- 01
Start with one clear goal
Name the single outcome your dream should reach and the date. Backers swipe through many dreams, so your first line must say what will exist when you are done.
- 02
Turn the goal into proof points
Every milestone needs something you can show: a receipt, a photo, a certificate or a link. Put the cheapest, fastest one first, because early proof brings the next Backer.
- 03
Publish and keep people updated
Publish your dream with a monthly membership. Share it with your own circle first, answer questions in chat and post proof as soon as each step is done.
Example milestone plan
An example plan for a documentary dream with a goal of €16,000. Backers fund the whole goal, but each milestone's money stays held until you post the proof and Backers release it.
Milestone 1
€3,200 · 20%
Confirm story access
Share a research outline, interview schedule and access confirmations, hiding participant contact information.
Milestone 2
€5,600 · 35%
Capture field interviews
Post a dated field log, equipment receipts and approved interview excerpts that demonstrate completed recording.
Milestone 3
€4,800 · 30%
Build the documentary cut
Share a rough-cut excerpt, transcript sample and edit log showing how interviews and archive material form the story.
Milestone 4
€2,400 · 15%
Complete final delivery
Post a captioned preview, source-credit list and delivery checklist documenting the finished documentary master.
Budget example
A typical cost split for a documentary dream in Madrid, shown in EUR. Backers are charged the equivalent in US dollars.
Example goal
€16,000
- Research and access€4,000 · 25%
- Field crew and travel€6,400 · 40%
- Editing and archive€4,000 · 25%
- Captions and delivery€1,600 · 10%
What you receive
- Backers give
- €16,000
- Platform fee (15%)
- −€2,400
- You receive
- €13,600
Risks to plan for
- R1
Access falls through
An interview subject or location may become unavailable. Include alternative sources in the research milestone and allow room for additional field days without changing the core question.
- R2
The story shifts
New evidence can change the direction of the documentary. Use an editorial checkpoint after fieldwork and reserve editing time to reassess the outline before committing to a final cut.
- R3
Archive exceeds scope
Essential photographs or footage may be difficult to obtain. List priority archive needs early, price alternatives and keep a fallback approach using newly recorded material in the edit budget.
How Backers are protected
14-day review per milestone
When proof is posted, each Backer has 14 days to release their share or ask for more. Money not released in time goes back to the Backer.
15% fee, deducted — never added
Backers pay exactly what they choose. The 15% fee comes out of each backing: €100 gives the Dreamer €85. The fee is kept if money is returned.
Gifts, not shares
Backings are gifts. No shares, equity, interest or repayment, and Dreamers keep full ownership. Nothing on cohero is an investment or a loan.
Questions and answers
How long does it take to fund a documentary dream?
It depends on the goal and how active you are. Dreams with a small first milestone, real photos and fast replies usually get their first Backers within days. Plan for weeks and keep posting progress.
How can I prove progress while protecting documentary participants?
Share redacted field logs, equipment records and excerpts approved for sharing instead of raw sensitive interviews. Tell Backers what each item verifies and build privacy-aware evidence into the fieldwork milestone from the start.
What if the finished story differs from my original outline?
Describe the central question rather than promising a specific conclusion. Use the editorial milestone to explain discoveries, show how the cut has changed and identify any revised filming or archive needs before final delivery.
Ready when you are
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