A Note to Backers: Your Support Matters Now More Than Ever
As global tariffs shift, your backing helps independent creators adapt and keep innovating—one project at a time.
When you back a campaign, you’re not just supporting an idea—you’re empowering a creator. These often aren’t large corporations with countless resources. They’re individuals and small teams who rely on your trust to bring their unique visions to life. But what happens when unforeseen challenges, like global tariffs, threaten to disrupt the creative process?
Recent tariff increases and import fees have introduced unexpected financial burdens for many creators.
Materials cost more. Shipping becomes more complex. Production schedules change.
Creators are going above and beyond to lessen the burden on backers. They’re closely following updates to tariff regulations, adjusting supply chains on the fly, reworking budgets, and negotiating new deals with suppliers—all in an effort to keep costs down and meet their original commitments. Their ultimate goal is to ensure backers receive the value they were promised while minimizing the impact of these unforeseen challenges.
“Understand that things may change. It’s a time of tremendous uncertainty for creators—for our project, the tariff changed five times in a single week. That kind of volatility makes both planning and backer communications very challenging.” — Kaia Dekker, CEO of Keyboardio
These shifts, often mid-project, leave creators scrambling to adapt, reevaluate budgets, and deliver on their original promises. It’s a daunting reality but also a testament to their resilience and ingenuity.
We understand that questions might arise about refunds, additional costs, or delivery timelines. It’s important to know that creators will address these questions directly on their project pages and through ongoing updates. They’re the experts on their own challenges and the best source for real-time updates.
By keeping lines of communication open, creators can share the realities they’re facing and the solutions they’re developing. And whenever you need support, Kickstarter is there every step of the way for both our community of creators and backers.
“Tariffs are a tax and paid to the government; creators don’t get to keep any of that money. It’s illegal for creators to lie about how much you paid for what they’re shipping to you. For us, these tariffs were announced after we’d already paid the deposits and started production on our product—we were essentially locked in to our reward's country of origin and had no ability to change it.” — Kaia Dekker, CEO of Keyboardio
In a world where creative ideas can be sidelined by unexpected obstacles, your role as a backer is more important than ever. You’re not just supporting a product. You’re fueling a global movement of independent creativity, one project at a time.
It’s important to acknowledge that this situation has caught creators off guard just as much as it has surprised backers. While a backer might reasonably think, “I don’t want to pay more” or “I’d rather have a refund,” a creator faces a much more complex reality. They’re grappling with increasing costs, logistical hurdles, and an urgent need to find new solutions—often under intense pressure. By recognizing the intricate challenges creators are tackling, we can foster a stronger sense of empathy and understanding throughout the Kickstarter community.
For more information on refunds, please visit our help center.
Thank you for being a part of this journey. Together, we can ensure that creativity continues to thrive—regardless of the challenges along the way.
Warmly,
The Kickstarter Team
Everette Taylor
