This week, we were delighted to welcome Tim Cadogan, CEO of GoFundMe, and other senior members of the GoFundMe team to our office in Liverpool City Centre. Their visit from the United States marked the occasion of acknowledging Liverpool being named the UK’s most generous city. According to GoFundMe data, Liverpool topped the UK’s generosity rankings in 2024, based on donations per capita. London, Norwich, Manchester, and Belfast completed the top five.

Liverpool’s remarkable generosity was evident in response to the tragic events in Southport last July. Through GoFundMe alone, an astonishing £1.3 million was raised to support those affected by both the Southport stabbings and the riots that followed. This was just a fraction of the outpouring of support, with hundreds of thousands more donated across other platforms, both from within the UK and internationally.

ITV Granada visited Liverpool to highlight the city’s incredible response: GoFundMe hails Liverpool as most generous city in UK after Southport response | ITV News Granada

During our meeting with GoFundMe, one of our key partners in the response to the Southport attacks, we explored:

• The importance of trust when fundraising online
• The power of networks and non-monetary support
• The future of fundraising, including AI integration
• How the local expertise of Community Foundations can play a key role in emergency responses

As seen in past tragedies, such as Grenfell and the Manchester Arena bombing, it is essential that public donations are managed with care, ensuring they reach those who need them most. The Community Foundation for Merseyside was honoured to play a part in supporting the victims, their families, and the wider community.