> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://documentation.opencollective.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://documentation.opencollective.com/why-open-collective/how-open-collective-works.md). # How Open Collective Works {% embed url="" %} **Open Collective makes it easier for people to collaborate on initiatives that make the world better, with fewer set-up and admin tasks.** But how do we do this? The strength of every great movement lies in how it brings everyone together. So we’ve built a platform that brings together all the people who want to help. * People who want to raise awareness and ignite change * People who want to help with finances and admin, and offer groups a safe place to grow * People and businesses who want to give to great causes, and encourage others to do the same * …and people who want to help in other ways, offering their time, skills, and feedback Open Collective gives these amazing people a place to connect and work together. ### How It Works People start a **Collective.** It could be any group, from a community meetup to an open-source project or even a non-profit. They want to get set up, raise money, and make decisions about spending together. But they find out it involves a lot of work. They need to obtain the right legal status, open a bank account, and keep on top of crucial administrative work. So, they sign up with Open Collective to make the process easier. Open Collective helps Collectives by connecting them with entities that want to support initiatives doing good work. These entities “host” the Collectives, lending them their legal status and holding their money safely in their bank account. They also handle essential admin such as taxes, accounting, and compliance. We call these groups **Fiscal Hosts.** All the Collective needs to do is sign up for the platform and find and apply to the Fiscal Host that suits them best. If they’re accepted, they can then continue to make an impact in the world. Open Collective can help with that, too. We give you the tools you need to grow your Collective - from raising awareness to setting up events and bringing in donations. And because we believe in openness, we also offer a way to share your budgets transparently. That means everyone in your Collective and your wider community can see where money is coming from - and how it’s being spent. This is particularly helpful for Collectives who are working with a Fiscal Host. Our transparent budgeting tools allow everyone involved in your organization to see the status of your finances, even when your funds are held in another entity's bank account. We also make it easier for people to support these Collectives. You can discover Collectives, Fiscal Hosts, Projects, Events, and Funds using our Explore tool. Open Collective is bursting with Collectives spearheading initiatives that matter to you, nearby or worldwide. You can then give money directly through the platform, either as a one-off or a recurring contribution. [If you’re a company looking to give to good causes](/giving-to-collectives/giving-as-a-company.md), you can donate directly to one Collective or split your donation between many. We’ll even prepare a tax-friendly summary of all your donations for the year. Open Collective is an open-source platform, which means people can help in other ways. We invite people to suggest changes to our designs, documentation, and code that can make it more user-friendly and efficient. --- # Agent Instructions This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com. ## Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter: ``` GET https://documentation.opencollective.com/why-open-collective/how-open-collective-works.md?ask=&goal= ``` `ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. `goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.