Over the last couple of years I have donated to 2 crowd-funding appeals. Both were folks that I (somewhat) knew and both were for dire, life-altering reasons.
Lately, these types of "give me $$" appeals seem to be multiplying like crazy. Folks are asking for money for any and everything. I saw one on Facebook recently that was asking strangers to pay her entire way through nursing school
I don't know why this bothers me. Maybe it's the unspoken assumption that if I've worked my way into a position in life where I might have a few bucks to spare, I'd be happy to part with that money to help someone else not have to work as hard as I did. Obviously, I don't have to pay any attention to the appeals if I don't want to. It just seems so......nervy, I guess. As in, it takes a lot of.
Unless you are registered as a certified charity, then no, their donations to you are NOT tax deductible.
ETA: I see it has already been covered. Frankly, I'm appalled that you're telling people that their donations to you are tax deductible.
I find it interesting that this individual has not been back to defend their choices since he/she was informed that her "tax deductible" statement was unethical (and perhaps illegal).
I first read of this kind of thing when Jahi McMath's family got good'n'greedy and someone posted a link to their GoFundMe account.
This was the first time I had heard of GoFundMe as well. I read some comments at the time of people who gave money. For example, "Jahi, I can't wait to see you at your press conference," or "use this money for school supplies." I certainly don't want to get back into a debate over whether or not she was "alive." But, at that point, it became obvious to me people would ask for money for just about anything and some people are so gullible that they will donate money for any cause, with no regard to where the money is actually going. If someone posts a honest plea for funds...that is their choice. People are free to donate to it. However, some of those pleas are not honest and, even if the plea is honest, people who are donating to a given cause may not have the money to do so.
Specializes in Adult and Pediatric Vascular Access, Paramedic.
HappyParamedicRN, for some reason neither the app nor the mobile website will allow me to quote your post, but I want to respond to your assertion that you won't enable someone to be lazy.
In my case, as I stated, if I put one up, I would be working full time AND going to nursing school, and I have done my part in going through the process of getting what tuition assistance I can through my employer. I would only be asking for assistance with extra childcare expenses that would occur due to my schooling.
So where do you get off calling someone like me lazy because I dare to ask for help? Sure there are scammers, but not everyone is a freeloader. Some people honestly need help and shaming them really does nothing but harm.
Guess what I WORKED FULL TIME plus had a per-diem job AND Went to school full time, for both of my degrees and am working 70+ hours while I obtain my RN-BSN so that I can pay for it myself, never would I expect someone else to pay for my living expenses or education! It can be done. Bless you for being a mother, it is hard work, but you made the choice to have children, why should someone else have to use their hard earned money to pay for your choices in life? Take out loans like the rest of us, don't expect someone else to pay for your life choices, that it not right!
No one else HAS TO. People have a choice whether to give or not. But why are you so offended by the mere asking? Would you be this upset by my applying for a scholarship? (Which I have done and will do.)
This seems to be turning into a peeing contest about who worked harder and did more. Asking for help is not wrong, and people are always free to say no.
No one else HAS TO. People have a choice whether to give or not. But why are you so offended by the mere asking? Would you be this upset by my applying for a scholarship? (Which I have done and will do.)
This seems to be turning into a peeing contest about who worked harder and did more. Asking for help is not wrong, and people are always free to say no.
I also think it is a generational thing. To give the appearance of public begging is anathema to certain generations who were raised to believe that one should always live within one's means and not expect public hand-outs.
Comparison to application for public scholarships is like comparing an apple to an orange: Scholarships are out there to be applied for. They do not require anyone to dig into their personal wallets to contribute.
After reading the responses on this thread, I am seriously convinced that we are currently observing a sea change in the way that Americans view life, individual responsibility and society at large.
I don't think I'm part of the "certain generations" LOL, but I know my parents and grandparents certainly would be mortified to DEATH if I were to be out begging for money. And *I* would be mortified to death to have anyone see me doing it. Frankly, I wouldn't BE doing it. Combination of strong work ethic and strong personal pride would prevent me from ever considering it.
But maybe the lure of the online begging is simply because it feels like people aren't 'watching', they can't see you standing there with the coin can, so....maybe it feels anonymous enough to have it more comfortable. I don't know, just guessing.
Scholarships are a completely, ENTIRELY different thing. A scholarship is put forth by a individual, a business, a school, etc as an OFFERING to whoever they feel deserves it most. It's an application process, and money is awarded to whoever is the best, smartest, most qualified, most....whatever the heck the scholarship is for. And that scholarship is always for a specific use, it cannot be re-purposed for something else, such as is so VERY easily done with online donation sites. Someone thinks they are donating to your tuition, but you really felt a new car would be best (after all, have to get to school somehow, right?). Not what the donor intended, but....there it is.
Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
I contributed twice: once was for a dog (or a cat, I forget) which had been tortured then rescued, but needed extensive veterinary care. The other time was for that school bus monitor who was tormented by the kids on the bus. The funds were supposed to go to help her be able to retire. She got far more than was expected, and I remember seeing her on an interview say that she would be using a good chunk of the money for charitable causes. I believed her.
Now that people are crowd funding for stuff like weddings, honeymoons, houses, cars, etc., I am really leery of donating, even for what look like "good causes." People have abused the good-will of others, ruining what was initially a good idea.
Oh, BTW, I'm setting up a GoFundMe account for myself. I have always wanted a pair of 1ct white gold diamond studs.
I've also contributed twice. Once for a friend making a documentary about his life with breast cancer (and many other men with breast cancer) whom has since passed away. Movie still needs to be finished, though. A beautiful and poignant film to bring awareness that breast cancer isn't just a "pink ribbon" disease.
Another donation I made for a local woman who was diagnosed with ALS midway through her pregnancy. She and her husband are fire fighters/EMS and their medical bills after the first few weeks had surpassed her coverage.
I think crowd funding in some situations can be a great thing.
Specializes in Adult and Pediatric Vascular Access, Paramedic.
No one else HAS TO. People have a choice whether to give or not. But why are you so offended by the mere asking? Would you be this upset by my applying for a scholarship? (Which I have done and will do.)
This seems to be turning into a peeing contest about who worked harder and did more. Asking for help is not wrong, and people are always free to say no.
I am ashamed that this country has come to this, thats why I am offended. I am ashamed that people are no longer embarrassed to ask for things to be handed to them by begging people for money instead of working harder to earn what they want. You can't expect, as an adult, to have things handed to you anymore! In my opinion begging people for money to finance whatever lifestyle you chose, to include being a parent, shows you have not grown up into adulthood yet. Mommy and daddy may have handed you everything as a child, but now its time to work hard to play hard and that includes paying your own way through life and school!!
It is one thing if someone has an unexpected fire and their house burns down, an animal needs surgery, or a person has a sudden severe unexpected illness that takes them out of work, but to beg for money for yourself to pay for life, is just despicable.
You can't expect, as an adult, to have things handed to you anymore! In my opinion begging people for money to finance whatever lifestyle you chose, to include being a parent, shows you have not grown up into adulthood yet. Mommy and daddy may have handed you everything as a child, but now its time to work hard to play hard and that includes paying your own way through life and school!!
I think I'm just going to drop out of this thread, because I seem to be provoking emotional (and extraordinarily rude) responses from you that are way out of proportion to the discussion.
psu_213, BSN, RN
3,878 Posts
I find it interesting that this individual has not been back to defend their choices since he/she was informed that her "tax deductible" statement was unethical (and perhaps illegal).