After the unexpected passing of his younger brother last year, Allan Oliver was taken aback when a family friend initiated a GoFundMe campaign to assist with the funeral expenses. Expressing gratitude, Oliver mentioned his initial disbelief at the gesture of support from the community. His brother, Aidan, a prominent figure in Shelburne, Ont., passed away at the age of 23 following a medical incident on October 30.
Witnessing a significant outpouring of donations totaling over $15,000, Oliver and his family organized a larger funeral to accommodate everyone who wished to pay their respects. He expressed how hundreds of people contributed to the fundraiser, providing immense comfort during a challenging time.
However, as time passed, Oliver encountered difficulties in obtaining the remaining balance of donations from the organizer, leading to feelings of anxiety. Eventually, the organizer admitted in a text message that she had gambled away the $8,200 that was still owed to Oliver. After community pressure, the funds were returned to Oliver nearly seven months after his brother’s funeral.
Oliver is advocating for policy changes at GoFundMe to ensure beneficiaries receive the raised funds. While GoFundMe defended its current policies, stating that fund misuse is rare, Oliver believes more should be done to guarantee that intended recipients receive the donations.
In an effort to resolve the situation, Oliver attempted to communicate with the organizer to secure the outstanding funds but faced unresponsiveness. He later reached out to GoFundMe for assistance and was advised to file a claim, leading to the revelation that the organizer had withdrawn the entire balance shortly after the funeral.
Expressing disappointment in GoFundMe’s handling of the matter, Oliver questions why the platform did not intervene earlier despite being made aware of the issue in March. He believes that GoFundMe should take more proactive measures to ensure funds reach their intended recipients, suggesting direct deposit to beneficiaries or the involvement of a third-party guarantor for added security.
In response, a GoFundMe spokesperson confirmed that the fundraiser and the organizer’s account had been removed from the platform. While highlighting the Beneficiary Guarantee as a form of protection for recipients, Oliver believes that the platform’s current measures are insufficient and emphasizes the need for enhanced safeguards to prevent similar incidents in the future.
