Three Maine entrepreneurs are relying on friends and strangers to support a dream they’ve been working on for a long time, and they’re using Kickstarter to do it. Kickstarter, for the uninitiated, is a crowdfunding website that allows the public to monetarily support independent creative projects — everything from films, games and music to art, design and technology.

In just five years since Kickstarter launched, more than $1 million dollars from people all over the world have been pledged to more than 60,000 Kickstarter projects. The big question is why? Why do people pledge donations for someone else’s creative project?

The short and simple answer is people enjoy supporting artistic creation and want to be a part of that creative process. When friends and fans (and even strangers) connect with the creator, they want to see them succeed. And if they are rewarded with a simple token or even just verbal appreciation, that’s all the pay-off they need.

New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco are the top three Kickstarter cities in America when it comes to total funds raised, according to data compiled by ThingsWeStart.com. At first glance, it’s rare to find a Maine project on Kickstarter. Those that exist have mostly come out of Portland in the last few years. Even fewer are campaigns launched elsewhere in the state. That’s why it’s significant to note that three Maine projects currently on Kickstarter have been launched in Presque Isle, on the island of North Haven and right here in the Midcoast, in Owls Head.

Funding on Kickstarter is all-or-nothing. If at the project’s end date (usually a month) it fails to secure 100 percent of its monetary goal, the whole project is deemed “unsuccessful” and all of the pledged money reverts back to the backers. Worse, the “unsuccessful” project stays live on Kickstarter forever.

With that in mind, making the decision to launch a Kickstarter project should come with a lot of preparation, dedication and just a little sense of unease, if one is taking the project seriously.

“Anyone who thinks that all you have to do is just make a video and post it on Kickstarter will be disappointed,” said Pam Maus, founder of Next Step RUN!, one of the Kickstarter projects listed below. “I do something every day to ensure that I reach—and hopefully exceed—my goal.”

We checked in with the three Maine projects currently running to find out what sets them apart, starting with the campaign ending the soonest.

Emma’s Maine: Pure Maine Maple Syrup Production-Presque Isle

Kickstarter Stats: 73 percent funded • $14,520 pledged ($20,000 goal) • Campaign ends May 4

What’s it about? Scott Arndt and his family hand make Maine maple syrup each year under the label, Emma's Maine. This project is attempting to expand its production of pure Maine maple syrup while lowering its carbon output. The project seeks support for technological upgrades to their commercial syrup equipment, which essentially will solidify this family’s long-term economic survival.

Q: You have an impressive number of backers with about 73 percent of your $20,000 goal funded. Where has the majority of your support come from?

A: Our backers are a combination of friends, family, co-workers and the crowd. While many people we know personally have made pledges, we also get a surprising number of people that find our project, watch the video, look at our rewards and decide it's worthwhile to support us.

Q: Is the entire amount you're asking for the new maple syrup equipment?

A: Mostly. The way Kickstarter works is that we provide rewards for different levels of support. A portion of the money pledged is used for fulfilling those rewards (product, packaging and shipping for example). All the rest of the money, after the rewards are fulfilled, will go directly toward the purchase of needed equipment.

Q: Your project ends in a matter of days. Do you think you'll make it? What will happen if you don't?

A: Our project is approaching the deadline fast and we're not fully funded yet, but we're very optimistic that we will reach our goal. We're completely dedicated to spending most of the next few days doing our best to inspire support. We continue to get pledges every day and we see new people sharing our project through social media every day. If we don't make it, we'll regroup and keep moving forward. We're committed to making this project a reality.

Q: Here's your chance to tell Mainers why your project matters and the most compelling reason people should back your project.

It's a three-way tie:

1. Emma is an amazing young lady—happy, loving, perseverant, hilarious—and this project will help to secure a meaningful future for her and her peers.

2. We believe that perhaps the most important thing our generation can do right now is reduce carbon consumption and emissions in every aspect of our lives.

3. Your investment comes with the "sweetest" rewards ever.

• Watch the video and find out more.

Fox i Printworks/Maine Island Letterpress-North Haven

Kickstarter Stats: 95 percent funded • $4,761 pledged ($5,000 goal) • Campaign ends May 22

What’s it about? FOX i Printworks is a screen-printing, soon-to-be letterpress collaboration between Claire Donnelly, Sam Hallowell and Angela Cochran on North Haven. This project needs funding for supplies and technological upgrades, so they can run a sustainable letterpress shop on the island.

