Raising money for someone with cancer typically involves a combination of online crowdfunding, community events, and connecting the patient with existing financial assistance programs that many families never learn about. The most effective approach uses all three, because crowdfunding alone rarely covers the full cost of cancer treatment, which can run into six figures even with insurance.
Start With Online Crowdfunding
GoFundMe is the most recognized platform for medical fundraising, and it’s where most people begin. The platform advertises no platform fees, but payment processing still takes 2.2% plus $0.30 from every donation. On a $10,000 campaign, that means roughly $250 goes to fees. Donors are given the option to cover these charges themselves, which helps, but not everyone opts in. If you need money quickly, expect additional fees of $15 to $25 for expedited bank transfers.
A few things separate campaigns that raise $500 from those that raise $50,000:
- A specific dollar goal tied to real costs. “Help Sarah cover three months of mortgage payments during chemo ($4,200)” is more compelling than “Help Sarah fight cancer.” People give more when they can see exactly where their money goes.
- Regular updates. Campaigns that post updates every week or two raise significantly more than those that go silent after launch. Share treatment milestones, photos, and gratitude. Each update triggers a new notification to previous donors and often prompts additional shares.
- A strong opening push. Ask close friends and family to donate within the first 48 hours. Crowdfunding platforms surface campaigns with early momentum, and new visitors are more likely to give to a campaign that already has donations.
- One designated organizer. The patient shouldn’t have to manage their own fundraiser. A friend or family member should run the campaign, write updates, and handle messages.
Organize a Community Fundraising Event
Local events work because they reach people who might not see an online campaign and because they create a sense of shared purpose. The best events for cancer fundraising are ones with low overhead, meaning most of the money raised actually goes to the patient.
Benefit dinners at a church, fire hall, or community center are a classic approach. A local restaurant or caterer will sometimes donate food or offer it at cost. Pair the dinner with a silent auction, and you can double the revenue. Ask local businesses to donate gift cards, services, or products for auction items. Most small business owners will say yes if you explain who you’re raising money for, and the donations are tax-deductible for them.
Other options that consistently work well include car washes, bake sales, charity softball or bowling tournaments, and benefit concerts with local bands. A 50/50 raffle (where the winner gets half the pot and the patient gets the other half) can be added to almost any event. Check your local regulations on raffles, as some states require a permit.
For any event, designate one person to handle finances. Open a separate bank account for the funds, keep receipts for every expense, and be transparent about how much was raised and where it’s going. This builds trust and makes people more willing to give generously.
Apply for Financial Assistance Programs
This is the step most families skip, and it’s often worth more than crowdfunding. Dozens of national organizations provide direct financial help to cancer patients, covering everything from copays to rent to groceries.
CancerCare offers limited financial assistance for treatment-related costs including transportation, home care, and child care. They also run a co-payment assistance program that helps cover prescription costs. Their oncology social workers can connect patients with additional local and national resources through a searchable database maintained by the Cancer Financial Assistance Coalition.
Drug manufacturers themselves run patient assistance programs that provide free or heavily discounted medications, including chemotherapy drugs. The majority base eligibility on income, and about 71% require proof-of-income documents like tax returns. Roughly half of these programs will still help patients who have some existing prescription drug coverage, and many cover medications that aren’t on a patient’s insurance formulary. Applications are available online for about 70% of programs, and nearly half are just one or two pages long. Your oncologist’s office can usually point you to the right program for whatever drug has been prescribed.
The single most valuable step a cancer patient can take is asking to speak with an oncology social worker at their treatment center. These professionals exist specifically to connect patients with financial resources: copay assistance, hospital charity care programs, manufacturer drug programs, and local aid organizations. Many patients never know this service is available.
Help With Travel and Lodging Costs
When treatment requires travel, costs pile up fast. The American Cancer Society runs Hope Lodge, a network of more than 30 locations across the United States and Puerto Rico that provide free lodging for cancer patients and their caregivers. The program serves over 29,000 patients each year and saves families more than $55 million in hotel costs collectively.
For patients who don’t live near a Hope Lodge, the American Cancer Society also partners with Extended Stay America to offer reduced-rate hotel stays at over 700 locations nationwide. That partnership has donated more than 150,000 hotel room nights to date. Angel Flight and similar volunteer pilot organizations provide free air transportation for patients who need to travel long distances for treatment. These programs are underused simply because most people don’t know they exist.
Protect the Patient’s Benefits
This is a critical detail that well-meaning fundraisers often overlook. If the person with cancer receives Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or other means-tested government benefits, a large influx of cash can disqualify them. These programs have strict asset limits, and depositing thousands of dollars from a fundraiser into the patient’s bank account could cause them to lose their health coverage at the worst possible time.
One solution is a special needs trust, which holds funds on behalf of the patient without counting as their personal assets. A third-party special needs trust, funded by money from anyone other than the patient, allows the patient to maintain eligibility for public benefits. The trust can pay for expenses that benefits don’t cover, like copays, transportation, home modifications, or personal items. Setting one up requires an attorney, but many disability and elder law attorneys offer affordable consultations, and the protection it provides is well worth the cost.
If the patient doesn’t receive means-tested benefits, this is less of a concern, but it’s worth checking before launching any large fundraising effort.
Tax Implications for Donors and Recipients
Money raised through personal crowdfunding campaigns is generally considered a gift. For 2025, the IRS annual gift tax exclusion is $19,000 per donor per recipient. Individual donors giving less than that amount to one person don’t need to file any gift tax paperwork. In practice, this means the vast majority of crowdfunding donors will never owe gift tax on their contributions.
For the person receiving the money, gifts are not considered taxable income. However, if funds are routed through a nonprofit or if the campaign generates interest income, the tax situation can get more complicated. Keeping clear records of all money received and how it’s spent protects everyone involved. If the total amount raised is substantial (more than a few thousand dollars), it’s worth a quick conversation with a tax professional to make sure nothing triggers an unexpected tax bill.
Putting It All Together
The most effective fundraising efforts combine all of these strategies. Launch a crowdfunding campaign for broad reach. Organize one or two local events to engage the community. Simultaneously, help the patient apply for every financial assistance program they qualify for. Have someone coordinate all of it so the patient can focus on treatment. A spreadsheet tracking which programs have been applied for, what’s been approved, and what funds have come in keeps everything organized and ensures no opportunity is missed.
People genuinely want to help when someone they know has cancer. Giving them a clear, specific way to contribute, whether that’s donating online, bringing auction items to an event, or simply sharing a campaign link, turns that goodwill into real financial relief.