Firstmonday has an interesting article about crowdfunding academic research. While I think this is a valuable option for some add-on studies, it is certainly nothing to fund a large academic center. It seems there is also not so much experience out there
It is in spite of the lack of empirical data in the field, this project took on many of the ideas on Klaebe and Laycock’s (2012) study to endeavour to fund a project that was building on altruistic, community building. The crowdfunding was attempting to engage with the relatively disparate, but engaged, community of home education families in Australia.
Clearly, the academic crowdfunding is in it’s infancy – I even have no idea who would be getting any money – me? my employer? or any agency?