10 Sites Where You Can Get Strangers to Give You Money
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These days, asking for money from virtual strangers isn’t anything new.
To meet the demand and connect those who need money now with those who want to donate, lots of new websites have sprouted up.
Others have thrived and solidified a name for themselves as the go-to resource for getting funded.
Editor’s Top Picks
| Company | Description |
| Kickstarter | Best for funding a product or business idea |
| Indiegogo | Best option for nonprofits |
| GoFundMe | Great for raising funds for medical needs |
Why Do People Ask for Money on These Sites?
There are plenty of reasons why people rely on the kindness of cyber strangers, from venturing into a new business from scratch to altruistic reasons, such as helping to cover the costs of a loved one’s medical bills.
Giving a compelling reason for why you need the funds motivates others to donate to your cause.
People want to feel connected to helping others and fostering the human spirit. There’s an actual science behind helping others.
A number of studies showed that spending money on others actually makes us happier, including this one from NPR, which asked two groups of college students to spend money on themselves or on others.
The ones who spent money on someone else said they were happier.
Also, it wasn’t about the amount of money they spent, which ranged from $5 to $20, it was how respondents chose to spend it.
Sites To Ask For Money
Now, armed with this knowledge of why people feel motivated to give, check out the following nine sites where strangers will give you money and a few subreddits that are worth learning about.
1. Kickstarter
- Best for: Those who have a business idea, product or invention
- Funding rules: There’s no partial funding allowed
- Cost: A 5 percent cut of total funds raised, plus payment processing fees of 5 percent and 20 cents per pledge
Launched in 2009, Kickstarter has become a household name in crowdfunding.
Some of the most memorable Kickstarter campaigns include:
- Exploding Kittens (raised over $8M)
- The Pebble Time Watch (raised $20M)
- The Veronica Mars Movie Project (raised $5.7M)
My cousin, who created her own video game, also launched a Kickstarter campaign to get started, raising over $18,000.
The site is geared to products people have created.
The more information you can provide about your project, the better. Kickstarter allows you to customize your own page and add your own videos to make your idea stand out.
Kickstarter outlines clear project eligibility, and your project needs to have a clear timeline from start to finish. Get details for your requirements for projects.
Remember that partial funding doesn’t count, so if your goal is $40,000 and you only raised $10,000, you won’t be able to withdraw that money. Project timelines can be anywhere from 30 to 60 days.
Also, you can’t set up projects that pertain to charity or offer any kind of equity or investment opportunities. Here’s a list of what they don’t allow.
Payments are accepted on Amazon.
2. Indiegogo
- Best for: Individuals and nonprofits
- Funding rules: You can still get your money even if it’s only partially funded
- Cost: 5 percent fee
If you have something interesting to share with the community, Indiegogo is your site. Another popular site to raise money is Indiegogo, which is a few years older than Indiegogo project requirements are different than Kickstarter.
For one, they allow you to set up nonprofit projects and as long as the campaign isn’t illegal, you can post it. Their marketplace is filled with creative and innovative ideas based on tech, design and more. The products posted on Indiegogo may inspire people to buy since it’s not on the mainstream market yet.
If your project is only partially funded, that’s okay too; you can extend your campaign with InDemand, which doesn’t have any fundraising target or deadline limits.
If you’re not able to stick to your shipping schedule, Indiegogo refunds the purchase to buyers.
3. Fundly
- Best for: Anyone
- Funding rules: You can still get your money even if it’s only partially funded
- Cost: Free to create and share your campaign, but they take a 4.9 percent fee from each donation, plus a credit card processing fee of 3 percent
Similar to Indiegogo, Fundly is flexible with the types of campaigns you want to create. The site, which has helped people raise over $330 million, has no restrictions around “raise requirements” and doesn’t have start-up fees either.
When you land on their homepage and before you start your campaign, they ask you to choose whether you are an individual or nonprofit. If you are an individual you can log in using your Facebook account.
If you want to see how others are using the site and what kinds of campaigns are successful, you can filter categories to show everything from the most popular projects to memorials and trips.
Fundly encourages you to provide updates to your supporters, send emails, and post blog-like updates made easily through their app (40 percent of users are on mobile).
