What Is Kickstarter? And Why Preordering Matters More Than You Think

csalvant
3 minutes ago
3 min read

Kickstarter has been around for over 15 years, and I probably backed my first campaign 10 years ago. A friend of mine introduced me to it and I loved the idea of helping creators bring dreams to life. In my experience, most products exceed my expectations, although I have had a few duds- unusually in the tech space.

I’ve realized that many people aren’t familiar with Kickstarter, why it exists, how it works or how to participate. So if that’s you, let me offer a simple, honest explanation — no complicated language, no pressure, just clarity.

Kickstarter Is Not a Donation Site — It’s a Preorder Platform

One of the biggest misconceptions is that Kickstarter is about donating. It isn’t.

Kickstarter allows you to preorder a product before it’s created. You’re not just giving money away — you’re helping something you believe in come to life while securing your copy in advance.

Think of it like this:

Instead of walking into a store and buying something that already exists, you’re saying, “I want this to exist — and I want to be part of making that happen.” I think that’s cool.

For First-Time Supporters: Here’s What to Expect

If this is your first time supporting a Kickstarter, here’s the simple breakdown:

A creator shares a vision and sets a funding goal
Supporters choose a preorder option
The campaign runs for a set number of days
If the goal is reached, the product is created and delivered
If the goal is not reached, you are not charged (in some cases, the product isn’t produced, other times it might be)

That means you only pay if the project has the resources to be done well.

Why Preordering Through Kickstarter Actually Helps Creators

When you preorder through Kickstarter, you’re doing more than just making a purchase.

You’re helping creators:

Produce the exact number of items needed
Avoid waste and unnecessary financial burden
Self-fund a product (in many cases)
Maintain quality and integrity
Deliver with intention and care

This keeps creators from overproducing or guessing how much to make — which often leads to excess cost and stress. It also allows the creator to bring their vision, not the modified vision of a publisher or financier to life.

How This Connects to My Current Campaign

My current Kickstarter campaign exists for that very reason. I’m creating intentional calendars designed to support reflection, connection, and meaningful living. Preorders allow me to determine exactly how many calendars to produce so I don’t order more than is needed — and so every calendar has a home.

This isn’t mass production for the sake of numbers.

This is creation with purpose.

Your preorder helps me:

Print responsibly
Deliver on time
Use the images I want to feature
Stay rooted in the heart behind the work

And yes — it also helps reduce my stress in ways you probably can’t imagine.

In A Year of Self-Discovery, I feature a beautifully eclectic group of friends on a journey to rediscover themselves despite life's challenges.

In Time for Us, I partnered with an up and coming graphic artist, Asia Ognibene who is taking a leap of faith to curate the lifestyle she wants to live.

In the Women Entrepreneurs calendar, I feature select entrepreneurs to promote, support, and share with you.

That's what freedom Kickstarter allows me.

Kickstarter Is About Community, Not Just Commerce

At its core, Kickstarter is about people believing in something together. It’s about saying:

“I see what you’re building, and I want to support it with more than a smile, heart emoji, or positive affirmation.”

It’s a shared leap of faith that turns ideas into tangible tools for growth, healing, and connection.

In the simplest terms:

Kickstarter is where you preorder something meaningful before it exists — and your support helps shape how it’s created.

And this campaign?

It’s not just about calendars.

It’s about creating intentional moments for women, families, and relationships — one month at a time.

Now that I get it, how can I help?

Preorder a calendar—your support helps us get closer to our goal and reduces my stress (bonus: you get a meaningful gift!). Be mindful that you won't see a charge until the 25th at the close of the campaign.
Share the campaign with friends, family, colleagues, therapists, or small groups, here, in other cities, and other states (not countries as shipping is limited to the US).
Connect me with someone interested in bulk orders—perfect for businesses, organizations, or groups seeking unique custom gifts for customers, staff, or clients.