Crowdfunding: What Americans think, according to an AP-NORC poll

An AP-NORC poll found about 2 in 10 U.S. adults donated to crowdfunding campaigns last year, with medical expenses the most common cause; many Americans expressed only limited confidence in platform fees and campaign accountability.

An AP-NORC poll reports that roughly 2 in 10 U.S. adults gave to a crowdfunding campaign last year, often to help cover medical costs. Crowdfunding platforms such as GoFundMe are used for emergency treatment, funerals, daily necessities, veterinary care and disaster relief. Donors tend to give small amounts and campaigns often rely on personal networks and social sharing to reach goals. The article notes both the convenience of online fundraising and concerns about fees, oversight and broader gaps in health coverage that drive people to seek donations. Key findings: - About 2 in 10 U.S. adults reported donating to a crowdfunding campaign last year. - Medical expenses were the most common category; about 4 in 10 crowdfunding donors said their last donation went to medical or health-related needs. - About 6 in 10 crowdfunding donors gave $50 or less when they last supported a campaign. - Only 44% of U.S. adults were at least "somewhat" confident that crowdfunding sites charge reasonable service fees. - More than half were at least "somewhat" confident that people who raise money through crowdfunding truly need the funds, and about half were at least "somewhat" confident that funds are used responsibly, but only about 1 in 10 were "very" or "extremely" confident. - The AP-NORC poll surveyed 1,146 adults Dec. 4-8 using NORC's probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel; the margin of sampling error for adults overall is plus or minus 4 percentage points. Summary: The poll shows crowdfunding plays a modest but visible role in helping people meet medical and other personal expenses, supported largely by small-dollar donations and personal networks. Public skepticism about platform fees and campaign accountability is notable. Undetermined at this time.