GoFundMe fundraisers to pay for basic living expenses surged in 2025
Fundraising patterns reflect Americans' mounting affordability challenges, according to GoFundMe CEO Tim Cadogan.
GoFundMe
GoFundMe crowdfunding spike for essentials
Crowdfunding website GoFundMe released its 2025 "Year In Help" report Tuesday. It showed a spike in people asking for donations to buy essentials like food. CBS News investigative correspondent Tom Hanson has more.
GoFundMe: Crowdsourcing charity
In the old days people might have turned to the government or to charities such as churches for help; today the first place many people seem to turn to is GoFundMe, a crowdsourcing website, where anyone can appeal to the public to contribute money for pretty much anything – medical bills, disaster relief, funeral expenses, acts of kindness. "Sunday Morning" Contributor David Pogue examines the good will, and occasional fraud, on crowdsourcing sites, and looks at the economics of online charity.
GoFundMe CEO rolling out new tool
GoFundMe CEO Tim Cadogan is announcing the launch of a new tool called GoFundMe Pro to help non-profits increase charitable donations. He joins CBS Mornings News to discuss the feature and celebrates the $40 billion the online fundraiser has helped raise globally.
Here are the main reasons people turned to GoFundMe this year
Donations on the crowdfunding platform this year reveal a range of urgent financial needs, GoFundMe data shows.
For some with student loans, making payments means turning to GoFundMe
The number of people seeking help on the platform to pay student loans has exploded over the last year, the crowdfunding site says.
WWE Hall-of-Famer "Superstar" Billy Graham on life support
Doctors want to take the WWE Hall-of-Famer "Superstar" Billy Graham, who has been suffering medical issues for months, off life support, Graham's wife wrote on Facebook. She refused, calling him "a fighter."
GoFundMe blocked George Santos after alleged theft of money raised for dying service dog
The veteran who owned the dog says Santos pocketed $3,000 from a GoFundMe page that was set up to help pay for surgery.
Woman gets 3 years in bogus online fundraiser for homeless veteran
Prosecutors said the campaign at the time was the largest fraud perpetrated through the crowdfunding platform.
Damar Hamlin's fundraiser donations surge after cardiac arrest
Donations poured in within hours after Damar Hamlin suddenly suffered cardiac arrest after a tackle, with some donating thousands.
Funds raised for teen who must pay restitution for killing alleged rapist
A former math teacher of Pieper Lewis' at Des Moines Lincoln High School organized the fundraiser.
Man who conspired to launch viral GoFundMe scam sentenced to 27 months
The trio made up a story in late 2017 that sparked $400,000 in GoFundMe donations.
Mila Kunis vows to match $3M in donations for Ukrainian refugees
"I have never been more proud to be a Ukrainian," said Kunis, who immigrated to the U.S. from the country in 1991.
Instacart donates $50K to help pay for funeral of slain worker
CEO says grocery delivery service "heartbroken" by fatal shooting at Fred Meyer store in Richland, Washington.
GoFundMe investigated for blocking donations to truckers
Attorneys general in Texas, Florida, Missouri and West Virginia are probing the company for shutting down a fundraiser.
Thousands of COVID crowdfunds didn't make much
Thousands of people turned to crowdfunding during the pandemic, but research shows most did not raise much money. CBS Moneywatch Reporter Irina Ivanova joined CBSN's Tanya Rivero with more on this.
Thousands tried crowdfunding during pandemic. It flopped.
Most successful crowdfunding drives were in U.S. counties with higher income — not the ones with the most need.
GoFundMe page raises money after shooting
Hours after the school shooting massacre in Parkland, Florida, strangers started donating to a GoFundMe page to help the families of the victims. The next day, it was only a few thousand dollars from its goal.
Homeless man buys house
Homeless man who used his last $20 to fill up the gas tank of a stranded motorist in Philadelphia has bought a home with some of the nearly $400,000 raised for him online by the woman he saved.
