In the wake of Nepal’s Gen Z protests, hundreds of fundraising campaigns have popped up on platforms like GoFundMe. Many such campaigns have been started abroad by Nepali diaspora—student groups, non-resident Nepali associations and clubs. These fundraisers seek help for the reconstruction of ravaged infrastructures, medical treatment of the injured victims, financial relief for the bereaved families and material aid for those affected.

But questions are also being raised on how much money is being collected and who will truly benefit.

Fundraisers have been launched primarily from countries such as Australia, US, Belgium, and Canada. However, as many posts on the platform are marked as “Donation Protected” or set to “Private,” neither the donation amounts nor the identities of the donors are visible. As a result, it is difficult to determine how much money has been raised for campaigns related to the Gen Z protests.

On September 9, Manish Upadhyay in Australia launched a GoFundMe campaign titled “Nepal’s Gen Z Protesters: Aid for Injured and Deceased.” As of now, the campaign had raised 6,338 Australian dollars—about 80 percent of its 8,000-dollar goal—with donations from 129 contributors.

“I started this campaign to stand in solidarity with Nepal’s youth and support those who risked everything for change,” Manish wrote in the campaign description. “Every dollar raised will go towards medical assistance for the injured, financial relief for the families of those who lost their lives, and essential supplies, food and shelter for affected communities.”

A coalition of Nepali student organisations in the US has an aim to collect $35,000 through a campaign titled “Stand with Nepal: Help Families of Martyrs,” launched by Rashika Chaulagain. More than 45 student groups across the US have joined the initiative, with over 587 individual contributors so far.

Separately, from Englewood, Colorado, Dinesh Pant started another fundraiser titled “United for Nepal’s Gen Z Martyrs and Injured Protesters,” which has collected $5,315 so far, toward a much bigger target of $40,000. Over 60 donors, including Dil Shrestha, Pramod Tamang, Shankar Gurung, Prasanna Subedi, Reshu Gurung, Shanta Bishwakarma, Kripa Adhikari, Sugam Pokharel, and Dinesh Pant himself, have already contributed.

Meanwhile, the Danphe Sports Club in Calgary, Canada, has raised $2,221 towards its $10,000 goal, using the now-iconic image of bloodstained white Converse shoes and protest masks as campaign symbols.

Seventeen-year-old Lakshya Yavad, who has been staying in South Korea with his guardians, seeks to raise $5,000, pledging, “As a young person, I want to help my friends through this difficult time. Every dollar will go directly to hospitals in Kathmandu.” His campaign has received $133 so far.

Bhutanese-Nepali groups in Pennsylvania and the Non-Resident Nepali Association’s US National Coordination Council have also launched similar campaigns. New York-based Nepali community groups, including the Dari Club and New York Nepali Post, have launched fundraising campaigns to support families in Nepal who lost young members during the recent protests. These campaigns, organisers say, aim to “empower Nepal’s youth” through collective contributions, big and small. In just six days, the joint campaign by these groups has raised $6,819.

Similarly, the United Nepali Association launched its fundraising drive a week ago, attracting contributions from over 125 donors and collecting $26,433 so far. The association has set a $100,000 target, pledging to distribute the funds directly and proportionally to families who lost loved ones.

From New York, Tenzing Gurung, originally from Upper Mustang and now living in Queens, has launched his own campaign to raise $6,000 for affected families. So far, he has collected $535 through the GoFundMe platform.

“I have been deeply saddened by the tragic deaths of young students during the protests,” Gurung wrote on his campaign page. “I have made arrangements to ensure the collected funds will directly reach the families through student leaders I personally know.”

GoFundMe, an online crowdfunding platform, has long been used to raise money for medical treatments, surgeries, emergency relief, education, funerals, and even rent support or music recording projects.

During the Covid pandemic, it became a lifeline for patients in need of treatment and for managing relief materials. It has also been used in the wake of natural calamities like earthquakes, floods and landslides in Nepal.

However, such fundraising efforts occasionally spark controversy due to concerns about transparency and the lack of regulation. A notable dispute arose during the 2015 earthquake, when a public spat broke out between innovator Mahabir Pun, now education minister, and businessman Rudra Pandey over unaccounted funds raised for the Nepal Innovation Centre.

During the pandemic, the Nepali government even tried to introduce an integrated system and required official recommendations for fundraising to address these concerns. Now, as online campaigns for the protest victims gain momentum, questions and complaints are once again surfacing on social media about how the funds will be managed and distributed.

As Nepal rebuilds in the aftermath of unrest, the GoFundMe campaigns have become both a lifeline and a litmus test for generosity, effectiveness, and accountability. For donors and victims alike, the question is not whether to give, but whether every cent will reach those who need it most.

The anti-corruption protests began on September 8 when the then KP Sharma Oli government imposed a ban on various social media platforms. Demonstrators—mostly young people—took to the streets in Kathmandu and other cities to protest corruption, restriction of free speech, and inequality. At least 19 people were killed and dozens of others were injured on the first day of the protest. A total of 72 people lost their lives during the protests.