Quintin Sharpe, a 27-year-old wealth manager based in a small waterside town in southeast Wisconsin, is no stranger to community support efforts. His involvement spans practical contributions, like assembling food pantry supplies with local groups, to aiding his parents' nonprofit music school. However, last year he encountered a different charitable opportunity that highlighted the evolving nature of giving.
A former classmate’s father suffered a sudden and severe motor vehicle accident, leading to substantial medical bills. To address this urgent financial need, a crowdfunding campaign was set up on GoFundMe, which Sharpe found to be the most practical and swift method to extend help. He personally donated over $100 to the online fundraiser.
Sharpe commented on the efficiency of crowdfunding compared to traditional charity mechanisms, noting that it circumvents the necessity for layered approvals. "Crowdfunding can be a little bit more expedient because there’s less reporting," he explained. "Funds are going directly to one site. It doesn’t have to go through a board, doesn’t have to get approval from a lot of people."
His experience is reflective of a broader pattern observed nationally. An Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll reveals that nearly two in ten adults in the United States participated in some form of crowdfunding donation last year. Medical expenses accounted for the most frequent category benefiting from these online contributions.
The trend of utilizing crowdfunding platforms like GoFundMe to rally financial support has grown, driven by the platform’s accessibility for diverse needs ranging from urgent medical care to activities such as Little League sports.