Long seen as a vehicle for funding independent films and other artistic ventures, crowdfunding is evolving into a potentially powerful resource for low-income people and the organizations that serve them.In the U.S., new business ventures have long had their access to capital constrained by regulations that limited equity sales to accredited investors (ie: those with a net worth of over $1 million and annual incomes over $200,000). This handicapped many potential entrepreneurs who lacked the strong business connections enjoyed by high-net worth individuals.