If you master the art of convincing people to give you money, the internet offers an effective medium for sharing your personal story. If you’re wondering, “who can give me money right now?” this article will show you different options to raise money online.
Stay tuned because you may just fall in love with the idea of it. We’ll even help you learn how to pitch properly to boost your chances of getting free money to get you through your tough money times.
Why Do People Ask for Money Online?
Occasionally, we can all end up with not enough money on hand.
When you’ve tried everything else, the only thing that you’re left with is to put your hands out and beg.
If you often use sites like Craigslist and eBay, you may have noticed this trend over the last holidays.
Many listings were from folks who weren’t selling a product or service. Instead, they were from people asking for financial help because they’d lost a job or their home in the past year and they needed money to survive.
To answer the question, there are many reasons people rely on the kindness of cyber strangers.
- They include:
- Losing the breadwinner in the family
- Helping to cover a loved one’s medical bills
- Not affording basic needs like food, shelter and clothing
- Not being able to afford to pay for school
You may also be involved with a charitable foundation or a group and want to help; however, you lack the financial capability to achieve your intentions.
Cyber begging or online panhandling is 100 percent legal. You’re in no way forcing anyone to give you money. People do so voluntarily out of the goodness of their hearts.
Where Can I Ask for Free Money?
Begging money starts with the best platform to use, figuring out their target audience and the best way to reach out to them.
To accomplish something as sensitive as begging money online from strangers, it helps to pick a platform that gives you a level of trust.
While social media sites where you have family, close friends and contacts are an excellent place to start, you’ll limit yourself to the amount you can raise.
Some sites make it easy for people to donate to your cause. These sites don’t require a lot for you to set up your account and fill out your profile.
Use Crowdfunding Sites To Ask For Money Online
You’ve probably seen fund drives inspired by stories that tug on the heartstrings of the public. Crowdfunding campaigns have successfully helped thousands of people raise money for causes, projects, life events, and charitable efforts.
Crowdfunding sites can help you carry out your campaign of begging money online. These sites enable you to set up customized fundraising pages and share them with your networks.
Not all crowdfunding sites are created equal. While most can be used for nonprofit fundraising, others are purely for creative/business projects. Some platforms let you keep whatever you raise even if you don’t hit your funding goal amount, while others don’t. Some are legit, and others are scams.
So who can give me money right now? To help you cut through the dizzying array of crowdfunding platforms available, here are the top choices.
1. Crowdrise
Crowdrise is a for-profit online crowdfunding site that uses gamification and reward points systems to make fundraising more fun.
Labeling itself as a platform that helps raise money for charity, Crowdrise focuses on dealing with real-world issues. You can collect one-time and recurring donations for your cause. It has been around for many years, so it’s a trustworthy site to use.
Rather than general fundraising, use Crowdrise for specific projects or needs such as education, diseases, animal welfare, arts, cultures and even religion. You can also raise money for personal life activities like weddings, birthdays or college projects.
Thanks to Crowdrise’s donor management tools, you have unrestricted access to robust analytics and reporting directly from your campaigns. The insight will help you to make informed, data-driven decisions.
You also enjoy auto donation receipts, custom branding and back-end reporting. If you don’t reach your target, Crowdrise still allows you to withdraw your earnings.
You’ll, however, have to part with 5 percent of your earnings to help the site carry maintenance.
2. FundMyTravel
You will love FundMyTravel if you love to travel but lack enough money to fund your lifestyle.
This crowdfunding site is geared to cash-strapped travelers who want to explore the world while volunteering or students who wish to continue learning in a foreign country with assisting others as the end goal.
To ease the budget for your upcoming vacation, FundMyTravel connects you with donors who can donate to your cause.
The process is simple: Create your campaign on the site for free, pick the payment method that works best for you and share your campaign through built-in email and social media buttons.
Get people excited about your campaign by adding good-quality pictures and videos and an appealing pitch about your travel interests. To reach more people and increase the number of potential donors, share the info on your social media handles.
It’s free to create an account and your campaign on FundMyTravel. Donations go straight to your account.
However, the site takes a 5 percent cut from your earnings when people start donating. This fee ensures that the site keeps working.
3. Fundable
Fundable was created to help companies raise funds.
How the platform works is such that after completing registration, you’ll create your company’s Fundable profile that includes an overview of your product range and funding goals.
The platform has helped raise over $615 million in funding. Deliver a clear explanation to increase your chances of getting investors. In exchange for funding in your company, you’ll have to pick a reward or equity (shares or stocks) for your investors.