Officer takes vendor's money
A video showing a University of California, Berkeley police officer ticketing a hot dog vendor, rifling through his wallet and confiscating his money has caused an outcry across social media. The incident happened on Saturday outside of a university football game. KPIX's Christin Ayers reports.
3/4: Evening News
President Trump claims he recently learned President Obama ordered what Mr. Trump describes as a Watergate-style wiretap on Trump Tower in New York; In South Los Angeles, a woman turned her community's "food desert" into an oasis. Michelle Miller reports.
Storm traps monks
Northern California's storm damage has left a dozen monks trapped in Big Sur. At the New Camaldoli Hermitage, the monks have had to cancel all reservations through March and even turned to a GoFundMe page, but their spirits remain intact. Carter Evans reports.
Extraordinary employee
A photo of a teen in a neck brace at work has gone viral with many people online praising the young man's work ethic. Alex McAdams from our Indianapolis affiliate WTTV has more on the dedicated employee.
Popsicle man donations
One Chicago ice cream man has received thousands of donations from strangers through a GoFundMe campaign. CBSN's Tony Dokoupil has more on his story.
The popular crowdfunding site GoFundMe has raised over $3 million for the Orlando massacre victims and their families
The popular crowdfunding site GoFundMe has raised over $3 million for the Orlando massacre victims and their families.
Nick Reiner, son of Rob Reiner and wife Michele, arrested for their murders
Nick Reiner, a son of director Rob Reiner and his wife Michele, has been arrested on murder charges following their deaths, police said.
Police release new videos of person of interest as Brown shooting manhunt continues
Police on Monday renewed their search for the gunman who killed two Brown University students and wounded nine others.
Trump files $10B lawsuit against the BBC over editing of his Jan. 6 speech in documentary
President Trump filed a defamation lawsuit against the BBC on Monday over a documentary that spliced parts of his Jan. 6, 2021, speech on the Ellipse.
U.S. military hits 3 more alleged drug boats in Pacific, killing 8
The U.S. military says it struck three more alleged drug-carrying boats in the Eastern Pacific, the latest in a campaign of vessel strikes ordered by the Trump administration that have killed at least 95 people.
White House ballroom to be completed in Summer 2028, Park Service says
President Trump's White House ballroom addition is expected to be finished a few months before the 2028 elections.
Pentagon "escalating" review of Sen. Kelly over video on illegal orders
The Pentagon says it is "escalating" a probe into Sen. Mark Kelly, one of six Democratic lawmakers who urged service members to "refuse illegal orders."
Brown University students recall barricading on campus: "Felt dystopian"
One Brown student recalled barricading for four hours in the Sciences Library building after a gunman shot and killed two students at a nearby engineering building on Saturday.
Trump designates illicit fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction
President Trump signed an order designating illicit fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction, directing agencies to do more to combat the drug.
7 highlights from Erika Kirk's CBS News town hall
Erika Kirk recalls the emotional fog of Charlie Kirk's assassination, addresses conspiracy theories and takes questions during a CBS News town hall hosted by Bari Weiss.
U.S.
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Winning Powerball numbers announced for estimated $1.14 billion jackpot
The $1.14 billion jackpot is the sixth-largest in the game's history.
U.S. military hits 3 more alleged drug boats in Pacific, killing 8
The U.S. military says it struck three more alleged drug-carrying boats in the Eastern Pacific, the latest in a campaign of vessel strikes ordered by the Trump administration that have killed at least 95 people.
Brown University students recall barricading on campus: "Felt dystopian"
One Brown student recalled barricading for four hours in the Sciences Library building after a gunman shot and killed two students at a nearby engineering building on Saturday.
Anthony Geary, "General Hospital" star, dies at age 78
Anthony Geary, who played Luke Spencer on the long-running soap opera "General Hospital," has died.
Trump designates illicit fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction
President Trump signed an order designating illicit fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction, directing agencies to do more to combat the drug.
