Go Fund Me Donations?

Jules

Jules

SF VIP
Yesterday I did a Go Me Donation. I chose to be displayed as Anonymous, which is how it showed on the site. Later I got a thank you email from both of the GFM starters. I was surprised as I didn’t want any direct thanks. What if I hadn’t want these people to know my email address or name. It’s not a problem, but what if …

Also, GFM suggested that I add $3.25 as a tip to them to help with their promotions. They didn’t get it.

How does GFM make their money.

This was their Canadian site, so not sure if anything is different here.
 

Being completely anonymous on the web these days is pretty hard to do, I think. There has been just so much negativity on the web this past decade that accountability requires dispensing with anonymity.

As for asking for a tip that would really ring alarm bells to me. Did your contribution really go to those it was intended for would be my concern. Maybe this is a cautionary tale. Thanks for your post. I've never contributed the a GFM before, and by your post I probably never will. (y)
 
I've never done a go find me donation, so I'm not at all familiar with how that might work.

You specified Anonymous, and got thank you notes from individuals in your e mail box, @Jules ???
From their own individual email addresses?
It all sounds odd to me.:unsure::oops::rolleyes:

And they asked for a tip?o_O
 

Kaila said:
From their own individual email addresses?
It all sounds odd to me.:unsure::oops::rolleyes:

And they asked for a tip?o_O
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No, it was via GFM that the acknowledgment was sent. He also sent me another thank you. There were specific details so I know it was him.

I just prefer to give with no direct thanks to me.

It was GFM that asked for the tip to keep their business functioning.

Robb.hisself said:
Did your contribution really go to those it was intended for would be my concern. Maybe this is a cautionary tale.
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Yes, it did go.

For me, I just wanted to do this quietly. I don’t need thanks.
 
As much as I would like to donate at times, I keep remembering back to when I investigated several fraud cases. The last one was a male about 30 y/o went on FB and asked for a GFM account for money to replace his engine in his car. It had just went out of warranty when it became disabled. He claimed he had no money to replace the engine and needed $4500.

His BFF turned him in. After we investigated the claim, we found that it was definitely a fraudulent scheme, so we arrested him. The judge went easy on him. Suspended sentence and a fine, plus costs.
 
Go fund me takes a % of the amount raised ...

Does GoFundMe get a cut?​

Yes. GoFundMe is a for-profit company. On fundraisers for individuals or businesses it charges a 2.9% payment-processing fee on each donation, along with 30 cents for every donation. That means if a campaign raised $1,000 through 10 donations of $100 each, GoFundMe would collect about $32.
 
I’ll watch and see if I get any solicitations from GFM. There may have been a choice to not be on a mailing list.

Jeni said:
That means if a campaign raised $1,000 through 10 donations of $100 each, GoFundMe would collect about $32.
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And GFM suggested a $3.25 tip to help keep their business running. Yeah, right!
 
Jules said:
No, it was via GFM that the acknowledgment was sent. He also sent me another thank you. There were specific details so I know it was him.

I just prefer to give with no direct thanks to me.

It was GFM that asked for the tip to keep their business functioning.


Yes, it did go.

For me, I just wanted to do this quietly. I don’t need thanks.
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Okay, now I understand a lot better.
Thank you for informing and explaining!
I appreciate it. :)
 
A woman who has been an effective & hard worker in our local environmental group has been diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer. I want to donate to a GFM set up by one of her friends. I needed to join GoFundMe in order to do that. Becoming a member via the sign-up process was easy.

I found an online page saying that e-transfers are acceptable, but I on the GFM site couldn't figure out how to to that. I've been trying to contact the GFM customer care system, tried at several points during the day. Couldn't get info, since I could not get the "bot" to connect me with a human. The "trouble" questions presented by the bot were not pertinent, so trying to get answers to my questions, the AI system froze up.

After four tiresome, dreary 'go nowhere' attempts I'm really frustrated. Any hints from personal experience would be appreciated.
 
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@JBR, if you know her personally, I’d suggest just giving her cash directly, or via a relative that you know.
Murrmurr said:
Me, too.

Anonymous means your contact info won't be displayed and only the GFM administrators can access it. The recipient of your donation will only know you as "Anonymous."
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If you read my original post, I did it as ‘anonymous’ and was sent direct messages from GFM and the recipient.
 
My issue is a little different. I can't use PayPal because, a couple years ago or so, the P.P. system began to require members provide a cell (mobile) number. That's no good for me, because we live outside of cell-service range. We can drive 35 minutes and then we have cell service, useful for when we're in town, but not useful when I'm home.

However, I can do e-transfers from our bank account, using wi-fi, from my laptop at home.
 
I donated to GFM once at the request of my DIL who's cousin needed expensive cancer treatments. I don't remember them asking for an extra fee at the time, but that was years ago. @Robb.hisself I periodically make my Zakat (obligatory charity donation) via the mosque my husband went to most often. That donation goes to the most needy in our area. I know the Imam, who is a very good man and was one of my husband's best friends. I deem him and their system to be trustworthy.

When donating via their website, they ask if the donor wants to pay to cover associated fees. There is nothing shady about this but I never do it. It probably costs those who receive and distribute donations credit card processing fees, just like merchants.
 
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Jules said:
If you read my original post, I did it as ‘anonymous’ and was sent direct messages from GFM and the recipient.
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Oh. No, I missed that...or, it didn't register.

I agree, that's bad form.

And I saw HoneyNut's post. So you can't really donate anonymously on GFM. I don't like that.
 

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