Gofundme 'always on the lookout for concerning behaviours' says CEO  

Avery Horne who set up ‘Help Ukrainians with Disabilities’ and Gofundme CEO Tim Cadogan with Mabel and Aldo from Dogs Aid, another of the beneficiaries of donations on the online platform. Picture: Rolling News

The head of online fundraising platform Gofundme has said his organisation is always on the lookout for “concerning” behaviours and, in extreme cases, will shut fundraising pages down and return money to donors.

Tim Cadogan said human nature “means not everyone is always well intentioned so around the edges there is sometimes misuse”.

He was speaking at a conference in Dublin, which heard that Gofundme in Ireland has received 5m donations — raising around a quarter of a billion euro — over the past six years.

Mr Cadogan told delegates that raising money on Gofundme involves rigorous security checks. 

He said: “This is our European headquarters with 50 people. 

A big chunk of the team works on security. They are looking for strange behaviours. We have been doing this for 12 years, with $25bn raised, we have seen our fair share of strange behaviours. 

“It is a very robust service and in extreme cases we have closed pages down and we will always return the money to the donors.”

The conference heard that there are 19 countries involved in Gofundme, with Ireland the one that gives most to community.

One Cork campaigner told the Irish Examiner how she is trying to raise funds for migrant centres in the city through Gofundme.

Sinéad Mulry from Douglas is aiming to raise around €10,000 for Christmas presents for families living in direct provision. The 29-year-old recently graduated from the International Development course in UCC and receives support from others on campus.

She said: “Every year, we organise Christmas parties for, now 11 direct provision centres (last year was seven) in Cork for the children in these centres. We do this so these children can have Christmas presents every year.

“UCC lecturers, students, and friends have been organising these community events every year since direct provision centres existed. As it is known that direct provision centres don’t have the best living conditions and these DP parties helps a lot with the families.

We completely rely on public funding to run these parties and provide volunteers and presents for the children in these centres.

One filmmaker told the Irish Examiner how the platform was a “gamechanger” for him when it came to producing his first feature.

Brendan Hayes, 44, from Bantry in Co Cork spent years making TV documentaries when he decided to produce a film. However, the project went over budget and he needed an extra €2,000 before he turned to the crowdfunding platform for help.

“It is a local independent film set in West Cork and based on the murder of a government minister,” Mr Hayes said. “I decided I’d launch a Gofundme. We have raised €520 so far.”

On Friday, Mr Hayes said he was “blown away” to receive a cheque for €200 from Hollywood actor Jeremy Irons who also lives in Cork.

“I couldn’t believe it” he said. “It is a fantastic opportunity for us.

“The fundraising element is hugely overwhelming — to think that people will support initiatives like this and other Gofundme projects, the generosity is surprising, there are people that have funded the project that I never expected would.”