MoneyWatch
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New York accuses UPS of stealing wages from thousands of seasonal workers
New York Attorney General Letitia James said UPS "played the Grinch" by allegedly shorting seasonal workers on their pay.
Spotify says it's investigating after thousands of users report outages
Tens of thousands of Spotify users reported outages on Monday, with some saying they had lost access to their playlists.
Touting Warner Bros. offer, Netflix execs vow to keep releasing movies
Netflix co-CEOs Greg Peters and Ted Sarandos sought in a letter to tamp down concerns that the streaming giant is not committed to the movie business.
Roomba maker iRobot files for bankruptcy, sells itself to Chinese company
iRobot, which introduced the Roomba vacuum cleaner in 2002, vows to continue supporting its products despite Chapter 11 filing.
A guide to "Made in America" holiday gifts, state by state
The Made in America Holiday Gift Guide, promoting products made in the U.S., includes more than 150 companies from all 50 states. For small business owners, being included in this year's gift guide feels close to a Christmas miracle.
Politics
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U.S. military hits 3 more alleged drug boats in Pacific, killing 8
The U.S. military says it struck three more alleged drug-carrying boats in the Eastern Pacific, the latest in a campaign of vessel strikes ordered by the Trump administration that have killed at least 95 people.
Pentagon "escalating" review of Sen. Kelly over video on illegal orders
The Pentagon says it is "escalating" a probe into Sen. Mark Kelly, one of six Democratic lawmakers who urged service members to "refuse illegal orders."
White House ballroom to be completed in Summer 2028, Park Service says
President Trump's White House ballroom addition is expected to be finished a few months before the 2028 elections.
Hong Kong activist Lai's daughter says she's "grieving" sedition conviction
Hours after Jimmy Lai, a pro-democracy newspaper owner in Hong Kong, was found guilty on sedition charges, his daughter told reporters she hopes international pressure can spare her father.
Trump files $10 billion lawsuit against the BBC
President Trump filed a defamation lawsuit against the BBC on Monday over a documentary that spliced parts of his Jan. 6, 2021, speech on the Ellipse.
HealthWatch
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He made his brothers see a cardiologist. Each had advanced heart disease.
Kevin Murray was his family's health watchdog. His vigilance helped his brothers "avoid a real catastrophe."
Millions of Americans could see health plan costs double as ACA credits vanish
"I don't know how I'm going to pay for this," said one person with an Affordable Care Act plan that will cost her $1,100 a month starting in January.
Vaccine vote signals turbulence for immunization policy, public trust
Clinicians and epidemiologists warn the decision could unravel decades of progress and expose newborns to a deadly, preventable disease.
Botulism outbreak tied to ByHeart products includes 51 babies in 19 states
Health officials say an infant botulism outbreak tied to ByHeart baby formula has been expanded to include all illnesses reported since the company began production in 2022.
Extended interview: Dr. Rochelle Walensky
CBS News chief medical correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook speaks at length with former CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky about the hepatitis B vaccine and last week's vote by the CDC's vaccine advisory panel to change the recommendation for when children should get their first dose of the vaccine.
World
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U.S. military hits 3 more alleged drug boats in Pacific, killing 8
The U.S. military says it struck three more alleged drug-carrying boats in the Eastern Pacific, the latest in a campaign of vessel strikes ordered by the Trump administration that have killed at least 95 people.
Hong Kong activist Lai's daughter says she's "grieving" sedition conviction
Hours after Jimmy Lai, a pro-democracy newspaper owner in Hong Kong, was found guilty on sedition charges, his daughter told reporters she hopes international pressure can spare her father.
Woman says dad died a hero throwing bricks at Bondi Beach attacker
Sheina Gutnick's dad came to Australia to escape persecution for his Jewish faith, and his murder in Bondi has left her feeling "betrayed by the government."
Army identifies two American soldiers killed in attack in Syria
Two members of the Iowa National Guard and a U.S. civilian interpreter were killed in Palmyra, Syria on Saturday after an ISIS gunman ambushed them, according to the Pentagon.
