Two Weeks, $14,000, One Giving Circle: How an Online Community Supported Hunger Relief

What began as one person’s determination to fight hunger has become a growing movement for good. Heidi Li Feldman, a member of Mastodon, founded the Mastodon for Hunger Relief Giving Circle to support 16 top-rated food banks in communities where families are facing food insecurity due to changes or delays in SNAP benefits.

In just two days, this new Giving Circle brought together 54 members and raised $6,050, an impressive 86% of their $7,000 goal. Within two weeks, the Mastodon for Hunger Relief Giving Circle had surpassed $14,000, supporting food banks serving families in need across the country. It shows how one person’s idea can unite a community and create immediate impact.

Meet Heidi Li Feldman

Heidi Li Feldman is Professor of Law, Emeritus at Georgetown University Law Center, where she also held a courtesy appointment in the Philosophy Department. Throughout her career, she has worked to bridge academic insight with civic engagement bringing her deep knowledge of U.S. law, politics, and history to the public through writing, teaching, and grassroots action.

Her work has been featured in Slate, the Los Angeles Times, and TIME, and she regularly shares thoughtful commentary on U.S. law and politics on Mastodon. Now based in New Mexico, Heidi is active in Indivisible Santa Fe, an organization committed to protecting pluralistic democracy and advancing progressive public policy.

When Heidi learned SNAP food benefits were being withheld, Heidi transformed concern into action. She quickly mobilized her Mastodon community to launch the Mastodon for Hunger Relief Giving Circle, rallying dozens of members within days to support food banks nationwide. Her leadership shows how grassroots, collaborative giving can transform shared concern into tangible impact.

Q& A with Heidi Li Feldman

Q: What inspired you to start the Mastodon for Hunger Relief Giving Circle?

Heidi: It was horrifying to see the executive branch of the federal government announce it would not release contingency funds for SNAP food benefits this November. Then, I became aware of the panic this is causing in communities nationwide, where more than 42 million people per month rely on SNAP according to USDA.

Q: Why did you decide to use Grapevine as your platform for this fundraiser?

Heidi: Grapevine allowed me to create a basket of food banks from across the country that our fundraiser could benefit. It was also important to me that Grapevine, in contrast to many other online fundraising platforms, does not take a transaction fee for itself on donations.

Q: Can you tell us a bit about how you chose the 16 food banks that your Giving Circle supports?

Heidi: I had several criteria. First, I wanted to support communities in states with a high per capita rate of dependence on SNAP. Second, I wanted to direct funds to food banks in Democratic-leaning states that were preparing to serve families facing increased food insecurity. Third, the beneficiary food banks had to have stellar ratings from Guidestar, Charity Navigator, or both. Last, their websites had to be highly informative, especially about the logistics of their food aid.

Q: How did you rally people around this cause so quickly?

Heidi: I’m very, very lucky to be part of an online community in a social media setting that is an alternative to for-profit ones. Mine is in the fediverse, via Mastodon. I’ve run other fundraisers for causes and campaigns there, so I have a bit of credibility. I also write regularly there about U.S. law and politics, so people know what I am knowledgeable about. I was able to quickly explain the fundraiser, the reasoning behind it, and what Grapevine is and why I chose it as a platform. People began boosting my messages right away.

Q: What strategies or messages resonated most with your community and encouraged them to participate?

Heidi: People appreciate solid, well-sourced factual information and clear explanations for why a fundraiser is set up a certain way. I supplied detailed information about the politics behind the cut-off in SNAP benefits, the catastrophic consequences for people who may well go hungry, and the role food banks are trying to play in response. I then promptly answered questions I received. Since this was all being done via social media, it all got amplified.

Q: Did anything surprise you about how people responded or how fast the Giving Circle grew?

Heidi: I am so impressed that people active on Mastodon and in the wider fediverse were willing to contribute to a fundraiser that isn’t for a cause or candidate that is busily doing its own promotional efforts. We have been galvanizing people in a truly grassroots effort.

Q: What advice would you give to others who want to start a Giving Circle or collective fundraiser for an issue they care about?

Heidi: If you feel passionate about a cause, you probably are not the only one. It is much more fun and interesting to raise money collectively, so inviting people to jointly fund a cause is motivating for them and for the organizer. Build people’s trust and confidence in you so that you can use information and reason to inspire them to become part of the effort.

Be the Spark for the Change You Want to See

Heidi’s leadership demonstrates that we all have the power to create change. Giving Circles can be a powerful way to come together in response to sudden needs such as disaster relief, changes in public policy, community crises, or unexpected economic hardships, and to continue building support long after the first wave of giving. By starting or joining a Giving Circle, you can transform empathy into action and strengthen the communities you care about most.