Image via Complex Original
The potato salad guy raised $55,492 on Kickstarter, a platform designed to help the scrappy, entrepreneurial types of the world fund their creative projects. All he wanted to do, really, was make a potato salad. The idea wasn’t groundbreaking, but his execution was. If one man can raise tens of thousands of dollars to fund something that is at best a filling side dish, why can’t the rest of the world use it for good?
With the rise of IndieGoGo and GoFundMe, ordinary people have been trying to do just that. Some find themselves in dire need, and reach out to strangers for support. There’s been a rise in projects to help pay for college tuition, medical bills, car repair, and other basic necessities.
And then, there’s people who just want to stunt on their ex.
There are more than a few ratchet crowdfunding projects out there—some personal, some commercial, all remarkable in how people are willing to ask money for just about anything.
The Woman Who Just Wanted to See Mayweather vs. Pacquiao
Creator: Jameelah Kareem
Funding goal: $1,500 (now $5,000 with all extra proceeds going to her friend)
Current status: $1,747
Project:GoFundMe
The heavyweight of all ratchet crowdfunding stories, the woman behind this project writes, “After I saw a man raised $55,000 to make potato salad on a similar site, I figured this was worth a shot. lol” Jah is from South Jersey and had wanted to go to Vegas to see the Mayweather vs. Pacquiao fight with her friends, but she needed money for her flight and hotel. She started a campaign, asked for $1500, and met her goal. Ask and ye shall receive.
Since reaching her goal, Jah has announced that she’s donating anything else that comes in to her high school friend who is battling cancer. But “the haters” don’t believe her, so she’s announced that she’s shutting down her campaign. Haters to the left, y’all. Haters to the left.
The Guy Who Has Serious Trust Issues
Creator: Azel Still Ball Jr.
Funding goal: $300
Current status: $360
Project: GoFundMe
I would like to point out that this dude surpassed his goal. SURPASSED HIS GOAL. He needed money for a flight to Miami, because his girlfriend is going, and he needed to follow her around to make sure she doesn’t, idk, go clubbing. “If you know anything about Miami, you know that she shouldn't go without a chaperone,” he writes.
On his page, the dude tried to incentivize people to donate the deal by saying he really only needed money for the flight. “I will be staying wherever she lays her head, eating whatever she eats, and overseeing all parties and fun activity for the duration of the trip.” Maybe he just wanted a free trip to Miami. Or he's a stalker.
The University of Oklahoma SAE “Mom”
Creator: N/A
Funding goal: Enough to live off of
Current status: Project has since been removed
Project: N/A
When SAE was disbanded from the University of Oklahoma, the fraternity’s house “mom” Beaton Gilbow was left without a job. She started a campaign to help herself out on GoFundMe, and managed to raise over $6,000—but the campaign has since been removed, probably since a Vine of Gilbow has surfaced in which she repeatedly says the n-word.
This Beyonce Mega-Fan
Creator: Leah Merriam
Funding goal: $1,600
Current status: $1,650
Project: GoFundMe
Leah has big dreams, namely, being front row at a Beyonce concert with her sister. She couldn’t afford tickets though, and thought she could raise the money on GoFundMe. “My love for Beyonce runs deep and I know you all know that—please help me get closer to her than ever! Maybe she will even touch my hand!!! I'm not getting my hopes up about this but I CAN BARELY BREATHE AT THE THOUGHT OF IT,” writes Leah.
Everyone probably feared for her medical safety and donated immediately, since Leah surpassed her goal of $1,600.
These Undoubtedly Underage Teens
Creator: Austine Lowe
Funding goal: $2,000
Current status: $0
Project: GoFundMe
There’s no much to this GoFundMe campaign; it’s minimalist, honest, and raw. Just look at that custom-made Super Mario Bros art. Here are five life-long pals who just want “one more crazy week together before we part ways for college and worst of all the real world. Anything helps.”
It’s poetic, almost. There is no description of how these friends will celebrate. What will they do with the money? Where will they go? Shhh, that’s not for you to know. Have a little faith.