Start marketing your campaign as soon as you lay out your terms. Setting up the fundraiser profile is free and Fundable doesn’t ask for a cut of the overall revenue collected.
You’ll just have to pay a flat fee of $179 a month, along with 3.5 percent + $0.30 per transaction for payment processing. Fundable’s flat fee means you pay the fee whether your campaign is successful or not.
4. Fundly
Fundly help people, teams, clubs, schools, charities and nonprofits organize and advertise fundraisers that are near and dear to them.
You can raise money for causes, events and projects. Since its inception, Fundly has helped people raise over $330 million.
Fundly allows you to ask for donations from:
- Your friends and family members
- Businesses and companies
- Foundations and the government
You’re in a better position to receive donations if your campaign is for legitimate reasons like supporting art, building a library and international support.
If you plan to have a fraudulent campaign, it will be shut down in no time. Fundly asks for updates that will expose you in the end. The website has an intuitive user interface and comes with an app. You’ll feel like you’re browsing Facebook.
Updates and alerts will ensure that you’re constantly aware of the progress of your campaign. To help create an interactive show for its users, Fundly allows uploading pictures, videos and blog updates.
Let’s talk fees. For every donation made, Fundly charges a 4.9 percent platform fee. You’ll also pay 2.9 percent + $0.30/transaction for payment processing.
The good news is that you will never incur a penalty for not reaching your fundraising goal.
5. FundRazr
FundRazr is another online crowdfunding company that aims to make things simple.
The platform provides you with all the required tools to help bring your project to life. It’s fast and easy to create an account, start your campaign, get the funds and cash out. The platform hosts crowdfunding campaigns for nonprofit, business and personal causes.
People can donate through different modes of payment, including PayPal, Apple Pay and Stripe. In its near-decade of existence, FundRazr has facilitated the raising of over $200 million.
As you’d expect, signing up for an account is free. You can use words, videos and photos to tell your story in the most captivating way possible.
To ensure you rope in as many donors as possible, share your campaign to all your social media platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, Messenger, LinkedIn, WhatsApp, email and text.
FundRazr will offer guidance and advice along the way via how-to guides and live chats.
A regular FundRazr crowdfunding campaign is free apart from the 2.9 percent + $0.30 per transaction taken out in payment processing fees.
6. GoFundMe
Finally, a familiar name.
You have probably already seen a handful of GoFundMe fundraisers on social media. When someone is seriously sick or dies and the family needs help with the medical and hospital bills, you’ll see people asking for money on GoFundMe.
It’s not just medical contributions. This internationally recognized crowdfunding site allows you to ask for money free for just about anything. Collectively, users on GoFundMe have raised over $9 billion.
The process is pretty straightforward – specify your cause/emergency and invite people to donate to help you. Just ensure your reasons are valid, as fraudulent campaigns can and will be taken down.
GoFundMe has integrated links to Facebook and Twitter to help attract potential donors to your cause. Its mobile app makes it easy to launch and manage your campaign on the go.
For your campaign to take off, use the correct face and language. Also, it helps to give constant updates. If you experience any difficulty, reach out for 24/7 expert advice.
While there is a 0 percent platform fee on GoFundMe, they take a 2.9 percent + $0.30 processing fee from each donation you get.
7. Indiegogo
Indiegogo best suits nonprofits and individuals that are working to bring their dreams to life.
With operations in over 235 countries and territories, Indiegogo has helped fund more than 800k creative ideas, charities and start-up businesses.
Indiegogo offers both flexible and fixed funding. You can crowdfund for virtually anything as long as the campaign is legal. However, most people who source funds are innovators trying to get their creations off the ground.
After signing up for the site, you’ll upload your story through videos, photos, or any other methods seemingly effective for you.
Your campaign would not have a deadline limit, and you can cash out even when it’s partially funded. You can also extend the campaign if need be. Indiegogo allows you to sell your first batch of products on its marketplace.
Indiegogo will take 5 percent of the crowded funds to help with the site’s running and maintenance. You also pay a 2.9 percent +$0.30 per transaction fee.
8. Kickstarter
Launched in 2009, the mission of Kickstarter is to assist creatives in bringing their works to life.
People turn to Kickstarter to have their creative ideas, product and inventions funded by strangers who really love their concepts and want to help. A good example of a Kickstarter campaign that came to fruition is Issa Rae’s Insecure.
