Crowd Funding Sick of It

[BC Flash]

One charity spent my "donation" on stamps requesting more contributions. Such tactics resulted in being deleted from further donations.

 

[win231]

I ran into the same thing with the Wounded Warrior thing. When a friend, a vet, died we were requested to donate to them rather than send flowers or something else. So I donated $50, since then I know they have spent more than my $50 dunning me for more money, fancy mailers, too many emails, etc. Won't make that mistake again.

The Wounded Warrior Project is one of the biggest scams - and a clever one.

 

[hollydolly]

There is a lot of e-begging on YouTube, too. I can name a dozen channels (at least) where the content creators ask for donations.

''buy me a coffee'' is the way a lot of them on youtube get people donating money..anything from a £ to £50....I think it's all wrong, it's legal begging..

 

[Disgustedman]

For those who are curious, and looking for honest, trustworthy charities, hit up "Charity Navigator" they'll show you what, where and why the donations go. They rate the charities on a scale 1-100

Local and international charities.

 

[Muskrat]

We do not use go fund me. But my squeeze donates to several charities. Doctors without borders, heifer project, st judes. He also has paid for a surprising amount of funerals for his employees or their families. It feels good. It feels right.

 

[Sunny]

Two of the worst are Feeding America and Sierra Club. While they may be worthwhile charities, they spend an enormous amount of money sending out mail solicitations to anyone (like me) who was foolish enough to ONCE give them a donation. It's like punishing people for donating, by putting them on the mailing list. And I have to wonder what percentage of their donations are going to the post office!

 

[Remy]

I've donated directly to a couple of cat rescues with YouTube channels. The one has done live streams where the woman will thank people and say if you don't hear from them, your donations are greatly appreciated and used. I get it, they are too busy taking care of over 350 cats. That's the priority.

I've also donated to a woman in Northern California who does Raptor rescue. She does not spam you with e mail. The last e mail I got was regarding a bald eagle who had been shot (how sick does someone need to be) I sent a paypal donation.

 

[rgp]

We do not participate in crowdfunding, but we support our local animal shelter.

There ya go .......

 

[Leann]

I am of the persuasion that says "think globally, give locally". Animal shelters and human homelessness comes to mind. Every day there are requests from national orgs looking for cash. We choose to give to our local causes over sending $$ to some website.

I completely agree! I've started doing the same.

 

[debodun]

Go fund me. If you want my address, PM me. (just kidding)

 

[Alligatorob]

Go fund me. If you want my address, PM me. (just kidding)

If it works out let me know, I'll start one of my own.

 

[Murrmurr]

The requests have gotten out of hand. Unless I know someone personally, sorry.

The undertakers must be doing well. It‘s especially sad when someone dies unexpectedly. Friends will be collecting for a $10,000 funeral. Often much more is given.

And by the time those friends withdraw the "funeral funds," the suddenly dead person is already 6ft under or ashes in a box.

 

[Happy Retiree]

Maybe I'm missing something. Are you receiving emails from strangers? Emails from people you know, on behalf of strangers? Those would be annoying.

If not, what's the problem? People often do want to help their friends and neighbors. When I was involved in raising money after someone else's tragedy, I learned that GoFundMe is an effective and efficient way for people to donate money.

In my school and working days, I was often told that "everyone has to" contribute a certain amount for a birthday gift or other frivolity. I'd much rather be asked to donate to help someone out. If I don't have money or don't believe in the cause, I can ignore the appealAs mentioned in my previous posting,

 

[jujube]

I have a bunch of Nuns after me since I made an "in memory of" donation last year.

Man, those ol' gals won't give up!

 

[debodun]

NextDoor is rampant with them.

Do people still stand outside of stores and other public places with a coin jar and ask for donations for a charity or youth group?

 

[hollydolly]

I was taken aback today. There's a well know Bluegrass group.. named The Isaacs.. Mother, and 3 adult children.. who all have their own spouses who work at various jobs.. but the Isaac (children) are all well known singers of Bluegrass music.. and appear on the Gaither circuit a lot as well. They are such lovely people and singers... Video below for those who don't know them..