Q: You’re very close to your goal with it 95 percent funded. Where has the majority of your support come from?

A: The majority of our pledges so far have come from our extremely supportive family, friends and neighbors. We feel really lucky to live in such an encouraging and supportive community, one that extends well beyond the shores of North Haven.

Q: What are the funds needed for specifically? Tell us how that works.

A: We purchased the press this past winter, but it wasn't in operable condition. The $5,000 that we're asking for will specifically go toward the cost of getting the motor rebuilt, getting new rollers and the overall maintenance that the press needs to become operational. Contributions will also fund all the supplies for this project, e.g. ink, paper and photopolymer plates—and help to build an inventory of cards and posters for the summer.

Q: Your project ends in less than a month but you've got lots of time. Do you think you'll make it? What will happen if you don't?

A: We hope we make it! We have been really careful about growing this business in a thoughtful and sustainable way, so if we don't reach our goal we will just take things slower until we get into our peak summer months. Either way, it's been a huge learning experience, a lot of fun and a great way to spread the word about our business.

Q: Here's your chance to tell Mainers why your project matters and the most compelling reason people should back your project.

A: The islands of Maine are an important part of what makes this state so unique and beautiful. Supporting the economic growth of a small island business will help to sustain these communities. One of the primary goals of our business, and of bringing this letterpress to North Haven, is to continue to help develop a thriving local economy, and to be a part of a movement of young entrepreneurs that are committed to sustaining the year-round community of North Haven into the future.

• Watch the video and find out more.

 Next Step RUN!-Owls Head

Kickstarter Stats: 19 percent funded • $3,770 pledged ($20,000 goal) • Campaign ends May 23

What’s it about? Pam Maus is a Midcoast filmmaker who is filming a documentary featuring the challenges four women across the country face running for elective office during the 2014 mid-term elections. The documentary seeks to show the integrity that the candidates display as they run for elective office, regardless of whether they win or lose.

Q: You just started your campaign with about 20 percent of your $20,000 goal funded. Where has the majority of your support come from so far?

A: It has been exciting to see the funds come in. Most of the funds so far have come from close friends—people I knew would support the project, but didn't know how much their gift would be. They have all been much larger than I expected. Other gifts have come from people who saw the project on Kickstarter and a few gifts have come from friends of friends.

In all cases, while the financial donations are wonderful, what I was unprepared for has been how much their votes of confidence mean to me. All projects have those moments when you question why you are doing it, and then a gift—of any size—comes in and my spirits are immediately lifted.

Q: What are the funds needed for specifically? Tell us how that works.

The biggest single reason for the fundraising is to provide my location filmmakers with scholarships. Paying them, even a modest amount, provides me the security of keeping them on the project from now through the shooting schedule of election day Nov. 4, 2014.

Q: Your project ends in less than a month but you've got lots of time. Do you think you'll make it? What will happen if you don't?

There is no way that this project will be unsuccessful, but what that does mean is that every day I spend time reaching out to people to ask them to make a donation. It also means getting back to people with a second or third ask, which they really do appreciate being reminded. I also have a relationship with the Rutgers Center for Women and Politics and they are getting the word out through their national network of partner organizations.

Q: Here's your chance to tell Mainers why your project matters and the most compelling reason people should back your project.

A: Next Step RUN! is the story of four women in four states running for elective office at the local level with the goal of encouraging more women to run for elective office by showing them how to manage the barriers that keep women from running. Despite the fact that women make up more than 50 percent of the United States population, only 25 percent of state legislatures are represented by women and only 18 percent in the U.S. Congress.

The four women selected for this project are in their early political careers with ages varying from their 20s to their 50s. They represent ethnic diversity. They are single, newly married, with young children and with grown children. They are Democrats and Republicans running in urban and rural areas in Arkansas, Maine, Michigan, Oklahoma. But regardless of their differences, they have one thing in common—a commitment to bringing integrity to the legislative process, starting with how they run for elective office.

The project will be available to participants at little or no charge in the spring of 2015.

• Watch the video and find out more

There you have it. Three unique campaigns with strong ties to the Maine community and all strong candidates for Midcoast’s creative economy. We wish them all success.

Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com