Fundly is great because it’s more focused on creating easy ways to connect with people who donate to your project. Partial funding is also allowed, and payments are processed within 24-48 hours of the donation.
4. GoFundMe
- Best for: Individuals
- Funding rules: You can still get your money even if it’s only partially funded
- Cost: A 2.9 percent processing fee and 30 cents per donation
Probably best known for its funding capacity for medical and hospital bills, GoFundMe can help you raise money for just about any fundraising campaign, and there are no deadlines or goal requirements.
You’ll have to state your case and explain why you need others to provide financial donations to you.
GoFundMe is mobile-friendly and is easy to share on social media. Like Crowdfunder, GoFundMe encourages you to give donors consistent updates on your progress outside of just raising the money.
Collectively, users on GoFundMe have raised over $5 billion.
There is a standard processing fee of 2.9 percent and 30 cents per donation fee. You can withdraw your money at any time. If you’re interested in using GoFundMe, read through their FAQ page, which I found pretty handy.
5. Begging Money
- Best for: Individuals who have financial problems
- Funding rules: None
- Cost: Standard PayPal fees for each transaction
Begging Money is a straightforward site that works a little differently than Kickstarter or Indiegogo in that it doesn’t charge any fees for the donations you receive.
You receive the funds through PayPal, and in the sign-up prices, you need to create a PayPal.me link to protect yourself from scammers.
You need to write at least 400 words explaining why you are asking for money and then select the appropriate category for your request.
The requirements for signing up are fairly simple and they encourage you to be sincere and truthful about your situation.
If you want to increase the visibility of your request letter, you can upgrade and pay for this option but know that there are no refunds if you upgrade.
6. FundMyTravel
- Best for: Individuals who need money to travel
- Funding rules: None
- Cost: Free
FundMyTravel was specifically geared to help those who need funds to travel the world. The site was started to help those needing money for travel-focused campaigns.
Based on what was posted from the community on their homepage, most travel-related funds that were fulfilled had to do with volunteering for altruistic causes in poor African countries or continuing one’s education in a foreign country with helping others as the end goal, once that person graduates.
If your cause falls within these parameters, FundMyTravel might be a solid option for you to post your campaign. All you need to do is create your campaign, share it through social media and email, and then get funded.
It’s free to create your account and share your campaign. Once people donate, FundMyTravel takes a 5 percent cut.
7. CyberBeg
- Best for: Individuals who have financial problems
- Funding rules: None
- Cost: Standard PayPal fees for each transaction
CyberBeg is a site that provides help for people who are “financially unfortunate.” When you land on the site, it almost looks like it might be a scam just from the noticeably outdated design.
However, what they lack in design, they make up for in no fees being taken out of your transaction when someone donates to your cause. The only fees are taken from your PayPal transaction.
Unlike the other sites mentioned in this list, CyberBeg offers ways for people to make some extra money and provides resources (like credit repair) targeted to those who use the site and need extra cash.
CyberBeg also offers opportunities for people to make some extra money through writing jobs, taking surveys, drawing, and using Facebook.
When you click on the credit repair, writing, or survey links, however, it directs you to a few scammy-looking sites. So, it’s probably best to avoid those and just stick to posting your request for others to help you.
You can keep your post on the site for three months.
8. JustGiving
- Best for: Individuals
- Funding rules: No liability to donors
- Cost: Standard 1.9%
JustGiving.com is a fundraising platform. This global online social platform started in 2000 with one goal: to enable charities and people to receive donations online from anywhere in the world.
The difference between JustGiving and sites like GoFundMe is that JustGiving takes a standard fee off the top of the donation, whereas GoFundMe offers the option to opt into covering processing fees.
Use JustGiving for things such as getting help in need. Either as an individual, family or community. Or raise funds for natural disasters, humanitarian aid, charity or even a special occasion.
9. Patreon
Patreon is a membership platform that allows creators, artists, and other content creators to earn money from their work by connecting with their fans and supporters. It provides a way for creators to receive recurring payments or pledges from their audience, often every month.
