products” but as “a token of gratitude for support and a reward for participation”can attract more supporters.
Key Considerations for Experience-Based Projects
1. Can I change the Rewards after the project launches?
Once the project is live, you cannot change the price, quantity, composition, or shipping terms. You can only modify the Rewards name, description, and images, so it’s important to plan everything carefully before launching.
2. Do I have to offer Rewards even if my goal isn’t to make a profit?
Yes, rewards are essential. Supporters participate in the funding because they trust the promise of receiving a reward. However, rewards don’t have to be practical or extravagant. As long as supporters feel they’ve “been a part of this project,” even small rewards—such as a handwritten note, having their name listed, or sharing the final product—can be meaningful enough to encourage participation.
02. How to Structure Rewards for Experience-Based Projects
1) Deciding on Rewards
If you’re wondering what kind of meaningful experience you can offer through your project, refer to the table below. In fact, wadiz offers a wide variety of rewards, ranging from physical items to digital and experiential rewards.
| Types | Rewards Examples | Project Examples |
| Physical Rewards | Postcards, T-shirts, Stickers, Photo Cards, Badges, Merchandise | A set of 30 postcards featuring children’s original artwork |
| Digital Rewards | Newsletters, donor reports, music tracks, videos, Notion templates | Log of Funding Used for Gangwon Forest Fire Relief |
| Experience Rewards | Thank-you letters, donor recognition, event invitations | Thank-You Letter for the Shin Hae-chul Memorial Bench Construction Project |
Tip for Choosing a Type of Reward
- Do you want your supportersto think about this project often in their daily lives ? → Postcards, T-shirts, calendars, etc.
- Do you want to share the project’s results with them? → Funding reports, activity newsletters, thank-you videos, etc.
- Do you wantyour supportersto be recognized as part ofthisproject? →Inclusion in the list of supporters, on-site credits, etc.
- Do you want to createmoments where you interact directly with your supporters? → Event tickets, online video calls, etc.
2) Structuring Rewards
① Focus on “Gratitude and Recognition for Participation,” Not “Product Sales”
Prepare and showcase “Rewards that embody the project’s meaning,” such as listing backers’ names, sending thank-you postcards or handwritten letters, providing outcome reports, or offering merchandise tied to the project’s purpose or target audience.
Source: Guide Run Project: Running with Visually Impaired Runners (137% Achieved)
② Designing a Sense of Participation: Inviting Supporters into the “Process”
Rewards that leave a mark of the supporter on the final product—such as “having their name listed in the credits or end roll,” “real-time updates on the production process,” “receiving the very first copy of the finished product,” or “invitations to in-person gatherings”—are powerful motivators unique to crowdfunding and fan-based funding projects.
Source: Uganda Music Education Sharing Project (210% achieved)
③ Avoid Early Bird Options
While general projects often design “Ultra” or “Super Early Bird” rewards to boost revenue, since sponsorship and fandom funding are not revenue-driven, please avoid offering early bird options. If you do set up such options, it may undermine the perceived sincerity of the sponsorship’s purpose.
④ Transparency: Share Results as Rewards
By explicitly including “expenditure reports,” “publicly shared receipts and photos,” and “activity results reports” as rewards, supporters can verify that the funds were used as promised, allowing them to participate in funding with greater confidence.
Rewards can be structured as single items or sets. A single reward consists of just one item, while a set combines multiple rewards to create a more substantial package. There are two main ways to structure sets.
- Creating Related Sets to Offer a Richer Experience
- By bundling similar rewards together, supporters can experience the project more deeply.
- e.g., Thank-you letter + results report, stray dog postcard + volunteer walking guidebook
- Creating Step-by-Step Sets to Lower the Barrier to Entry
- From those offering light cheers to supporters who want to get actively involved, everyone can choose a reward that matches the size of their contribution.
- e.g., Donor Name Listing / Donor Name Listing + Donation Report / Donor Name Listing + Donation Report + Event Participation
⑤ The reward name is the most important piece of information for supporters to remember the reward
Template: [Purpose of the Rewards] + [Type of Reward] + [Contents/Quantity]
- Purpose of the Rewards: What does this Reward symbolize? (e.g., gratitude, Cheer, congratulations, commemoration, etc.)
- Rewards Format: What supporters will actually receive (e.g., postcards, newsletters, event tickets, etc.)
⑥ A Rewards description that’s easy to understand at a glance
Please include details such as the Rewards’ composition, quantity, options, delivery method, and a description so that supporters can clearly understand exactly what they will receive.
2) Examples of Best Rewards Structures
Organize the names and details of the rewards so that participating supporters can feel a sense of pride in their cheer and contribution.
