Have You Known Anyone to use Gofundme

[wilkeliza]

Oh I just remembered one that made me shake my head. A new coworker who had been with the company maybe 2-3 months and got engaged in that time but didn't tell anyone announced at one of our morning meetings thatbshe was getting married in 2 weeks and instead of gifts they were asking for funds to help put a down payment on a house. It was a little off putting because no one was invited to the wedding or reception but she announced the gift option and then sent a follow up email about it. That one really felt like a money grab because it assumed we were planning on gifting her something.

 

[jdb in AZ]

A friend of DD decided to take up pole dancing and started a GFM account to buy herself a pole.

A flakey relative in his mid-30's started his own GFM to raise $$$ to move across the country to join his girl friend. She's in her 40's and her mommy moved her away from the guy. The GFM raised less than $100 but he got there 2 or 3 months later. He never did say how he managed that, but it wasn't from gainful employment because he quit his job months earlier.

 

[ronandannette]

Two years ago I created a GFM for our newest dog, Natalie. A coworker found her abandoned on a dirt road on the verge of a heat stroke. Her owners were found but didn't take her back. Apparently they had set her out. When I took her to the vet she tested positive for heartworms. I set up the account to help cover her treatment.

I have known many. One friend created one so she could finish college after a family tragedy. Another friend created one so she could buy a wheelchair; she has a medical condition that makes walking very exhausting, but her insurance would not cover a chair. I usually donate a bit if I know the person.

Question: When asking for donations for these kind of causes, is there any expectation that strangers will contribute or more just people that know you? Does anybody here scroll Gofundme for causes they're interested in and give to this type of personal need without having any connection to the recipient?

 

[ashley0139]

Question: When asking for donations for these kind of causes, is there any expectation that strangers will contribute or more just people that know you? Does anybody here scroll Gofundme for causes they're interested in and give to this type of personal need without having any connection to the recipient?

I don't donate to people that I don't know personally. That's why I'm not worried about fraud. Even the ones that go "viral" I don't donate to, as some of those have been exposed as frauds as well.

 

[Hannahinwonderland]

Question: When asking for donations for these kind of causes, is there any expectation that strangers will contribute or more just people that know you? Does anybody here scroll Gofundme for causes they're interested in and give to this type of personal need without having any connection to the recipient?

I've never donated to a cause where I don't know the person, but I have shared the posts of my friends to my own social networks, with the hope that some on my feed would see the story and consider donating.

 

[ronandannette]

I've never donated to a cause where I don't know the person, but I have shared the posts of my friends to my own social networks, with the hope that some on my feed would see the story and consider donating.

Interesting! More questions if you don't mind: Have any of the people you share stuff to ever donated if they didn't know the person? Why do you share it if you personally don't contribute to people you don't know? Would having the cause shared to you by a friend make a difference? Thanks in advance.

 

[Hannahinwonderland]

Interesting! More questions if you don't mind: Have any of the people you share stuff to ever donated if they didn't know the person? Why do you share it if you personally don't contribute to people you don't know? Would having the cause shared to you by a friend make a difference? Thanks in advance.

Sometimes I share because I'm connecting with a larger community, such as other alumni of my undergraduate institution. They may also be interesting in supporting a student so they can finish their academic career. I may also share because I'm close with the person and would like to entice others to donate, or if the person is close to their goal and the deadline is approaching. And yes, I have actually donated to causes shared by friends- for example, I was once linked to a GoFundMe for an employee of the Disney attraction I worked at on my CP. I didn't know him personally, but because some of my friends knew him and because we were both linked through the attraction, I gave him $20.

*I want to say that I don't donate to GoFundMe's often, but occasionally I do. If it's something non-medical or what I deem to be non-essential, like a vacation or study abroad, I would never consider donating.

 

[brockash]

Have you known anyone to use Gofundme? Interesting to see what kinds of things people want others to help pay for.

As coworker of mine had one setup in his name when he was diagnosed with cancer. He'said young with a young family with kids and his wife was/is a SAHM.

I've also seen some when their was an unexpected death in the family to help pay for expenses.

 

[okeydokey]

My daughter's high school classmate had a fund set up by his sister when he made Drum Major in the High School band. It was to help pay for required summer marching band camp and other band fees. He is a great kid from a very low income family and I was happy to contribute.

I have only given to people I know personally.

 

[nene0182]

When my 15 year old nephew was killed in a car accident (along with 4 others) there was a GoFundme account set up to help with funeral costs. They used the money to pay for the funeral and donated any excess to the other families that needed help as well.

