Trump campaign uses GoFundMe to raise millions of dollars

Photo: Caitlin O’Hara Agence France-Presse Former U.S. President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally at Findlay Toyota Arena in Prescott Valley, Arizona, on October 13, 2024

James Pollard – Associated Press in New York

Published at 8:45 p.m.

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Former President Donald Trump’s campaign is using GoFundMe to rally its network of wealthy and “ordinary” donors around the assassination attempt on his life in July and the destruction caused by Hurricane Helene, going against more traditional avenues of emergency aid.

The two high-profile fundraisers, hosted by the Republican candidate’s national finance director, have raised more than $14 million.

Legal experts say they do not violate campaign finance laws. A GoFundMe spokesperson told The Associated Press that the majority of the money raised in Butler, Pennsylvania, has been donated.

Using a crowdfunding platform is an unorthodox response to the crises that have gripped the campaign. Never before has a major-party presidential candidate turned to a for-profit company — which typically makes desperate pleas to cover college tuition or medical bills — to mobilize his base for outside charitable causes.

“It’s pretty unusual and kind of bizarre,” said Brett Kappel, a campaign finance attorney who has advised both Republicans and Democrats.

It’s more common for candidates to donate campaign funds to Internal Revenue Service-approved nonprofits during natural disasters, Kappel said. He cited Federal Election Commission records showing that Sen. Tim Scott’s 2022 campaign donated to the American Red Cross after Hurricane Ian struck South Carolina.

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Trump campaign spokesman Brian Hughes said the billionaire wanted to “find a way for his supporters to give as much direct support as possible.”

The Republican candidate's financial team has assured that all the money will go to those affected. More than $6.5 million of the $7.7 million raised for organizations helping rebuild after Hurricane Helene has been distributed as of Oct. 11, Hughes said.

“The president has an incredible base of supporters. With the Butler event generating millions of dollars in support, he saw the same opportunity to be a direct conduit for a philanthropic effort from his supporters,” he said.

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Allies step up

Longtime Trump associates, conservative celebrities and right-wing groups have donated tens of thousands of dollars. Bill Ackman, the CEO of investment firm Pershing Square, which backed Trump shortly after the assassination attempt, donated $100,000 to hurricane victims. UFC President Dana White also donated $100,000. Republican Senator Rick Scott posted on the social network X that he had donated $50,000 to victims in Butler, Pennsylvania. The Heritage Foundation, the conservative think tank behind the 2025 Project, also chipped in.

GoFundMe charges a 2.9 percent transaction fee plus 30 cents for each donation to cover credit and debit fees. The company’s security team has been in close contact with organizer Meredith O’Rourke to ensure the secure distribution of donations from Butler’s page, according to a company spokesperson. O’Rourke also provided a verified distribution plan, the GoFundMe spokesperson told The Associated Press, something the company routinely requires in cases where organizers withdraw money on behalf of other recipients.

Andrew Herman, a Washington attorney who specializes in campaign finance, said running crowdfunding pages online is not advisable because the practice is less regulated. He said it would have been “more acceptable” to direct supporters to a recognized nonprofit.

“People get into trouble when they try to attribute to campaigns some rationality or some degree of what we generally consider to be best financial practices,” Herman said.

“There’s no law that says they can’t do that. Should they do it?? Of course not,” he added.

The bulk of the Pennsylvania donations were made earlier this month, and more will be made as long as the page remains active, Hughes said. The “vast majority” went to the families of the three people who were shot, he said. Some of the money also went to compensate a local crane rental company, whose owner said he lost business when the subsequent police investigation prevented him from getting back equipment he had donated for the rally.

The money raised for Hurricane Helene victims went to four nonprofits.