This Guy Who Thinks Crowdfunding Could Replace Working For a Living
Creator: Mike Moynihan
Funding goal: $10,000
Current status: $19
Project: GoFundMe
Mike isn’t trying to pull a fast one on you. He has money; he just wants more of it. “I really like money. It helps me do everything from buying food to paying for gas to put in my 2004 Ford Escape,” he writes. Yes, Mike, those are the things money can do. Do you think that strangers will just give it to you for the rest of your life?
Actually though, Mike has raised $19 out of the $10,000 that he set out to make. So, who knows, maybe there’s hope.
This Creative Genius
Creator: Armando Mondy Quiles
Funding goal: $2,000
Current status: $1,480
Project: GoFundMe
Unbelievably, this man from Florida has raised more than half of his $2,000 goal, without giving any clue at all of what he wants to do with that money. He want you to trust him: “Do you believe in my creativity?” I believe that perhaps many of these people invested blindly in one man’s potentially crazy dream. What is the ROI, here?
This Visionary
Creator: Kamaal Klassik Frescobar
Funding goal: $10,000
Current status: $0
Project: GoFundMe
“I want to do ratchet sh*t” reads the top of Klassik Frescobar’s GoFundMe page. He explains in his video: “I want to have gold grills, with yellow and gold diamonds, that you can see from the down the block. I wanna go to the strip club, and throw money like an NBA superstar!”
Klassik promises to turn all his ratchet escapades into a hit YouTube series, but he’s received no money yet. If, however, you want to donate some of your creative direction, you can reach him on his project page via email.
The Man Who Only Wants the Finer Things in Life
Creator: Jarrett Scott
Funding goal: N/A
Current status: $0
Project: N/A
Apparently, Jarrett Scott’s teeth are falling out. We suggest he not spend so much time worrying about what kind of veneers he will get, and to see a medical professional right away. We’re not sure what that means, but it really can’t be good.
This Guy
Creator: N/A
Funding goal: $2,000
Current status: $0
Project: N/A
The campaign really needs no further description. It reads, “I need a car to bring you this dick.” We couldn’t find the original page (GoFundMe has presumably removed it), but Instagram keeps this campaign alive with screenshots and some a hilarious hashtags, including #malethot.
The Guy Who Is Just in It For The LOLs
Creator: N/A
Funding goal: $83
Current status: Met goal, doubled it, and donated to charity
Project: N/A
Remember Jah? Her wildly successful campaign inspired this man to start his own GoFundMe with the plea, “Goin bald. I need hella hats.” He actually reached his goal of $83, but then announced on his Instagram the whole thing started as a joke, and he decided to double his donations and spend it on hats for children with cancer. Awwww!
The Woman Who Is Just in It For the LOLs
Creator: N/A
Funding goal: $1,000
Current status: $0
Project: N/A
Her Instagram caption says it all: “fugg it.”
The Guy Who Has Exhausted All Other Options
Creator: Jamal Allison
Funding goal: $500
Current status: $0
Project: GoFundMe
The list of thirsty dudes goes on. Although there’s no guarantee that he will succeed, Jamal wants you to help him “get fly to bag hoes.” Hear his cry for help: “Jamal is in a desperate situation he doesn't get any hoes at all. So with your small donation today you can help him get fly enough to bag all the hoes in the world. In return when he finally does get hoes he will send you a thank you text for helping him reach his goal.”
A thank you text? How considerate! Somehow, in two weeks, Jamal has gotten zero donations. Godspeed, Jamal.
The Guy Who Turned His Jealousy Into Ambition
Creator: N/A
Funding goal: $100,000
Current status: $0
Project: N/A
This guy doesn't understand what gender equality means.
The Man With a (Very Expensive) Plan
Creator: N/A
Funding goal: $5,000
Current status: $6
Project: N/A
Bad breakup? This guy needs $5,000 to flex on his ex. What kind of devious master plan is he plotting with that kind of money? Maybe he should team up with this guy.