How much money did Crystal Wilsey raise on GiveSendGo and who were the donors?
Executive summary
GiveSendGo fundraisers for Crystal Wilsey have been reported at different totals across outlets: several stories peg the total in the four-figure to low six-figure range — examples include roughly $18K–$20K within days [1] [2], figures above $65K–$90K in early reporting [3] [4] [5], and coverage saying the campaign topped $100K–$120K [6] [7]. Available sources do not provide a published, itemized donor list from GiveSendGo showing individual donor names beyond general descriptions of some donors’ comments [6] [4].
1. Fund totals reported — a moving target
News outlets published a range of tallies for the GiveSendGo page supporting Wilsey, reflecting rapid donations and differing snapshot times: initial pieces said the page raised over $18,000–$20,000 within two days [1] [2], some outlets reported sums from about $65,000 to over $90,000 as the story spread [3] [4] [5], and later coverage placed the total at roughly $100,000 to more than $120,000 [6] [7]. Those differences are consistent with a live crowdfunding page accumulating donations over hours and days, and with publishers citing different update points [6] [7] [5].
2. Who set up the fundraiser and who it lists as beneficiary
Multiple outlets identify the fundraiser’s organizer as a man named Tom (H)ennessey or Tom Hennessy and say the GiveSendGo page lists Crystal Wilsey as the intended beneficiary, while noting it does not appear Wilsey herself created the page [8] [5] [3]. USA TODAY specifically confirmed GiveSendGo told them Wilsey was the intended beneficiary but that the page appeared not to have been set up by her [8].
3. Donor identities — what reporting does and does not show
Available reporting does not include a verified, public list of named donors who contributed sums to the GiveSendGo page; outlets instead describe aggregate totals and highlight that some donors left supportive or explicitly racist comments alongside donations [6] [4] [5]. Newsweek and other outlets cited dozens of donation notes expressing support and xenophobic language but did not publish an itemized roster of donor names linked to amounts [6] [4].
4. Donor behavior and platform dynamics
Coverage emphasizes the tenor of donor comments more than precise donor identities: journalists and watchdog commentators flagged that several donations included messages endorsing Wilsey’s remarks and urging deportation of Somali immigrants, and compared the page’s comment thread to prior GiveSendGo fundraisers that attracted similar hate-filled notes [6] [9]. Some stories mention that GiveSendGo later restricted comment features on comparable fundraisers, though reporting does not document whether or when comments were restricted on Wilsey’s specific page [6] [9].
5. Context: amplification, political networks and media moments
Reporting links the fundraiser’s growth to amplification by conservative influencers: the campaign was shared by right-aligned social accounts and personalities, which correlates with steep donation increases toward the five-figure and six-figure marks in some accounts [10] [9]. Sources frame the GiveSendGo page as part of a wider pattern where fringe or partisan networks mobilize quickly behind viral controversies to raise money for people who commit or are accused of racist acts [9] [10].
6. Limitations, unanswered questions and what sources don’t say
None of the provided reports supply a contemporaneous, itemized donor list tied to dollar amounts or verified identities from GiveSendGo; therefore it is not possible from these sources to name who donated and how much each gave [6] [4] [8]. Available reporting also does not show whether or how much Wilsey actually received from the funds, or what disbursement steps GiveSendGo took in this case [6] [8].
7. Bottom line for readers
Different outlets reported different totals as donations rolled in — reporting ranges from roughly $18K within two days up to claims surpassing $100K–$120K, depending on the article’s timestamp [1] [2] [5] [6] [7]. The fundraiser was started by someone identified as Tom Hennessey/Hennessy and listed Wilsey as the beneficiary [5] [8]. Reporting focuses on aggregate sums and the tone of donor comments; the names and itemized contributions of individual donors are not provided in the current coverage [6] [4].