“Desperately Need a Car”: Analyzing crowdfunding campaigns for car purchases and repairs on Gofundme.com

Abstract

Our study explores the phenomenon of using the crowdfunding website GoFundMe.com to raise money to purchase and or repair a personal vehicle. We use both text mining and qualitative analysis methods to ask three research questions about GoFundMe campaigns from the United States created in 2018 and 2019. First, how do campaigners on GoFundMe describe their need for personal vehicles? Second, what precipitating events led them to seek crowdfunding for a car purchase or repair? Third, what are broader contexts for these requests for financial assistance? We find that many campaigns describe several interrelated crises, complications, or challenges that the campaigners faced, such as medical conditions, loss of employment, and housing crises. Most campaigners are without a functioning car because of an unexpected event—a car crash, a breakdown, or repairs piling up—combined with their inability to pay for the repairs or replacement. Finally, campaigners wanted cars to travel to work and school, chauffeur children, and access medical care.