GoFundMe Central Coast: The most successful local crowdfunding campaigns
From unspeakable tragedies to inspirational triumphs; crowd-funding has become big business. But not all fundraisers are created equal. Read an insider’s insights and tips for success here.
Central Coast
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Crowd-funding has become the modern day equivalent of lemonade stands, bake stalls and passing the hat around but on unmatched economies of scale.
But not all online fundraisers hit their mark.
In an exclusive interview GoFundMe Australia director Nicola Britton shares some of her insights and tips for a successful crowd-funding campaign, including what’s set to become the next big thing.
The Avoca Beach resident said the Central Coast had always been a generous community and the current crop of local online fundraisers reflected national and global trends towards “medical and memorial” appeals.
Ms Britton said in times of great need these fundraisers reflected a community’s desire to “wrap their arms” around people experiencing trauma or loss.
But she said as people became more comfortable sharing their stories, fundraisers were becoming more diverse.
Besides becoming the world’s largest online fundraiser, GoFundMe has also become somewhat of a barometer of public sentiment since it was formed in California in 2010.
Ms Britton said the company got “an early sense or indication” of what was happening across communities at a grassroots level based on the types of fundraisers people started, with “cost of living” becoming a common theme.
She said skyrocketing housing prices and rental shortages had seen a proliferation of fundraisers for people just looking to get into short term accommodation, through to alternatives such as caravans or tents.
Ms Britton said fundraisers had also emerged to save some struggling but much-loved small businesses, a trend which was borne out of Covid.
The top five GoFundMe fundraisers for the Central Coast since January 2016 have amassed more than $700,000 collectively for their respective causes.
Predictably two of the top five campaigns were “memorial” and marked the loss of loved ones including filmmaker and father Ollie Khedun, who died in 2020 and aspiring soccer player Archie King, 12, who died in a tragic crash in February 2021.
Those campaigns have raised $166,125 and $93,195 respectively.
Two others were “medical” fundraisers to help support families’ spiralling hospital costs including the most successful campaign on the coast for baby, Rumi Willis Cooper which raised $235,804 before donations were turned off by the organiser.
The other for father-of-two Jack Lewis has raised $98,535.
Rounding out the top five fundraisers on the coast was an appeal to cover the legal costs for a whistleblower who’s being sued for allegedly breaching a confidentiality agreement, which raised $107,487.
Ms Britton said there were a number of things people needed to remember to give their fundraisers the best possible chance of success.
“The more support you want the more details you should share,” Ms Britton said.
“People who know you, will know your backstory.”
Ms Britton said if people wanted others to share their fundraiser widely on social media it was important they gave people unfamiliar with the cause a good overview of why they were raising money and not be afraid to share their “vulnerability and honesty”.
She said the same was true for providing regular updates on how the cause was going, such as a person’s progress in treatment and a “really clear overview of how you’re going to spend the funds”.
Ms Britton said photographs and videos were also important.
Going forward Ms Britton said GoFundMe was seeing an increase in fundraisers for “ambitious children” hoping to further their sporting dreams by competing overseas or looking for crowd-funding sponsorship for training or equipment.
Ms Britton said fundraisers had already started to emerge for hopefuls looking to make it to the Brisbane Olympics in 2032.
20 OF THE TOP ACTIVE FUNDRAISERS ON THE COAST
1/. Please help Link & Pin to keep afloat ($27,125 raised to date)
Small but popular Woy Woy cafe that supports live music is still struggling after two lockdowns and recent run of bad weather. It is appealing for anyone who has seen a free gig at the cafe to chip in as little as $5.
2/. Reuben and his family on the road to recovery ($7120)
Reuben was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia at the age of four. His parents celebrated when he “rang the bell” to symbolise he was in remission in 2019 but at the age of seven he relapsed in August of this year. The fundraiser hopes to help his parents and possibly include a holiday if and when Reuben is well enough.
3/. Jett fighter 50km walk ($6975)
Central Coast 13-year-old Jett was rushed to hospital when he lost his vision on a trip to see his grandmother in Mackay, Queensland. Scans showed he had a tennis ball tumour and a cyst on his brain. Fundraiser hopes to help his single mum with medical and other expenses.