- Best for: Creators
- Funding rules: Community Guidelines
- Cost: 5% platform fee
Here’s how it works:
- Creators: People who create content such as videos, podcasts, art, music, webcomics, articles, or any other form of creative work can sign up on Patreon and create an account.
- Tiered Membership: Creators can offer different membership tiers to their patrons (supporters). Each tier typically comes with various benefits or rewards that are exclusive to patrons. For example, a creator might offer early access to exclusive behind-the-scenes content, personalized messages, or merchandise.
- Pledges: Patrons can support a creator by pledging a certain amount of money per month or per creation (depending on the creator’s settings). These pledges are automatically charged to the patron’s chosen payment method.
- Content Access: Patrons gain access to the content and rewards associated with the tier they’ve chosen to support. This encourages ongoing support from fans who want to continue receiving exclusive content.
- Payment Processing: Patreon handles the payment processing, taking a percentage of the earnings as a platform fee, while the rest goes to the creator.
It’s important to note that success on Patreon often depends on the quality of your content, your engagement with your audience, and the value you provide to your patrons.
10. WeFunder
- Best for: Entrepreneurs
- Funding rules: Your business must have a legal structure (e.g., C corporation, LLC) that is eligible for investment through crowdfunding.
- Cost: 7.5% of funds raised
WeFunder is a great way to invest in the future. This popular crowdfunding platform connects entrepreneurs with investors who are passionate about supporting innovative startups and small businesses.
If you’re an entrepreneur seeking funding for your venture, Wefunder can be a valuable resource.
Before diving into Wefunder, you need a well-defined and compelling business idea. This is the foundation of your fundraising campaign. Ensure your idea solves a real problem, has a unique value proposition, and has the potential for growth.
Visit the Wefunder website and sign up as a founder. Fill out your profile, providing detailed information about your business, your team, and your financials. Transparency is key to gaining trust from potential investors.
What You Can Learn from Random Acts of Pizza on a Subreddit
Before asking for donations, it helps to understand why people are compelled to give. Sometimes, asking for something doesn’t always come in the form of cold hard cash.
In a SubReddit thread called Random Acts of Pizza, people post requests for pizza and if your request is compelling enough, you’ll get a pie delivered right to your door.
The thread, which started in 2010, is meant to “restore faith in humanity, one pizza at a time.”
You’re not allowed to ask for money or charity on the thread.
While playful and not asking for too much (after all, it’s just pizza!), it’s gained the attention of Stanford researchers, who discovered that people were more willing to give you a pizza if the requestor:
- Demonstrated a strong need
- Said they would pay it forward
- Are heavily involved in the Reddit community (lots of Reddit Karma points)
Subreddits That Are All About Paying It Forward
If you’re open to receiving donations outside of money, some subreddits focus on giving back to the Reddit community. There are threads where the community donates pizza, video games and giving through Amazon.
If you’re coming into Reddit as a new member, take some time to browse around and engage with others. Leave comments and feedback for others if you can, and gain Reddit points. You can receive karma points when your links and comments are upvoted.
Conversely, you can lose points when your links and comments are downvoted to a number lower than zero.
The best way to gain karma points is to find a subreddit that interests you. This way it’s a fun and effortless experience to post and comment.
As with any of the subreddit threads, there are specific rules you need to follow. These are clearly posted on the page with moderators who will enforce them.
Random Acts of Kindness
While you can’t ask for money in any form (including gift cards), Random Acts of Kindness is an awesome subreddit that offers a community that is ready to give and help.
Some acts of kindness include giving away access and log-in codes for video games or a girlfriend asking local Redditors to come out and wish her long-distance boyfriend a happy birthday because he’s alone in a foreign country.
You need a minimum of 300 comment karma to post a request.
These are more subreddits worthy of a visit, but again, you can’t ask people for money.
- Random Acts of Amazon: You connect with a community and share what kinds of things you have on our Amazon wishlist. People buy Amazon gifts for each other on the site.
- Random Acts of Gaming: The community uses games to donate to others.
- Random Acts of Pizza: State your case for why you need a pie delivered to your door and you just might get it!
Summary
Whether you have a new idea that needs to be funded or need some extra help with plans to travel to Africa for your summer internship program, remember the rules are the same when asking strangers for money.
