Discussions

Go Fund Me?

casualobserver
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 112

casualobserver
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 112

Go Fund Me?
9/8/2016 at 9:57 PM

I was just reading a separate post and decided to start a new thread on the topic. How do you all feel about the Go Fund Me movement? In some cases, insurance coverage may not cover what is needed and extra help I'm sure would be appreciated. I, myself, am a renter and have chosen so far to not have tenants insurance. That's on me. If something were to happen, as bad as it would be, there is no way I would accept anything set up in my favor. I've made the choice and will have to live with the consequence. Go Fund me has it's place and there are many worthy recipients. I fail to see how a person that thinks it won't happen to them, but then it does, could in good conscience, accept what insurance would have covered in the first place. Eager to hear your thoughts and expansion on this topic.
NA
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 838

NA
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 838

Good Concept
9/8/2016 at 10:32 PM

I feel that GoFundMe is a great idea for the right reasons. I've seen many causes that deserve the help! However, I've seen some (and this is the one I disliked the most) was one guy wanted money to pay off his parking tickets and buy a car so he could have more freedom.

He didn't work or anything like that so he was putting in no effort on his part to make his life better. Now some may argue maybe he needs the car for work ect but it wasn't specified in his campaign.

I think GoFundMe needs to have stricter guidelines. Personally as a renter I don't have tenants insurance but do plan on getting it. It's on you if you don't have insurance. It always seems to happen to those who say it won't.
BudLimeLover
Joined: This month
Posts: 243

BudLimeLover
Joined: This month
Posts: 243

Just like everything else
9/9/2016 at 12:44 AM

It's gotten way out of hand and now everyday I see requests for new ones. Just another money grab for most of the situations.
loeog
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 914

loeog
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 914

No accountability
9/9/2016 at 7:34 AM

I hate the cries for money that go several times over the needed amount and the gofundme page is left open and taking more.
A classic one in my mind started using an Ebrandon request to advertise and the amount raised was way over what was needed, but they refused to close the account. Even though they used Ebrandon, I believe the owner of the account replied on here that it was none of ebrandon''s business what happened to the extra money.

Edited by loeog, 2016-09-09 07:42:33
Adam

Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 15663

Adam
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 15663

Gofundme
9/9/2016 at 7:55 AM

I don't think you can make an all encompassing statement that applies to every person in every situation. I've seen lots of gofundmes that have been a great way for friends, family and co-workers to come together quickly in times of financial need. It's the demonstrating of that need that can at times come up short. We live in a world that's so much better when we show compassion for each other but as sad as it is we live in a world where people also do in a small percentage of cases take advantage of others. Because of that if the request is being extended to strangers it's best for that need to be explained in as much detail as reasonable if wanting the best possible results.

One thing to consider is who the request is coming from. Sometimes a request that was really only intended for family and friends and was never written for a larger audience still gets shared with that larger audience. Even if it was shared with totally good intentions it might then look like it's lacking info.

The insurance question is a difficult but IMO fair one to ask, especially when the appeal is to people you've never known that only have so much money to give. Answer or no answer its up to the individual just how much that answer matters in any given situation. I've seen the odd person with an "I told you so" mentality in cases where there wasn't insurance. I dare you to say that in that situation to a good neighbour or long time friend from high school, even if you can't afford to give. At the same time if there was insurance it might effect just how much I'd give since the need might not be as great. That's why I think that if the question is important to you, if it hasn't been asked absolutely ask it but don't assume it's the be all end all for everyone and move on so that others can assess the appeal for help based on what's important to them personally.
SilentObserver
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 211

SilentObserver
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 211

Cap
9/9/2016 at 8:01 AM

They will never put a cap on the donations, because that'd be putting a cap on their profits.

For those of you who don't know- GoFundMe is not a non-profit organization. They keep 5% of anything that's donated for their operational costs.

So, putting a cap on donations raised would just lose them money in the end.
don brown
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 4956

don brown
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 4956

Not a new idea
9/9/2016 at 8:07 AM

The Gofundme is just the same as fund raising before social media, and even when it was done without social media,a person would decide what to give on a personal level, I don't think that people worried about what total contributions would be and most would feel that their money would be put to good use.
At times I do feel that requests do push the line, but no one forces anyone to give to funds that they don't agree with.
FredFeb
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 892

FredFeb
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 892

Eh
9/9/2016 at 2:17 PM

You should not have pets if you can't afford their vet bills. You should not own a car if you can't afford the bills. It really depends ... I am okay with some go fund me pages but in my opinion, I could not ask people for money. Everyone has their opinions
Amaxinlin
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 683

