GoFundMe's "Year in Help" report details a 20% surge in campaigns for essential needs like food, housing, and utilities across English-speaking markets, reflecting widespread concerns over rising living costs.This increase stems from slower wage growth and higher unemployment, with food banks becoming top recipients and monthly bills a fast-growing category, notably intensified by a federal government shutdown that prompted a sixfold rise in related food fundraisers.GoFundMe CEO
Tim Cadogan lauded the sustained generosity, which
Iesha Shepard experienced firsthand, while researcher
Martin Lukk described crowdfunding as a crucial "barometer of desperation" and a vital safety net.