gofundme accounts

[WDWMom]

What are your thoughts? Most of the ones I have seen are for medical purposes when families can not afford medical bills. Usually a family friend or an extended family member starts it. There is one for a guy in Detroit that walks 21 miles to work every day that a totall stranger started. I think couples have used them for honeymoon funding. A local mom just started one so she could send her 18 year old to an alcohol rehab place in Argentina (we live in Michigan).

I'm just curious as to what others think.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I think crowd funding is great and serves its purpose. I think you should only contribute to what you feel comfortable. I do think they should be charitable in nature. So I donate accordingly.

A friend of mine used one to raise money for a computer so her husband could communicate. He has a traumatic brain injury and lives in a nursing home. She was able to raise the money very quickly.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

I agree that they serve their purpose when used honestly.
I have only donated to a few people I personally know because their are too many people who like to take advantage of other's generosity.

 

[Southernmiss]

The concept is a good one. But the ones I have seen recently have been more of a money grab.

There was one published in our local news for a family who did fall on hard times and had that one accident that could send them to be homeless. When it was suggested that the family could have done a few obvious things to better their situation, the woman got very defensive and berated people for not donating fast enough or enough and said 'prayers are nice I guess, but we need $'. This quickly turned people off and the donations dried up. The news has stopped following them so I don't know what has happened and her last go fund me post was 'I give smh'.

 

[Capang]

I work at an inner-city school and we have used them for materials and field trips.

 

[nugov2]

I like the idea of them. Think it is a great way to fundraise easily, but I do see some people using them for things I personally wouldn't donate to. I wouldn't criticize them, but just not something I would do.

 

[kmb584]

I think they're fantastic if they're used honestly. Like Soldiers*Sweeties said, I personally only contribute to those that I know personally or know of via a trusted friend.

 

[Tozzie]

I think it is a great place to raise money for certain things, I have personally known 3 different people who we were raising money for medical bills and such and the site was used in conjuction with a fundraiser that was being held and it was for people who wanted to donate but couldn't make the fundraiser. That being said I would be very leary of donating if I didn't know the person or if the cause couldn't be verified. What I can't stand is the people who want money to go on a honeymoon, for infertillity treatments and such things band those I have a big problem with.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I have never gave money to one. Probably never will to be honest. If I was going to help out someone, I would physically help them out.

That being said, how much money %age does this website take off from the "donations"?

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I have never gave money to one. Probably never will to be honest. If I was going to help out someone, I would physically help them out.

That being said, how much money %age does this website take off from the "donations"?

Depends on the site.

Go fund me charges 9% and gives back 5% if you reach your goal for an effective rate of 4%. 501(c)3 groups get a 25% discount.

https://go.indiegogo.com/pricing-fees

 

[SirDuff]

Depends on the site.

Go fund me charges 9% and gives back 5% if you reach your goal for an effective rate of 4%. 501(c)3 groups get a 25% discount.

https://go.indiegogo.com/pricing-fees

You quoted Indiegogo, not Gofundme. Gofundme is 8% (or 7.9% depending where you look) and there is no difference if you meet your goal or not.

While it's free to create and share your online fundraising campaign, GoFundMe will deduct a 5% fee from each donation that you receive. Since our fee is deducted automatically, you'll never need to worry about being billed or owing us any money. A small processing fee of about 3% will also be deducted from each donation. Please see Pricing & Fees for more info.

http://www.gofundme.com/questions/

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

You quoted Indiegogo, not Gofundme. Gofundme is 8% (or 7.9% depending where you look) and there is no difference if you meet your goal or not.


http://www.gofundme.com/questions/

I googled and they came up. My bad. Looks like indie go go is a better deal.

 

[perditax]

I've never personally known anyone who reached out with a gofundme site, and I wouldn't give money to strangers on the Internet.

I have, however, kickstarted several projects.

 

[WDWMom]

I have never gave money to one. Probably never will to be honest. If I was going to help out someone, I would physically help them out.

That being said, how much money %age does this website take off from the "donations"?

