Opinions

[Doing more than muddling]

I was wondering what everyone's opinion's are of GoFundMe. I have never contributed to one of them before.
We had a brother/sister placed with us for foster care about five and a half years ago. The brother was horrific. The girl was 15 at the time, and she bonded with our family somewhat.
She was always very kind to my son who is disabled, and would call us mom and dad, and considered the boys her brothers. She did get into some trouble while with us. She and her brother did not leave on a good note, but that was mostly due to the brother.
We have no contact for the last five years. Only recently within the last six months or so have she and I been talking on facebook. She is married now and has a ten month old baby.
She is many states away, and says she has no contact with her birth mom now. She made a gofundme page this week, saying that they have lost their apartment, were staying with friends, who were drug users, so they left that place, and while she was gone trying to get into a homeless shelter, the friends sold her car. Police said they could do nothing since she had left it for a week. She says she is on a waiting list for several shelters, and that neither she or her husband have a job, but are looking.
Anyway, long story. I spoke to her today, and she said she would appreciate any help at all.
I am thinking of less than fifty dollars, which wont do much I know. DH says he knows it is the honorable thing to do, but also said that he thinks we should look out for ourselves and our own kids and grandkids. I checked out the GoFundMe site and it seems safe.
Thoughts, anyone?

[disneysteve]

I don't contribute to anything through GoFundMe because if I'm going to make a donation, I want 100% of it to go to the cause. If you want to give her $50, mail her a check or a gift card.

Just make sure you know what you're getting into. Opening your wallet to a case like this can just invite her to keep contacting you looking for money. Her problems sound like they are way, way bigger than what you or a GoFundMe campaign can fix.

[kork13]

I don't contribute to anything through GoFundMe because if I'm going to make a donation, I want 100% of it to go to the cause. If you want to give her $50, mail her a check or a gift card.

Just make sure you know what you're getting into. Opening your wallet to a case like this can just invite her to keep contacting you looking for money. Her problems sound like they are way, way bigger than what you or a GoFundMe campaign can fix.

Agreed completely. First, I will never use "GoFundMe" because it's an inefficient way of giving money, especially if you know exactly who it is benefiting. Why not just give the money directly?

Also (and I know this sounds awful), I see that site as the 21st century street corner. Beggary has merely evolved into the technological age. There are certainly very fine causes that use the site to fundraise, but do much of it seems to be "I'm down on my luck & need help, please give me your money." Just as I never give cash to a panhandler on the street corner, I never give money on crowd funding sites. Spare sandwich, fruit, or even buy them a meal in a restaurant? Sure. Cash? Never.

What concerns me of your situation is that you had no contact with her for 5 years, have no idea what she's really into or out doing, and she recently injected herself back into your life and within 6 months she is asking for money. It's heartless, but that sounds manipulative and dishonest. I would offer assistance in connecting her with community outreach organizations or job placement programs. Help her to ACTUALLY get back on her feet, as opposed to relying on the charity (face it--guilt) of others. If she accepts that assistance with gratitude and earnest effort, awesome. At that point, having proven her intent, I might even consider giving more tangible (financial) help. But if she spurns your assistance & refuses to seek the help you're connecting her with, I think her intentions will be all too clear.

[FLA]

that's a good idea, you could help her apply for SNAP and Medicaid and maybe section 8 housing. She may feel very overwhelmed trying to get anything in place. Just making phone calls for her might be helpful enough and it will teach her to stand on her own two feet and make use of appropriate social programs.

[Outdoorsygal]

One of my Clients, in the first month, passed away. She was only 30. Her mother was very poor and had not the $$ to bury her or for a headstone so started a GoFundMePage. They almost absolutely refused to give her the $$. Problems logging in, this went on for months. It was the mechanism everyone used yet the $$ was held hostage for almost a year.