My really good friend donated a kidney to one of her sisters. They used GoFundme to raise funds to help pay for expenses outside of those covered by insurance.

 

[Pugsly]

A friend's niece was killed in a tragic car accident and a GFM account was set up to help cover funeral expenses.

One of my staff, who had been married less than two years, lost her husband due to a rare illness. Some friends set up a GFM to help cover medical costs and funeral expenses.

I contributed to both. Would not contribute to someone I don't know.

 

[adisneyaunt]

I Only donate to people / causes I have some type of personal connection with, not random people or causes.

Also, ...charities are hand picked, and only donated to, by ck/cc. I'm pretty choosy with charities and foundations and Always have Looked to see what Actual % gets Distributed to those that are allegedly getting the donated funds.

 

[happily single]

I have this "friend" that has attempted GFM accounts 3 times now (that I know of). I have known her since 1990 and she has never held a full-time job and is usually unemployed. The first time she decided to up and move out of State with her three teenage children and newborn grandson. She basically decided to move with no prior planning, other than a 3-4 week notice. She had no housing secured and no job secured. She only had some distant family in Florida. She was solicting donations for the move. I did not donate.

Fast forward about a year this time she is claiming to need over $40k to finish nursing school (BTW she has "been in school" now for over 8 years). The GFM page tells her story on how she can't work because she is in school and she will loose her alimony if she gets a job. Yup. Can't work because she will loose a small amount of alimony. States she has been living on student loans and death benefits for one of her kids. People started suggesting that work part-time to afford school, or to obtain a lower status nursing license. Of course there were a million reasons why she couldn't work. I did not donate this time either.

Just today based on this thread I looked her up on GFM. Amazingly just this week she has a NEW and third GFM because she apparently has been in the hospital with an infected finger. She is seeking $2k this time because "I can't work for 2-3 days". Gosh, I would love to do what she does to make the money she is making! Again, I am not donating!

 

[blana]

Yes. Mainly for medical bills from unforeseen issues (childhood cancer, etc.). A friend passed away at 39 recently, and one was set up to help his wife & kids get their feet back on the ground. I haven't seen any really crazy ones, at least not from people I actually know.

 

[blana]

Question: When asking for donations for these kind of causes, is there any expectation that strangers will contribute or more just people that know you? Does anybody here scroll Gofundme for causes they're interested in and give to this type of personal need without having any connection to the recipient?

I've given once to a family I didn't know who were friends of a friend. (Young daughter was involved in an accident & ended up passing away. Family was not prepared for the massive medical bills.) But I would never scroll through the site to see if there was anything I was interested in. I go to established charities that I know the financial workings of for that.

 

[pryncess527]

Yes. I had a relative set one up to pay for a "mission" trip to Africa. A "mission" trip that consisted of 3 days of bible school and then a 14 day safari. Sounded more like a vacation to me.

 

[Liberty Belle]

My friend's son did one for his mission trip. That's the only person I know personally who has (that I know of, anyway).

 

[TLSnell1981]

I've known two people, who used GoFundMe to help with funeral expenses. It is much more practical, than sending flowers. IMO

 

[tzolkin]

I set up a GoFundMe for my sister when my 3yo nephew was diagnosed with stage IV cancer. They were essentially living at the hospital and traveled to another state for his surgery. Their insurance coverage was pretty good, but they had a limited income so the cost of parking daily ($8-14), gas, hotels when travelling, etc. added up quickly.

Question: When asking for donations for these kind of causes, is there any expectation that strangers will contribute or more just people that know you? Does anybody here scroll Gofundme for causes they're interested in and give to this type of personal need without having any connection to the recipient?

In my above example, family and friends were asking/sending money anyway so this provided an easy way for them to do so. They did receive some donations from people they did not know personally, but those were friends or coworkers of family members who were familiar with the situation.

I've known two people, who used GoFundMe to help with funeral expenses. It is much more practical, than sending flowers. IMO

I agree. I always prefer to give something that will be the most practical (for any occasion).

 

[pryncess527]

Question: When asking for donations for these kind of causes, is there any expectation that strangers will contribute or more just people that know you? Does anybody here scroll Gofundme for causes they're interested in and give to this type of personal need without having any connection to the recipient?

Expectation might be strong, but I sort of assume that people often have a lottery-like hope that their story will go viral and strangers will be moved to donate. We hear about those from time to time where someone with a sympathetic story that hits the news gets a ton of money from strangers. It makes me wonder how many people have a "maybe it could happen to me" approach to GFM. especially people who do it more than once.