With a base of over 19 million project backers spread across the globe, creatives can interact with the community directly.
You will be able to customize your own page and share your campaigns with your family, friends and followers on social media. The site also allows interested parties to your campaign to help spread the word.
The site is highly competitive. Your project should fall under one of Kickstarter’s curated categories, like technology, games, film and photography, arts and crafts, fashion and design, and games to be considered.
You should have a proper description of your project, have a clear timeline and explain how your donors will be rewarded.
If people feel interested in the project, they come in and help crowdfund. The downside of Kickstarter is that partial funding does not count. So if your goal is $100k and you only raise $60k, you won’t be able to withdraw that money.
9. Patreon
Let’s be real: donors/fans are more willing to give if they get something back in return.
Patreon makes it possible for fans to pay creators for their work. The platform helps those who are artistically inclined (gaming creators, podcasters, video creators, writers, musicians) to interact with their fans and earn a living.
Since it was started in 2013, Patreon has paid out more than $2 billion to its community of over 200k creators.
As a creator, you can give your fans perks such as exclusive access and behind-the-scenes footage of your work. In return, they’ll crowdfund your work.
You can customize your page by adding membership tiers. Platform fees range from 5-12 percent. The good thing about this platform is that fans can continue following your work and donate after a campaign.
Patreon charges a rate of 2.9 percent + $0.30 per transaction over $3, and a micropayment rate of 5 percent + $0.10 per successful payment of $3 or less.
The secure payment process system allows you to receive your donations through credit cards and debit cards.
10. PlumFund
If you follow the hit show Shark Tank, then you’re probably aware of PlumFund.
PlumFund is mainly geared towards individuals who create campaigns for special life events – birthdays, baby showers, graduations, anniversaries, weddings, retirements, funerals and memorials, etc.
The site was created by the same creators of HoneyFund (a site geared towards funding honeymoons for newlyweds). It has helped raise over $650 million.
PlumFund is one of the few crowdfunding sites that don’t take a pay cut for the money users acquire from the site. Donated money is paid through cash or checks directly to the campaign organizer.
To attract more donors, keep your campaign as interesting as possible.
Its long-standing partnership with PayPal means that you’ll just pay just 2.9 percent + $0.30 for every transaction.
11. Ulule
Ulule is a European platform for collaborative financing.
Creators and entrepreneurs can fundraise a specific amount of money for a limited period.
The project manager should set a financial target or products to sell. Another way to go about it is to set a specific price with a minimum number of pre-orders required to manufacture the product.
Ulule takes a commission based on the payment method that’s used. They take around 6.67 percent of funds received by credit card and 4.17 percent for funds received through PayPal.
If you don’t reach the target, the donations are refunded to your backers, and you don’t have to pay any fees. Over $237 million has been collected to date.
Use Reddit to Ask for Money Online
Reddit can best be described as the front page of the internet. In the United States alone, more than 28 million users log in to the site every month.
When you realize the true value of Reddit, you won’t imagine leaving or switching over to another social network.
While it enables you to gain knowledge and stay updated on your favorite topics, there are people on Reddit that have a lot of money than they know what to do with it. They want to just give it away.
Some Subreddits are dedicated to helping out, but you need to become an active member to harness the true power of Reddit. These Subreddits have come through for many people in need.
Reddit comes with some rules. You shouldn’t worry, though, as the rules are not hard to follow.
Let’s take a look at some genuine Subreddits that exist to connect users who want to give with those in need.
12. Assistance
Assistance is a Subreddit with a community of 183k members. The Subreddit lets Redditors help with whatever problems you may have.
It seems that folks in this community are extremely giving and are willing to help out those who genuinely need it.
Pretty much anything goes here –so it’s possible that you could get a few extra bucks you need to repair your car, buy a laptop or cover a bill.
13. Random Acts of Amazon
If you’re open to receiving donations outside of money, you can post your Amazon wishlist on this Subreddit and willing people will fulfill your wishlist.
This community’s idea is that you can learn a lot about someone based on the kinds of things they want to buy. People buy Amazon gifts for each other all the time, but your reason has to be genuine.
Remember, Redditors are usually smart people who know how stuff works. This means that they can spot a scam from a mile away.
14. Random Acts of Gaming
You can start a new thread requesting a gaming product or subscription you need in the hope that some giving soul will come across your thread and help you.
