Donation-based Crowdfunding: Begging?
Discussion
In terms of alternative finance, the concept of crowdfunding has been successfully utilised to fund a wide range of entrepreneurial ventures. Using the same idea, charity donation-based crowdfunding ( "the collective effort of individuals to help charitable causes" ) has become a good way to raise funds for an unfortunate set of circumstances: people have had operations paid for; someone has raised enough money to pay for a dying parent/friend/colleague's wish to do something otherwise beyond their financial means for example, as well as many other of the kind of stories which warm our hearts when we read about them.
Some of these campaigns (IMO) are questionable, and appear to be borderline (like paying for education) but if a group of people want to help - for whatever reason - so be it. Who are we to judge, or question, right? The cost of a course might be out of reach for an individual and you might see helping to pay as a good thing in the long run for that person. Crowd-funding campaigns have transformed lives and generally and in the main it is comforting to see how generous people can be towards [often] strangers in need. But...
There are some people, or a line of thinking present in many, where after seeing the successful campaigns they think, 'I'm gonna have me a bit of that', and will thus invite donations towards something personal to themselves. Again, if their friends - or even strangers - want to make a contribution, fine but I'm referring to chancers.
I've read and heard of stories (too many to look up and link) of, for example, a bloke wanting to raise the cash for a honeymoon; a woman looking to pay for a 'dream holiday' for her and her kids; then there was a girl and her (Corsa IIRC) which was keyed, so she (or her mate) setup a Go Fund Me campaign to help raise the cash needed for a respray. I think to a degree, these examples still shouldn't be too much to raise an eyebrow over, but I'm seeing an attitude and trend develop which means some people will look to the benevolence of the people of the internet (such is the power of social media when you harness it) to help pay for these dreams. Some would argue that if matey wants a better honeymoon than he can afford, he could, perhaps, save? Or the ask the vandalised car girl: is claiming on her insurance not an option? (as it turned out the car wasn't insured IIRC).
Apologies for the long-winded post but I want to give it some background so that it didn't look like I'm giving the idea - or those engaged in any aspect of it - a hard time. It's more towards those who think it's an easy way to pay for their mistakes, thus neglecting responsibility for their actions.
Three months ago, I sold a car and stashed the cash in a safe place or so I thought. Fast forward, and I needed to grab some cash and went to dib in but couldn't find the spondulicks I'd hidden, and after looking in all the obvious places I then started to think of who could have stolen it. In this situation, all I needed to do was get my mate to start a GFM campaign prefaced with a sad and believable story that I was about to take my kids on the holiday of a lifetime. However I can only blame myself for a) not stashing it in a better place or for going on a major bender with it, and b) it's my own fault that I lost it, ultimately.
I do think that if people want to contribute (donate) money towards an idea, it's their choice so feel free to tell me to mind my own business, of course. There are however, some campaigns which give the wrong message IMHO, and these are the false, favourable and fraudulent claims seen on social media sites. In that context, are some people just brazen beggars... or is it that a fool and his money are soon parted?
Some of these campaigns (IMO) are questionable, and appear to be borderline (like paying for education) but if a group of people want to help - for whatever reason - so be it. Who are we to judge, or question, right? The cost of a course might be out of reach for an individual and you might see helping to pay as a good thing in the long run for that person. Crowd-funding campaigns have transformed lives and generally and in the main it is comforting to see how generous people can be towards [often] strangers in need. But...
There are some people, or a line of thinking present in many, where after seeing the successful campaigns they think, 'I'm gonna have me a bit of that', and will thus invite donations towards something personal to themselves. Again, if their friends - or even strangers - want to make a contribution, fine but I'm referring to chancers.
I've read and heard of stories (too many to look up and link) of, for example, a bloke wanting to raise the cash for a honeymoon; a woman looking to pay for a 'dream holiday' for her and her kids; then there was a girl and her (Corsa IIRC) which was keyed, so she (or her mate) setup a Go Fund Me campaign to help raise the cash needed for a respray. I think to a degree, these examples still shouldn't be too much to raise an eyebrow over, but I'm seeing an attitude and trend develop which means some people will look to the benevolence of the people of the internet (such is the power of social media when you harness it) to help pay for these dreams. Some would argue that if matey wants a better honeymoon than he can afford, he could, perhaps, save? Or the ask the vandalised car girl: is claiming on her insurance not an option? (as it turned out the car wasn't insured IIRC).
Apologies for the long-winded post but I want to give it some background so that it didn't look like I'm giving the idea - or those engaged in any aspect of it - a hard time. It's more towards those who think it's an easy way to pay for their mistakes, thus neglecting responsibility for their actions.
Three months ago, I sold a car and stashed the cash in a safe place or so I thought. Fast forward, and I needed to grab some cash and went to dib in but couldn't find the spondulicks I'd hidden, and after looking in all the obvious places I then started to think of who could have stolen it. In this situation, all I needed to do was get my mate to start a GFM campaign prefaced with a sad and believable story that I was about to take my kids on the holiday of a lifetime. However I can only blame myself for a) not stashing it in a better place or for going on a major bender with it, and b) it's my own fault that I lost it, ultimately.
I do think that if people want to contribute (donate) money towards an idea, it's their choice so feel free to tell me to mind my own business, of course. There are however, some campaigns which give the wrong message IMHO, and these are the false, favourable and fraudulent claims seen on social media sites. In that context, are some people just brazen beggars... or is it that a fool and his money are soon parted?
