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.
Live
Iran calls deadly attack on Kuwait retaliation for latest U.S. strikes
After Trump insisted talks with Iran were "going on continuously," Iran fired a deadly missile and drone salvo at Kuwait, claiming retaliation for new U.S. strikes.
House votes to rein in Trump on Iran as war loses GOP support
In May, the Senate advanced a similar measure to force the president to end the prolonged conflict with Iran.
Bessent testifies he told Pulte he was "going to kick his a**," not punch him
Bill Pulte, President Trump's pick for acting director of national intelligence, is being met with some skepticism on Capitol Hill.
Senate advances reconciliation bill, dropping ballroom funds ahead of final push
Senate Republicans moved forward with a package to fund the Department of Homeland Security's immigration agencies Wednesday.
Grenell says he was "rattled" by sentencing of man convicted of threatening him
Ric Grenell, the former president of the Kennedy Center, gave a victim impact statement in court about the threats.
Air traffic controller calls pilot "insane" after close call at Florida airport
Air traffic control also referred to the pilot of a small plane as "Mad Max."
Hostage situation at bank building in California ends after suspect shot dead
The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene early Wednesday morning, the Bakersfield Police Department said.
Social Security checks could be cut by $500 a month in 2032, report finds
Beneficiaries would continue receiving payments if Social Security's trust fund is depleted, but checks could shrink by about 24%, according to a new report.
NASA gives up on lost Mars orbiter
NASA officials said the $582 million MAVEN orbiter could not be recovered after a problem on the far side of Mars late last year, and that its extraordinarily successful mission was at an end.
U.S.
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NASA gives up on lost Mars orbiter
NASA officials said the $582 million MAVEN orbiter could not be recovered after a problem on the far side of Mars late last year, and that its extraordinarily successful mission was at an end.
American Airlines suspends 6 routes because of high jet fuel costs
American Airlines said it is temporarily cutting six routes amid rising jet fuel costs, including several flights to Los Angeles.
Bessent testifies he told Pulte he was "going to kick his a**," not punch him
Bill Pulte, President Trump's pick for acting director of national intelligence, is being met with some skepticism on Capitol Hill.
Ford recalls nearly 420,000 vehicles over faulty seat belts
Safety watchdog said seat belts in certain Ford Expedition and Lincoln vehicles may inadvertently lock, preventing them from functioning properly.
Grenell says he was "rattled" by sentencing of man convicted of threatening him
Ric Grenell, the former president of the Kennedy Center, gave a victim impact statement in court about the threats.
MoneyWatch
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American Airlines suspends 6 routes because of high jet fuel costs
American Airlines said it is temporarily cutting six routes amid rising jet fuel costs, including several flights to Los Angeles.
Ford recalls nearly 420,000 vehicles over faulty seat belts
Safety watchdog said seat belts in certain Ford Expedition and Lincoln vehicles may inadvertently lock, preventing them from functioning properly.
These are the best airlines in 2026, according to The Points Guy
The Points Guy's annual ranking gives extra weight to affordability this year as higher fuel costs and airline fees squeeze travelers.
Outback Steakhouse sued for $1.5M over alleged mashed potato slip-and-fall
A Virginia woman alleges she suffered serious injuries after slipping on what appeared to be mashed potatoes at an Outback Steakhouse.
Social Security checks could be cut by $500 a month in 2032, report finds
Beneficiaries would continue receiving payments if Social Security's trust fund is depleted, but checks could shrink by about 24%, according to a new report.
Politics
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House votes to rein in Trump on Iran as war loses GOP support
In May, the Senate advanced a similar measure to force the president to end the prolonged conflict with Iran.
Connie Chan and Scott Wiener advance in race to succeed Pelosi, CBS News projects
Voters in San Francisco on Tuesday advanced San Francisco Supervisor Connie Chan and state Sen. Scott Wiener in the race to succeed former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in California's 11th Congressional District, CBS News projects.
Bessent testifies he told Pulte he was "going to kick his a**," not punch him
Bill Pulte, President Trump's pick for acting director of national intelligence, is being met with some skepticism on Capitol Hill.
Sam Forstag projected to win Democratic primary in Montana's 1st District
Democrats are hoping to pick up the open seat. GOP Rep. Ryan Zinke is retiring at the end of his term.
Grenell says he was "rattled" by sentencing of man convicted of threatening him
Ric Grenell, the former president of the Kennedy Center, gave a victim impact statement in court about the threats.