Always state the why and be as descriptive as possible about your situation.
I am a 49 year old woman who has had to fight cancer twice, once 10 years ago and now thyroid cancer. I also have a lesion on my esophagus they are watching. Right now, those are the least of my worries. I have inherited gum disease and terrible bone loss. I just recently had to have all of my upper teeth pulled. They are trying to save the lowers for as long as possible to keep the extreme expense for hitting me all at once. My problem is that i can’t wear dentures because i have such a gag reflex and dentures will not help with the bone loss. I am needing bone grafting done and then implants. I am currently on Medicaid but they will not pay one penny on this. I need this not for cosmetic reasons, but for my health. If i were to need radiation for my cancers, i could lose my jaw bone. I am a mother of a 37 year old son who has his own family now but i also have a 10 year old daughter who needs her mother. She and i fundraiser for several local charities in our small community, including our local nursing homes, food pantry, clothing closet, animal shelter, etc raising over $10,000 in a year. I just do not feel right fundraising for myself. To me, i would feel selfish. Please help direct me in finding a fundraising site for me to ask for help. I have used Go Fund Me but it only got little response. People are easy to judge and it doesn’t seem to matter that you bend over backwards to help others but when it is you, the help is not there. Thank you, PC
Hey PC, sorry to hear about your situation. Check out some of the links listed in this article. They offer some options where you could get some financial support from strangers. I wish you the best of luck!
Please my name is Stella and I am suffering from my leg and the doctor said that I have to do surgery with the amount of twelve thousand dollars. Please help me.
Hey Stella, if you’re needing help financially, try some of the suggestions in this article. There are ways you can get strangers to help you out with your rough financial situation. Best of luck.
I decided to run a laundry business after my service, but I really need help financially, which will enable me to have better equipment than what I am using now.
Try using the links and information in this post to help you out. Good luck!
I am a student born in a poor family. I need help of $600 to complete my schooling.
Try using the links and information in this post. Also, we have additional posts that might help about ways you can earn money.
Gosh, my life is hard. Perhaps you can help? I just feel like jumping off the Humber bridge.
Life is hard for many, but suicide is not an answer, simply an escape. Please do not choose this option. There are many good things in life too. Try following the links and ideas in this post to see if you can get help. You can also try contacting the social services office in your community. In addition, we have other posts on this site that might help you earn extra cash or make money to change your situation. Good luck to you!
I have a legal department that is destroying my family’s well being. Paying it off will change my life completely. I am a veteran of the Vietnam era and not getting any younger. I am married with grandchildren, and from month to month constantly facing eviction. Is there any help for me and my family?
That sounds like a tough time! Try using the links and ideas in this post to see if you can get help. In addition, we have other posts on this site that might help you make extra cash or get assistance. Make sure you check them out.
I am a young mother who is facing eviction with two kids. I really need help badly, I’m on a fixed income.
I’m sorry to hear that. Use the information and links in this post to see if you can get help. In addition, try checking with the social services office in your community for help with shelter, food, health care, and other needs.
Please help me. I have to go to prison next week just for a $2500 loan from a bank. I am married and have 2 children. Also, my wife is diabetic and needs care. I got a loan from the bank just for a deposit of rent on my home, but my income was very low and now I can’t pay it back on time. Please, help us. This money is not big, but really I do not have that. My wife is very sick. Please, somebody help us or give me a loan for 6 months. I will pay it back, I promise.
Try using the information and links in this post to get help. I hope it works for you.
I need $5000, please. Give me helping hand.
If you follow the links in the post, you might be able to get some help.
Hi, good morning. I am seeking help to build a house for me and my husband. We really need your help. Please and thanks. May God bless and keep you.
Try using the links and information in this post to get help. Good luck!
Hello, my name is T.L. and my husband’s name is Clifford. My husband is a veteran of the U.S. Navy. In May 2019, my children and I began seeing a decline in my husband’s logical thinking, eating, and normal everyday life. I raced him to our closest V.A. hospital. They did many, many tests and couldn’t find the reason he was so sick. In June and July a civilian hospital began to run tests and he was diagnosed with Neurosarcoid. During this time our bills have become too much for me to handle by myself with very little help. We need help asap.