Jimmy Recard said:
I know someone (unfortunately) who asked for donations on a similar thing to give her dog a proper funeral. Unfortunately she got the money to hold a full funeral for her dog, as if it was a human 
Was every penny spent on the funeral? How would we know? Because if it wasn't, what happened to it? Using the [surplus] money for anything else would be immoral; could it even be illegal? Other than donating it on, say to another charitable cause (not that a dog's funeral is one, it has to be said). CoolHands said:
That seems like a very odd post, but given your normally helpful glass replies I suspect we will all overlook it - but as for stashing it in a safe place, why not put it in the, errr, bank?
My initial plan was to throw it back into something, so figured having it under the mattress would be OK in the interim. Mattress.
If only.
4159265 said:
A part of this which is odd in my mind are the people who set up a GFM on behalf of someone else.
XYZ is going through a hard time and would love a new kappa tracksuit, so I have set up a GFM for them.
I don't get it for a few reasons, I wonder how many of the setter-uppers ask the beneficiary for the go-ahead.
Assuming the setter-upper and beneficiary are really separate people...
I think some see it as an act for which they will be remembered. XYZ is going through a hard time and would love a new kappa tracksuit, so I have set up a GFM for them.
I don't get it for a few reasons, I wonder how many of the setter-uppers ask the beneficiary for the go-ahead.
Assuming the setter-upper and beneficiary are really separate people...
Also...
http://gizmodo.com/gofundme-is-a-great-way-to-scam...
GoFundMe Is a Great Way to Scam People
Zetec-S said:
It's unregulated and open to misuse/fraud. If I wanted to be pedantic I'd also suggest that the proceeds from some 'campaigns' should be subject to tax.
Closer scrutiny for sure. But then, if it is someones free will to donate money to a cause, or plea, does it [what happens with that money] become irrelevant? Like the bloke who - or his ally - raised a grand for motorbike repairs after someone tried to steal it. When the target was reached, they changed it to two... and people still donated. Does anyone put the brakes on and declare that the repairs were actually £400.00 and so the surplus was passed on to a registered charity?
I think we all know the answer to that one.
The repairs become mods.
Zetec-S said:
Glassman said:
Closer scrutiny for sure. But then, if it is someones free will to donate money to a cause, or plea, does it [what happens with that money] become irrelevant?
Yes, it does matter. If I was to donate money so someone I've never met could receive life saving medical treatment, I'd like to think if there was any left over money it would be donated on for someone else in a similar situation to benefit. Not so they and their family could spend 2 weeks in Disneyland.I've seen so many pleas to raise cash for something that hasn't been quantified. In effect they're just asking for a bundle of cash. My car has just s
t itself. I need to buy an engine; they're about a grand (but with a grand in your hand you'll find one cheaper). Jinx said:
I'm not sure if registered charities are better places for peoples money ( Charity pay study)
Link says: "To continue reading this article you need to be registered with Third Sector." 
Oakey said:
Just as well as he was recently charged with stealing from one of the victims as they lay in a coma!
Here's an example of a local one that will probably boil OP's piss:
http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/news/resort-rall...
Burns part of his rented house down, no insurance as it had "just ran out " (that old chestnut, since when has insurance not been on a rolling contract?), idiot public give him £5k.
"We needed a way to raise money quickly and efficiently because unfortunately Bobby’s insurance had just run out.”Here's an example of a local one that will probably boil OP's piss:
http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/news/resort-rall...
Burns part of his rented house down, no insurance as it had "just ran out " (that old chestnut, since when has insurance not been on a rolling contract?), idiot public give him £5k.
There you go.
And:
"We needed a way to raise money quickly and efficiently because unfortunately Bobby’s insurance had just run out.”
The PUBLISHER even posts a link to the campaign at the end of the article.
fatandwheezing said:
Know of a just giving campaign to help pay for a book to be published. No incentives like with kickstarter, just 'give me some cash, is my dream to do this.'
Meanwhile, while that is running, they are off on their third foreign holiday of the year, leaving their nice new discovery sport at the airport.
Link?Meanwhile, while that is running, they are off on their third foreign holiday of the year, leaving their nice new discovery sport at the airport.
Type R Tom said:
How do we feel about funding funerals? There has been a trend of late for people who have died young to have their funeral paid for by crowd sourcing. I have to say I'm not a fan, particularly if the money is to be spent on a horse and carriage and a load of flowers.
Donations to a hospice / cancer charity I've not got an issue with.
It's the attitude of getting someone else to pay for it. Understandable if there is a genuine story or plausible case behind it, but many of these campaigns are designed to be just that. Donations to a hospice / cancer charity I've not got an issue with.
Easy money.
Let's not get our house insured (because that will cost) and in the event of a massive loss, simply make a public plea with a heartfelt story (written by someone else, obvs) about how we've lost everything at the worst possible time.
Having said that, I don't think there are many people raking in vast sums of money.
Cyclist took a chance and got caught. His own fault, and he alludes to this. However, money raised on the basis that he was hit by a speeding motorist as the plea claims?
http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/help-pay-for-sashas-l...
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/cyclist-who...
http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/help-pay-for-sashas-l...
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/cyclist-who...
"People are actually donating to a crowdfunding campaign to help Kylie Jenner become a billionaire"
https://www.indy100.com/article/kylie-jenner-billi...
https://www.indy100.com/article/kylie-jenner-billi...
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