Rabbis, a young girl and a Holocaust survivor among Bondi Beach victims
Family and friends say Rabbi Eli Schlanger, who helped plan the targeted Hanukkah event on Bondi Beach, was among the 15 people killed.
Entertainment
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Anthony Geary, "General Hospital" star, dies at age 78
Anthony Geary, who played Luke Spencer on the long-running soap opera "General Hospital," has died.
Extended interview: Kate Hudson & Hugh Jackman
In this web exclusive, Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson, stars of the new film "Song Sung Blue," talk with Tracy Smith about playing Mike and Claire Sardina – real, not-very-famous musicians who performed a tribute act pretending to be very-famous musicians Neil Diamond and Patsy Cline. They also discuss singing, Neil Diamond's songs, and the Oscars (including, as Jackman was, being nominated opposite Daniel Day-Lewis).
Rob Reiner's political activism included landmark wins for marriage equality
Known as a popular Hollywood director, Rob Reiner also had a lengthy record of political and civic activism, especially in California.
Touting Warner Bros. offer, Netflix execs vow to keep releasing movies
Netflix co-CEOs Greg Peters and Ted Sarandos sought in a letter to tamp down concerns that the streaming giant is not committed to the movie business.
From the archives: Rob Reiner
In this Aug. 15, 2010 "Sunday Morning" profile, actor, writer and director Rob Reiner talked with Russ Mitchell about starring in the classic sitcom "All in the Family," and directing such hits as "Stand By Me," "The Princess Bride," "When Harry Met Sally" and "A Few Good Men."
Technology
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Spotify says it's investigating after thousands of users report outages
Tens of thousands of Spotify users reported outages on Monday, with some saying they had lost access to their playlists.
Roomba maker iRobot files for bankruptcy, sells itself to Chinese company
iRobot, which introduced the Roomba vacuum cleaner in 2002, vows to continue supporting its products despite Chapter 11 filing.
How AI powered robots are helping small farms
From labor shortages to environmental impacts, farmers are looking to AI to help revolutionize the agriculture industry. One California startup, Farm-ng, is tapping into the power of AI and robotics to perform a wide range of tasks, including seeding, weeding and harvesting.
What's next after Trump's AI rule order?
President Trump signed an executive order restricting states from creating their own regulations for artificial intelligence. CBS News senior business and technology correspondent Jo Ling Kent has more.
College grads struggling to launch careers
New York Times reporter Jodi Kantor's upcoming book "How to Start" looks at the difficulties of beginning your career. Kantor joins "The Takeout" to unpack some of the difficulties college students face, artificial intelligence and more.
Science
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Interstellar comet is making its closest approach to Earth
NASA continues to aim its space telescopes at the visiting ice ball, estimated to be up to 3.5 miles in size.
Fossil footprints in Bolivia reveal dinosaurs' awkward attempts to swim
Paleontologists have discovered and documented 16,600 footprints left by theropods, the dinosaur group that includes the Tyrannosaurus rex.
"Space gum" discovered in asteroid Bennu samples, NASA reveals
Samples collected from the asteroid Bennu are continuing the shed light on the origins of the solar system and how life developed on Earth, scientists say.
CEO of genetics firm says parents have a right to choose unborn child's traits
Kian Sadeghi, the 25-year-old founder and CEO at Nucleus Genomics, tells "CBS Mornings" that parents have every right to select the qualities and traits they desire in their child.
Sick ants invite self-sacrifice to save colony: "Come and kill me"
Ant colonies act as one "super-organism" which works to ensure the survival of all, according to a team of scientists.
Crime
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Crime
Ex-NYPD detective sergeant on Brown shooting
A desperate search is underway for the gunman in Saturday's shooting at Brown University. Felipe Rodriguez, former New York City Police detective sergeant, joins CBS News to discuss the next steps in the investigation.