Try using the links and other information in this post to help you get help. In addition, you could check with the nearest social services office to see if you can get more help.
Hello, everyone. My name is Rija Shah, and I am a 16 year old girl. I need 25000 in PKR to buy a laptop and mobile phone. Then I can work on an online website. I will use the money to help my parents. Believe me, when I have money, I will return some to you.
Try using the links and other information in this post to see if you can get help. I wish you luck!
Hello, my name is Carolina. I never had ask for help before. I have always been a hard worker until now. I recently lost my job due to a court day. It was for a ticket that totally change my life. Now I have no job and no money to pay my rent and bills. I’m trying hard to find a job, but I haven’t gotten lucky. Recently, I found one job of 3 days. It was a nanny job, but that won’t be enough to cover all the rent and bills I owe right now. I’m falling apart, and now all I ask is for god to help me find a good job to get me trough the problems I have so I can get my family through this tough time. Please can someone help me? Thanks, I will really appreciate any kind of help, even work. May God bless you all for all those who help people in need. Thanks a million.
You might try using the links and information in this post to help you out. Also, we have lots of posts on this site about ways you can make money. Be sure to check them out! I wish you better luck and hope things turn around for you.
We have just opened 10 weeks ago and the restaurant has more money going out then coming in. We hardly have any customers and I’m very worried for my mom who recently bought the place (she named it, Vera Marie’s, to honor her mother, my grandmother, who is still alive and just turned 85 on July 6th). I let my job of 3 years go to work here and help. I don’t want to see it fail, but the money is awful that’s coming in. Pretty much nothing is coming in and with the bills coming in at the restaurant, my mom’s house, my apartment, and this being our only source of income, we are both worried sick at this point literally. Please, help if you can. Please, any dollar amount will help, whether from donating here or being a customer. Even if you can only help by spreading the word or praying for us, it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much!
This sounds like a tough situation that you and your family are in. You could try following the links in this post and using the information there also to see if you can get help. We may have other resources on this site that can help as well, such as ideas to make money on the side to supplement your income. I hope things work out for you.
Please, sir. I need help. I am alone and right now I need to pay my school fees and the house I am living in. Please, sir. I beg you to help me.
Check out the links and other ideas in this post to see if you can get some help. In addition, we have other posts on this site that might help you to make some money.
I just got evicted with an Autistic 3 year old and a 7 year old. We have nowhere to go. I can’t find free motel vouchers anywhere. Please, help.
You could try to use the links in this post to get help and go to a shelter in the meantime. But, here’s another idea: Perhaps you could house sit for someone you know. There are even sites on the internet where people hire house sitters. We have a post about it on this site titled, 9 Ways to Get Paid House Sitting Jobs. Be sure to check it out. Additionally, you can try to get help through the social services office in your area.
My name is Habtamu and I’m from Ethiopia. I need someone to send me some money to get my children sent to school. I really need the money to spent for my children’s schooling. The annual fee for my two children is $1,412 USD. Thank you in advance.
If you need help for your children’s education, try following the links and other ideas in this post. I hope it works out for you!
Sir, I am from Pakistan. I try a lot to make money to give back. Can I borrow and give something to eat to my five children? It’s so difficult. I have no home and I have little salary. Every month I give to rent and sometime we have no food. We stay hungry waiting for food and we pray to God. Can somebody help me? Truly, please help me for my children. It would be so grand if you can help me. God bless you.
Use the links in this post to see if you can get help for yourself and your family. You might also be able to get help with food from the social services office in your area.
Hi, I am an old man of 62 years and I have been sick for a long time. At this time, I can’t walk properly. I need someone who can give me a car to assist me in my movements. What can I do?
You can try to use the links in this post to see if you can get help. In addition, you may be able to get a motorized wheelchair for only 20% of the cost through Medicare. I do not know if you would be eligible or not, but it’s worth a shot. Go to the medicare.gov website and search for wheelchair to find more information. I found a document with phone numbers you can call to inquire about it as well as other information. If you choose to pursue this, you can also talk to your medical provider as you may need a letter of medical necessity from them in order to get Medicare to cover it. I hope that helps.
