MEMPHIS, Tenn. — From medical expenses to mission trips, more and more consumers are using crowdfunding sites to raise money.
Kickstarter lets entrepreneurs finance their dreams and it’s “bye bye bake sale” with sites like SNAP for school fundraising.
One of the most popular sites for crowdfunding campaigns is GoFundMe.
Nicka Smith is an area photographer.
“I’ve seen people just ask for flat out pay for my honeymoon!”
She said lots of couples utilize crowdfunding as a gift option.
“If they want additional things like prints, albums, the guests will contribute to that,” explained Smith of ns2 Photography.
According to GoFundMe, it’s Weddings & Honeymoons category has raised more than $3.7 million across roughly 26,000 campaigns.
Medical is even more popular.
Jason and Wunita Spigner of Cordova recently raised more than $5,500 to help offset their expenses for In Vitro Fertilization.
Both work two jobs, and insurance just doesn’t cover enough.
“It’s gotten out there and it”s awesome,” said Wunita of the response and support.
More importantly though, it’s helped to raise awareness about a serious issue and Wunita said they now realize they’re not alone.
“It makes you feel a little bit better and like it’s not just me.”
However, for every story like the Spigners’ there are thousands of questionable campaigns.
Daniel Post Senning is with the Emily Post Institute.
“There are some things that I simply would not ask for money for online,” he said.
WREG asked him, are there cases where people clearly cross the line?
“If that thing seems frivolous, if it seems too self-interested or self-obsessed, I would advise people to avoid making that ask,” Senning said.
He also said good campaigns will always follow up.
“Tell them how successful the campaign was, what you did with the money and really, most importantly, that you thank them for their donation.”
Ellen Roberds of Livable Memphis works with IOBY, a group that prides itself on doing just that.
“You get some assurance that the money is going where they say the money is going to go.”
It’s site features stories about each campaign that includes pictures, a timeline of information and donations are tax deductible.
It calls itself a crowd “resourcing” platform, where people can raise smaller amounts of money for projects that can make a big impact in their community.
For example, $1900 in donations turned an eyesore into a sight to see: a garden and outdoor classroom at Carnes Garden.
A second campaign funded a lawnmower for James. He’s a neighbor who volunteered to maintain the garden.
“What crowdfunding does, it allows sort of an expansion of the idea, it allows people to feel like they can do it,” Roberds said.
“The power is in the ability to support your dreams and whatever you’re struggling to get to,” said Jason Spigner.
Without crowd funding, the people we talked to said those dreams might not have ever become reality.