NEW YORK (AP) — The campaign of former President Donald Trump has taken an unconventional approach to gather support for the victims of his July assassination attempt and the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene. Unlike traditional emergency relief efforts, his team is leveraging GoFundMe to connect with both affluent backers and regular donors.
These two noteworthy fundraising initiatives, spearheaded by the Republican candidate’s national finance director, have raised over $14 million. Legal experts confirm that these efforts comply with campaign finance laws, stating that the campaign cannot utilize any of the donations for its own political agenda. A GoFundMe representative informed the Associated Press that most of the funds collected from Butler, Pennsylvania, have already been distributed to those affected.
The use of a crowdfunding platform reflects a unique response to crisis situations from a political campaign. Historically, no major party’s presidential candidate has resorted to a for-profit service like GoFundMe—typically used for personal causes such as medical bills or education expenses—to rally support for external charitable efforts.
“It’s quite unusual and frankly surprising,” commented Brett Kappel, a veteran campaign finance attorney with Harmon Curran, who has advised both sides of the political aisle. Kappel pointed out that candidates usually opt to donate from campaign funds to IRS-approved nonprofits when natural disasters occur. For instance, he highlighted that U.S. Senator Tim Scott contributed to the American Red Cross following Hurricane Ian’s impact on South Carolina.
Trump’s campaign spokesperson, Brian Hughes, explained that the decision was driven by the president’s desire to empower his supporters to contribute directly. He emphasized that while the finance team facilitated the fundraising due to their expertise with large transactions, every dollar collected is intended solely for those affected by the crises. As of October 11, Hughes stated that over $6.5 million out of the $7.7 million raised for Hurricane Helene relief had already been allocated.
GoFundMe charges a transaction fee of 2.9% plus 30 cents for each donation to cover payment processing costs. According to a company spokesperson, the global Trust & Safety team has been in close communication with organizer Meredith O’Rourke to ensure that the donations from the Butler fundraising are distributed appropriately. A verified distribution plan provided by O’Rourke is routine for cases where organizers withdraw money on behalf of others. Experts urge caution regarding campaign finance officials managing crowdfunding initiatives while simultaneously handling campaign funds. According to Andrew Herman, a campaign finance lawyer in Washington, a more appropriate strategy would have been to guide supporters toward established nonprofits due to the lesser regulation surrounding online crowdfunding. “There’s no specific law prohibiting this, but it raises concerns about financial practices,” Herman remarked. Concerning updates on fund distribution, Hughes indicated that earlier disbursements from the Butler campaign were made in early October, with more payouts pending as the fundraising page remains active. He asserted that the “vast majority” of funds have gone to the families of the three victims shot, and some had even been allocated to a local crane rental company that suffered business losses due to the police investigation involving the rally equipment. Funds raised for Hurricane Helene victims will assist four different nonprofits. A spokesperson for Samaritan’s Purse expressed gratitude for Trump’s steadfast support of their humanitarian work, although the exact amount donated was not disclosed. Water Mission, which builds safe water solutions in disaster-affected areas, confirmed receipt of funds as well, but did not reveal the total amount. Mtn2Sea Ministries, known for providing generators and supplies immediately following disasters, reported on Facebook that it received $25,000 to purchase gift cards from local businesses as a means of helping those in need directly. Trump’s fundraising strategy aligns with a broader skepticism towards traditional institutions, according to Benjamin Soskis from the Urban Institute’s Center on Nonprofits and Philanthropy. He explained that GoFundMe’s appeal originates from its alternative nature compared to conventional charitable giving structures. However, Soskis warned that crowdfunding often lacks the transparency associated with public charities, which are obligated to disclose financial information annually. Trump’s previous philanthropic controversies, including a $2 million fine for misusing his dissolved charitable foundation for personal interests, have likely intensified scrutiny of his fundraising efforts. “The intersection of campaigning and charitable giving creates a volatile situation,” Soskis concluded. “When you add the complexities of crowdfunding to Trump’s own checkered philanthropic past, it further complicates matters.” Coverage of philanthropy and nonprofits by the Associated Press is supported through a collaboration with The Conversation US and funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP retains full responsibility for the content. For all of AP’s coverage on philanthropy, visit https://apnews.com/hub/philanthropy.___
