Take the money and run? Implementation and disclosure of environmentally-oriented crowdfunding projects.

This article deals with environmentally-oriented crowdfunding projects. Drawing on agency-theory, it analyses the implementation of such projects, after they have been successfully financed via-crowdfunding. More specifically, this article firstly investigates whether environmental ventures implement the measures they have advertised during the crowdfunding campaign. Secondly, it examines in how far environmentally-oriented ventures disclose the environmental benefits that have been created based on the implementation of the measure financed via crowdfunding. It thereby uses data gained from a platform specialized in funding projects that serve combatting climate change. The results show that the measures advertised are commonly implemented. However, only few projects disclose information on the actual environmental benefits created. Thus, funders are unable to evaluate whether the environmental benefits advertised during the crowdfunding campaign are actually realized. Image 1 • Post-funding phase of environmentally-oriented crowdfunding projects is analyzed. • Most projects are implemented after successful funding. • Disclosure of information on the actual environmental benefits created is low. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]