GoFundMe... I Should Give it a Try! Would You?
By pumpkinjam
@pumpkinjam (8876)
United Kingdom
February 28, 2017 1:15pm CST
Websites such as GoFundMe and justgiving's 'crowdfunding' are designed to help people raise money for things. As I understand it, they are an extension of charity fundraising but for (more) personal use.
I've seen different things. People asking for money to help pay for a wheelchair or to help a disabled homeless person with a deposit for a home. These are things which I'd consider worthy causes. There are, on the other hand, more frivolous requests such as people asking for booze money or a man currently living off his father trying to raise $5000 to become a 'professional YouTuber'.
Of course, there are other requests with varying opinions of their worthiness. For example, if someone asks for help in setting up a business, one person may think it's a worthy cause while others would suggest that it is not something for which they ought to seek help from strangers,
Most recently, however, I read a story about a woman trying to raise £8000 (approximately $10000) for a 'spiritual journey'. Personally, I have nothing against spiritual journeys but I am curious as to why it should cost so much or why someone would ask strangers to pay for it.
For £8000, my partner, sons, and I could have 10 holidays. Or we could have one really amazing holiday and take our daughters and granddaughters too!
So I got to thinking, should I set up a GoFundMe page? If so, where should I start? A deposit for a home as my partner and I currently can't live together because his disabilities are incompatible with my first floor flat? A holiday to see the daughters we haven't seen for two years (one who's getting married), the granddaughter we have never held, and the other we haven't met? Or would I have more chance if I asked for enough cash to get my hair done (it's been about 2 years since I had a haircut)?!
Honestly, though, I couldn't (and wouldn't) bring myself to ask strangers to just give me money for personal reasons even if I thought anyone would offer it.
So, would you (have you) set up a GoFundMe or similar page? If you have, what did you ask for and were you successful? If you haven't, would you? Is there are certain point where you would think it acceptable?
Would you donate to causes on these websites? Does it depend on the cause or if it's someone you know?
4 people like this
4 responses
@jaboUK (64346)
• United Kingdom
2 Mar 17
I wrote an article on Bubblews about this. It may have been set up originally to help children get medical treatment etc. and I would have no problem with that, but the way it's being used now is just begging. It's such a cheek to expect strangers to pay for their personal gratification - if they can't afford something, save up for it like the rest of us do.
1 person likes this
@pumpkinjam (8876)
• United Kingdom
3 Mar 17
I agree with that. If it's something like medical equipment, which is essential and not a possibility of buying it themselves, that's OK. There are things, as I said, which different people may see as essential or not. I do agree, certainly, if it's a matter of personal gratification - simply a want rather than a need - then that is begging and sites such as that should not be used for such things. Of course, there are those things in between which could be argued and it's probably something where it's uncertain where we would draw a line. Definitely for things like going out drinking or buying something that's not needed, if people can't do that, it is up to them to either save or go without but there are so many things in between which could be argued whether it is begging or simply asking for assistance.
In my own example, I wouldn't ask strangers to pay for any of the things I've said. It's important to me to spend time with our girls and we may never save enough money to visit them but that doesn't, and shouldn't, mean it's essential or important to anyone else nor does any of that justify asking strangers for help.
1 person likes this
@pumpkinjam (8876)
• United Kingdom
4 Mar 17
@jaboUK That is a good point. I think a lot of people would only give to causes they knew were genuine, someone they actually know or something they could verify. I've always said that if I see 3 people claiming to be homeless, I would rather give to all 3 and find out that 2 are not genuine because the one genuine person got something they needed. These funding page, though, are on a much bigger scale. Perhaps I would still do the same if I could, and donate to what I felt were the most worthy causes, even if it turned out that some were not true.
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@jaboUK (64346)
• United Kingdom
3 Mar 17
@pumpkinjam I understand and agree with everything you've said. Just another point - if we did give to a 'worthy cause' - how do we know that it's going to be used in the right way? People could just fabricate hard luck stories.
1 person likes this
@pumpkinjam (8876)
• United Kingdom
28 Feb 17
That is how I feel too. Well, it is asking for a handout. I suppose, if someone is in true need then that can be justified. As I said, I wouldn't do it myself. I haven't donated to anything like it either. That's not to say I wouldn't, but I would have to know it's a genuine need.
1 person likes this
@KrauseHome (36445)
• United States
13 Jul 17
Personally, some of the things you see on there is a little Crazy. I did one for when we were going to loose our home to Foreclosure. And then I recently did one to help out with Medical bills since Welfare insists $12 an hr plus SSD of $1000 a month is too much $$ for someone to be able to get help. In the first one, only had one person donate, and the second one last I looked no one. So I guess real problems are no real big deal compared to someone who just is wanting some extra $$?
1 person likes this
@pumpkinjam (8876)
• United Kingdom
13 Jul 17
Yes, some are crazy, Your reasons are worthy, though. It's not as if you had a choice about the medical bills and things. That, to me, is exactly what GoFundMe was intended. And I do agree that it seems people's extravagant whims garner more interest and donations than people in genuine need. That is very sad.
@prinzcy (32299)
• Malaysia
28 Feb 17
I've heard of GoFundMe and I'm a passive member of the page. People ask for donation on various reasons. Some are legit and some are liars. I don't even set a page for donation because I don't find a reason to. But if you want to try, please do. If you have a good reason, people might donate.
1 person likes this
@pumpkinjam (8876)
• United Kingdom
28 Feb 17
Personally, I couldn't even if I was desperate. I don't doubt that there are plenty of people on them trying to dupe others.
1 person likes this
