GoFundMe has become the go-to crowdfunding platform for those facing imminent financial burdens. That has been especially true during the pandemic: from March 1, 2020, to Aug. 31, 2020, more than 9 million donations raised $625 million for COVID-19-related hardships—though CEO Tim Cadogan has repeatedly said he would rather governments, not his company, provide a social safety net. (GoFundMe takes a 2.9% processing fee from each donation.) 2020 also saw the most donations ever for one campaign: more than 500,000 people raised nearly $15 million for the Official George Floyd Memorial Fund.
More Must-Reads From TIME
- The 100 Most Influential People of 2024
- The Revolution of Yulia Navalnaya
- 6 Compliments That Land Every Time
- What's the Deal With the Bitcoin Halving?
- If You're Dating Right Now, You're Brave: Column
- The AI That Could Heal a Divided Internet
- Fallout Is a Brilliant Model for the Future of Video Game Adaptations
- Want Weekly Recs on What to Watch, Read, and More? Sign Up for Worth Your Time