GoFundMe Launches Donation Pages Without Informing Pittsburgh Nonprofits
GoFundMe recently launched unauthorized donation pages for over one million organizations, stirring controversy among nonprofits. This initiative particularly affected Pennsylvania, where community organizations are already facing challenges due to the state budget impasse and the federal government shutdown.
Impact on Pittsburgh Nonprofits
Among those hit hardest was Pittsburgh Community Services, which provides essential services like food pantries and housing assistance. Sarah Cook, the executive director, expressed her frustration, stating, “We’re trying very hard to do our best for all of the customers that we serve. Distractions like this make it frustrating.”
Lack of Communication
Cook discovered the existence of these unauthorized pages through an email from Anne Gingerich, executive director of the Pennsylvania Association of Nonprofit Organizations. Gingerich noted that the news about GoFundMe’s actions reached them only recently, despite the negative implications it had for nonprofits.
GoFundMe used public information from approximately 1.4 million nonprofits in the U.S. to create these donation pages without prior notification. A search conducted on Thursday revealed numerous unauthorized pages for nonprofits in the Pittsburgh area, raising concerns about the use and custody of any donations collected.
Processing Fees and Concerns
It is crucial to note that contributions made through GoFundMe incur a processing fee, which goes directly to the company. This raises questions among nonprofit leaders about the financial implications of these unauthorized pages.
GoFundMe’s Response
In response to the mounting concerns, GoFundMe acknowledged the confusion caused by its recent initiative. The company stated, “Our efforts with Nonprofit Pages have caused confusion, concern, and distraction from the vital missions of the very nonprofits we aim to support.”
To address these issues, GoFundMe announced measures to rectify the situation. They indicated that pages that have not been claimed and verified will be removed. Additionally, unclaimed nonprofit pages will be de-indexed, ensuring they do not appear in search engine results.
Looking Ahead
Cook emphasized the importance of involving nonprofits in future initiatives: “I hope that moving forward, big efforts like this would involve the very nonprofits that they’re hoping to assist.” The need for enhanced communication between platforms like GoFundMe and nonprofits remains paramount.