At some point, a volunteer attorney assisted and she finally got paid. The friends and relatives who donated were upset over the situation and many tried to get their own $$ back since it never went to the cause. She had been corresponding for months via email with various responses but none worked.
Couldn't even login, verified her ID, all kinda excuses. At least until a volunteer attorney got involved, then it was cleared up pretty fast.

You may want to check out her story via Facebook, Twitter, or just google her name and where she lives before donating to her. Make sure it is all somewhat legit. You sound like a really sweet person who made a difference in her life, good for you. Hope it works out between the two of you

[FLA]

thanks for sharing your experience with GoFundMe. My cousin was about to set one up for our sick cousin. I'll let her know what you said. That's awful when it's for funeral expenses and the family needed the money in a timely manner.

[disneysteve]

Another issue I have with GoFundMe and other crowd-sourcing fundraisers like it is that I've often seen them raise ridiculously high amounts of money, way out of proportion to the need that prompted the campaign in the first place. If someone needs a few thousand dollars for a funeral, what happens when the campaign brings in 50K or 100K? They never seem to shut down the fundraiser when the goal is met.

[StormRichards]

The reason why this form of fundraising is so popular is because it is convenient. I know many on here will just send a check to someone personally whenever they are trying to help them out, but I believe that is rare nowadays. Not many hear about a cause, think I should go home and write a check, and then actually follow through with it.

But I agree 100% with Steve's comment about the campaigns raising more money than appropriate for the need. The person in charge of the campaign has the ability to close it, but they see the $$$ rolling in and sometimes even set a new target.

That campaign for the Michael's manager who got yelled at is a prime example.

[disneysteve]

The person in charge of the campaign has the ability to close it, but they see the $$$ rolling in and sometimes even set a new target.

Exactly! I've seen that happen, too. They start a campaign with a goal of $5,000. The next time I look, that amount raised is at $6,700 and the goal has been changed to $10,000. It's greedy and sleazy and I choose not to get involved in that sort of thing.

Also, keep in mind that donations to GoFundMe campaigns are not tax deductible. I prefer to support legit charities that are held accountable for how they manage funds.

[StormRichards]

Exactly! I've seen that happen, too. They start a campaign with a goal of $5,000. The next time I look, that amount raised is at $6,700 and the goal has been changed to $10,000. It's greedy and sleazy and I choose not to get involved in that sort of thing.

Also, keep in mind that donations to GoFundMe campaigns are not tax deductible. I prefer to support legit charities that are held accountable for how they manage funds.

That is what we try to do as well, but I do understand why people like the convenience of this form of fundraising. Just wish people only used it for serious reasons and those donating used more common sense.

[greenskeeper]

Also, keep in mind that donations to GoFundMe campaigns are not tax deductible.

Do you recipients of the funds pay tax? Sounds like income to me if you aren't registered as a legitimate charity.

[disneysteve]

Do you recipients of the funds pay tax?

I doubt it, though if they are the recipient of a large amount, it might raise a red flag.

[TexasHusker]

Since I consider myself non-profit, would you guys chip in if I set up a GoFundMe for yours truly?

There's a Range Rover Autobiography I've got my eye on and I would forever appreciate the help.

[frugal saver]

I would assume that GoFundMe proceeds would be considered gifts from the individuals that donated the money, so not taxable.

I have a neighbor, very sweet, who had a horrible thing happen to her son. He was in and out of the hospital for almost a year, but is finally ok now. Her husband has a good job and they have insurance, but she (or someone) set up a GoFundMe for their medical expenses.

A good bit of money was raised, the insurance paid for everything, and now every time I turn around she's posting on FB about this or that new thing that they just got. The latest was two new puppies--rare breed--that were at least $2500 each. (Edit: I just went to the breeder website--the puppies were $3000 each.)

I don't begrudge them the shopping--they've been through a lot--but I doubt the people donating expected to be funding puppies and 70" tv's.

[FLA]

that's awful!

I would be embarrassed to post that I spent any money on things other than necessities on FB if people had raised money for me