Frequently asked questions

You submit monthly expense verification (receipts, invoices, statements). Our team reviews and releases funds to payees (landlord, insurance carrier) or to you for approved direct expenses. You post a public update at least twice a month. Campaigns run for up to 12 months and can be renewed.

Yes. Cohorts of 2–3 co-organizers can apply under a single campaign with a combined monthly goal. Each co-organizer is individually verified. Disbursements are split per the arrangement you specify.

Most verifications complete within 2–5 business days. Weekend submissions are reviewed Monday. If we need additional documentation, we'll email you directly. You can share your preview link and start building momentum while you wait.

Funds cover rent/mortgage, food, health insurance (COBRA or marketplace), utilities, transportation, and approved childcare costs. They cannot be used for organizing program costs (event travel, printing, etc.) — those require a separate organizational fundraise. Courage covers personal survival costs only.

Your goal should reflect actual monthly survival costs: rent or mortgage, groceries, health insurance, transportation, and any essential childcare. Use our built-in calculator to add line items. Donors respond better to specific, transparent budgets than to round numbers.

You need to be transitioning from part-time volunteer organizing (or paid employment) to full-time movement work, affiliated with an established organization, and able to provide identity verification and two organizing references. You don't need to be a paid staffer — many AAO organizers are long-term volunteers making the leap.

Browse by cause area, city, or urgency. You can search by organization name or organizer handle. The feed shows new campaigns, featured organizers, and campaigns close to their goal.

Campaigns are live for up to 12 months. If a campaign closes without reaching its monthly goal, organizers receive whatever was raised — partial funding still helps. If you gave a one-time gift to a campaign that closes early, you'll receive a refund.

Yes, any time, one click. Go to your donor settings and cancel. No waiting periods, no guilt emails, no dark patterns. If you cancel mid-month, your current month's donation has already processed; future charges stop immediately.

Every disbursement is logged in our public transparency ledger with a verified payee, amount, and date. Organizers submit receipts for every expense. If an expense isn't approved, the funds stay in escrow. You can message organizers directly through the platform.

Courage campaigns are fiscally sponsored through the Movement Solidarity Fund, a registered 501(c)(3). Donations to AAO campaigns are generally tax-deductible. We provide a donation receipt and 501(c)(3) documentation on request.

Currently US-based campaigns only. We're working on international support for Canada and the UK in 2026. Donors from any country can give to US campaigns.

Three key differences: (1) Courage is built specifically for organizers. (2) Funds are held in escrow and disbursed against verified expenses — donors know exactly where money goes. (3) We charge no platform fees. GoFundMe takes up to 3%. Patreon takes 5–12%.

Courage charges $0 in platform fees to donors or organizers. We're currently funded by a two-year foundation grant from the Rosenthal Democracy Fund. We're building toward a sustaining-member model in 2026 so the platform remains free indefinitely.

Courage is operated by a small team of organizers and technologists, fiscally sponsored by the Movement Solidarity Fund. The platform is governed by an advisory council of organizers from across labor, housing, climate, and immigration justice movements.

A housing listing has a monetary value that is counted toward your campaign allocation. The value of the housing listing will cover the applicable portion of your campaign target, so it is not considered a free benefit with no impact on your campaign.

If a donation exceeds the campaign’s Monthly Target, the amount above the current monthly target will be carried over to the following month and applied toward the campaign’s target for that month.