HealthWatch
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Upcoming billing change could make pregnancy pricier
Come January, pregnancy care physician billing codes will change from a bundled system to an à la carte one.
Possible flesh-eating screwworm case in Texas, USDA says
A possible case of the flesh-eating New World screwworm is being investigated in Texas, the USDA reported Wednesday.
WHO massively scales back number of suspected Ebola cases in Congo
While 330 Ebola infections are confirmed in central Africa and huge challenges remain, hundreds more suspected cases "have been cleared out," the WHO says.
Details on promising pancreatic cancer drug
A new drug was shown in trials to keep pancreatic cancer patients alive for twice as long as chemotherapy alone. Dr. Jon LaPook has more.
A nurse stole fentanyl and AI missed it, state records say
Sentri7, drug diversion software powered by artificial intelligence and used at hundreds of U.S. hospitals, did not catch a monthslong string of fentanyl thefts in Tennessee in 2025, according to a state document.
World
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House votes to rein in Trump on Iran as war loses GOP support
In May, the Senate advanced a similar measure to force the president to end the prolonged conflict with Iran.
8 bagged bodies found with note in narco-trafficking hotspot
The discovery comes in the midst of a U.S.-backed military crackdown on the organized crime gangs in Ecuador.
Scientists find yeast in frozen mummy's guts, use it to make bread
More than 5,300 years ago, Oetzi the Iceman was strolling through the Alps on the border of Austria and Italy when he was killed by an arrow in the back.
At least 21, mostly foreign nationals, dead in fire at India hotel
The fire started in the ground floor restaurant of an India hotel popular with patients at a nearby healthcare facility.
Cruise ship passenger found dead on Caribbean island after vanishing during hike
Police on the eastern Caribbean island of St. Kitts and Nevis say they found the body of a Chinese cruise ship passenger who went missing last week.
Entertainment
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Entertainment
Jon Hamm talks "Your Friends & Neighbors"
Jon Hamm previews "Your Friends & Neighbors" season 2 finale, saying "it is satisfying" and provides some answers for fans. He also talks about the relatability of the show's characters and reflects on "Mad Men."
André De Shields on Tony nomination
André De Shields speaks to "CBS Mornings" about starring in "Cats: The Jellicle Ball," which is a reimagining of Andrew Lloyd Webber's classical musical told through the lens of ballroom culture. De Shields talks about bringing ballroom to Broadway and his latest Tony nomination.
Tribeca at 25: NYC festival celebrates music, Broadway and New York stories
The 25th edition of the film and media festival opens on Wednesday, showcasing more than 100 world premiere documentaries and narrative features, as well as short films, live music, podcasts and conversations with leading entertainment figures.
Analyzing the YouTuber-to-filmmaker boom
The sci-fi horror flick "Backrooms" was the number one movie in the U.S. as of Tuesday. The filmmaker behind the movie, 20-year-old YouTuber Kane Parsons, is now the youngest director with a number one film globally. Brooks Barnes, The New York Times' chief Hollywood correspondent, joins "The Daily Report" to discuss.
Peabo Bryson, singer known for Disney movie hits, dies at 75
Peabo Bryson, a two-time Grammy-winning singer and songwriter known for Disney movie hits "Beauty and the Beast" and "A Whole New World," has died at age 75.
Technology
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Technology
OpenAI CEO meets with lawmakers on Capitol Hill
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman met with Republican and Democratic lawmakers on Wednesday to oppose proposals that would require developers to obtain government approval before releasing new artificial intelligence models. Jordan Rae Kelly, former director for cyber incident response on the National Security Council, joins with analysis.
Microsoft VP explains its AI assistant Scout
Microsoft announced a slew of new AI products during its annual Microsoft Build developers conference in San Francisco. Scott Hanselman, a Microsoft vice president, speaks with CBS News about the product.
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.
Meta unveils new AI business agent
Businesses can now expand their AI customer service with Meta's help. Senior technology reporter Abrar Al-Heeti joins CBS News to talk about that and some of the other big tech stories of the day.
Could Intel's chips save the U.S. economy?
Patrick McGee, a contributing writer for The Free Press, joins CBS News 24/7 to discuss his latest column about how Intel's semiconductor chips could be the key to bolstering the U.S. economy. Paramount Skydance owns The Free Press and CBS News.
Science
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El Niño could bring more widespread coral bleaching, NOAA warns
The expected arrival of El Niño this summer could trigger another mass coral bleaching event, which would be the fifth on record, researchers said.
