Another example of why I won’t contribute to Go Fund Me requests anymore

[Anonymous]

Why aren't these taxed?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why aren't these taxed?

The individual donations are way under the gift limit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It really is shocking how little shame people have. One blogger who comes from extreme wealth (know people who know her family) went through a tragic situation with a child. My heart went out to her and I even supported her little business.

Then she allowed a Gofundme to pay for medical expenses. this is someone who lives in a mansion, goes on multiple exotic vacations a year, owns a vacation home, buys crazy expensive clothes, and gets cosmetic procedures. Low and behold after the Gofundme closed, she got a boob job and was off on another vacation.

One of our kids has medical issues that required hospital stays, etc. We could afford to pay. We didn't go on vacations for years, we bargain shop and we live modestly. We don't expect friends and strangers to fund life's twists and turns for us.

We have had a lot of medical expenses too. We don't post about them, don't ask for donations. I don't contribute to others' go fund me's, whenever I feel that I should, I think of our own family's needs.

[Anonymous]

Most of the ones I’ve seen are for the death of a spouse or child, and to cover medical or funeral expenses. It’s usually organized by a close friend, not the family themselves. Happy to give $25 if it’s someone loosely known to me.

Most people don’t have life insurance, most people don’t have a lot of savings, most people are financially wrecked by a cancer diagnosis or the death of the bread winner.

[Anonymous]

I know someone we go set one up for a true emergency and was unable to withdraw or move the money donated. It just disappeared into the big Go Fund Me abyss. That’s why I’ll never give a dime - it doesn’t go where you think it does.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It really is shocking how little shame people have. One blogger who comes from extreme wealth (know people who know her family) went through a tragic situation with a child. My heart went out to her and I even supported her little business.

Then she allowed a Gofundme to pay for medical expenses. this is someone who lives in a mansion, goes on multiple exotic vacations a year, owns a vacation home, buys crazy expensive clothes, and gets cosmetic procedures. Low and behold after the Gofundme closed, she got a boob job and was off on another vacation.

One of our kids has medical issues that required hospital stays, etc. We could afford to pay. We didn't go on vacations for years, we bargain shop and we live modestly. We don't expect friends and strangers to fund life's twists and turns for us.

We have had a lot of medical expenses too. We don't post about them, don't ask for donations. I don't contribute to others' go fund me's, whenever I feel that I should, I think of our own family's needs.

That’s fine, I don’t understand the bitterness though. Most people don’t want to do a go fund me, and probably have to be persuaded. Most people are not the extreme examples people are describing here.

[Anonymous]

A family friend has a serious chronic medical condition, so I donated. And now they seem to be buying more and more pets, so not donating to them again.

I think some people are too dense to realize what they look like to others, and assume they "deserve" the expensive vacation or multiple dogs or the new house.

[Anonymous]

I have truly been shocked. One person I know who came from extreme wealth and brags that he created a multi-million dollar company has a Gofundme for a sibling's health issues. He and his parents could give tax free gifts.

An influencer who comes from a well-regarded extremely wealthy family and who lives in a mansion, has a vacation home and takes expensive trips while kids attend private school had a Gofundme to pay for her child's medical expenses. Once the treatments were over, mom got a boob job.

A family inherited over 100 million dollars from a single uncle and then asked instead of flowers please contribute money here and we will distribute to his favorite charities. The charities are already in his will getting millions. He was worth several hundred million. How about you make it clear their words of support are enough and if they want just contribute to their favorite charities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Suppose you were financially very well off and had done a good bit to support family members in need. One certain family member, though, just cannot get their act together financially and spends frivilously. You have offered them assistance with therapy, job hunting and coaching services etc. but they just want a blank check.

They approach you, yet again, for support and you've finally had enough, so you put your foot down. In response, this family member creates a very public gofundme about all of their trials and travails and suggesting in subtle but obvious enough ways that family has not been supportive.

Your inclination is to ignore all of this, but you've done a great deal to build a reputation in your community and this GoFundMe is starting to get back to people in your personal and professional circles. It makes you look uncharitable and cruel to family, but you would rather not go through the backstory of your family drama with your circle.

Would you just continue to ignore it all and hope that it washes over?

Not too dissimilar from what happened to football player Bo Jackson, but less of a public profile.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/crime-courts/bo-jackson-awarded-21-million-georgia-blackmail-stalking-case-family-m-rcna138236

I deeply believe that people are much better at "reading between the lines" than we usually give them credit for. They usually do not outright show it, but people know what the deal is and will see through the family member's gofundme request.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most of the ones I’ve seen are for the death of a spouse or child, and to cover medical or funeral expenses. It’s usually organized by a close friend, not the family themselves. Happy to give $25 if it’s someone loosely known to me.

Most people don’t have life insurance, most people don’t have a lot of savings, most people are financially wrecked by a cancer diagnosis or the death of the bread winner.

Would you still have donated if you knew the recipient was financially supported by family with millions in the bank?