[Update 2, May 3, 2015]: GoFundMe and Indiegogo have responded to my online petition. GoFundMe has announced to donate its 5% processing fees to AmeriCares for the earthquake relief efforts in Nepal. On April 30, GoFundMe donated $50,000 and will continue to donate more, up to $250,000.
Also see this coverage on One Stop Portal, “GOFUNDME AGREES TO DONATE UP TO $250,000 FOR EARTHQUAKE RELIEF”
Indiegogo, GoFundMe – Waive Your Service Fees to Help the earthquake victims in Nepal
[Update 1]: Please support our online petition on change.org aimed at Indiegogo, GoFundMe and Crowdrise to allow 100% of donations to directly benefit Nepal Quake victims.
Indiegogo, GoFundMe and Crowdrise: Let 100% of Donations Benefit Nepal Quake Victims https://t.co/y8I8qKo27o
— Digital Subway (@digitalsubway) April 28, 2015
April 27, 2015
Purushottam Shah
Austin, TX 78704
Mr. Brad Damphousse, Co-Founder & CEO
Mr. Andy Ballester, Co-Founder & CTO
GoFundMe
1010 2nd Ave, #1770
San Diego, CA 92101
Dear Mr. Damphousse and Mr. Ballester:
I am writing to request for lowering processing fees so that all donations collected using GoFundMe can directly benefit the earthquake victims in Nepal. GoFundMe charges a 5% flat fee with an additional 2.9% and $0.30 per donation for US transactions. Please consider lowering these processing fees and stand in solidarity with Nepalese community as we pool our resources to help those in need.
At approximately 11:56 a.m. local time—or 11:11 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time—on April 25, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck central Nepal at a shallow depth of approximately 15 kilometers (km), according to the U.S. Geological Survey. This earthquake has caused extensive damage and the number of people confirmed dead in Nepal stands at 3,617, according to Nepal police. The death toll is expected to climb further as officials get information from the rugged countryside that makes up most of Nepal.
The Government of Nepal (GoN) has declared a state of emergency for earthquake-affected areas and requested international assistance. The Government reports that 35 of 75 districts are affected in the Western and Central Regions, including the Kathmandu Valley districts. This includes mountain and hilly areas, disperse rural populations, as well as some very densely populated districts and Nepal’s two largest cities – greater Kathmandu and Pokhara.
The international support for the earthquake in Nepal has been overwhelming and we are very grateful for the assistance from foreign nations, organizations and businesses. Several foreign businesses such as Google, Facebook, Viber, Skype and T-Mobile have showed support by providing tools to locate missing individuals, mark missing individuals as safe and make telephone calls to and from Nepal for free.
Similarly, a vast majority of Nepali diaspora and well-wishers have raised funds using your platform GoFundMe among others to benefit the victims of the devastating earthquake in Nepal. In this time of dire need, we request GoFundMe to show support and lower the processing fees so that all of the donations can directly benefit the earthquake victims in Nepal. Every penny counts. Thank You.
Hoping for your partnership,
Purushottam Shah
On Behalf of Nepali Community
Attachment: UN’s Situation Report on the Earthquake in Nepal
Joint Signatories:
Individuals: Manish Jung Thapa, Khushbu Mishra