The community of 149k generous members allows gamers to spread the love of gaming. Your Reddit account must be at least 30 days old and have a minimum of 150 comment karma to enter giveaways.
15. Random Kindness
The Random Kindness Subreddit is proof that kindness does still exist and that people are willing to go out of their way to help out strangers in need!
This Reddit thread can help you get different kinds of donations from generous 156k users who follow the thread. However, you cannot ask for money online for free in any form (including gift cards).
To see the kind of things people are requesting and giving away, scroll through the threads. To post a request, you need a minimum of 300 comment karma.
Also, go over the rules that explain how to participate in the community cooperatively.
16. Random Acts of Pizza
Free pizza, anyone?
This Subreddit was started a decade ago to “restore faith in humanity, one pizza at a time.”
It allows you to post requests for pizza. If your request is compelling enough, you’ll get a pie delivered right to your doorstep.
Keep in mind that you’re not allowed to ask for money/charity on the thread.
Streaming is a Popular Way to Get People to Give You Money
Apart from crowdfunding and Reddit, live streaming is another way to get money online. Live streaming refers to the broadcasting of a presentation or performance over the internet via live video.
According to Statista, adults in the United States watch over 3 hours of live TV every day. Projections show that the number of people looking for live video content in the market will only grow in the near future.
To live stream, you need a laptop, camera, microphone, strong internet connection and a live streaming platform.
You can share anything, from gaming to vlogs and make money by running ads, subscriptions/pay-per-view, live selling, sponsorships and fan donations.
Here are 3 live streaming platforms to consider:
17. Facebook Gaming
While it’s a relatively new platform, more and more people are turning to Facebook gaming for streaming vlogs and games.
The easiest way to get money from your Facebook Gaming live streams is to include a virtual tip jar in the description and the top comment.
If you have a huge following, you have a better chance of acquiring special supporters for Facebook gaming in a membership program.
18. Twitch
If you’re a gamer, you’re probably familiar with Ninja. The professional gamer makes over $5 million annually just by streaming on Twitch.
This Amazon-owned site allows you to stream vlogs and video games to people on the internet.
People subscribe to your profile and account and pay money or donate cash.
When it comes to live streaming and asking for money, your audience is your biggest asset. How much you’ll receive will depend on how captivating you are.
19. YouTube Live
YouTube Live lets you stream non-explicit content on pretty much any topic you desire.
Going live is not as simple as turning on your camera and hitting the record button.
First, your account has to be verified. To check if your YouTube channel is verified, go to www.youtube.com/verify. You also need to confirm that you’re set for live streaming before going live.
You’ll make money in the same way as Twitch does, such as through donations and subscriptions. So remember to set up and link an AdSense account to your channel.
Super Chat (if you live in a country where it’s supported) is an electronic tip through which your fans can donate to you during your live stream.
Host industry leaders or prominent personalities to make your live streaming sessions more interesting and informative.
Other Sites Where You Can Ask People to Give You Money
There are generous rich people out there willing to help people in less fortunate circumstances.
Online begging is a much more decent way of begging as it’s based on anonymity. It eliminates the negative self-esteem issues associated with “please give me money” direct begging.
If you do a quick online search, you’ll see tons of cyber begging sites. But like anything else, they’re all not created equal. For this article’s purpose, we will bring you the most reliable ones.
The cyber begging websites below verify users’ authenticity and allow people to ask for help using a traceable PayPal account.
20. 2Hands.org
You can ask for money online free from willing donors on 2hands.
A simple question from kids, “where do people who need help go” inspired the birth of 2hands.
Since it was started, 2hands has changed the lives of over 50,000 financially disadvantaged people.
21. Begging Money
Begging Money is very upfront, which may put off some users. The site connects people in need with wealthy people.
Begging Money will require you to write a minimum 400 words post explaining to potential donors why you need money. If you convince them and they donate, all funds will be sent to your PayPal.
All requests must come with an original photo related to the request.
To help protect you and your campaign from scammers, Begging money will prompt you to create a PayPal.me link.
Begging Money does not charge a percentage from donations you receive. The only fees you’ll pay are the normal PayPal transaction fees.
22. CyberBeg
At first glance, CyberBeg may look somewhat sketchy, but the site is completely legit.
If you’re feeling unfortunate about your financial situation, CyberBeg allows you to beg for money for just about anything under the sun. The site was founded with the intent of helping the less fortunate.
To reach an even wider audience, the site allows you to share your beg with other platforms.