Amaxinlin
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 683

Go Fund Me's
9/9/2016 at 9:09 PM

I've donated too a few funeral costs for friends and family and other fundraisers as well. I think Go Fund Me's are a great alternative when situations arise that we can't possibly foresee. Things like funerals, unexpected hospital costs etc. I would probably even donate if one of my friends or family had a house fire. Things happen, people need a hand up sometimes. When people lose someone they love, we can't possibly take the pain away but we can help relieve financial stress. I donate where I see fit and nothing more or less. I donate $5 here, $10 there, etc. I don't donate more than I can afford. Like another poster is, nobody forces anybody to donate. I do support Go Fund Me's and wouldn't donate to one I didn't think was going to a good cause.
casualobserver
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 112

casualobserver
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 112

Thanks for all the feedback!
9/10/2016 at 1:20 AM

I suppose it's fair to say I'm a little jaded and suspicious of others. I truly expected to hear a lot of downside comments. What I've seen based on responses so far is a "What goes around, comes around" attitude! Love Thy Neighbor! Rule of thumb is for every response there are 10 that don't. Nice job Brandon!
Lala_D

Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 124

Lala_D
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 124

I'm from Vancouver
9/10/2016 at 1:33 PM

and out there we don't have "socials"(I should say I totally dig socials btw). I could say if you can't afford to get married then maybe you shouldn't. But people do and they have socials to help pay. What's the difference between that and say asking for money to pay parking tickets? lol Who am I to say what people should & should not ask money for. Anyone can ask for money and if you don't agree with it simply don't donate. What you should be asking is why it bothered you so much you had to post a thread about it
leeway
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 318

leeway
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 318

go fund me....
9/10/2016 at 4:15 PM

I seen one for a girls wanting to travel across Canada so she could buy a homeless person a meal in each place she stopped. Personally I think it would have been more believable if she set up the go fund me page to feed the homeless not for a trip across the country
casualobserver
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 112

casualobserver
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 112

What bothered me about it
9/10/2016 at 11:21 PM

This thread really has nothing to do with the house fire thread. It's more about taking responsibility for your self and not working the system. The post directly below your original post is a perfect example of this. Yes. You are right. We can choose to support it or not. I ask, is there really no harm in asking? Let's fund a journey for a person that will buy a homeless person a meal at every stop. To me, I say, why not cut out the middle man and buy 100 meals right at home? The point I'm trying to make is this. What started out as something that will do a lot of good for a lot of people has been twisted into a growing self serving ploy to mainly benefit people that rely on the kindness of others to further themselves. It makes the people that are willing to help a little more jaded to reach out and what was once a noble idea, doomed for collapse. That is what bothers me.
pnutbut
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 49

pnutbut
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 49

go fund me
9/10/2016 at 11:57 PM

My daughter was very sick and send to HSC. A family member of mine set up a go fund me page to help pay for my expenses there like meals and hotel stays. Those are not covered.

My friends and family helped me and my family out that way. Which was more then appreciated.

For sure how you use the page should be looked at but in situations like this i did need help and i felt bad for asking. I was currently on Mat leave when this happened and my newborn was sent to HSC. Of course not having my mat leave pay yet.
Blue_Guru
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 381

Blue_Guru
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 381

Pages like GoFundMe
9/11/2016 at 9:15 PM

Most are legit, and it's an excellent way to raise funds for good causes.

There are some scumbums, for sure, but most are decent folks.

I don't like the fact that GFM takes what could amount to a large chunk of the proceeds.
harleydavidson
Joined: This month
Posts: 196

harleydavidson
Joined: This month
Posts: 196

we
9/11/2016 at 9:35 PM

donated thru gofundme to someone who needed a custom built wheel chair for 16 thousand dollars ,only to find out later that the chair was never purchased and the money went to house renovations ... what to do ?

Knucklehead
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 284

Joined: Jun 2014

Posts: 284

Nothing

9/12/2016 at 9:40 AM

harleydavidson said "donated thru gofundme to someone who needed a custom built wheel chair for 16 thousand dollars ,only to find out later that the chair was never purchased and the money went to house renovations ... what to do ? "

Once you've donated the money is gone. You have to really pick and choose. Of course something like go fund me people will take advantage of you. Its like any other scams out there.

On the better side there are true funds on there like the woman who lost both feet after hitting the bridge by Dunrea. Or for the boy who was paralyzed in Boissevain there when he fell from the pole shed.