(Minnesota) — December 5th, 2023 — GoFundMe released its 2023 Year in Help report, highlighting stories of resilience, the most generous communities, and fundraising data. The report reveals the impact of more than 30 million people who gave or received help on GoFundMe this year. People started fundraisers for various causes, including paying off student loans, keeping businesses open, caring for animals, and rebuilding after natural disasters.
Also included was the list of the top most generous cities in the US. Minneapolis is the number 7 most generous city for supporting individuals, causes, and organizations this year.
Here are some notable fundraisers in Minneapolis this year:
- They stole everything: club trailer taken: More than $19,000 was raised to help the Minneapolis City SC soccer team after their game day equipment trailer was stolen.
- Help Cake Catch Up: Cat Polivoda of Cake Plus-Size Resale , a brick and mortar thrift shop known for its dedication to being inclusive to customers of all sizes, was in need of help as they continued to struggle from the effects of the pandemic. More than $22,000 was raised to keep the business open.
- Help Dance City Get to Las Vegas!: The community raised nearly $26,000 to help Dance City, a north Minneapolis-based competition dance studio, make it to the StarPower Dance Competition in Las Vegas!
- TikTok influencer Jimmy Darts helped several Minnesota residents, including raising more than $34,000 for a struggling mom in Minneapolis to raising more than $69K for a homeless veteran in Walker.
- Helping the Honmyhrs: The Minneapolis community came together to help raise more than $76,000 for a local family whose home was discovered to have black mold at the same time they learned their son has leukemia.
Additionally, Here are some ways Minneapolis locals support their neighborhoods during the holidays
- Holiday Party of the Century : A Lucy Craft Laney Elementary teacher kicked off her annual fundraiser to hold a holiday party for the children at her school. She hopes to have the party on December 16th (before Winter Break). Walton shared that many of the children are underprivileged,so she hopes to provide lunch and a gift bag.
- Christmas Gifts for the Homeless: Sierra Toedter started a GoFundMe to raise money for Christmas gifts to give to the homeless population, a tradition she started with her family two years ago.
- Support WE WIN Institute’s Holiday Toy Give-Away!: WE WIN Institute, a local nonprofit, community-based organization dedicated to the academic and social success of kids, is fundraising ahead of their Toy Give-Away on Saturday, December 16th. Guests are invited to choose free toys, free books by Black authors, free hats & mittens, and free food for friends and family.
In the US, people turned to GoFundMe in response to macroeconomic challenges and societal shifts, including:
- The end of pandemic-era meal programs in schools. Fundraisers started for lunch debt increased 4.5x in 2023.
- The end of student loan payment forgiveness. Fundraisers for student loan debt increased 40% in October compared to the previous year.
- Increased needs for seniors and their families. Senior care fundraisers increased nearly 10% YoY.
To view the full GoFundMe Year in Help report, visit: gofundme.com/2023.
About GoFundMe:
GoFundMe is a trusted global leader in online fundraising with the mission of helping people help each other. Our vision is to become the most helpful place in the world. In 2022, GoFundMe acquired Classy, a leading nonprofit fundraising software company. Together, we have empowered people and organizations to raise more than $25 billion since 2010. To learn more, visit us at GoFundMe.com, and find us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
