[Gladys]

So many go fund me campaigns coming our way. Want to help but it feels like they are constant. How to budget.

With the increasing number of GoFundMe campaigns for important causes and personal emergencies, it’s challenging to contribute regularly without straining your finances.

How can I create a budget that allows me to donate meaningfully to these campaigns while ensuring I meet my financial goals and obligations?

Would love to hear tips, strategies, or tools that others use to balance generosity and financial stability!

[Lori]

I have never contributed to a go fund me nor will I ever. There are too many scams out there.

[Versie]

That and the “Round up”. Check out clerk says “would you like to round up your $4.25 to $5”.

I said yes, a few times now I say no thank you.

[Morgan]

Where is the constant stream coming from? Family? Friends? Neighbors? Local tragedies found in the news? Charities? Strangers?

I’m asking because I’m worried you’re being targeted somehow.
Ultimately you have to figure out how much you can give each year/month/pay period.

You can’t give what you don’t have. Or you can do some kind of cut to save for it, like no eating out or pause streaming services or whatever until we hit our goal.

Then you have to decide how to distribute it.

That’s completely up to you, your values, and beliefs. No one can decide that for you.

[Jackie]

I wish that when folks are asking for donations for a funeral that they would make the funeral home the recipient.

I would be much more likely to help because I’d be certain the money was being used properly.

Our community is always holding benefits for folks medical expenses when said folks are driving new cars, owning boats and RVs and dining out.

I give generously when I know and support the charity.

[Lenore]

Some of the good fund me reasons are ridiculous. One lady wanted $2000 to give her kids a birthday party. Lol hard pass.

Someone that had taken lots of trips posted to Facebook now want me to send money for her medical bills.

Sorry.

[Tamara]

Too many scammers. I help people I know or organizations I am familiar with.

[Melissa]

You can’t say yes to everything and you may not be able to say yes to anything.

If you have 3-6 months emergency fund, zero debt except maybe a mortgage, then you add a line in your budget for charity.

There are so many ways to help others that are free or low cost.

Cut the grass, provide a meal or dessert, take their garbage can out and back, walk their pet, do their laundry, pray…

[Francess]

I don’t put my money here. there are charities id rather support than a personal beg for help. if this is what you chose to do, you budget it like any other expense.

personally I put aside 5% of all monthly income for GIFTING of all kinds.

that means the total I can spend ON ALL GIFTS FOR THE MONTH is 5%–whether it’s one gift or 4.

you ll have to adjust this for what you can afford.

[Joy]

I don’t do go fund me. If I feel they are in need I know someone who can get them the cash.

[Alma]

I don’t give to any gofundme. If someone I know needs help, I give it to them directly.

Gofundme takes a portion for themselves.

[Arlene]

Charity/donations should be a line item budget expense. You need to set up some guardrails and stick to them.

[Diana]

We all want to be present and helpful. Unfortunately life doesn’t always give us a great hand either.

Despite what is shared on Facebook, most often we are all struggling.

[Paula]

I’m having a difficult time with all the end of the year non-profit solicitations.

I have a history of being more generous than what my budget can handle.

[Judie]

They get a cut of the money you give. Just write a check or give cash to people you KNOW and need help if you are close to them and can afford it.

[Alice]

Steady stream????? From who. Are these people that you know? If I see 1 every few months, that’s a lot. Recently there was a 12 unit condo that burned and all the residents are homeless.

Some were hospitalized.

There were several separate go fund me accounts for the individual families.

Only you can determine where your charity money goes, if you have any to share.

[Brenda]

Be aware that must GoFundMe accounts are not considered charitable organizations, and cannot be used as a charitable contribution.

In order to qualify to be a charitable organization they must be a classified as a charitable nonprofit organization by the internal revenue service

[Roberta]

I feel like people should help out family members who are in need 1st and then friends, instead of random organizations.

[Mary]

I’ll help with extreme and known tragedies but alot of others are just scamming people.

You have to do your research.

[Elisabeth]

When stores collect money to donate I also want to ask if my contribution will be written off the business’ taxes as a charitable contributions.

[Darla]

Set a giving budget for the year and stick to it. We can’t help everyone, but helping others is a must, if you can’t afford it, give time.

[Melissa]

Choose people or causes that are meaningful to you. I support GoFundMe’s for my friends or family, because they have in turn supported me.

Just do what you can and what you feel right about!

[Allison]

I would say to find a cause you care about, and donate only to that.. In the U.S., part of the evaluation for an organ transplant is a financial evaluation.

The transplant center wants to make sure the recipient has the funds to pay for the required immunosuppressants after the transplant.

(If you don’t take those, you lose the transplanted organs).

I see gofundme requests for those sometimes.

I contribute to them from time to time, especially when someone who knows me and the patient sends me the info.

I donate because I have received a kidney and pancreas transplant myself, without needing to do any fundraising.

The patient themself is probably unable to work so they can’t earn the money through a 2nd job.

But if I had debt, I probably could not donate

[Barbara]

I have stopped giving to Go Fund Me accounts unless I am personally aware of the people and the problem…

I also do not contribute to the fundraising by stores (they claim your gifts as part of their contribution including on their tax records!).

You have to make intelligent decisions as to were your charitable funds go….especially this year.

So many natural disasters victims that needed help.

[Nadine]

Gift directly to a local charity you know, or directly to someone in need.

And if takes away from your budget being healthy, give your time or unused items instead.

[Author]

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