GoFundMe Is Refunding The 20 Million Raised By “Build The Wall” Campaign

GoFundMe has announced they will be refunding the 20 MILLION dollars raised by a viral campaign to build the wall.

Apparently, this refund was triggered when Brian Kolfage, the man who began the campaign, changed the terms of the campaign:

Also, as the campaign 💥, Kolfage’s been changing the language about refunding $

12/18 “If for ANY reason we don’t reach our goal we will refund your donation”
12/19: saying they will hold funds, but will refund if goal not hit
12/22: refund promise gone
Now: Will hold all funds pic.twitter.com/nhVvCiNFbN

— Brianna Sacks (@bri_sacks) January 11, 2019

So, Kolfage has again updated the campaign to build the wall himself. He’s formed a non-profit (to move the $$ to) and a team

Since he broke his original promise, GoFundMe said “all donors will receive a refund”

New info here. It’s a ride https://t.co/NCtEkJpPnK pic.twitter.com/gFQbunnvt0

— Brianna Sacks (@bri_sacks) January 11, 2019

Which basically means Kolfage could end up keeping the money himself.

As these were NOT the terms stipulated when people gave their money, GoFundMe feels this is a violation. While I’m disappointed in the way everything panned out, I can’t say I disagree with this decision.

🚨🚨 The $20million Build the Wall campaign is getting refunded. @gofundme is refunding everyone (~330,000 people) who donated because, according to a spokesperson, Brian Kolfage broke the original promise of the campaign to give the money back if they didn’t reach their goal pic.twitter.com/3HDAzTqrgf

— Brianna Sacks (@bri_sacks) January 11, 2019

And while I’m not trying to drag anyone’s name here, there are reports that Brian Kolfage has improperly used donation money before:

The GoFundMe campaign to build Trump’s wall just hit $20M

The decorated veteran behind the viral effort has crafted his persona as a conservative, altruistic public figure, but people who’ve worked with him say he can be vengeful and shady with donationshttps://t.co/OSMJD0L3r7

— Brianna Sacks (@bri_sacks) January 11, 2019

In 2015, he raised $16,246 on GoFundMe for a veteran mentorship program, citing three hospitals he would help. The funds went directly to him, GoFundMe confirmed.

But all 3 vet centers say they have no record of any peer-mentoring programs or of him working with their patients

— Brianna Sacks (@bri_sacks) January 11, 2019

According to a cache of texts, emails, and five people who worked with and for Brian Kolfage, the veteran pushed his emplyees to fabricate stories on Facebook to more flagrantly convey a false narrative and purchased conservative pages, one for ~$100,000, to grow for profit

— Brianna Sacks (@bri_sacks) January 11, 2019

He currently has another GoFundMe campaign (Fight 4 Free Speech) to pay him to “take on Facebook in an unprecedented legal case that will shape our nation for future generations”

It’s raised $73,425. If it hits its $100,000 goal, the funds will go to himhttps://t.co/XvRSWOgXPU

— Brianna Sacks (@bri_sacks) January 11, 2019

Again, I’m not trying to smear anyone, but I DO think I should share this all with you so that you can all form your own opinions here based on everything that’s out there.

Here’s one thing I know for sure: terms of fundraising efforts should NEVER be changed once you’ve already raised 20 million dollars. Whether his intentions were good or not, those simply weren’t the terms of the contract. You can’t change a contract 20 million dollars in, whether most people are “ok” with it or not. GoFundMe is actually doing the right thing here.

I do, however, think this campaign let President Trump and the GOP know just how much the American people care about this wall.

Brian Kolfage added THIS to the orginal GoFundMe page:

“UPDATE: JANUARY 11, 2019 WE ARE BUILDING THE WALL! You can still donate right now on this Gofundme!! The media is falsely reporting all money is being refunded and it’s over. They are WRONG. WE ARE BUILDING THE WALL and you can STILL donate or opt in if you donated before January 11th TO SUPPORT the plan. “