Now, I can't speak with any authority about the Gaza and other international fundraisers. That's way beyond my level of expertise and folks like Aral Balkan (npub1p09…m5vl) are far better equipped to discuss it.
I'm no expert on this, or anything really. These are only my personal opinions.
My initial answer to the original question, honestly is.. you can't. (But as I've written this essay, my thinking has evolved a little.. stay tuned!)
For one thing, it depends on your definition of what is truly "in need"; my partner and I have had to raise staggering amounts of money. We had to begpost almost daily for an entire year because we were basically homeless and living in motels.
For example: A lot of people would consider my partner and I to be scammers or at least grifters for doing this - that we shouldn't be taking advantage of the community like this, that we should have pursued official charity resources - and this point of view isn't entirely unreasonable.
Of course the reality of our situation isn't quite that simple, being two mentally ill queers in a (delusionally) red state. Local charities are almost all religion-based, and applying for state or federal aid is (in my opinion) a neurodivergent nightmare.
Additionally, we don't have any real "proof" of financial need. We don't have a practical way for anyone to verify my partner's CPTSD being so severe that he was unable to work for two years.
I think it's up to the donor to decide whether they trust the person. If you've had lots of interaction with them, if you feel in your gut that they're legit, then I suggest just going for it. Yes, you're taking a chance giving money to a perfect stranger; but isn't it better to take that chance, than to risk letting someone slip through the cracks?
It's easy for me to say this having only been on the receiving end, but if I *did* have disposable income that I could share with others, this is the approach I would take.
Having said all this, as a person who fundraises often, it is important to also point out that you should still heed your intuition and instincts. If you feel that something is "off", don't do it. Even if the person begging is *me*. I believe it is absolutely crucial for there to be trust with regards to Mutual Aid.
So.. let me revise what I said earlier. I suppose maybe you *can* determine if they're legit or not, by whether you feel comfortable trusting them. Have you had interaction with them? Do you feel like their presence is good for the Fedi community? Do you feel like their presence on the Fedi is good for *you*?
If you can confidently answer "yes" to those three questions, then I suppose you have your answer.
Let me close by saying Mutual Aid on the Fedi has changed mine and my partner's lives. Almost every corporate online platform I've dealt with have received digital fundraising with anywhere from apathetic contempt to downright viciousness. We've encountered this a couple of times here but overall people have been absolutely phenomenal.
Please, let's do everything we can to keep it that way. It is soul-crushing to be attacked when you're already in need, and you could easily leave an indelible mark in their memory. Please, PLEASE try to continue to approach folks with empathy.
Thank you.
