My roommate's kid has real problems. She's ten years old and needs serious bone surgery and possibly more...

She's absolutely a candidate for a GoFundMe campaign. No doubt about it. Nothing opens wallets like a kid with a serious medical condition...

Her dad doesn't make nearly enough money, and the "programs" can't deal with this...

But how to go about transparency?

I want to make #%&*$# sure people understand (and also want to ensure that no scamming can happen) that ANY dollar goes to HER treatment, and any excess (if that were to happen) gets donated to the local children's hospital...

I was thinking of having her dad establish a bank account with her name on it (I did this myself as a minor decades ago with my parent), but wow, I don't know about that...

I certainly don't want to do anything in my name if I don't have to...

I think I have the basics covered - new Facebook account in HER name (I don't even use Facebook!) with a video describing (and showing) the problems, we can make that go viral enough (I think...).

But if it works, how to manage the money, and be transparent?

Just do it and if it works hire a lawyer?

Good luck, sounds like a worthy cause, poor kid.

Sad that everything in the US requires a lawyer.

Maybe contact the GoFundMe guys to ask what they recommend? They should have some experience with things like that...?

***Slaps self on forehead***

I probably didn't think of that because:

1. It's not directly my problem, and 2. I have five separate really stressful problems of my own going on now...

The other thing is I don't exactly trust the roommate to be completely scrupulous with such a thing. If somehow donations received exceeded expenses, NO I wouldn't trust him with that.

Matter of fact I wouldn't put it past him to "dip in" BEFORE his daughter's needs were realized.....

Not to some massive degree or anything, but I could easily see if he had access to $10k with no oversight him "borrowing" (in his head, but in reality taking) $1k, out of which he'd maybe spend half on things like clothing, etc, for her.....

Establish a trust to benefit her directly, and have the stipulations of the trust dictate that the funds within it must be used for her medical expenses. I do this for a living and work for a major firm. If you'd like some help, send me a PM.