I am running short of money. Please, I need help. I am working in a private company where there has been no salary for the past 3 months. So, if you can lend me Rps 10,000 that would help.
Follow the links in this post and use the other information there as well to see if you can get help. I wish you luck!
Hi. I’m looking for someone that can help me out with an amount of £180.000. I want to buy land and build affordable homes for the poor people in my country. Land is very expensive in our country.
I commend you for wanting to help out other less fortunate people in your country. Use the links and information in this post to see if you can get help from others who are passionate about your cause. I wish you luck!
Hi. Please, I need help financially so that I can finish my studies. Is there anyone who can help me please? I will be thankful.
Follow the links in this post. We have other posts on this site that might help also, such as posts about ways to make extra money or get a side hustle.
I’m a Palestinian refugee living in Jordan. Hi, I’m struggling on a daily basis to cover my family’s daily basics needs. My daughter finished her high school education recently, and I’m in desperate need of financial assistant to be able to help my daughter with her educational expenses. I appreciate your help and assistant. Since I don’t know any one who would offer me any help, I appreciate help from any good hearted people who will help.
You can use the links in this post to help you. Also, we have other posts on our site that might help you get help, make extra money, or get a second job.
Hi, I am in need of financial help. My house taxes are over due, and if I don’t pay them, I will loose my home. My gas and electric have been shut off also. I am so depressed I am thinking of suicide. I have no family.
Check out the links in this post to see if you can get help. You might also try to see if social services has any help or programs you can qualify for. I hope you get the situation resolved.
Hey, I’m from India and I need some help getting $500. Is there someone who can give me a little help, please? I will be very thankful for your assistance. Thank you.
Try using the links and ideas in this post to help you. Good luck!
Hi ,I am in a very tough, difficult situation. I’ve been deprived of so many materialistic things in my life that I have wanted for so long. I have been really suffering since I was fifteen years old in 2012. Since the age of sixteen, in 2013, I have wanted a ten thousand dollar gaming desktop computer and maybe also a nine thousand dollar gaming laptop. I’ve also wanted, of course, a bunch of gaming consoles and video games that I never had or owned myself or got to experience, unlike most people. Considering everything I ever wanted, materialistic wise at least, it would cost twenty five thousand to probably thirty thousand dollars. I know that’s probably extremely selfish and greedy, but because I’ve wanted so much expensive stuff for so long it has taken a toll on me emotionally and mentally. I also don’t know enough people who’d even be willing to donate to me twenty five thousand to thirty thousand dollars. It’s probably even pointless of me to even ask when most other people actually have a much more serious cause. But anyway I just thought I’d share my cause.
Thank you for the post. It was very helpful.
You’re welcome! 🙂
Hello my name is Odecious Mulbah from Liberia. I am a high school graduate and want to apply for a scholarship in China, but it requires money of around $500 USD. I don’t have money, and my parents are too poor to afford this amount of money. Please help me. I really want to extent my education so I can help my family. Your help will be highly appreciated.
Check out the links in this post to see if you can get some help to further your education. I wish you luck!
I recently lost my job and I am struggling to find one. Our rent bill is due and my wife is expecting our firstborn. Medical bills are on my neck. She tries with her little income, but it’s not right and enough for our household. If anyone can help, I would be grateful. I want to start a supply business but I would love to have start up capital of like $700. I would be grateful for any help given.
Check out the links in this post to see if you can get some help. In addition, we have other posts on our site about ways to make money, work from home, and side hustle. Check some of those out to see if you can start earning more money to pay your bills and follow your dreams. Good luck!
Hey. I am from Nigeria and I need money for my educational bills. If not, I won’t be able to graduate.
Use the links in the post to see if you can get help. You can also side hustle from home or work online to get more money. We have posts that can help you with this along with more posts about ways to get money fast, etc. Check them out and good luck!
I need help. But I didn’t find any. I do’t know what I should do now.
You could try using the links in this post to get help, if money is what you need. Also, check out our posts on ways to make money fast, make money from home, and side hustle. You might be able to help yourself.
Hi. Please, I need your help. I’m a business man. I need money to grow my business.
Check out the links in this post to see if someone will help you get your start. I wish you luck.