Becky Isaacs.. ( far right in the video, multi colour skirt) whose husband is part of their backing band as well.. had a car accident in December.. unfortunately she suffered multiple broken bones mainly in her legs .. but within 3 days the hospital had her up and walking without any support..( according to the fund raiser)... Info here...

https://bluegrasstoday.com/beck-isaac-bowman-now-recovering-at-home/

..but what has astonished me is that they have a Gofundme Page.. which has now reached almost $50k... you would think that between them, this showbiz family who are very well known would have Medical Insurance and wouldn't need donations from Fans..

https://www.gofundme.com/f/to-assist-with-medical-expenses-for-becky-isaacs

 

[Remy]

@hollydolly A YouTube channel I have watched who do dumpster diving, the wife had burns from the fireplace and they went totally go fund me. I didn't donate. The husband is retired and gets some kind of pension and the woman who was injured had left a social services job with healthcare and benefits because she said the job was taking it's toll on her. I get that. My job is killing me, that's why I work part time now but I carry my own insurance through Covered California. Anyway, I think they got over 100 grand. The woman admitted she had quit her job with good healthcare. I mean, I felt bad for her but I have my own problems and I tend to donate to animals.

 

[win231]

https://www.yahoo.com/news/rhode-island-woman-wore-uniform-090000259.html

• Sarah Jane Cavanaugh of Rhode Island has been sentenced to nearly six years in prison.
• Cavanaugh pleaded guilty in August to wire fraud and other charges related to forging documents.
• Prosecutors allege she used her position working with veterans to falsify her own documents and medical history.

A Rhode Island woman has been sentenced to just under six years in prison for posing as a veteran who was injured in combat, then collecting hundreds of thousands in benefits and charitable donations.

Sarah Jane Cavanaugh, 32, was sentenced Tuesday to 70 months in prison, along with three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay over $280,000 in restitution to those she defrauded, the Justice Department announced.


Cavanaugh pleaded guilty in August to wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, forging a military discharge certificate, and fraudulent use of military medals.

"Sarah Cavanaugh's conduct in the course of her scheme is nothing short of appalling," US attorney Zachary Cunha said. "By brazenly laying claim to the honor, service, and sacrifice of real veterans, this defendant preyed on the charity and decency of others for her own shameless financial gain."

Cavanaugh appeared at events in full Marine uniform, and used fraudulent medals and documents to build relationships with charities and acquire hundreds of thousands in donations.

She used the money for travel, tuition for an art program, home repairs, a gym membership, and her mortgage. Court records show that the Wounded Warrior Project was in contact with Cavanaugh from 2017 through 2021, and provided her with over $207,000 in benefits, including $500 per month for groceries and physical therapy.

Prosecutors alleged that Cavanaugh used her position as a social worker at a Veterans Affairs medical center in Rhode Island to access the military records of real veterans. She used them to claim military service, injuries, and illnesses, and to steal the awards of other veterans as her own — even though she never served in the military.

Records forged by Cavanaugh claimed that she was in the US Marine Corps from 2009 to 2016, rising to the rank of corporal, and earning a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star before being discharged in December 2016, according to court documents.

Prosecutors said Cavanaugh used her official work "va.gov" email address in September 2021 to contact a San Diego-based company to buy the military medals.

In January 2022, Cavanaugh allegedly contacted a nonprofit for assistance in paying for cancer treatments, claiming she had been diagnosed with lung cancer after being exposed to burn pits while serving abroad. Someone involved with the nonprofit contacted a Rhode Island veterans medical center, which searched veterans databases, but was unable to find any records of Cavanaugh, court records show.

 

[StarSong]

NextDoor is rampant with them.

Do people still stand outside of stores and other public places with a coin jar and ask for donations for a charity or youth group?

I've noticed this, too. Every possible sob story is told and retold.