Scientists find yeast in frozen mummy's guts, use it to make bread
More than 5,300 years ago, Oetzi the Iceman was strolling through the Alps on the border of Austria and Italy when he was killed by an arrow in the back.
Meteor lights up southern Michigan
Days after a meteor exploded over New England, another fireball was spotted, visible in the Midwest to the Northeast. Rob Marciano has more.
Ancient coin, mysterious markings found under Notre Dame cathedral
A team of archaeologists at the iconic cathedral is digging straight down and back in time, to Roman Paris 2,000 years ago.
NASA taps 2 companies to develop buggies for its moon base program
The FLEX Rover will be equipped to carry two astronauts and traverse hundreds of miles of lunar terrain.
Crime
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Crime
Details on suspect in bank hostage standoff
All hostages are safe and a suspect is dead after an hourslong standoff at a bank in California, police said on Wednesday. CBS News correspondent Carter Evans has the details.
Update on California hostage situation
Authorities in Bakersfield, California, offered details Wednesday on the hourslong standoff with a suspect who barricaded himself in a bank "with several community members," according to police. The situation ended early Wednesday when FBI personnel shot the suspect, authorities said.
8 bagged bodies found with note in narco-trafficking hotspot
The discovery comes in the midst of a U.S.-backed military crackdown on the organized crime gangs in Ecuador.
Hostage situation ends at California bank
The FBI shot and killed a person suspected of holding people hostage at a bank in Bakersfield, California, police said, adding that all hostages are safe. CBS News' Jonathan Vigliotti has the latest.
Lynette Hooker's disappearance probed
Lynette Hooker's disappearance is being investigated as a possible murder, an official says, after her husband reported her missing during a sailing trip in the Bahamas. CBS News' Cristian Benavides reports.
Space
More Space
NASA gives up on lost Mars orbiter
NASA officials said the $582 million MAVEN orbiter could not be recovered after a problem on the far side of Mars late last year, and that its extraordinarily successful mission was at an end.
Blue Origin vows to resume New Glenn launches despite explosion
Damage to Blue Origin's lone launch pad in the wake of last week's spectacular explosion was not as severe as initially feared, the company said.
NASA taps 2 companies to develop buggies for its moon base program
The FLEX Rover will be equipped to carry two astronauts and traverse hundreds of miles of lunar terrain.
Blue Origin assesses impact of New Glenn explosion
Blue Origin assess the impact of Thursday's New Glenn explosion, prompting concern about NASA moon program delays.
Blue micromoon makes rare appearance this weekend
A rare blue micromoon will appear in night skies this weekend. Here's what to expect.
Latest Galleries
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Notable Deaths in 2026
A look back at the esteemed personalities who've left us this year, who'd touched us with their innovation, creativity and humanity.
Evidence in the Barbara Kendhammer case
Does the evidence show a cover-up, or was Todd Kendhammer wrongfully convicted for the murder of his wife?
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.
Latest CBS News Videos
More Latest CBS News Videos
Latest CBS News Videos
Study links ultraprocessed foods and dementia
A new study suggests a link between ultra-processed foods and an increased risk of dementia in older adults. Researchers found that a group of people who reported eating diets high in ultraprocessed foods had a 58% higher risk of developing dementia later in life and a 46% increased risk of developing cognitive impairment. CBS News medical correspondent Dr. Céline Gounder has more.
Ex-Pence aide: Iran war threatens farmer vote
A new op-ed in the Washington Post suggests the war in Iran and President Trump's trade policy risk Republicans losing the support of a key coalition: farmers. Republican strategist Marc Short, who wrote the piece, and Democratic strategist Mo Elleithee join with analysis.
Takeaways from California, Iowa primaries
Primary election votes are still being counted in California, but Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass will head to a runoff to defend her seat. In Iowa, a Trump-backed candidate for governor lost his race and Democrats are hoping the results will help them flip the seat in November. CBS News political reporter Zak Hudak has more.
House passes war powers resolution
The House passed a resolution Wednesday to block President Trump from ordering more strikes on Iran. CBS News congressional correspondent Nikole Killion has more details.
U.S.-Iran tensions escalate despite ceasefire
The U.S. and Iran had one of the most intense back-and-forths since their ceasefire was announced nearly two months ago. Iran struck Kuwait International Airport overnight, killing one person and leaving dozens more wounded. The regime said these strikes were in retaliation for U.S. strikes on Iranian military targets, while the U.S. said it acted in self-defense. CBS News' Natalie Brand reports.