The Drum Awards for Marketing - Extended Deadline

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By Laurie Fullerton, Freelance Writer

October 24, 2016 | 2 min read

GoFundMe, the world's largest social fundraising platform, announced that it has reached more than $3 billion raised by its giving community of over 25 million donors. This fundraising milestone comes on the heels of campaigns that have delivered help to educators and their classrooms, families affected by illness or disaster, and community members in need.

As an example, GoFundMe's giving community has come together to support those who need help time and again, including raising more than $11m for those affected by the Louisiana floods and $7.8m for the victims of the Pulse shooting in Orlando. Viral campaigns like Chicago's Fidencio the Paleta Man and Memphis's Chauncy's Chance drew generosity from donors around the world and inspired dozens of similar campaigns to changes the lives of others.

Despite its success, GoFundMe campaigns have some critics including the New York Times who claimed that 'we are entering a new phase of philanthropy called 'giving gone wild' where giving now comes from the bottom up instead of from established organizations like the Red Cross.

GoFundMe founder Rob Solomon writes that "much like critics condemned the viability of sharing a ride in a stranger’s car or staying in a room at someone else’s home, the New York Times article questions why we should consider funding personal causes versus giving to traditional charities like the Red Cross," he wrote.

"People should give to traditional charities and to the personal causes that exist within their social network. “Giving Gone Wild” will not only provide new channels for individuals to raise funds, but will also increase the velocity by which connected consumers around the globe give to traditional charities," he added.

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