Axios Event: Gen Z influence has expanded online philanthropy, GoFundMe CEO says

NEW YORK – Fundraising and giving have changed in the digital era as online platforms provide new ways of raising money that reach more people.

• Axios chief financial correspondent Felix Salmon and executive editor Kate Marino moderated conversations with GoFundMe CEO Tim Cadogan and Case Foundation CEO Jean Case at the event, which was sponsored by Bank of America.

Why it matters: One of the most powerful ways the world can come together to make an impact on today's most pressing global challenges is through philanthropy.

What they're saying: "Personal fundraising is definitely changing. The fact that an individual can set up a fundraiser for themselves, for a friend or for a charity that they care about and raise money is different over the last sort of 5 to 10 years, and is accelerating. That's really significant," Cadogan said.

Gen Z is leading the way in expanding the reach of philanthropic campaigns by sharing fundraisers with their expansive online communities. "They're very influential and they're digital natives," said Cadogan.

• "They're influential through their money, but even more through their sharing, through their use of social media and building community," Cadogan noted.

The bottom line: The world can always use more kindness.

• "One of the things I think is really important is to remember that philanthropy is defined as the love of humanity," said Case, who was behind the creation of Giving Tuesday in 2012.
• "I think we could agree as we sit here today, we might not have predicted in 2012 when we got this started that in 2024 we'd be in a world of hurt and we could use a lot more love of humanity," she continued.