Scaling Giving: How GoFundMe CEO Tim Cadogan Connects 190 Million People to Help Each Other

The term “crowdfunding” was coined in 2006 by entrepreneur and technologist, Michael Sullivan. The number of crowdfunding tools and companies have grown since then, but the purpose has remained the same—democratizing access to capital for those who need it.

GoFundMe CEO Tim Cadogan joins Marla Oates and Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic to talk about how his organization is helping people help each other, connecting more than 190 million people to raise $40 billion since the company’s founding in 2010. Tim digs into the key drivers to scaling and growing the business, including embedding purpose, technology, and AI. He delves into the psychology of asking for and receiving help, and how emotion and the need for human connection impact fundraising. And he shares his journey from entrepreneur CEO to board chair, and how he shifted and evolved his leadership style along the way.

We’ll also hear from Emma Combe, leadership advisor and the UK Board Practice Leader at Russell Reynolds Associates, who will share what it really takes to move from an executive role into the boardroom. Emma is also the host of Redefiners’ sister podcast, Leadership Lounge, where she asks our advisors to answer some of the most pressing questions senior leaders face.

Tim Cadogan
CEO, GoFundMe

Tim became CEO of GoFundMe in March 2020 and is focused on accelerating the company’s mission to help people help each other. Since its launch, GoFundMe has enabled people to raise over $40 billion for themselves and their loved ones, their communities, and the non-profit organizations they care about.

Tim brings a wide range of consumer and B2B experience, along with a long-standing commitment to service. Before joining GoFundMe, he was CEO of OpenX, which he built into one of the world’s largest ad exchanges. At Yahoo, he led the global advertising business and previously ran the consumer search division. He began his career at The Boston Consulting Group in London.

He holds a BSc from the London School of Economics, an MPhil from Oxford University, and an MBA from Stanford University. He has served as a Search & Rescue volunteer since 2010.

Tim is a widely recognized voice in the media on giving and innovation, being recognized as a leading innovator in TIME’s 2025 List of the 100 Most Influential People in the World.  He has been profiled by The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Fortune, and The Financial Times.