Early timeline of Reiner investigation
Police arrested Nick Reiner on murder charges Monday morning after the deaths of his parents, Rob and Michele. CBS News correspondent Jonathan Vigliotti reports.
Australia eyes stricter gun laws after attack
At least 15 people were killed and 40 others wounded in a shooting at one of Australia's most popular beaches on Sunday during the first night of Hanukkah celebrations. CBS News' Anna Schecter has the latest.
New person of interest in Brown shooting
Police in Rhode Island are searching for a new person of interest in the wake of Saturday's deadly shooting at Brown University. CBS News legal reporter Katrina Kaufman has the latest from Providence.
Brown University student recounts shooting
After three days, the Brown University shooter remains at large. Talia Levine, a senior at Brown University, joins "The Takeout," to share what she experienced during Saturday's shooting.
Space
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Interstellar comet is making its closest approach to Earth
NASA continues to aim its space telescopes at the visiting ice ball, estimated to be up to 3.5 miles in size.
"Wet lava ball" exoplanet may have an atmosphere, evidence shows
Super-Earth TOI-561b is about 40 times closer to its host star than Mercury is to the sun.
NASA says Maven spacecraft that was orbiting Mars has gone silent
NASA has lost contact with a spacecraft that's been orbiting Mars for more than a decade.
Black hole spotted blasting winds at 130 million miles per hour
The European Space Agency said that the black hole inside the spiral galaxy NGC 3783 has the mass of 30 million suns.
3-man crew undocks from space station, wrapping up 8-month stay
Russian Soyuz crews are now spending eight months aboard the space station instead of six to stretch supplies and lower costs.
Latest Galleries
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Notable Deaths in 2025
A look back at the esteemed personalities who've left us this year, who'd touched us with their innovation, creativity and humanity.
The life & near death of prizefighter Christy Salters-Martin
Christy Salters-Martin dominated in the boxing ring but faced her toughest challenger at home.
Timeline: The disappearance of George Smith
Family seeks answers in death of newlywed who disappeared in 2005 while on Mediterranean honeymoon cruise.
Who is Alix Tichelman?
Meet the tattooed beauty charged in the death of Google executive Forrest Hayes.
"Son of Sam": A serial killer's reign of terror
Calling himself the "Son of Sam" in a letter left at one of the crime scenes, David Berkowitz claimed voices were ordering him to kill -- starting in the summer of 1976, he went on a 13-month spree of impulse killings in New York City that left six dead and seven injured
Latest CBS News Videos
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Latest CBS News Videos
Rob Reiner strove to capture human experience
Lesley Stahl quoted Norman Lear when she profiled Rob Reiner earlier this year, "Rob's movies all have a human dearness to them." Reiner responded by citing one of his longtime influences and reflecting on how his work attempted to capture both the comedy and tragedy of the human experience, stories told with layers of meaning. Rob Reiner and his wife of 36 years, Michele, were found killed Sunday in their Los Angeles home.
Rob Reiner's change to "When Harry Met Sally"
Rob Reiner's life changed while he was making "When Harry Met Sally." He met Michele, who would become his wife of 35 years. Reiner said the budding relationship led him to change the indelible film, telling Lesley Stahl the couple hit it off and it changed his perspective on the story. Rob and Michele Singer Reiner were killed Sunday in what police are investigating as a homicide.
A look back at Rob Reiner's life and career
Rob Reiner, the son of a comedy giant who became one himself with movies such as "The Princess Bride," "When Harry Met Sally…" and "This is Spinal Tap," is being remembered for his iconic contributions to entertainment following the news of his death. Vladimir Duthiers has his obituary.
ICE agents clash with Minnesota residents
Dozens of residents confronted ICE agents in South Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Monday. CBS News Minnesota reporter Jonah Kaplan has more.
250,000 packages stolen per day, study finds
As online holiday shopping ramps up, lawmakers are mulling new legislation that would add stiffer penalties for those who steal packages. Skyler Henry reports.