Once money is donated to someone, does it matter what it goes towards?

Question

Example; if someone has medical bills they need to pay so they start up a GoFundMe. Is it okay for them to use that money on WHATEVER they want (like home improvements, a new car, etc) or should it only be for the medical bills?

Accepted Answer

If they get more than enough to cover their medical bills, they can do what they want with the leftovers. 
But, if they're claiming it's for a medical reason and using it for rent, or a car payment that's fucked up.

Answer

I voted depends. For individuals it should primarily go toward what was advertised, but I also get that there’s additional related expenses. 
Like if someone raises $2,000 for medical expenses I don’t care if part goes to the hospital and part goes to daily living costs like food, or baby sitters while parents are at a hospital etc. I would care if all $2,000 went toward something frivolous like designer clothing. 
For organizations, I’m against donors earmarking funds except in the most general ways, as it causes unequal distribution and slanted priorities.

Answer

I’m almost sure it is illegal to falsely advertise in order to get donations. 
If they set up a general GoFundMe Page, then I don’t think you can complain where your money goes. 
But if it’s set up to fund for medical treatment, and it’s confirmed that money was being used elsewhere. That’s fucked up and you have a right to be pissed.

Answer

If people are willingly over donating, then sure, but if someone specifically says the money is going towards medical bills or something else then it should go towards that and cover it, and only be used for something else if there’s more than enough I think.
But god forbid if you take money meant to go to most charities and use it for yourself you’re a piece of shit. Even excess should still be put towards the cause advertised.

Answer

We lost my brother in law in 2016. He was young, death unexpected. So a go fund me was started. The community support was overwhelming. There was easily 20 grand leftover after the funeral and burial, and even a fancy meaningful headstone. If there's left over donations afterward, than I feel like the family should use it for what they need to. 
But if you're lying to get donations, nah.

Answer

Depends. Myself personally, I know that I am taking a risk every time I donate clothes or money to shelters in my area. In my area, all clearly state beforehand that the donations may not be used for the purposes that the person donating may want them to be— monetary donations specified for a sponsorship of a cheetah in CCF can actually be redirected to paying staff wages, buying food for ALL of the animals, paying for land expenses, etc. So the $5,000 that I save up to intend to go toward the sponsorship of the cheetah Tiger Lily for one year solely may actually not end up going to her at all. 
Donations are usually repurposed or redesigned to fit the needs of the business, which is why I know many of the clothes I have donated to shelters intending for them to be worn by people who need them have actually been sent to thrift stores where they were bought for the purpose of reselling by others because the shelter had enough at the moment, but that’s OK because I read the fine print and I know that circumstances regarding need of each person/business can change at any time. However, I know many people who disagree with this idea, especially when it comes to money, so it just depends on each person’s personal beliefs when it comes to things like these. 
I think it is 100% wrong to intentionally falsely advertise to get donations for something not advertised, such as saying you have cancer and need donations when you know that you’re actually going to use those donations toward a car. I especially feel this way when it comes to larger businesses. But overall, I believe this is a risk that the donor chooses to take. You just have to have faith in where your donations are doing, or just decide to hope for the best and disregard what happens otherwise, unless you want to fight it.

Answer

For registered charities I expect most of the money they receive to go toward the cause they work for. For individuals asking for money there's no expectation. They'll use the money however they like.

Answer

We have a gift of money to our friend for their wedding, as they requested a ‘wishing well’ donation to fund a honeymoon. 
Well, the wife used ALL the money to get her teeth done. 
Had we have known this, we wouldn’t have donated, or certainly not as much.

Answer

If comes from the goodness of your heart it shouldn't matter where it goes because the good deed came from ur heart and your conscience can be clear and you will be rewarded whatever anyone chooses to do with it that will be on their soul and make it heavy if it goes to something that isn't good that will come back to them in bad karma

Answer

And this is why I don't really donate to go-fund me accounts. Some people truly could use the help, but there's no guarantees that they're going to use the money to pay their medical bills. Plus, I have medical bills too. Not to mention that sometimes people will try to sell you a good sob story in order to pray upon people's sympathy and their good nature because they know people care, and want to help. Some people just really like to take advantage of people. Yes, it's entirely wrong to ask for help for your medical bills and then turn around and use that money for your personal interests. Plus, it's a bit foolish in my opinion. I mean, why would you use all that money to buy a car or fix up your house when if you don't pay your medical bills, you could potentially lose your car or your house depending on how much medical debt you have racked up. Or they can garnish your wages and how are you going to pay for a car or make rent and/or your mortgage if your wages are being garnished because you didn't pay your medical bills? Like I said, it's just a bit foolish if you ask me. If anything, pay your medical bills and then start up a new go fund me account.

Once money is donated to someone, does it matter what it goes towards?

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