Crowdfunding Sites Like GoFundMe and YouCaring Raise Money—and Concerns

After Todd King Sr.’s 13-year-old son Tyree was killed by a drunk driver last summer, friends, neighbors and strangers rallied to the family’s side, donating several thousand dollars for funeral expenses through a crowdfunding website.

Then King, who lives in Springfield, Ohio, discovered that a neighbor had kept more than $1,000 of the $2,700 she had raised on the family’s behalf through YouCaring.com. She refused to turn over the remaining funds, so King filed a report with the county sheriff and ended up in court.

“We were crushed,” said King. “Whoever has guardianship over the child should be the one that cashes the check.”