Crowdfunding Conspiracists: Grassroots Giving to January 6 Participants

This policy brief explores the online ecosystem of crowdfunding for those charged with crimes related to the storming of the US Capitol on 6 January 2021. It sketches this ongoing phenomenon, highlighting key nodes, patterns, and narratives. Specifically, this policy brief confirms that the platform GiveSendGo is central to the crowdfunding of participation in such extremist-led mass protest events, being the host of 95.7 percent of the 255 distinct fundraising pages collected. This article also confirms that January 6-participants continue to raise millions in donations from grassroots supporters. Since 2021, those charged with January 6-related crimes have collected over 5.3 million US dollars from over eighty thousand donors. Making a case study out of the Proud Boy figures convicted for their ringleading roles, this policy brief further highlights key narratives within the fundraising ecosystem. Core elements of the fundraising appeals encountered in this research are continued revisionism as to the events of 6 January, continued loyalty to the ‘Make America Great Again’ (MAGA) movement and its leader, claims of legal persecution, and invitations to donors to identify with their struggles. Finally, this piece makes policy recommendations on strengthening the governance around crowdfunding while respecting important legal protections and avoiding a chilling effect on legitimate crowdfunding.