4/. Central Coast kids in need (Emmy’s support) ($8945)
Darren Clark is swimming a marathon to raise funds for Central Coast Kinds In Need, which continues to help him and his family with support for his daughter Emmy who was born in June with heart and respiratory issues.
5/. Help me get to Perth for chasing better throwdown ($1870)
CrossFit athlete Jade Batten from The Entrance is looking to compete in a CrossFit tournament in Perth against some of the sport’s top female athletes. But given very few CrossFit athletes can survive off sponsorship or prizemoney, Ms Batten is turning to crowd funding.
6/. Cathy Arman cremation and memorial expenses ($1540)
The executor of Wally’s Doggie Rescue Founder Cathy Arman’s estate is looking for assistance after Ms Arman died suddenly in September. The fundraiser is looking to cover outstanding funeral costs and rehoming of her six dogs with any remaining fund to go to Wally’s Doggie Rescue.
7/. Making it count for Marts! ($11,290)
Central Coast mum Martine was diagnosed with leukaemia and needs to have a bone-marrow transplant with a match found overseas. The fundraiser is supporting her partner and four children in what will be a long journey ahead.
8/. In loving memory of Brendan Horgan ($11,820)
Wattagan dad-of-three Brendan died following complications from heart surgery in September. The fundraiser has been launched to support his wife and children going forward.
9/. Chloe Richards funeral and family ($20,925)
Chloe Richards, of The Entrance, died after her car left the M1 motorway and crashed into a tree at Kangy Angy in September. Her cousin launched a fundraiser to help Ms Richards’ family cover her funeral costs.
10/. Need a van to feed homeless Central Coast kids! ($2570)
Joe Arena is raising funds for Care 4 Coast to help the charity to buy a van to get food to homeless families on the coast. The van will also be used transport furniture, white goods and other donations to where they are needed most.
11/. Assistance dog Frankie ($2395)
A fundraiser was launched to help Bronwyn King to cover the vet bills for her assistance dog Frankie who underwent surgery to fix a badly broken leg. Ms King is a disability pensioner who did not ask for help but cannot afford the $10,000 out of pocket expenses.
12/. Please help SoCares Central Coast Animal Shelters ($8348)
Registered charity that runs the animal shelters at Erina and Charmhaven is raising money after “unprecedented” circumstances has seen demand soar and funding diminish. It says it needs $20,000 urgently just to get it through to Christmas.
13/. Ava and Natalia UK football tour ($3700)
Football-mad Central Coast teens Ava and Natalia have opportunity to play football in the UK and France in January 2023 but need help getting there.
14/. Help Brendan Cassidy get his kidney transplant ($33,265)
At only 24, Brendan Cassidy was diagnosed with rare form of kidney disease, Good Pastures Syndrome, last year which has left him with total kidney failure. His only hope is finding a compatible kidney transplant in time.
15/. A memorial in honour of Leigh Black ($16,916)
The Entrance local Leigh Black, 46, tragically lost her life after she was hit by a bus as she was walking across pedestrian crossing at Bateau Bay Square shopping centre. Her family and friends have launched a fundraiser to create a park or upgrade a local playground in her memory.
16/. Supporting Rob Seddon The good Samaritan ($21,154)
Rob Seddon was violently attacked in an unprovoked incident as he came to the aid of a car accident victim outside his home at Hamlyn Terrace in August. The 63-year-old was punched and hit his head on the ground, suffering a major brain injury.
17/. Youth Boxing Program ($1550)
G-Six Boxing has established a program for underprivileged youth on the Central Coast but, given the amount of charity work it does, the gym says it needs assistance to continue to offer the service for free.
18/. Help Mia get to Karate Commonwealth Championships ($2470)
Karate prodigy Mia, of Blue Haven, has been training since she was six and now aged 16 has her sights set on representing Australia in Birmingham at the Commonwealth Championship.
19/. Love for the Lewis’ ($22,350)
Terrigal dad-of-two Jack Lewis was diagnosed with terminal spine and brain cancer and only given weeks to live. But he managed to beat the cancer into remission only for it to return as virulent as ever. This fundraiser is to help his family with medical and ongoing expenses.
Six-year old Darcy Clack, of Terrigal, experienced three cardiac arrests after running a 50m race at her school’s sports carnival in June 2022. She spent the following week in The Children’s Hospital at Westmead undergoing tests and without private health insurance the family is struggling with the costs.
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