It seems like every time I turn around, someone is starting a gofundme campaign for something. I’m sometimes willing to contribute directly to the cause, but I’m not much inclined to do it via gofundme. And some places won’t take direct donations? Why??
I’d be interested to hear what others think of this fundraising.
I’ve contributed to a few online individual “causes.” The young daughter of a coworker of my older D was diagnosed with a very serious form of cancer this year and the parents do not have paid medical leave. I contributed because I know what kinds of financial challenges they are facing and because I have a connection and because it breaks my heart to think of seeing one’s child (in this case, an only child) endure a serious illness. I’ve also contributed once or twice to assist with medical bills for rescue animals.
It depends on what it’s for.
I set up a gofundme last year after a close friend and long-time sports director passed away and people wanted to donate funds in his honor. He had no family and it was left to a few of us to take care of funeral costs and arrangements. The donations were used to cover these costs and with the excess funds, we set up scholarships in his honor for the sports program. Unfortunately just didn’t have another means of collecting funds (it’s a long story- the organization was in turmoil).
As with all fundraising, donate if you want, don’t if you don’t want to. I think gofundme is a pretty useful way of collecting funds.
My daughter contributed some to a good cause, as far as I can tell by googling her name.
I’ve donated on gofundme - no problems with it that I’m aware of.
I don’t mind people asking or setting up the accounts; if I don’t want to contribute, or can’t contribute, I don’t. No big deal. And if there’s a scam afoot, well - it’s the same with deciding whether to support any cause. Do your homework.
Yes, I have donated several times.
I donated to a college student so she could continue her education. Her mom had taken her own life before the girl’s freshman year and her financial aid did not match her need for her sophomore year. I also donate to families with sick or terminal children - any help those families can receive to spend time together is important. I also donated recently to a fund for a family to help with funeral arrangements. I do think it is important to be sure your donation is going to a ‘real’ cause.
I don’t mind people asking or sending me a link.
But what some people don’t understand come tax time is that gifts to individuals are not tax deductible as charitable contributions (so they really are out of the goodness of your heart).
I doubt that my daughter cares about tax deduction.
That’s why I said “some”.
We don’t itemize and I wouldn’t care anyway.
My trainer was telling me yesterday that he had contributed to a GoFundMe account for the police officer that was shot here in IL this week, and when I told him that they take a percentage off of the top, he was shocked. I think a lot of people don’t know that they take a cut of the donation. For that reason, I’d rather give directly, whether there are tax implications or not. I want to know all of my money is helping a cause.
DH contributed to a gofundme for an employee who has cancer. It’s not something we usually do, but he felt like he had no choice in this case. He was allowing her to take off whatever time she needed, even though he has a small business and her absence made things harder at work for the others, but DH felt that he needed to make a more demonstrative show of support.
Just looked online and GoFundme charges 5% of each donation. I’ve made a donation a few times to various causes for extended family and friends. From now on, I’ll send a check directly. 5% seems steep to me.
Are they paying the 2-3% (not sure precisely) credit card fees out of that 5%?
Wow, didn’t know it was 5%! Thanks for that info @doschicos . I might start doing that too (send check directly).
It looks like it does include the credit card charges to the “merchant” but, as a comparison, Paypal is 2.9% plus 30 cents per transaction.
The most common time I give is for a young family where a parent has a medical crisis. Children can really read stress on their parents no matter how much information is shared.
I think the gofundme campaigns can be comforting to children in these cases. They don’t know that the x$ raised won’t go all that far. They will realize that people care about their family.
I like that I can give anonymously to those not so close to me.
As always. If you can’t give money consider giving your time.
Clarification…I don’t mind giving my money to many of these things. I just prefer donating directly to the recipient…not via a middle man.
No problem if it is someone I “know” i.e. I know it’s for real.
I’ve donated for abandoned pets who need med care and other serious things. I actually prefer when I know the vet’s name and I can donate directly to the animal hospital in care of that pet.