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GoFundMe launches fundraising for 1.4m+ nonprofits without permission

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GoFundMe scraped public IRS data to create donation pages for over 1.4m U.S. nonprofits - including their logos and options for ongoing monthly donations - without their consent.  They stood to make millions off of platform fees until a couple folks noticed it and raised a stink.  

https://abc7news.com/post/gofundme-created-14-million-donation-pages-nonprofits-bay-area-organizations-had-no-clue/18013410/

They've now reversed course on the suggested 15-17% "platform tip" default - but otherwise acting like it's all just normal.

https://thenonprofittimes.com/npt_articles/breaking-gofundme-reversing-course-on-nonprofit-pages/

2 hours ago, sasquatch69 said:

GoFundMe scraped public IRS data to create donation pages for over 1.4m U.S. nonprofits - including their logos and options for ongoing monthly donations - without their consent.  They stood to make millions off of platform fees until a couple folks noticed it and raised a stink.  

https://abc7news.com/post/gofundme-created-14-million-donation-pages-nonprofits-bay-area-organizations-had-no-clue/18013410/

They've now reversed course on the suggested 15-17% "platform tip" default - but otherwise acting like it's all just normal.

https://thenonprofittimes.com/npt_articles/breaking-gofundme-reversing-course-on-nonprofit-pages/

I mean. Shady AF. But win/win?

1 minute ago, SydneyCarton said:

I mean. Shady AF. But win/win?

Kinda where I'm at. If they actually raise the money, isn't the 10% worth it? 90% of 0 you had coming in via this method before is still 0

1 minute ago, UTPhil2006 said:

Kinda where I'm at. If they actually raise the money, isn't the 10% worth it? 90% of 0 you had coming in via this method before is still 0

I mean, there's a legal concept of "consent" which none of these guys agreed to use their company logo, etc. That is a big deal. That being it seems like an agreement could be struck as well. As opposed to "Give the money back and we're going to sue the fuck out of you" which might net more money anyway. 

For one thing, that is pretty classic trademark infringement or false designation of origin.

Even if it was a superficially benign purpose (of course it's not, it's for the vig).

3 minutes ago, SydneyCarton said:

I mean, there's a legal concept of "consent" which none of these guys agreed to use their company logo, etc. That is a big deal. That being it seems like an agreement could be struck as well. As opposed to "Give the money back and we're going to sue the fuck out of you" which might net more money anyway. 

Also, some people might have googled giving money to some non-profit then given it to the GoFundMe version with the tip instead of straight through the non-profits website which meant they lost out on some % of the earnings.

Or the non-profit had plans for a major fund-raising drive in the not so distant future and gofundme jumped the gun.  When the big fundraiser kicks off, the public at large is like "Hey fuckers, didn't you just beg for money last month?"

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