GoFundMe: essentials fundraisers surged in 2025 amid affordability strain
GoFundMe reported a surge in 2025 of fundraisers seeking basic living expenses — a 17% rise in U.S. campaigns for rent, groceries, housing and fuel — with top campaign keywords including “work,” “home,” “food,” “bill” and “care.” The company said “monthly bills” was the second-fastest growing category behind nonprofit appeals, CEO Tim Cadogan said more people are turning to the site to cover rent and immediate expenses, and related campaigns spiked sixfold during a 43‑day government shutdown that halted SNAP distributions.
📌 Key Facts
- GoFundMe reported a 17% rise in U.S. fundraisers for basic necessities (rent, groceries, housing, fuel) in 2025; earlier reports had cited a 20% increase.
- Top keywords appearing in 2025 U.S. campaigns were “work,” “home,” “food,” “bill,” and “care.”
- “Monthly bills” was the second fastest-growing campaign category on the platform in 2025, behind nonprofit appeals.
- GoFundMe CEO Tim Cadogan said more people are turning to the platform to cover rent and other immediate monthly expenses.
- There was a sixfold jump in related campaigns during the 43-day U.S. government shutdown when SNAP benefit distributions were halted.
- Overall, the platform saw a surge in fundraisers for essentials in 2025 amid affordability pressures affecting households.
📊 Relevant Data
In 2024, the poverty rate for Black Americans was 18.4%, which is 2.4 times the rate for non-Hispanic White Americans at approximately 7.7%, while Black Americans constitute about 13.6% of the US population and non-Hispanic White Americans about 58.9%.
The Racial Gap in Poverty Rates in the United States Is Expanding — The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education
In 2023, food insecurity rates were 23.3% for Black households and 21.9% for Latinx households, more than double the rate for White households at approximately 10.9%.
Hunger & Poverty in America — Food Research & Action Center
In 2023, 57% of Black renter households and 53% of Hispanic renter households were housing cost-burdened (spending more than 30% of income on housing), compared to 46% of White renter households.
Four Key Findings from the 2025 State of the Nation's Housing Report — Enterprise Community Partners
Racial disparities in poverty are influenced by factors such as lower educational proficiency and limited college readiness in communities of color.
New 2024 Data Highlights Ongoing Economic Disparities Faced By Black People Due to Systemic Discrimination — Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies
As of 2022, the US population by race/ethnicity is approximately 58.9% non-Hispanic White, 13.6% Black, 18.9% Hispanic, and 6.1% Asian.
US population by year, race, age, ethnicity, & more — USAFacts
📰 Sources (2)
- CBS reports a 17% rise in U.S. fundraisers for necessities (rent, groceries, housing, fuel) in 2025, versus prior reports citing 20%.
- Top keywords in 2025 U.S. campaigns included “work,” “home,” “food,” “bill,” and “care.”
- “Monthly bills” ranked as the second fastest-growing category, behind nonprofit appeals.
- CEO Tim Cadogan says more people are turning to GoFundMe to cover rent and immediate monthly expenses.
- Reiterates a sixfold jump in related campaigns during the 43-day U.S. government shutdown when SNAP distributions were halted.