How upfront funding works in creator campaigns

Upfront funding means the agreed campaign budget is placed before the posting window opens. It does not mean every creator automatically earns the full budget. Earnings still follow the accepted deliverables, performance formula, cap and review rules.

This article explains Swayed's planned funding model. Swayed is currently a waitlist site, not a live campaign or payment service.

Follow the deal, not just the payment

1. Agree: The brand proposes the work, compensation, deadlines and review rules. The creator accepts that version of the Campaign Order.
2. Fund: The brand funds the creator budget plus the brand platform fee and applicable tax before the posting window opens.
3. Create and track: The creator fulfils the agreed work. For a performance deal, eligible native metrics are recorded during the accepted tracking window.
4. Review: The post is checked against the agreed requirements. An approval, permitted make-good or dispute decision establishes the relevant outcome.
5. Settle and pay: Approved earnings are accounted for, the creator fee is deducted, and eligible net earnings enter the payout workflow.
6. Retain unused funds: Unused creator budget and its matching brand-fee portion remain in the brand's Swayed balance for future campaigns.

The point of funding is to remove uncertainty about whether the agreed budget is in place. It does not guarantee reach, sales, or maximum earnings on a performance deal.

A $1,000 campaign that earns $500

Suppose a CPM-only order allows up to $1,000 gross creator earnings, and the eligible performance produces $500 after review. This illustration excludes tax adjustments and payout costs.

The $525 is future campaign balance, not an automatic cash refund. The brand's 5% fee is added on top of the creator budget; it does not come out of the creator's offered gross amount. The creator's own 10% fee is deducted from approved earnings.

Try different eligible view counts in the capped earnings calculator, or see the existing brand fee calculator.

What if the campaign misses its goal?

Start with the type of promise in the order. A desired reach target is different from an explicit payment condition. A creator who has fulfilled a fixed-fee deliverable does not automatically lose that fee just because the brand hoped for more views. A CPM-only deal earns according to eligible performance up to its cap.

If a brand wants a threshold, bonus, or minimum requirement to change the payout, that rule must be clear before acceptance. It should specify the metric, evidence, window and result of falling short. See the performance-based campaign guide for examples.

Can another video count?

Only when the brand's accepted terms permit it or both sides accept a change. State whether a second video is a make-good or an extra deliverable, who approves it, which views count, and whether the original cap remains unchanged. A second video is not automatically another full budget.

Creators should see these controls before accepting. Normal campaign choices belong to the brand and creator; an administrator enters when they disagree despite the agreed rules, not to approve every creative decision.

Pauses, cancellations and disagreements

Pausing or ending a campaign does not erase approved earnings or automatically convert unused funds to a refund. Review work already completed against the accepted order, distinguish pending amounts from earned amounts, and resolve any disputed evidence before settlement.

Swayed's policy is no routine cash refunds: unused budget and the matching fee remain available for future work. Exceptional cases may be reviewed through support, and refunds are made where required by applicable law. Read the Terms for the policy rather than relying on a calculator as the agreement.

Funding and payout are different moments

Money being funded is not the same as money being approved, available for release, or received by a bank. The planned payout workflow includes review, account eligibility and payout costs. A scheduled release can also be affected by payment-provider or banking delays.

The billing page explains the brand side, and earnings and payouts explains the creator side. Keeping both visible is more useful than promising that every campaign will reach its full cap.