When the COVID-19 pandemic brought life to a standstill in 2020, GoFundMe.org moved quickly to help people, businesses, and communities facing unprecedented hardship.
Through the COVID-19 General Relief Fund and the Small Business Relief Fund, GoFundMe.org raised more than $3.2 million to support individuals, businesses, and communities facing urgent needs resulting from the pandemic. That support helped people secure personal protective equipment, afford medical and memorial expenses, and access relief after losing work or income.
Another major focus of this response was supporting small businesses that were forced to close their doors or operate under impossible conditions during the pandemic. Through the Small Business Relief Fund, GoFundMe.org provided $500 emergency grants to qualifying businesses in the United States. More than 5,000 grants were sent to verified small businesses, with generous support from donors including Yelp, Intuit QuickBooks, GoDaddy, Bill.com, GoFundMe, Adyen, and Capital One.
For many recipients, this support offered more than financial relief. It provided hope during a time when the future felt deeply uncertain.
“I am grateful beyond measure for your support. This is a difficult time for so many. It brings me hope and such joy to be receiving the blessings and generosity of our world coming together to offer support. The future is so unclear at this point, but moving forward is the only direction we can go.”