Cyberbeg puts a PayPal donation button on your thread automatically so donors can pay securely with PayPal.
Oh, and besides the standard PayPal fees, CyberBeg takes no fees. It’s a nice incentive for their outdated design.
23. FreeBeg
Has cyber begging not really worked out for you?
FreeBeg might be your next best option.
There’s no hiding behind the intention of FreeBeg – it’s a platform where you can beg rich people for money. Visit the site and read what other people need and what they’re asking for.
Go over their TOS to avoid being kicked out for not following instructions.
Next, put in a “please give me money” request and wait for people to read it and feel bad for you.
24. GoGetFunding
This is another site you can try if you’re trying to raise funds but have no idea where to go.
It’s easy to start a campaign on GoGetFunding – Create your page in 4 easy steps, share it with your world and beyond, and accept donations instantly with PayPal and credit/debit cards.
GoGetFunding is available globally and in every major currency.
Try to keep your campaign short to maintain interest.
25. Just Giving
You can request resources for a personal or charitable cause on JustGiving. The mission of the online charity platform is to ensure that no great cause goes unfunded.
The platform’s flexibility allows you to raise money for personal things like your wedding, birthday or final exam.
JustGiving is fully dependent on your imagination and creativity. Increase the chances of receiving donations by captivating your audience with your campaign.
Depending on the volume of your donations, you’ll have to pay a membership fee and 2-5 percent for every transaction.
The site pays what you raise into your personal bank account.
26. Ko-fi
The Ko-fi platform is an excellent platform if you’re interested in growing an audience for your ongoing art and creative project work and getting some donations in the process.
Ko-fi is best suited to streamers, podcasters, musicians, developers, video creators, writers and the like, in need of financial support to fulfill their dreams.
Over $2 million is donated to creators every month.
27. Begslist
As the name suggests, Begslist is an online panhandling site designed for people buried in financial problems.
There are various categories you can sort your “please give me money” request. Whether it’s money for school tuition, utility bills, medical bills, weddings, vacations, etc. Begslist got your back.
You can even start your own sub-page. Think of it like a landing page where you direct online good Samaritans to help you get money from them.
Donors will evaluate your campaign and decide whether or not to donate to your cause.
Thanks to social media sharing options, it’s easy to get the word out.
How To Ask For Money Online
If getting money online was easy, everyone would be doing it. There are millions of people just like you who need some extra cash.
The truth is that to have a very successful campaign, there is a bit of work required.
Start by being clear and respectful when requesting donations.
I hate to break it to you, but your reason should be solid enough to break any strong-hearted person down. Avoid any reason that revolves around you spending the money on frivolities.
We mentioned a few examples of brilliant reasons that would make a cold-hearted person emotional. After picking a reason, craft a clear message that evokes emotions.
Remember, donors could hail from anywhere in the world. So make your language pleasant and easy to understand.
Put a face to your campaign
Tie donations to direct impact.
Uploading a photo of a brick wall and asking for money will not get you very far. Neither is putting up a picture of you in a flashy car.
Media that depicts your situation helps potential donors to connect to your cause or project.
It also helps to show proofs and claims. For instance, if your kid needs the money for surgery, including a doctor’s report in the post can do the magic for you.
When people see what their donations are going toward, they’re far more likely to contribute.
Be kind, always
Begging money in a polite way can make a whole lot of difference.
In your message, avoid sounding authoritative. Don’t go telling people how much they need to donate to you individually or that they should give to be blessed.
Some internet trolls will attack you for begging, and that’s okay! Please don’t fall into their trap and reply to their mean comments.
A little appreciation goes a long way
Most people love a good success story. Be sure to post an appreciative update when you reach your goal.
Avoid Scams
While the internet presents many money-making opportunities, it’s also rife with scams and con artists. When you do cyber begging, beware of too good to be true offers.
Sometimes “donors,” ask for your personal details or a transaction fee before they donate to you. Ignore them.
Sites that charge you to use them to get donations are not feasible as you could end up worse off than before. To be safe, stick to the aforementioned sites that have a good reputation.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, there are a ton of legitimate sites that give you free money. These sites require little to no effort on your part but could make a world of difference to your finances.
Always remember that there’s no shame in begging for money. These sites exist because millions of people are hard up financially and generous people want to help them. You won’t be the first one nor the last one to use a begging site.
Also, keep in mind not everyone will be able to make a financial contribution. Encourage those who can’t donate to spread the word to their contacts instead.
Good luck!