How to Ask for Financial Help from a Stranger

Last Updated on March 24, 2023 by Jerome Donovan

In today’s connected world, it’s more common than ever to ask for financial help from a stranger. It’s also less of a social stigma than it used to be. Whether it’s for a personal emergency, a business venture, or a charitable cause, knowing how to go about soliciting funds from a stranger can make all the difference.

How to ask for financial help from a stranger

Asking for financial help from a stranger can be difficult, but it’s a step you need to take to get the help you need. Whether you have unexpected expenses, are having trouble making ends meet, or just need a little extra help below are tips on how to ask for financial help from a stranger.

1. 
   

   Be clear and specific about what you need

When you ask for financial help from a stranger, you should be clear and specific about what you need.

Explain why you want the money and what you hope to do with it. This will help the stranger understand why you want their financial help and what they can expect in return. Of course, no stranger will donate to a GoFundMe that does not give the inspiring reasons needed to incite the giver.

That also means you mustn’t be vague about your request. The stranger you ask for money needs to know specifics to be able to assist you wholeheartedly.

2. Bring in honesty and clarity

Honesty is extremely important when you intend to ask for financial help from a stranger. Tell people the truth about your finances and why you need help — that’s what they want to hear.

Tell them what you’ve done so far to fix your money problems and what you’re going to do in the future to make sure it doesn’t happen again. This will help the stranger understand what’s going on and also make them more likely to trust you.

3. 
   

   Be respectful and polite

Be respectful and polite when you ask for financial help from a stranger. Not all may be willing to give, but that’s understandable. But what matters is to thank them for their time and thought, and be patient while they think about what you want.

Don’t forget that the person doesn’t have to help you, so even if they don’t, you just need that politeness and understanding. Perhaps, that may incite them to introduce and encourage another person they know to give you money.

4. 
   

   Offer something in return

If you can give something back in exchange for the money, do so. This could be as easy as sending a thank-you note, or it could be a more serious offer like giving your time or money back in the future. 

It shows that you are serious about fixing your money problems and are ready to try to pay back the person who helped you. Whatsoever you have to offer should be in complement to the form of help you need the money for. You can’t go making promises you’ll never meet up with though.

5. Think about other ways to get help

Before you ask for financial help from a stranger, think about other ways to get help. This could be family, friends, or a local group that gives money to people in need. These people may be more likely to help you and may be able to give you more support than a stranger.

Nevertheless, a study published by the American Psychological Association found that Americans are kinder to strangers than they were in the 1950s. So, if you feel the need to depend on strangers for money, it’s a  worthwhile move to make.

6. Pick the right person

Consider someone you think will understand your situation. This could be someone who has been in the same situation or someone who is known for being kind and generous.

Think about calling out to people in your neighborhood or online, because they may be more likely to help you. As mentioned earlier, strangers love to give now more than ever. You just need the right channel to get to the right person.

You could even leverage your local community’s social media page to get in touch with people for the help you need. Also, you want the right message to get the stranger to give you money.

7. 
   

   Provide evidence of your financial situation

It helps to provide some evidence of your financial situation, such as pay stubs or bills. This can help the person understand the extent of your financial difficulties and why you need their help.

People love proof. They need to be able to trust you because most people have been victims of scams in the past. This is where images and videos come in handy. If necessary, let your pictures do the talking. For example, it could be photos of the medical bills if you solicited money from a stranger to foot your medical bills.

Also, you want to show that you’re taking steps to resolve your financial situation. Explain what you’re doing to improve your finances. This can demonstrate to the person that you’re taking your financial situation seriously and that you’re committed to resolving it.

8. Be ready to be turned down

Unfortunately, not everyone will be able to help you, so you should be ready to be turned down. Don’t take it personally; instead, try to find other ways to help yourself. Remember that a person’s choice not to help you doesn’t say anything about who you are or how important you are.

Many strangers may be willing but, like you, they don’t have the additional funds to spare.

9. 
   

   Follow up

After you’ve asked for financial help from a stranger, make sure to follow up with them. Thank them for their time and thought, and tell them how your wish turned out to help you get along with the person and may make it more likely that they will help you in the future.

Meanwhile, I discussed extensively the safest ways to get money from any stranger.

Where to ask for financial help from strangers

There are many places where you can ask for financial help from strangers, but you should be careful and know that there is always a risk when you ask someone you don’t know for money. Here are some options:

1. Online forums and communities

There are a lot of online forums and communities where people communicate about financial issues and how they can help each other out.

Reddit, Quora, and blogs about personal finances are all popular websites. You can ask for financial help in these forums and see if anyone is ready to help.

Just remember that you can’t always tell who you’re communicating with online, so it’s important to keep your personal information safe and be careful about who you trust.

2. Crowdfunding websites

Websites like GoFundMe and Kickstarter let you set up a campaign and ask the public for financial help to support it. These platforms can be a great way to reach a lot of people, but they can also be competitive, making it hard to get the help you need.

3. Social media platforms

You can also ask friends, family, and other people you know for financial help through social media sites like Facebook and Twitter.

Post a status or tweet asking for help, or you can send a direct message to people you think might be able to help.

Also, think about what sharing personal information on social media means for your privacy and approach these conversations with care and sensitivity.

4. Charitable organizations

There are a lot of charities that offer financial support to people who need it. Some organizations work with certain groups of people or on certain problems, like homelessness, food, or medical costs. You can find out about local groups and contact them to see if they can help.

5. Religious groups

Many religious groups also help strangers with money when they are in need. This can include places of worship like churches, synagogues, mosques, and other religious groups. You can contact these groups to find out if they have any programs or other tools that can help you.

6. Government assistance programs

Depending on your situation, you might be able to get financial help from government assistance programs.

Some of these programs include jobless benefits, food stamps, help with rent, and more. You can find out more about the services in your area by going to the Department of Social Services or a government website in your area.

Conclusion

Forget about the difficulty and go ahead and ask for financial help from a stranger. Since you don’t know the person you’re asking for money from, treat the situation with respect, humility, and honesty.

Tell the person what’s going on clearly and honestly, and tell them how their help would make a difference.