Boston Giving Showcases Growth of ‘Crowdfund’ Giving

“Crowdfunding” Web sites have raised more than $2.5-million for victims of the Boston Marathon bombings, suggesting a fast-growing role for instant, personal campaigns in charitable giving, Bloomberg writes.

Most crowdfund giving has gone through GoFundMe.com, with $2.2-million collected thus far in 20 campaigns set up by friends or family members of those injured in the attacks. Efforts on Fundly.com and Indiegogo have raised $400,000.

Kevin Berg Kartaszewicz-Grell of professional group Crowdsourcing.org said donors are drawn to the immediacy of giving through such sites. “With traditional sources, your money goes into a pot with a lot of other people’s money. Your impact is larger when you go directly to the people in need,” he said.