Sarasota ranks second in US in GoFundMe giving

Sarasota has been named the second most generous city in the U.S., according to data by GoFundMe, the popular nonprofit fundraising organization. 

In its 2024 Year in Help report, Sarasota was No. 2 on GoFundMe's list, behind only Marietta, Georgia in the number of donations per capita for cities with at least 50,000 people. 

Anyone can set up a GoFundMe campaign; in exchange for providing a web page and electronic payment support, the organization charges a small transaction fee for each donation.

Overall, Sarasota residents donated nearly $3 million to GoFundMe fundraisers this year, the average donation being $118, the organization said. 

That's not surprising, given there are more than 500 currently active GoFundMe campaigns in the Sarasota area, according to the organization's website. 

Courtesy image

Some of the larger fundraisers in Sarasota this year include:

• Help Rebuild European Alteration by Toni After Hurricanes, which raised more than $68,000 for a family store in the aftermath of Hurricanes Helene and Milton. 
• Support Tropiflora's Recovery from Hurricane Milton, which raised more than $52,000 for a local plant nursery that was impacted by Milton.
• Help the Crowleys Rebuild Their Home and Hope, which raised more than $43,000 for a local family whose home was destroyed after a fire broke out during Hurricane Helene.
• Community Support for Aidan McDonald's Family, which raised more than $38,000 for a Cardinal Mooney HIgh School student who passed away last month.
• Help the Hoskins Family Rebuild After Storm, which has raised more than $17,000 for a family of seven who were forced out of their home due to Tropical Storm Debby in August.

Six of the top 10 most generous cities in the U.S. this year are in Florida, including Fort Lauderdale (No. 3), Doral (No. 4), Orlando (No. 6), Miami (No. 8), and Boca Raton (No. 10).