Crowd-funding: Most popular campaigns, generous town revealed

Australians’ generosity in donating to worthy causes has been recognised as ‘nothing short of remarkable’ as the most popular campaigns of 2020 are revealed.

A regional Queensland town best known for its rum has been named the most generous place in Australia.

Measured on the number of donations made per capita, Bundaberg has taken out the gong.

According to GoFundMe’s annual report 2020 Year in Giving, the town was followed by Wagga Wagga, Mackay, Mandurah and Launceston.

Bundaberg was named the most generous town. Picture: News Regional Media

A campaign to help save Kangaroo Island’s koalas and wildlife received the most donations in Australia through the fundraising platform this year, smashing its initial target of $15,000 by raising $2,693,720 as of Wednesday.

It’s become the second biggest national campaign on GoFundMe.

Bushfire fundraising was prominent in the top five list, with the ‘Fire Relief Fund First Nations Communities’ campaign coming in second, raising $1.88 million.

GoFundMe revealed 1.3 million donations were made by Australians in 2020, up 30 per cent from 2019.

Donations to community fundraisers more than doubled - up 124 per cent.

Bushfires relief campaigns were common on GoFundMe in 2020. Picture: Brenton Davis

More than $31 million was donated in January alone — raised by 450,000 donors — for Black Summer bushfire recovery.

More than $6 million was donated to Indigenous rights causes, with this year’s donations tripling from 2019.

GoFundMe Australia regional manager Nicola Britton said the response from everyday Australians making donations was “nothing short of remarkable”.

“At the heart of the response is community. Community means something different for each and every Australian - we have seen community generosity in ways not witnessed before,” she said.

“The power of collective action saw Australians stand together to drive unparalleled generosity to help loved ones, neighbours and strangers in need.

“The trends seen on GoFundMe can often be an early warning sign of emerging societal issues, of a group of citizens falling through the cracks.

“This year saw more Australians turn to crowd-funding for needs that fall outside of traditional government or charitable support, from stranded travellers covering quarantine fees to return home, to bushfire-impacted farmers in need of fencing and PPE for frontline medical professionals.”

The GoFundMe pages launched this year that received the most donations in Australia:

1. Help save Kangaroo Islands Koalas and wildlife ($2.69m)

2. CLOSED: Fire Relief Fund First Nations Communities ($1.88m)

3. Aussie Influencers for Australia ($580,132)

4. Australian Bushfire Appeal ($382,055)

5. Save Lentil As Anything ($373,985)

Top GoFundMe campaigns launched in 2020 in each state:

South Australia:

1. Help save Kangaroo Islands Koalas and wildlife ($2.6m)

2. Help Rebuild Kangaroo Island's Koala Sanctuary ($298k)

3. Kangaroo Island Bushfire Support Fund ($129k)

4. Kangaroo Island Mayor’s Bushfire Appeal Fund ($110k)

5. Kangaroo Island – Paul's Place animal fire relief ($79k)

6. Saving the Kangaroo Island dunnart from extinction ($69k)

7. Help support the Stevens family ($60k)

8. Help Save Covie ($60k)

9. Claxton Family ($59k)

10. Make Garry Great Again ($54k)

New South Wales:

1. F45 Bushfire Appeal ($571k)

2. Aussie Influencers for Australia ($580k)

3. Dacre Montgomery's Bushfire Appeal ($382k)

4. Love and gratitude for Torie Finnane ($328k)

5. Cobargo Community Bushfire Recovery Fund ($244k)

Victoria:

1. Fire Relief Fund First Nations Communities ($1.8m)

2. Save Lentil As Anything ($373k)

3. Skipper's Shave: $50k before Friday ($370k)

4. Jarrod Fox and Family ($250k)

5. Help the Devasia Family ($201k)

Queensland:

1. Nixon's Hope for a Cure against Neuroblastoma ($346k)

2. Ashleigh Conwell and her beautiful babies ($260k)

3. Grosvenor LW Boys ($215k)

4. Koala Crisis, Bushfire Recovery ($212k)

5. Help for the Turner family ($216k)

Western Australia:

1. Jim and Sabine Mather Children's Fund ($152k)

2. Christopher's Brain Tumour Treatment ($127k)

3. The Morrell Family: Medical Fight Fund ($120k)

4. The Hewett’s ($119k)

5. 4 Little Brazilians Orphans in Perth ($118k)

Tasmania:

1. Show Hope ($91k)

2. Cha Cha for Charity ($42k)

3. Harvey Trotter Kicking Cancer ($39k)

4. Help Bec fight breast cancer ($29k)

5. Help Robyn fight cancer ($29k)

Northern Territory:

1. Jason Hill – His last Moto! ($40k)

2. Jingellic and surrounding fires ($30k)

3. Ami's gift for Mum and Dad ($26k)

4. Jimmy Marshall disabled pensioner attack in Malak ($20k)

5. Bring Sam's Family Home to the Alice ($20k)