This is what I was thinking too. While my husband and I donate money for many causes, I usually try to donate my time if possible. I find it more meaningful for myself, but not all people have the time so giving money is a way to help.

 

[SirDuff]

I googled and they came up. My bad. Looks like indie go go is a better deal.

Yes and no. The Gofundme rate of 7.9% includes the credit card fees as far as I can tell. Indiegogo says that there is an additional 3-5% for this. Plus, gofundme charges the same whether or not you reach your goal - you only get the 4% rate with Indiegogo if you reach your goal.

 

[ORMom2Four]

I donate money to causes I believe in but will not donate to gofundme accounts. They seem like public begging to me.

I have a relative who started a gofundme for college tuition for her son, then put it on facebook asking all of her friends to donate!

 

[Laura66]

Unless they are for extenuating circumstances (serious illnesses, house fire, etc) I detest them and see them as a money grab.

 

[lauradis]

7-9% is very low over head for a charity. Everyone that doesn't donate to individuals you realize, that larger charities have large over head that hacks way at your efforts.

http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=topten#.VNnvs_nF-Sp

Heres a link to tons of charities.

 

[Dawnlight]

I've got mixed feelings.

On one hand, it's a way for friends and family to help in a time of need. I know a mom who's son just had surgery for a brain tumor. He's been very sick for several weeks, but was just diagnosed last week. A fund was set up to help with expenses related to their health needs and due to time lost at work. I know her through a message board similar to this and we've been online friends for about 9 years. Lots of people who donated aren't IRL friends, but friends that met online at around the same time as I met her. I don't view this as a money grab, but a way for people who care about her family to help in a time of need.

I find some of the viral gofundme funds as strange, the man who walked 21 miles and the New Zealand dad with the baby born with Down Syndrome and abandoned by the father, for example. The later had set an original goal of $60,000- an amount meant to help him and his baby get back to his native country and set up a new home, medical expenses, etc. It's now gone over $300,000 (last I looked a few days ago). That seems like a money grab. To not shut it down after reaching a certain amount seems- I don't know- greedy. I understand the good feeling people get for donating to such funds, but some of the amounts seem very excessive (and do those people donate also to their own family and friends in need, or just viral funds?)

Another thing that I've noticed is that tragedy is a money maker. I hate that feeling. I've seen funds set up for funeral costs for a child- it's tragic, but why the heck is the account set up for $50,000, $100,000 or more? The vibe I get is that the parents are making money off the death of the child. Gofundme for funeral expenses shouldn't be like hitting the jackpot.

An additional thought: funds set up for loss of a parent. Do people with children and spouses not have life insurance? I know it can be an expense, but I can't fathom a person having things like cell phones (or Disney vacations) and not having a proper life insurance plan in place for their family first. There was recently a father of 11 (IIRC) who died in a car accident. The fund set up raised $250,000 in a matter of days as he was very well known in his real life community as well as online community. It's commendable that people help this family, but it begs the question- Was there life insurance?

My family has gone through some very difficult years recently due to multiple job losses. The idea of a fund had never crossed my mind, but I can't say that if other tragedies strike (Gd forbid!) that I would deter a friend or family member from setting one up for us.

 

[Keli]

I have a coworker that started one this week. She wants to have excess skin removed (2nd surgery for that) and breast implants after a massive weight loss 9 years ago. She had a tummy tuck and other skin around her middle removed 3 1/2 years ago but still has more. I don't know what to say about all that. Of course I wish her well and hope she gets her surgery but I also know she hasn't been dedicating all her money towards this surgery herself. She doesn't spend an excessive amount of money on things that I can tell but she doesn't live the super saver type of life either and I guess that is what I expect if you are going to ask me for money for something that isn't a sudden, unexpected need.

I also know of a young woman that started one last week because her son is very ill and she says she wants the money to help him get better. The child has medicaid so she isn't paying medical bills. I would be afraid of how that money would be spent unless she gave a very specific reason for needing the money and how she would be spending it. So I haven't donated to either of these causes, at least not yet. Further information from either one may change my mind.