Example 1. Sponsorship/Campaign Funding
| Rewards Name | Donation Amount | Rewards Details |
| First Step | 10,000 won | Project sponsorship, thank-you message |
| A Hearty Meal | 30,000 won | Project Sponsorship, Thank-You Postcard, Sticker |
| A Warm Home | 50,000 won | Project sponsorship, thank-you postcard, stickers, eco-bag |
| Life-Saving Donations | 100,000 won | Project sponsorship, thank-you postcard, sticker, eco-bag, and inclusion of your name in the donor list |
| Walking Together to Create Hope | 300,000 won | Project sponsorship, full set of Rewards items, activity results report |
Example 2. Artist Funding
| Rewards Name | Donation Amount | Rewards Details |
| Cheer the Project Start | 5,000 won | Cheer the Project + Digital Thank-You Message |
| Cheer the First Work | 10,000 won | 1 piece of artwork + thank-you card |
| Cheer the First Work | 20,000 won | 1 creative work + 1 limited-edition item |
| Become a Production Partner | 30,000 won | 1 creative work + 1 limited-edition merchandise item + name in the credits |
3) At-a-Glance Rewards Comparison
| Category | Business-Type Funding (Excluding the Sponsorship and Fandom categories) |
Experience-Based (Excluding Sponsorship and Fandom Categories) | ||
| Sponsorship & Campaign Funding | Artist Funding | Community Funding | ||
| Eligibility | Individuals, sole proprietors, and corporations | Donors: Individuals (including minors) Campaigns: All individuals and businesses |
Individuals, sole proprietors, and corporations | |
| Nature of Rewards | Products or services you want to promote | Gratitude for cheer and a token of participation | Provision of creative works (exclusive/limited-edition items) and artistic experiences | Opportunities to participate in events and gatherings, and Community experiences |
| Pricing Criteria | Unit Price of Products | Spirit of Cheer | Production costs of the creative works and their collectible/consumer value | Operating Costs and the Value of Program Participation |
| Off-the-shelf Rewards | Not possible | Allowed (as a supplementary benefit) | Not allowed | Allowed (e.g., essential items for gatherings) |
| Supporter Trust Points | Product Quality and Specifications | Transparency of Usage Plans and Results Reports | Quality of the creative work and transparency of the usage plan | Expertise and Clear Program Structure |
4) Rewards Available for Donation and Campaign Funding
Within the Sponsorship & Fandom category, Sponsorship & Campaign Funding allows only rewards that do not require legally mandated qualifications or the submission of safety documents.
| Rewards Available Through Sponsorship and Campaign Funding | Rewards Not Available Through Sponsorship or Campaign Funding |
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Tip! For experience-based or digital Rewards that aren’t physical items, the key is to visualize “how it will feel when received.”
- Activity Report → Mockup images showing the report’s layout or structure
- Listing of Backers’ Names → A list of names or a photo showing the event venue
- Online video call → A photo of the maker in person
03. How to Set Rewards Amounts
1) Finalize Rewards Types and Packages:First, decidewhatrewards to offer and in how many different packages.
2) Calculate the Amount for Each Reward:Determine the price for each reward by adding upproduction costsand project execution expenses.
3) Estimate the Number of Backers:Estimate how many people will purchaseeachReward, then add these numbers together to verify whether the funding goal can be reached.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q. Do I have to offer Rewards?
A. On wadiz, you cannot design a donation-based campaign that offers no Rewards at all; you may only offer Rewards that do not require the submission of legally mandated qualifications or safety documents.
Q. Will supporters participate if the rewards are modest, like postcards or thank-you letters?
A. In projects focused on meaning and fun, supporters aren’t participating to receive rewards. They’re participating because they want to help make the project a success. The key is how well the rewards convey the project’s authenticity.
Q. If the rewards aren’t physical items, how should I handle the rewards photos?
A. If there’s no physical item, you can substitute it with a photo that conveys the feeling supporters would have upon receiving it. For a funding report, a photo of the project’s beneficiary is sufficient; for an event, photos taken at the venue are enough.
Q. Can I design a Reward worth more than 5 million won?
A. In the Sponsorship and Fandom category, rewards for sponsorship and campaign funding projects cannot exceed 5 million won per project. Additionally, a single supporter cannot contribute more than 5 million won per sponsorship or campaign funding project.
Q. What should I do if I want to change the event date or adjust the Rewards structure after the campaign launches?
A. Reward amounts, discount information, quantity limits, countries and shipping fees, reward configurations, and options cannot be modified after the funding goes live. However, you can still edit reward names, reward descriptions, featured images, early bird benefit badges, and add new rewards even after the funding goes live.
| Item | Before Launch | After Launch |
| Rewards Amount | Editable | Cannot be edited |
| Options (color, size, etc.) | Editable | Cannot be edited |
| Quantity Limit | Can be modified | Cannot be modified |
| Rewards Name / Rewards Description | Editable | Editable |
| Add New Reward for Rewards | Can be added | Can be added |
📍Check out wadiz’s step-by-step funding guide
- Understanding Funding Stages
- Setting the Funding Goal
- Designing Rewards
- Writing the story
- Receiving Settlement Funds
📍Backer & Fandom Funding Projects View the Launch Guide
First, think about what you can offer your supporters through your project
Even a single postcard or a simple mention of their name is enough. After all, Rewards are your first greeting to supporters, asking them to “be on my side.” Once you’ve finalized your Rewards, you’re ready to get started.
Start with wadiz, Just Start on wadiz
Find a practical guide covering everything from preparation for funding to success at the wadiz maker center